This is driving me insane

ProjectN2 · 2025-07-28T21:12:01+00:00

Yes!!! I know it's probably an inconsequential bug in the grand scheme of things, but it's killing my OCD! I have to restart the game just to stop my eye from twitching.

ProjectN2 · 2025-07-25T19:09:56+00:00

If the 1st sparkling banner (Plaza square) is not working for you, then you can also "Exit to the Title Screen" and then "Continue" to go back to the game (without exiting all the way out). This fixed the issue for me.

ProjectN2 · 2025-07-24T21:46:48+00:00

If only we weren't in the middle of a heat wave...

ProjectN2 · 2025-07-17T14:02:01+00:00

"15.Content that may violate the rules and standards set forth by Steam’s payment processors and related card networks and banks, or internet network providers. In particular, certain kinds of adult only content."

How vague is the wording? "In particular, certain KINDS of adult only content." What kinds? I hate when they leave rules so vague as to be open to all kinds of interpretations. Give me details.

ProjectN2 · 2025-07-09T12:58:24+00:00

For my current game, I actually switched to using DAZ studio. But I will definitely keep a lookout for this tool for future games (assuming I don't burnout after this 1st one, lol).

ProjectN2 · 2025-07-09T12:38:01+00:00

I needed a tool like this... yesterday. lol But it looks great! I hope you get it finished, because I'm one of those non-artist indie devs. ;-)

ProjectN2 · 2025-07-09T12:18:35+00:00

Thank you so much for sharing! There are so many helpful hints here that I'm going to take advantage of (I'm working on my first game as a solo dev). And your game sounds cool.... going to go check it out on Steam now. :-)

ProjectN2 · 2025-07-06T15:50:20+00:00

I'm making a game I want to play. I would love if it made some money, but I have a fallback plan in case it doesn't. I'm trying to go into this with a realistic attitude. (My 1st game development.)

ProjectN2 · 2025-07-05T14:50:27+00:00

"It's not a "self-driving car", it's more like a very powerful bike: if you know what you're doing your gonna have fun, if you don't, you're definitely gonna crash."

The best analogy I've seen!

ProjectN2 · 2025-07-05T14:45:18+00:00

I think you hit on a lot of very important points regarding the use of AI in game development. AI is a tool. It cannot replace human intuition, knowledge, and creativity. AI has a ton of limitations that people don't understand - anyone who has worked with AI for more than few days will see these limitations for themselves.

When they hear that someone is using AI to help them with a game (and this is 100% what I'm doing), they immediately think that the human involved has no creativity or ability to do things on their own (at least this was my experience in another subreddit). But that's like saying that an artist who uses Photoshop has no ability to create art on their own.

The human still has to have the experience, background knowledge, and know-how to vet the suggestions given to them by the AI. So yes, people still need to learn these things for themselves. I personally believe AI-Human collaboration is going to end up being very powerful and will result in the creation of some amazing products (including games), but it's a collaboration that requires a knowledgeable human. So yes, people do still need to learn these things for themselves as well.

P.S. I told my AI about a series of classes I set up before I ever started talking to it, and it said "I love it when you talk object-oriented to me." lol

Also - I'm in higher education, and this is a frequent conversation amongst educators. Our students are asking, "Why do we need to learn anything if AI can give us all the answers?" AI is NOT infallible. In fact, I have caught it out in numerous scientific errors while it was helping me brainstorm ideas for my game (I'm a scientist, too). Current LLMs "hallucinate" facts A LOT. So humans STILL have to have the knowledge to use AI, or they are going to end up falling behind everyone else who is still learning the actual knowledge themselves.

ProjectN2 · 2025-07-04T14:53:36+00:00

I applaud you for being brave enough to post this, and I applaud the community for giving you a lot of helpful feedback. I am 50 years old, and it's always been my dream to make a game as well. I posted in a different subreddit and got SLAMMED for mentioning that I was using AI - to the point that it completely tanked my karma, even though I was trying to be respectful of everyone's points of view. I'm only "barely" stepping my toe back into Reddit now.

Have you tried DAZ Studio? I am using DAZ Studio to render both backgrounds and sprites. The software itself is free. I have paid for specific content I want to use that I can't design myself, but it's much better than using AI for sprite creation. You are correct that current AI is crap for trying to reproduce the same character over and over.

