#& writing in catalan so i get some practice in after a month of basically nothing

[avantguardisme]

recordatori per a mi de finalitzar la llista de lectura pel meu projecte d'aquest estiu perque si no, l'oblidaré i no tindré temps suficient per llegir i escriure un assaig (encara que siguin totes obres de teatre que normalment son més curts i facils de llegir, sempre necessito molt més temps per llegir textos catalans)

[citizengame]

July ‘19: Game Announcement, Development Progress, Feature Showcase

Hello, world!

I’m working on a new game! I’ve been thinking about a nebulous collection of systems, mechanics, and concepts for a game called Citizen since my last year of high school. I started working on it during my summer before university started, but I gassed out after a couple of months due to technical obstacles and abandoned it. It was the latest in a long line of indie projects that I didn’t finish. Here I am two years later with two years of a world-class undergraduate computer science education under my belt thus far, and I think it’s time to revisit the idea with what I have learned since my last attempt. I decided to write a game development blog, 1) because I love sharing milestones and features that I find cool, and 2) in order to keep myself accountable to the project. Anyway, that aside, let me get to the good stuff!

Test walk cycle animation (colors used to discern limbs)

What is Citizen?

I would describe Citizen as a 2D top-down simulation-RPG.

The picture above isn’t the game interface, it’s a test rendering of a game world. The core concept that inspired Citizen was born of my frustration with a lot of games that I otherwise love. To me, there is nothing more immersion-breaking in games than the idea that NPCs (non-player characters) exist and act only in relation to the player. So, I set out to make a game where “the NPCs’ potential to impact the world is the same as the player.”

I also wanted to combine some of my peripheral academic interests into a game and create rich systems to support them, chiefly linguistics, anthropology, psychology, history, genealogy, politics, and philosophy.

Simply put, Citizen is about people. You, the player, are merely one person in a world. You are born into a country which has its own rich culture, language, traditions, attire, and native populations. Practically everything in the game is simulated. The physical geography of the world, the states, the ruling structure of each state (whether feudalism, despotism, or a parliamentary democracy, or a myriad of others), the skin color of the world’s races, the fauna, the weaponry each culture has developed, etc. Even writing systems are randomly generated (I’ll show off some screenshots later in this post). In addition, all of these features are dynamic. A vassal settlement of the capital in a state can rebel due to heavy taxation or famine and secede from the state it belonged to. An animal can be hunted to extinction. A state can be conquered and their language can be transliterated into the script of the colonizers’ native language. Features like this are inspired by real-world events in areas of academia that I find interesting. (An example would be the Hindi-Urdu split as standard registers of the Hindustani language).

Development Progress

This is the first blog milestone, and I have started the blog quite early in the development process. So far, I have only developed a handful of skeletal systems for world generation, culture generation, language, writing system generation, and vexillology (flags). I am currently working on the basics of spriting, animating, and rendering entities.

Feature Showcase

LANGUAGES

Currently, languages in Citizen have four components: phonology (the sounds used), writing system, vocabulary, and grammar, which is currently a stub. Words are represented as an array of syllables, and a syllable is an optional prefix consonant, a vowel, and an optional suffix consonant. The game has a semantic dictionary of “meanings,” and for each language, a word is generated and mapped to one of the meanings. Each meaning has a complexity, starting from 0 and increasing. An atomic idea, one that cannot be divided further, has a complexity of 0. Words that have higher complexities and contain ideas with lower complexities then have a chance of being generated as compound words. For example, boy has a complexity of 1. It contains the ideas of youth, male, and human, all complexity 0. Thus, in a given language, if young is zelkra, male is tro, and human is hefri, there is a chance that boy is zelkratrohefri, or some other permutation of its components. Additionally, there is also a chance that it is assigned to an original word.

WRITING SYSTEMS

Four words written in example script 1; handwriting.

Four words written in example script 2; handwriting.

Four words written in example script 3; handwriting.

This handwriting is just an aesthetic test, it was produced by an algorithm I designed based on the properties of each glyph. The three writing systems featured here are all simple non-featural alphabets.

Without getting into too much technical detail, the writing system generator currently supports non-featural alphabets, block alphabets (think Hangul), and syllabaries. I would like to add featural ones and abugidas and abjads as well, but it’s not a priority.

The primary goals in designing this system were that a writing system should be distinct and have its own character, as well as each glyph being distinct and legible within a given writing system.

A writing system is produced with a randomized series of variables, including:

Average line curvature

Maximum curvature deviation

Curvature deviation probability

Average line length

Next line in glyph connected to previous probability

Common element set (think left stem in D P B R H ...)

Start point set

Glyph start from start point probability

...

This extensive list of constants that are uniquely generated to each writing system as it generates its glyphs give each writing system a unique aesthetic and the glyphs a consistent look while retaining distinction.

Vexillography

Flags, nothing complicated here!

