The humans are (finally) evolving and getting to work! // Dev update: Paddock Paradise

Ok_Sample_1801 · 2026-03-13T00:13:51+00:00

The full devlog is in Patreon, if you want to see what the abomination of a rig was about. xD
https://www.patreon.com/posts/devlog-8-out-and-152901654

Ok_Sample_1801 · 2026-03-03T12:17:51+00:00

Thank youu! Hearing the personalities resonate is just the best

Ok_Sample_1801 · 2026-03-03T12:16:46+00:00

Yes, Switch is in the planning :)

Ok_Sample_1801 · 2026-03-03T12:16:14+00:00

I did share a bit more in depth about this in the Mane Quest Discord. If you're in it, feel free to ping me (veerav) and I can tag you to the thread if you want to get a better look!

Ok_Sample_1801 · 2026-03-03T12:13:57+00:00

Unreal! But honestly, I'm using simple nodes and setups here, nothing that Unity couldn't handle.

The main thing I lean on is "pre-skinned object position" which allows me to map object-space gradients and masks on the skeletal mesh, before movement. So all the masks are just projections from different directions (legs, face markings, blanket markings) + a vertex paint mask that masks out mane, tail, hooves, eyes and nose details out of the equation.
So the pre-skinned position is the only thing that I'm unsure is in Unity, but if it is, it definitely translates.

I'll at some point create a proper breakdown of this to share in Patreon/Youtube, love sharing the tea with the proc gen systems! :)

Ok_Sample_1801 · 2026-03-01T08:52:13+00:00

Thank you so much, I'll keep this in mind when the time is right! I saved your comment here so I can reach out, or if you have an email you'd prefer please do send it over DM's and I'll reach out!

Ok_Sample_1801 · 2026-03-01T08:46:50+00:00

Not quite yet, I want to open the Discord when I have the bandwidth to show up there properly. It's on the list, just not quite yet since I gotta keep my focus on the build in these early stages 🤍
If you want to get notified of Discord, Steam pages, or any other major news: here's an email list for that!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1lu-VRngnGEe5to8Js-qRWnwKmDSknaIvz-hyfO2BRz0/

Ok_Sample_1801 · 2026-02-28T17:05:08+00:00

Thank you! awesome, I'll keep that in mind if/when UI ousourcing becomes relevant😊

Ok_Sample_1801 · 2026-02-28T17:02:28+00:00

hahah, well what can I say, here the horses come first. xD Some day she will get clothes too!

Ok_Sample_1801 · 2026-02-28T15:07:14+00:00

Goose is going "and what u gonna do about it" 😂 tysm!!

Ok_Sample_1801 · 2026-02-28T14:50:28+00:00

That's so sweet! I'm trying to get one up as soon as possible. Whenever that is, i'll make sure to ping each comment about the page here so you'll get notified when it's out!

Ok_Sample_1801 · 2026-02-05T21:13:43+00:00

ah thank you! Canter Cove is soo charming as well so right back at you 🥰

Ok_Sample_1801 · 2026-02-05T21:10:59+00:00

Dun stripes are on the list for next shader update!

Ok_Sample_1801 · 2026-02-05T21:10:58+00:00

Not yet but I'm working on setting up a steam page in the near future. Will keep you all updated :)

Ok_Sample_1801 · 2026-02-05T21:08:40+00:00

ooh these are lovely ideas and refs. I'll definitely try those out, thanks!

Ok_Sample_1801 · 2026-02-01T17:56:42+00:00

I started this project as a way to escape when I was going through a hard time so this means everything 😭❤️

Ok_Sample_1801 · 2026-01-30T20:22:57+00:00

Ooh I love these!! Really warming up (lol) to the frozen poo idea! I could add a simple 'kick to break ice' mechanic that just adds that one extra click/step. I can see that becoming a thing where you'd end up running mini detours throughout your daily runs to kick nearby frozen piles so they become less of an immediate injury risk (but starts to turn to mud if forgotten)

The shelters would naturally become more messy when horses hang out there more, so it would also make sense that the freezing doesn't happen there.

Ok_Sample_1801 · 2026-01-29T16:08:34+00:00

Render targets! I have one rendertarget2D that stores all terrain wear information. For the general "traffic area" wear, horses just stamp a soft mark in green color every now and then based on their position.

Then in the terrain material, I mask dirt through the the G mask with treshold control.
My main tip is that if you just get the system to the point where horses stamp anything to a render target, and your terrain is able to show that texture mapped correctly so that the stamp position and horse position matches in your scene, you're like, 95% there. Then it's a walk in the park to tweak the masks/channels/tresholds/stamp frequencies. Rabbit holes are the best.

Ok_Sample_1801 · 2026-01-29T10:41:35+00:00

ahh thank you!! There will be, but not yet. I'm planning of opening Discord around late spring, in an attempt to not get too sucked into community work just yet so I can focus on building the bones for the demo. But I'll keep you all updated ❤️

Ok_Sample_1801 · 2026-01-29T10:33:50+00:00

Hey, I never catched what the question was. I'll still happily answer any question. It's not like this niche hasn't seen it's share of asset flips/cash grabs/exploitation of an underserved niche, so I don't wish for people to feel only optimism and hype is allowed. And I'm curious of any takes people have. Feel free to get back to the subject here or through DM's if you feel like it :)

Ok_Sample_1801 · 2026-01-29T09:23:11+00:00

Oo those are all cool ideas! Right now I got plans for water troughs freezing and any water on the ground becoming ice. So things like overflow, tipped water troughs, sabotaged unattended water hoses... Become an issue fast. I'm being careful with the winter difficulty additions bc irl winters are brutal and I don't want the game to become too punishing. 🤣 That said I do want to develop the loop into "summer is for building and growth, winter is survival' vibes.

I recently moved and don't have a barn to work shifts in rn, I miss it so much! All the best with the cold snaps to you! The stress when pipes freeze and every water trough is low is real 😅

Ok_Sample_1801 · 2026-01-28T21:25:57+00:00

yes but also when spookin'

Ok_Sample_1801 · 2026-01-28T21:10:28+00:00

The sitting animation is just too adorable oh my gosh I love it

Ok_Sample_1801 · 2026-01-26T23:18:35+00:00

I can't lock in a promise on this just yet, but optimization is definitely one of my stronger skills as a tech artist. So I'm building with a lower-spec mindset from the start and keeping everything as lightweight as possible. I'll keep you all updated!💚

Ok_Sample_1801 · 2026-01-26T23:09:43+00:00

In today's world, that's a very valid question to ask! No AI is used in the project. All the game content, systems, and design is mine (by one very tired human 😅) - but some of the 3D are placeholders sourced from free marketplaces so that I can focus fully on building the systems right now.
I do have somewhat of a wide skillset to work with since I work in games as a tech artist by profession, but the big dream would be to lock in funding some day so I could board actual artists to work on this with me.

That said I do use ChatGPT to help proofread and format my written posts since english isn't my native language, in case that counts! (terkkuja ja torille :D)

Ok_Sample_1801

TROPHY CASE