Dev Diary #3: New Hardware, New Cases (Patreon)

Hey everyone!

I want to start with some amazing news: "Cases" has received way more interaction and engagement than I ever expected! To be honest, I thought it would stay a bit more niche and progress slowly. As you know, I don't claim to be "perfect" at coding or Daz 3D, but I strive to get a little better every single day. Seeing that this effort is resonating with you and feeling your excitement is a huge motivation booster for me. Thank you all!

Thanks to your donations and support (and, of course, a little New Year's present), my system has leveled up!

I’m now developing projects with an RTX 4080 and DDR5 system. I created all previous content using an RTX 3060, and frankly, running out of VRAM whenever I put more than 2 characters in a scene was becoming a nightmare. With the switch to the 4080, render speeds have increased massively. Working on scenes isn't a struggle anymore; it's pure fun! Your support was a huge part of this upgrade—thank you again.

Calendar & Process

Between the holiday season and setting up the new rig, I took a short break. Migrating everything from the old PC to the new one was more tiring than I expected, but it was worth it. I got back to full-throttle work towards the end of the first week of January.

NYC Vibes & The Battle with Lights

As you know, "Cases" is a parody inspired by a certain famous legal drama. My goal is to reflect that high-stakes vibe while also revealing what goes on behind the curtains.

Since the game is set in New York, I want you to really feel that intense tempo and the corporate world. I found a great city model for the transitions. However, I’m currently wrestling a bit with the building and environmental lighting in the evening and night scenes. At the end of every workflow, I’m experimenting to perfect these lights.

Here is a preview of one of the daytime scenes I’m working on:

The Courtroom & Wardrobe Change

Let's talk about the new episode! Episode 1, Part 5 is coming along great.

Leo (our main character) is finally reaping the rewards of the research he did with Victoria. Thanks to his "genius idea," he is attending his first official hearing and appearing before a judge.

Of course, this rise needs to look the part. It’s time for Leo to ditch those boring, bad suits and that outdated skinny tie! I’m planning a shopping sequence where you will have two different routes based on your choices. I’ve just started working on this, but I’m sure it’s going to be a lot of fun.

Current Status

Currently, I have completed 50% of the posing for Episode 1, Part 5. Once the posing is done, I’ll move on to coding the dialogue.

Thank you again for your patience and support—stay tuned!