Hello everybody! I'm a refugee from Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Ukraine. At the moment, I dwell in a village in Vinnytsia Oblast and have accomplished the event of my second large sport. My condo and native city have been destroyed throughout the shelling again in March 2022.

Background

After the discharge of my first sport, I obtained the cash to purchase my very own place.

It's a small condo in an outdated constructing, with nothing in any respect. It hasn't been renovated for the reason that final century. I had the sensation that point had stopped right here.

After watching a bunch of movies about repairs, I believe I'll attempt to do it myself, and it’ll give me a break from my laptop.

I ask my father for backup and we set off. To start with, we handle the lavatory.

https://preview.redd.it/0fyro58cp8ed1.png?width=1342&format=png&auto=webp&s=6c83d11f6c481d04a575e017f436c532b159cc18

The subsequent factor I wanted was a examine. Whereas plastering, I got here up with the concept to make a brick sample.

I minimize out a template from a chunk of ceiling foam and easily utilized plaster on it. It regarded slightly messy, however not unhealthy in any respect.

https://preview.redd.it/eiouq49ep8ed1.png?width=1920&format=png&auto=webp&s=77a392ac15ec8379b7cbeff44388ebdd092b84c6

I needed to make a DIY desk, so I purchased some planks, glued them collectively, after which spent a very long time leveling the wood board underneath the burden as a result of the planks have been uncooked and warped.

https://preview.redd.it/nipq9fugp8ed1.jpg?width=3864&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=89692a02cf021068e87510edf617780253cc23fa

The examine regarded like this. It was the primary time I had a extremely comfy office, and I used to be more than pleased with the consequence.

https://preview.redd.it/63q46zcip8ed1.jpg?width=2736&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2c0c28d872f836096cc766734bef9dd32ed93c0f

What got here subsequent was the bed room and lounge.

https://preview.redd.it/081egc3np8ed1.png?width=1800&format=png&auto=webp&s=9a9816a26bf2b8850337e07bc7b40a4a3ef54247

Curiously, I used iron fruit plates to make chandeliers and ornamental plaster.

https://preview.redd.it/g6tb7brop8ed1.jpg?width=2440&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f5160e4652a210105dce5cfadb7a7e418a9b2d7e

The renovation was accomplished on February 22, 2022, and on February 24, at 5 a.m., we woke as much as an explosion. The warfare had begun.

We didn't take any belongings besides cash and IDs. And now we’re on our approach to my dad and mom' home, frightened {that a} missile will hit our condo constructing. Upon arrival, I discover out that my father is 60 kilometers away at work, and my mom and sister are at residence. Town is engulfed in panic: there isn’t a gasoline, no meals within the shops, and no medicines.

The start of the subsequent day is marked by the shelling of town, as we cover within the basement. My father remains to be in a special metropolis. Within the night, there isn’t a energy and water, and the unheated basement will get very chilly and damp. We will hear fixed whistling and explosions above our heads. Out of the outdated door within the basement we made a mattress and take turns sleeping, with precedence given to my pregnant spouse. That evening within the basement was a sickening horror, it was winter, it was very darkish exterior, and there was no ambient mild in any respect. I’ve by no means seen such darkness earlier than.

https://preview.redd.it/tfpmdj3rp8ed1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f886f94d680b9c505d56ba27e39403c16b0d2653

Day 3: My spouse, a health care provider, is on maternity go away. She is named in to work, there are lots of wounded folks and he or she wants to assist with blood assortment. We can not determine whether or not she ought to go there. An ambulance reveals up and takes her away; I'm not allowed to go together with her. I can't attain her usually till 9 p.m. I don't know what to suppose, I'm going to stroll throughout town to her hospital.

It was like that for one more 3 or 4 days. A missile hits the hospital, and since my spouse is pregnant, they ask her to not come anymore.

Day 8: Along with the explosions, we are able to hear machine gun hearth getting nearer and nearer. A automobile drives by means of the streets and pronounces by means of a loudspeaker that those that can go away by their very own transport ought to go, and that evacuation buses are being ready for the remainder of us within the central sq.. I used to be already form of delirious, I hadn't slept effectively, and I had eaten virtually nothing however canned meals.

Leaving every little thing behind, we get within the automobile and drive to Zaporizhzhya. On our approach, we see destroyed homes and a highway torn up by tanks.

Upon arrival in Zaporizhzhia, I wish to put my spouse, mom, and sister on an evacuation practice to Poland.

