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[wip] StoryLucent: Virtual StoryTelling Framework - comics and visual novels

StarlawStarlaw Posts: 71
in The Commons

5+ years in the making StoryTelling algorithm designed to produce dynamically driven stories.

What is it?     I have name it  StoryLucent

A framework designed to bring graphically driven story's to life. Powered by an algorithm that allows multiple story arcs to combined. This allows any reader to follow a story from any character perspective. At any point in sequenced time the reader can move virtually from one perspective of the story to another. For simplicity sake: seamlessy be able to experience the story from the hero/villain perspective. Ever wonder what the nasty villain was up to during our Hero's recovery?

How?

The framework is designed in Unity3D engine. However, the reason its been in development so long was to be univerally applied to any form of media. It works with Audio(with sucessfully completed product) and any source of art pipeline. I love working with DAZ3D and I am using it for my flag title going along with StoryLucent framework. Just bring your art from anywhere and the framework with help you get from art to your own comic app in no time. 

Why?

I figured that I wanted to see storytelling innovated with the new world of technology. We have phones, computers, Super Duper Retina HD tvs, VR / AR and most forms of stories are still linear. Is it a good idea? Only time will tell. Most of the years of research and testing is over. It's time for content development and production. Luckily enough im approaching my development milestone just as Unity is ramping up with Cinematic Tools as well :)

What's in it for you?

Well, i hope to be able to bring to bring this framework and much of my knowledge to anyone without the burden of burning many years of trial and error. I have worked 6 years and counting in a callcenter teaching myself everything i know to make this happen in my spare. I would like to help others get there a steps sooner :) I have converted the framework using FUNGUS to nodes based system. This means you don't need to know or perform any programming at all! This framework will be also ready for Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality too!

Now for some work in progress Renders+ Screenshots! BTW this is still Early Work in Progress.

 

Comments

  • ColemanRughColemanRugh Posts: 511

    Sounds cool, Starlaw.

  • Three WishesThree Wishes Posts: 471

    Well, this work in progress definitely has my attention. 

  • frankrblowfrankrblow Posts: 2,052

    Watching with interest cool. 

  • ALLIEKATBLUEALLIEKATBLUE Posts: 2,983

    Looks very interesting

  • exstarsisexstarsis Posts: 2,128

    I'm looking forward to seeing more about this! I've been playing with story engines for a long time and always up for a new take.

  • StarlawStarlaw Posts: 71
    edited November 2017

    Thanks for your interest :)

    Visual Design Philosophy (Camera Testing)

    StoryLucent is loosely designed around the use of flat rendered character sprites positioned in 3 dimensional worlds. The goal is to use a 3d realtime environment to create an immersive world in the story. With 2d character or focal points of interest allows more control of expression and exaggeration. The challenge of course, is to ensure the 2 formats visual blend well through color, perspective, lighting and motion. 

    Experimentation image below. StoryLucent alone will not provide any visual styling components. Unity3D has a plethora of camera, shader and lighting options. The image below uses only camera filters. This is to demonstrate the impact of realtime camera Color filters, before applying unique shaders for environment objects. Only 1 direction light.

     

    Post edited by Starlaw on
  • StarlawStarlaw Posts: 71
    edited November 2017

    StoryLucent Early Panel Movement Preview

    Early Development Alpha Demo - Work in progress

    This demonstration although very crude shows just the beginning core features of StoryLucent Framework. Observations made from the video:

    • Running in realtime
    • All panels individually cast an animated view of the scene
    • Transitions between the primary View and the smaller panels may operate in any order direction or shape.
    • Panels can filter out the background for isolated Character closeups 

    Sadly this video doesn't demonstrate the complete flexibility of Panel movement. This was just a quick. Ideally this took me about 1-2 hours to put together minus the developement time. my goal is to get make the tool intuitive to easily focus on producing content and reduce any system fiddling. Story board the idea and fine tune the results to perfection

     

    See Video Here: 

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cq1vtYPIezo

    not sure if videos can be embedded :(

     

    Post edited by Starlaw on
  • StarlawStarlaw Posts: 71
    edited November 2017

    StoryLucent Visual Design (Particles and Magic)

    The power of realtime development within Unity is the ability of total control on the fly. Working on a system to freeze frame live effects for the perfect shot.

    I want to balance both the use of still and the added awesomeness of light animations. Just enough to enhance the feeling of traditional comics but not deviate from it too much. The image below was completely rendered in Unity after the character creation pipeline through Daz.

     

     

    Post edited by Starlaw on
  • StarlawStarlaw Posts: 71
    edited November 2017

    Visual Design (Black n White)

    In the first entry of the StarLaw story black and white will be explored as a use to indicate the change in the way the story is told. The StoryLucent frame work will cross combine the best features of comics, graphic novels, visual novels and animation. Comic Panels, Visual Novel styled Dialogue system for detailed conversations and hybrid still animations to emulate action and engage the reader throughout the story.

    In addition, this particular story will infuse comic style driven narrative and dialogue with a hint of stylized poetry. The power of the frame work will allow the story to flow or without the elements for a better customized reader experience.

    Post edited by Starlaw on
  • StarlawStarlaw Posts: 71
    edited December 2017

    StoryLucent Video Demo #2

    Another update. I have a new video to demonstrate a few new features. Scenes are designed with a Snow Globe / Diorama workflow. Next update will focus on Menu Navigation and the Virtual Navigation through story elements. Followed by the a hands on demo of the StoryLucent Framework tool. Any Feedback, criticism or questions welcomed.

    Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAX_tHhkg14

    New Features:

    • Animated Floating Dialogue
    • Visual Novel Portrait Style Sprite Layout
    • Panel Camera Motion
    • Particle Effect Time Control
    • Character Panel Layer Filters
    starlaw_demo_yt.png
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    Post edited by Starlaw on
  • StarlawStarlaw Posts: 71

    Pricing, Website and Patreon

     

    Price: FREE 

    StoryLucent has always been designed with the idea to be freely available. Why? For starters the framework is a conceptualized idea brought to production without a released product. The other reason is that I feel that its good karma to return something to the development community. It's a cycle that I can't explain but its a big circle of give and receive. I develop soley independently and even I understand that what I do is not possible through the paid and free products of others.

     

    The Website

    This month I plan to start revealing the actual setup and documentation for the workflow. Website framework is complete but needs content. The website is to be laid out to cover every aspect of Storylucent with SIMPLICITY in mind.

    Patreon Planning

    Patreon is in the works to help with development cost and get feedback from its StoryLucent's interested audience. 

     

    See this work in progress banner of StoryLucent:

     

     

     

    Tool_screen.PNG
    1920 x 1012 - 614K
  • StarlawStarlaw Posts: 71

    Here is a rough behind the scenes reveal of a quick setup using character renders and scene setup in Unity3D. I'm determined to make it as easy as possible to bring rendered characters to life in graphic/visual novel form.

    Warning: its long and boring :P

    How is the progress?

    The foundation of the tool is completed. There is a lot more work to do in order to stream line the workflow and make the user experience as easy as possible.

     

    What is next?

    I will be introducing an improved system for comic bubbles and comic panel animations.

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