These flags are separated into three chunks. Flags in Citizen are generated by passing a culture into the generator. Each culture has its own heraldic devices and colors. They can generate flags with patterns and colors not endemic to their culture, but oftentimes, flags will feature cultural heritage. This is why the three flag sections look markedly unique. Flags have a configuration, whether simple, halved horizontally or vertically, tricolor, or quartered. Each section of the flag has a pattern, whether simple, striped, or lozenges at the moment. Then, the flag has a symbol layer. There can either be a symbol for the whole flag that is imposed on the center, or a symbol or each pattern in the flag’s configuration. There can also be no symbol at all. 

Right now, there are three placeholder symbols, with more to be added later. Obviously, animals feature heavily in heraldry. Since animals in the game are planned to be randomly generated, (ambitious, but possible) I want to randomly generate heraldic symbols based on the animals in that world instance as well.

The vexillography system was inspired by Catalan-speaking regions of Spain: Catalonia, Valencia Community, and the Balearic Islands. Each of these features the flag Crown of Aragon in their own flag. The Crown of Aragon flag has become a symbol of the Catalan language as a result.

What’s next?

I plan to spend the next few weeks on efficiently implementing sprites, animations, and tilemaps for people in an extensible way that works beautifully with the variety of people’s appearances in the game.

Let me know what you think and stay posted for more!

- Jordan 

[kovacissues]

There’s No Way I’m Falling (Dejan fic) Chapter 7

A/N: I hope you enjoy this chapter! the name of the chapter honestly only came from Dejan being a meme god haha. 

HERE is a link to my writing.

Chapter 7: Bye Felicia

*Dejan’s POW*

“I’m all yours… but you’re not all mine” Those words stung him so hard in the chest when hearing them come out of her mouth. He had to look away because he knew in a way that was the truth. He was someone else’s, even if he didn’t like that person.

“Noémie… I’ll be yours soon. Te… juro…? I promise” He had a plan on trying to learn Spanish so he tried to fit it into the conversations. Also, he had a plan on her being the only woman in his life too, well, except his mom.

Mimi looked at him, tears in her eyes. “It’s scary you know? I mean, you already have a family and I’m just here…” His heart broke more and more from seeing her in such pain.

“Draga… I have kids, not a family… and you’re here, in my arms, is that so bad?” He kissed her forehead quickly and looked at her waiting for an answer.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else… can we talk about this later? I really can’t focus right now” He just nodded as an answer and held her even closer than before.

---

If there was one thing Dejan knew, it was that Mimi was the one. Obviously, back in the day he thought the same about Anita, but this just wasn’t the same. Mimi was different, she felt different, not in a sexual way or anything just being with her felt right, it always had. The fear of losing her was unbearable for him, it was as if she was his oxygen tank and without her he’d die.

He shook off those thoughts. Not because they weren’t true, but because it made him feel like a child. Also, he was on his way to his own house, so the giddy smile wouldn’t go well there. He walked inside and straight up to his room, he knew the children were at the kindergarten. It would hurt way too much seeing them now and knowing there would be long until next time.

Just before he was finished packing his stuff, he heard footsteps behind him. “We miss you” Anita said weakly, making him turn around.

“just sign the fucking papers Anita, you’re not fooling anyone” Dejan hissed through his teeth while closing his bag. “Make sure you read it first” he added and walked straight past her.

“I’m moving to Croatia in a couple of months, Dragi” she said and he could feel his blood start boiling, only Mimi was allowed to call him nicknames like that. “come with me” who the fuck does she think she is?

“Honestly, I’d rather have my teeth slowly pulled out of my mouth” He had honestly never been this mad, but he also did not blame himself for it.

Anita looked at him with tears in her eyes. “Dejan… please… Either you come with me, or the kids will be one parent short the rest of their lives” she threatened and Dejan hit the wall hard in anger.

He had tears streaming down his face by now. “You’re not taking them away from me!” he yelled, while Anita stood there unfazed.

“Never said I was… They love you too much, just let me spend the next couple of months with them before I leave” she pleaded looking at him. Even though she had so much pain in her eyes now, he didn’t feel a thing for her.

“I get the kids?” he asked, earning a nod from her. “and you’ll sign the papers?” she nodded again, handing him a signed copy of the divorce papers.

“I’ve sent the original to the lawyers” she stated while still looking him in the eyes. Nope, still no feelings.

Dejan decided to leave the house, and right before the door closed he yelled his goodbye to Anita “Bye Felicia”. He didn’t let himself let out a small laugh before driving off in his car.

---

When he arrived back at Mimi’s apartment she was sitting with her laptop. She is probably working, he thought to himself before plumping down next to her on the couch.

“What are you looking so smug about?” She asked, and he couldn’t help but smile wider as he handed her the papers. While she read, he watched her eagerly waiting for her response.

“Well… that’s interesting, you get the kids… greaaaat” Why was she saying great like that? He suddenly felt super protective over his children.

“what’s wrong with that?” he was honestly scared of her answer, knowing that her answer could ruin the entire relationship.