Once we obtained to the practice station, we noticed hundreds of individuals in entrance of the doorway and on the platforms. My spouse is 7 months pregnant. Then I understand that my spouse, mom, and sister are unlikely to get on the practice. We’re heading again to the downtown. There is no such thing as a gasoline wherever; my automobile is out of gasoline, so I go away it within the parking zone.

https://preview.redd.it/dda6rhftp8ed1.jpg?width=517&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8a3ac5d9ae1080d81d072f8192184e0c4fa49c2b

I name my buddy; he has a diesel automobile and managed to purchase 4 gasoline cans. My buddy says he’s going to go away along with his spouse and little one, however there are 4 of us. In tears, my mom and sister keep in Zaporizhzhia, and I, my spouse and my buddy's household go to the place the place we are actually. Someway, my mother and sister managed to get on an evacuation practice to Poland.

Initially, we needed to dwell in a sauna as a result of all of the motels have been occupied by IDPs, so we had no alternative.

Due to type folks, we settled in an outdated home. We used water from a effectively, firewood for heating, and a rest room exterior.

New location and improvement

After I got here to my senses and began checking my electronic mail, I noticed a message in my inbox from a console writer a couple of remaster of my outdated sport Shapik: The Quest.

The unique model of Shapik: The Quest was launched again in 2013, and it was my first sport and my first expertise in creating, drawing, programming and animation. The sport runs on flash (Adobe Flash). I drew inspiration from video games of the Czech studio Amanita Design (Machinarium, Samorost)

The unique sport seems like this

I obtained enthusiastic about this supply, and it appeared to me that it wasn't sufficient simply to transform the unique. I additionally needed to construct the sport on trendy know-how (unity), redraw the graphics in 4K and get acquainted with the Backbone 2nd animation software.

I defined my scenario, and the writer despatched me a laptop computer and a graphics pill so I might finalize the sport, for which I’m very grateful. Acer Aspire V laptop computer and Wacom One Medium graphics pill.

Residence, laptop computer, pill

Workforce

There are solely 2 folks in our workforce, and to place it merely, I'm accountable for the graphics and he's accountable for the code, however as is normally the case in such small groups, to ensure that the sport to be launched, every of us performs a variety of duties.

“Enjoyable truth: we met on-line, by no means met and by no means made a voice name. Who is aware of, he may really be a cat?”

https://preview.redd.it/g8l3wjp2q8ed1.jpg?width=2048&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=818fd9da803df6797aa6caea49bef7900aac1bb6

I shared with him the concept of creating a remaster. He stated that we should always not simply remaster the unique sport, however add new ranges and puzzles. I ditched the concept of increasing the sport, I wasn't certain if I might do something in any respect in my scenario.

Getting began with improvement

Since we moved into an outdated home, it actually didn't have any Web connection, and there was just one outlet in every room. I believe I'll attempt to join my mobile phone as a modem, however the Web connection in the home just isn’t working in any respect. To obtain/ship any messages, I’ve to exit with a laptop computer and a cellphone linked to it (I attempted hanging the cellphone out of the window, but it surely didn't assist, and it snowed daily). So I attempt to use the Web as little as doable and it's an enormous downside.

Picture of laptop computer + cellphone modem

My typical day regarded one thing like this:

• lighting the range (it was winter, and if it was not heated, it grew to become very chilly in a matter of hours)
• fetching water from the effectively
• pouring water into the sink
• making ready one thing to eat
• making an attempt to work, always working exterior with my laptop computer
• air raid alert
• continuing to the shelter
• missiles are flying overhead (originally of the warfare, missiles have been always flying over us; they fly very low, with a really particular whistle that can not be confused with the rest)
• sitting in a shelter for a few hours (considering on a brand new degree of the sport, what remains to be lacking, whether or not one thing could be improved)
• looking for a greater place to dwell
• air raid alert within the night and every little thing goes in a circle once more

Our washer

That vicious cycle turned out to be extraordinarily demoralizing, with fixed missile assaults, poor dwelling circumstances (particularly for my pregnant spouse), fixed studying of the information and the information feed with the lifeless folks and other people I knew.

I’m always in a form of suspended despair and can’t settle for that we’ve got grow to be homeless for all times.

We lived on this home from March to June, after which we managed to discover a new home with acceptable dwelling circumstances. And I can't neglect these emotions when for the primary time in 3 months the water was working from the faucet. We didn't have to hold firewood as a result of the home had gasoline heating. We might take a bathe (earlier than that we needed to go to a lodge twice every week), and there was a standard shelter underneath the home.

