Announcing that I’m no longer creating 3D models assets packs for Smile Game Builder.

Modular Market Packs

I made this decision following the release of the Modular Market Packs Volume 1 and Volume 2.

The original concept for these packs was to provide game developers with a means to mix and match various parts to create a kind of hybrid medieval market for their games. Combined, both packs contain 164 models and many variations.

However, as I mentioned, I decided that I will no longer continue to expanding them. This has nothing to do with Smile Game Builder but part of my desire to focus on other things. I also don’t have the time to properly invest in creating more add-ons to the packs.

Volumes 1 and 2 will remain available for purchase (priced at $6.99) on both the Gnome Treasure store and Itch.io.

Terrain Packs

I will continue to release various terrain packs for Smile Game Builder, including Stairs and Slopes versions, for awhile.

Some are already available and some are unreleased. However, over the next few months, these unreleased packs will become available for purchase (priced $4.99). Each will contain the same quality – as part of the Hi-Tex range, from ground to walls to floor terrains – that most of you have come to expect.

The Untitleds Assets

My current project is The Untitleds, originally submitted to AmalgamAsh’s RETURNERS 2022 Game Jam.

As development on it continues, most of the customized assets will be available at a later date only for monthly patrons on my SubscribeStar.

Furthermore, monthly SubscribeStar patrons receive exclusive preview builds and beta updates.

This is a playthrough of my own game, The Untitleds, which was submitted to the Smile Game Builder RETURNERS 2022 Game Jam (hosted by AmalgamAsh). In the video, I added some personal commentary and a brief look at some of the upcoming and planned functions and features for the future.

The Untitleds Video Playthrough

Future Development

The Untitleds is the first, last and only game I will develop to completion in Smile Game Builder.

To quote AmalgamAsh’s review on Itch.io:

This is the CompanionWulf game I want to see developed and continued. This is the game with the systems that shall bear the most fruit, both for budding developers who need to understand how menu systems might be designed as well as experienced folks who haven’t wrapped their head around how to progress through the limitations.

And with that said, continuation on the game is assured. However, development may be very slow.

The menu system is challenging, notably with SGB’s current limitations and the way it processes events. And, with that said, this will be the focus until it’s fully functional.

The Smile Game Builder RETURNERS 2022 Game Jam (hosted by AmalgamAsh) is now on! Get your creative juices flowing and participate!

Ash’s Promotional Video

Will Wulfy Join?

I stated after the previous game jams that I would neither host nor participate in any jams for awhile. Despite many requests – especially by Ash himself – for my participation in this game jam, my stance is this (quoted from the dedicated channel of the SGB Discord server):

I’m not guaranteeing, confirming or denying, or promising anything, but I do have an idea and IF I decide to continue with it, then this will be the game for the jam (but I’ll keep many of the details to myself for now).

That said, I’d be more interested in properly playing and testing – and this time video showcasing – all the game submissions instead.

Many of you are no doubt aware of my Hi-Tex Market Pack assets. For those who aren’t, these are high-texture assets I created to implement a kind of hybrid medieval market in your games as part of my ongoing "Hi-Tex" range for Smile Game Builder (SGB).

Although first released in 2020, and updated in 2021, I decided to update them again in 2022. This means improved textures and meshes, as well as more varied content. And, as development continues, I plan on releasing several packs throughout the year to complete the set.

Deferred Release Dates

Previously planned releases of the Market Pack Volumes 1 and 2 (and its add-on packs) were deferred several times. The main reason for this may be due to the "perfectionist" in me. That’s a good thing or a bad thing depending on your perspective. I wanted to ensure that all packs are completely optimized and SGB-friendly.

The Market Pack Vol. 1, Market Pack Vol. 2 and Market Pack Signs Add-On are complete and are prizes for AmalgamAsh’s SGB Returners Game Jam 2022. That means their release dates right now are imminent, having satisfied my personal "quality control". Haha!

Various Changes

With expandability in mind, I also restructured the models’ naming conventions. In addition, each type will have its own category:

I know this’ll mess things up for those who already purchased the original pack and installed the models in SGB and I apologize! I decided to do it this way primarily to make it easier when it comes to add-ons and expansions. However, everything is now more organized and easier to pick and choose the models.

Notes on Market Terrains

The Market Pack Vol. 1 contains several terrains (including matching stairs and slopes) from the original pack. I’m rather dissatisfied with them, but included them in the pack nevertheless.

Future terrain packs tailored to the market theme will be sold separately.

Future Packs and Add-Ons

As far as future packs and add-ons, I’ll continue creating them for awhile until I move onto other things and other projects proper.

In this tutorial, Smile Game Builder’s default menu will have a background image and its own BGM as well.

Tutorial Video

Next Tutorial

In the next tutorial, I’ll continue with the Anatomy of A Terrain series.

Here’s a free Game Over screen for SMILE GAME BUILDER, depicting a sword embedded in a pile of bones.

I created more Game Over Screens for you to download and use in your games. They’re blank so you can add your own text to them.

You can use them in both non-commercial and commercial games, but please read the Terms of Use before using them and credit either "Companion Wulf" or "RPG Maker Time".

Click on the thumbnail, right-click and save as res –> system –> gameover.png (creating folders as needed) in your project folder.

The Anatomy of A Terrain is a new series of short videos in the Tutorials Extra playlist dedicated to creating terrains. The series teaches how to create terrains, from basic to advanced to animated terrains.

Video Tutorial

The first vide in the series covers a basic, simple terrain.

Parts 2 and 3 will detail slopes and stairs respectively.

This video is on using SGB’s message controls to enable things like bold, italic, underline, font size in message windows.

Tutorial Video

Market Pack Vol. 1 v1.2 — Release Date

Optimization on v1.2 of the Modular Market Pack Vol. 1 is nearing completion. I deferred its original November release because I’d like to make sure this pack is as optimized as possible, especially with expandability in mind (for future packs).

The purpose of this update – as mentioned in Log #1 – is to:

And with expandability in mind, I also restructured the models’ naming conventions. In addition, each type will have its own category:

I know this’ll mess things up for those who have already purchased the pack and installed the models in SGB and I apologize! I decided to do it this way primarily to make it easier when it comes to add-ons and expansions. Everything is more organized and easier to pick and choose the models.

Market Pack Vol. 1 — Add-On

The Market Pack Vol. 1 — Add-On is designed to expand the Market Pack Vol. 1 with additional models and variations on existing models. I have no set release date yet, as I’m still working on it.

I’d like to continue adding to the market until it’s as comprehensive as possible. This will continue well into 2022 before I retire from SGB and move onto other things.