Mimi laid the laptop and papers aside and held his hand. “it’s nothing wrong, I just… don’t like kids… or like, I’m not good with them” she explained, and he felt a burden off his chest.

Obviously, he didn’t want Mimi to feel like his children were a burden, but if she was pregnant she needed to know how to get along with kids. Dejan had this sneaky feeling that she was pregnant because of her ‘illness’, and he was pretty sure she also had that feeling.

“You should meet them someday, like for real… You will love them” he offered, and she looked at him and smiled a little before she nodded.

“I’d love that, just not yet… They decide when…” He knew she was right, he knew that the kids should be in charge of that, but at the same time he just really wanted them to hang out. To see the three people he loves the most, together.

---

*Mimi’s POV*

She and Dejan had basically been living together for a week now, and she had loved every second of it. From watching him facetime with Sime to cuddling with him after work. The only thing she despised was the fact that she had promised herself not to have sex with him before his divorce was one hundred percent finalized. She found it hard not to do anything inappropriate in certain situations, like when he would come out from the bathroom with wet hair and only wearing a towel.

That weekend FC Barcelona was in town, which meant Mimi had to interview a couple of the players. Because of this, she went out to take a couple of coffees with Coutinho, Sergi and Ivan Rakitic. She had originally wanted to interview Lionel Messi, but he was too busy to do any interviews at all. Most of the interview went amazing, until they started talking about literally everything else.

Just as Mimi started taking pictures of the men, she heard a familiar voice behind her. “Oh look! It’s Lopez! Dejan look!” Mo Salah shouted and walked over to them, practically dragging Dejan after him.

Mimi laughed at the sight and shook her head a little “the king of Egypt!” she exclaimed before standing up and hugging both of them. “I guess you all know each other so why don’t you just sit down?” she offered and they nodded before hugging Coutinho tight.

Dejan then turned to Ivan and hugged him tight “I’m pretty sure my woman loves you more than she loves me” he joked causing Mimi to laugh. She was so in love with Dejan, but she knew she couldn’t show it right now.

“Sergi is one of my brother’s best friend, since kindergarten” she told and the guys shook his hand. “He’s like a brother to me, always been” she said smiling widely at him.

Just then she felt something cold go all over her “I hope you’re happy with yourself, whore!” some woman yelled and just as she turned around she saw Anita standing there. Mimi panicked and looked at Dejan before getting up and running away crying, an iced coffee all over her.

She got to her car and just sat inside, crying hard. Of course she wasn’t happy with herself, she didn’t like hurting people. No matter how much they deserved it. She also was upset about being such a coward and not defend herself against her. Telling Anita that she was the whore, and that Dejan is a thousand times better off without her.

Her eyes drifted over to her phone which had been alternating with showing incoming call from Dejan and incoming call from Sergi. She knew she had to talk with at least one of them, but right there and then she just couldn’t talk to Dejan, it was too much.

The next time Sergi called, she tried to contain her tears and answered “Hola”. From the breathing she could hear that it wasn’t Sergi on the other end of the line. “Dejan?” she said, her voice cracking slightly from crying.

“Where are you? Are you okay?” he asked, and she could hear that he had been moving because his breath was heavy.

“Just meet me at the apartment… Bring Sergi” she told him before hanging up and driving home.

The moment she got inside she ran to the bathroom and took a long shower, crying the entire time. After a while she couldn’t even stand anymore, so she sat down, water flowing over her.

Her head shot up as she felt the water stop. “Dejan… just let me be alone” he just shook his head and grabbed a towel and signalized for her to go to him. When she obliged, he wrapped the towel around her and held her tight. “You’re getting wet” she stated, but it only seemed to make him hold her tighter.

“I don’t care, I just want you to know that you’re the best thing that has ever happened to me” he almost whispered into her ear, making her shiver. “I did not bring Sergi by the way” he told and she looked up at him.

“I need him right now, I NEED someone who speaks my language! I can’t do this in English” she explained through her tears, making Dejan kiss her head.

“yes… You can… and you will, we’re a team” His words comforted her more than she thought they would. She still didn’t believe she could do this in any other language than Spanish or Catalan but decided to give it a try, for Dejan.

She took a deep breath, knowing that she’d have to tell everything to Dejan. “I’m so embarrassed… there are already pictures online… I hate this… I hate being at that side of an article… or a camera… I don’t like the spotlight” she explained crying into his chest.

“Nobody likes the spotlight when it’s like this… what does the article say?” he asked and she once again looked up at him.

“Apparently they think it’s because she was angry that I got her friends work assignments… It’s not my fault Stephen wrote an article about you being an asshole and tried to get it published” she felt good getting all that off her chest, but the next thing was way harder to tell him. “but, I know why she did it” by now she looked down, not wanting to face him.

He put his hands on each side of her head and slowly lifted it. “What honey?” he asked, looking into her eyes.

“She saw me at my doctors office… and somehow she figured out why I was there. She tried to make a scene there, but I just left” She saw Dejan look confused and she looked slightly away “I’m… I’m pregnant”.