Issues that appear to be so commonplace, such because the Web, electrical energy, warmth, and even water, can all of a sudden disappear.

A small forest behind the home and a neighbor's canine

Regardless of all of the circumstances, the remaster of the unique sport was prepared.

Nevertheless, the remaster turned out to be very brief, with solely 9 ranges, and I perceive that this isn’t sufficient for a full sport.

I recall the programmer's thought to increase the sport with new ranges and puzzles. Attending to work.

New ranges

The man programmer got here up with some nice new ranges and puzzles, and every degree was distinctive.

The work went like this: he despatched me a structure drawn in Paint, I redrew it in Photoshop, then we mentioned numerous nuances and enhancements collectively.

https://preview.redd.it/03znr93hq8ed1.jpg?width=3840&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=eef0163d3f4e35ce469ac0602cb07a77c12b9c10

On prime of that, a programmer got here up with the concept of creating all of the puzzles random each time. As a result of after I suppose again to my emotions about such video games, I wish to return to the world of the sport sometimes, however the video games I've accomplished normally can't give me new challenges. And this answer works very effectively within the sport.

Really, I'm very grateful to the programmer for his proactivity, religion within the undertaking and in our workforce. As I used to be busy creating the sport, I used to be in a position to distract myself from the horror of what was occurring. And whilst an grownup, it was good to be within the magical world of the sport for some time, the place all of the puzzles are solved and evil just isn’t so horrible.

The brand new commit in GitHub is a ray of sunshine that warms me up a bit.

Technical particulars

The sport was painted in Photoshop with a default spherical brush and a customized texture brush.

I’ve by no means realized to attract and I understand that I’ve large issues with perspective, colours, and composition. I wish to begin studying, however one thing at all times will get in the best way.

Animation

I work in Backbone at a really primitive degree.

I break the character into separate components: head, arms, legs, and so forth.

https://i.redd.it/4lfksb5oq8ed1.gif

I draw the consequences body by body in Adobe Animate, so every body is a separate drawing. Then, these photos are performed one after the other.

https://i.redd.it/143ce8opq8ed1.gif

I do know I have to unfold the phrase in regards to the sport

TikTok seems attention-grabbing, so I create my first video about sport improvement throughout the warfare and, to my shock, folks prefer it and I win subscribers.

Then I write just a few posts on Reddit, and other people additionally like them.

The sport is sort of utterly completed, however the brand new ranges and animations are with out sounds. For the essential model, we have been in a position to pay for the creation of the sounds ourselves, however after a big enlargement of the sport and a further yr of improvement this grew to become a major problem. We didn't wish to cut back the standard, so it was determined to attempt to begin a Kickstarter marketing campaign just for probably the most essential.

The marketing campaign goes very arduous. I work daily on content material, create movies for TikTok, YouTube, write updates on Kickstarter and Twitter.

On the final day of the marketing campaign, I used to be 15% brief, and because of Mrs TouchtheGeo, my video was shared on Twitter and the marketing campaign was closed, for which I’m very grateful to everybody!

I do know I have to unfold the phrase in regards to the sport

TikTok seems attention-grabbing, so I create my first video about sport improvement throughout the warfare and, to my shock, folks prefer it and I win subscribers

Additionally by means of TikTok, I used to be capable of finding an incredible composer who wrote a tremendous soundtrack and a cool sound designer who created nice sound results and ambiance within the sport.

Launch

Initially, I deliberate to make a fast remaster, however finally it took a yr and a half. As we labored on the sport, we added 12 new ranges, a bunch of recent animations, puzzles and easter eggs, and utterly modified the music and soundtrack. Anyway, the sport made it to launch.

Screenshots

https://preview.redd.it/ekvwtm8zq8ed1.jpg?width=2160&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7dd6ea528af400ba92f0e6527b49ddd29dcc036e

Thanks for studying to the top.

I understand that for most individuals my condo renovation seems lame and ridiculous, and this submit just isn’t about whining or evoking pity, however to point out what I went by means of throughout the improvement.

P.S. Picture throughout the condo renovation: me and Keks. Sadly, the condo was utterly destroyed and Keks disappeared throughout the shelling.

https://preview.redd.it/kaxl0x82r8ed1.jpg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=adbd07e5d72a01a91cc19b5c1c8e74bd23930ee4