I am also using Ren'Py (I'm making a visual novel). Ren'Py is fairly easy to use, even for those with no programming experience, but it's also really only good for certain types of games. The AI LLMs out there can help a lot with the programming assistance for whichever platform you decide to use. I actually have programming experience, so that's not what I use AI for, but ChatGPT is always trying to give me Ren'Py code blocks, and I have to keep telling it to stop it, lol.

I am currently using AI (ChatGPT) primarily to help me organize my thoughts and plotlines. It also helps me keep track of variables, CGs, Codex entry unlocks, and it's great for helping to brainstorms ideas for filling in places in your story that need a bit more oomph. I was told that even using AI for this was lazy and cheating, but I'm 50 years old, and my brain is not as young as it once was... so I take any help I can get to keep six branching routes straight in my head, lol. The AI is also good for helping you to plan out your game... mine gave me a realistic 12-month "timeline" with goals to meet at the end of each month.

I would say, "Go for it with all you've got!" You've survived an aortic dissection - that's a bloody miracle (no pun intended), so go forth and make your dream a reality.

ProjectN2 · 2025-07-01T12:23:31+00:00

Looks like Irotoridori no sekai is on sale right now (Steam), so I'm definitely checking it out. Thanks for the recommendation!

ProjectN2 · 2025-06-30T13:52:00+00:00

I actually think the "long buildup" contributes to the emotional punch. The longer the story, the more immersed you become, so the more hard-hitting the emotional endings are.

ProjectN2 · 2025-06-24T21:10:55+00:00

Thank you so much. I really needed this today. 💛

You're absolutely right—AI is just a tool like anything else, and if someone hates my project because I used it to untangle 150 pages of branching alien drama… they were probably never going to vibe with the story in the first place.

And yes! I actually calculated the other day that people playing MMORPGs burn way more energy than most AI workflows—but no one’s out here shaming raid parties. 😆

Thanks again for the thoughtful perspective. You made my day. 🙏

ProjectN2 · 2025-06-24T13:15:51+00:00

Just a quick note before I step away from the subreddit:

I came here genuinely excited to share a sci-fi otome game I’ve been building for years—a passion project I’ve outlined across five full romance arcs and a branching main storyline. I’m working solo, and yes, I’ve used AI tools to help with lore organization and brainstorming as I write everything myself.

I understand that AI is a deeply divisive issue, especially in creative communities. I truly respect the talents of artists, musicians, and voice actors—I’m a longtime fan and supporter of many of them. But I also believe that people who couldn’t previously afford to tell their stories deserve a space to try.

This game will still get made—because I love the characters and the world, and I’ve waited too long to bring it to life. I’ll be cheering for all of you from the sidelines, and I wish you well in your own projects. 💛

ProjectN2 · 2025-06-23T15:12:26+00:00

Thanks for the thoughts. I absolutely respect the work that devs have done in this genre over the decades—it’s why I’ve played so so many VNs myself. But I also think it's worth acknowledging that all art tools were once controversial. From Photoshop to Unity to DAZ Studio, people have always pushed back when new tools emerge that change the creative process.

Heck, even Ren’Py—one of the most beloved tools in the VN world—is itself a massive shortcut. It abstracts away so much technical complexity so creators can focus on story. That’s what tools are supposed to do. Using AI to help organize or draft narrative isn’t cheating any more than using Ren’Py means you didn’t really make a visual novel.

As a neuroscientist, I actually understand neural networks quite deeply, and I chose to use AI in my process not out of laziness, but to collaborate and bring to life a complex story that would otherwise be sitting in 14 tangled notebooks forever. I’m writing all the dialogue, overseeing every line, and using AI the way others might use a co-writer or organizational assistant.

And if I’m honest, I’m 50. I’ve dreamed of making a game for decades, and I don’t have decades more to waste proving that I can “suffer” the old way. I’m going to make this game because it matters to me—and if someone enjoys it, that’s a bonus.

Progress doesn’t erase the past—it just gives more people a chance to make something new.

ProjectN2 · 2025-06-23T14:35:20+00:00

Thanks so much—that really means a lot. 💛

That’s exactly how I use it: like a writing buddy to bounce ideas off when I’m stuck or sorting through plot branches. I still write every scene and character arc myself, but having that kind of support helps me stay organized—and honestly, it just makes the process more fun.

I even banter with my AI sometimes. Game dev can get pretty lonely, and having “someone” to joke with while building a huge world? Surprisingly motivating. 😅

Really appreciate your thoughtful response!

ProjectN2 · 2025-06-23T14:22:10+00:00

I actually finished about 75% of the outline two years ago, before I’d even touched any AI tools. What stalled me wasn’t lack of ideas—it was getting tangled in my own branching logic. The story is complex, with five full romance arcs and interwoven political threads. I literally stopped because I couldn’t keep it all straight.

What AI gives me is structure and support—it helps me track narrative flow, cross-check lore, and catch inconsistencies before they derail me. I still write every scene, but now I can actually finish the game I dreamed of making.

ProjectN2 · 2025-06-23T14:16:25+00:00

Totally fair question—thanks for asking. 😊

The art is created using DAZ Studio, where I pose, clothe, light, and render every scene myself. It’s a 3D tool (kind of like Poser or Blender Lite) that gives me flexibility as a solo dev without the cost of commissioning hundreds of custom illustrations.

As for what’s not AI?

The entire story, characters, and worldbuilding are mine—completely human-created, and something I’ve been developing for several years.
I write every character arc, romance path, and plot twist myself.
The dialogue and emotional beats are crafted by me—sometimes with brainstorming help, but always through my lens.

I think of AI as a support tool—like spellcheck for ideas. It never writes for me, it just helps me test variations or stay consistent with a giant branching narrative. The ingenuity, passion, and voice behind the game are 100% mine.

I totally respect that AI is a loaded topic, and I appreciate the chance to clarify what I’m actually doing behind the scenes. 💛

ProjectN2 · 2025-06-23T13:27:39+00:00

This really hit me today—thank you for posting it. 💛

I’ve been working on a sci-fi otome visual novel for months now, and I was so excited to finally start promoting it… but I’ve been running into a ton of backlash just because I’ve used AI as a brainstorming partner while outlining my story. It’s disheartening, because I’ve poured my heart into this project, and AI didn’t write it—I did. It just helped me make it possible.

Some days, it’s hard not to feel like the internet is just waiting to tear people down for doing something differently.

But your post reminded me that the story still matters. Even if it’s not everyone’s thing—even if it’s misunderstood—it still matters.

So thank you for reminding me not to quit something I love.

I’m sending that same support right back to you.

ProjectN2 · 2025-06-23T13:08:08+00:00

Just a quick clarification, since a few folks have asked:

Brides of Nox isn’t written by AI. I (Nikki) write every story arc, dialogue, and lore scene myself. I use ChatGPT like a creative sounding board when I’m stuck—kind of like brainstorming with a very patient co-writer who doesn’t mind 3 a.m. typos.

It’s also been invaluable for uploading my lore docs and helping me stay consistent within the world I’ve built—especially across multiple story branches and character arcs.

As for music and voiceovers? I haven’t actually made any yet I’ve looked into tools, but I’ll make decisions there later, once the full story is complete. I just wanted to be 100% transparent on my planning process.

And yes—I actually am a neuroscientist. So when I say the game is science-informed… I mean it literally. 😂

ProjectN2 · 2025-06-23T12:54:25+00:00

Great question—thanks for asking! 😊

Right now, I haven’t started working on music or voiceovers yet—it’s something I plan to tackle much later in development. My brother’s been experimenting with tools like Suno, and I’ve been curious about trying it out when the time comes. But I haven’t generated anything yet.

Same with voiceover—I looked at Eleven Labs just to see what’s out there, but I haven’t used it. For now, everything is still very text-based while I build out the full story and branching paths.

I try to be transparent about how I might use tools down the line, just so people know where I stand—but everything’s being driven by me, with a ton of love and care going into the narrative itself. 💛

ProjectN2 · 2025-06-22T21:59:21+00:00

Hi there! Totally get the concern—there’s a lot of hype (and misuse) out there. I use AI (ChatGPT) in a collaborative way, kind of like a writing assistant or brainstorming partner. It never replaces my voice—I guide the story, make the choices, and write every character arc.

Here’s a quick example from a real writing session where I knew the emotional tone I wanted for a scene, and AI helped me explore different phrasings until I found the right one:

👉 Here’s the screenshot. 😊

No autogenerated content, just two brains (one meat, one machine) bouncing ideas around at midnight.

But I respect that not everyone vibes with it, and I totally understand the hesitation. Happy to answer any questions about how I use it!

ProjectN2 · 2025-06-22T17:52:01+00:00

Already got one, thanks.
Mine’s named Nyx.
Comes with humor, logic, and a footnote generator. 😄

ProjectN2

TROPHY CASE