April Fools, to be released on the 1st (next Tuesday), is a little something I've thrown together for the occasion. I've had the idea in my head for a long time. It doesn't have sound and it's short, but at least I finally got around to it.

What devious designs does Ben have for Gwen?

    In other 'news', I've snagged some nice models lately. A Tinkerbell (Disney 3D version), a new Cindy Aurum (Final Fantasy) and I some more I can't recall right off. I'm eager to use Cindy in something. I still have too many project ideas I want to do. I've been checking the started or tested projects and finding some gems kinda like Hostile Takeover was, so there might be some fixes to those. Maybe some long lost anticipated projects will finally see the light of day.

    Here we are, Weekly WIP 100. In 'honor' of this, V has helped Misty Olszewski (Cyberpunk 2077) figure up a new way to earn some eddies. Seems to be working. Misty Olszewski model by Lord Aardvark

    Black Cat Cafe is coming along, slowly but surely. Several new tricks being added to this one, so it's been an interesting challenge to get them to work well; if at all. Very much a trial-and-error project.

    Tekken's Emilie de Rochefort project is nearing completion. Finally. Glad I didn't give up on it. It should be out in a week or so; render times and all that.

    Black Cat Cafe is coming along well. I even managed to salvage the transition bit. Was sure that was pretty much useless, so yay for that. 3 sections, not fully finished, but it's a decent amount so far.
    Revamped the dildos on the machine a little. Both will have some sort of ribbed textures or studs or whatever to allow the spin motion they will have to be effective and yeah, electric shocks, oh no (yes); but that's on the highest setting/level.
    Still no idea how many sections this is going to have. "Several" or "A lot" is about the most accurate I can get. Also, still unsure about the background; not that what's in the back is important, right?
    I showed off some movement on Discord the other day to high praise and anticipation. I might do a shit render of it for next Weekly WIP.
    Also, this might end up with a few versions for length for various tiers. We'll see.

    Happy to say I've gotten back on track with Black Cat Cafe. Black Cat was being stubborn, 'hissing' and refusing to work with me. She works pretty well now. Really what it came down to how I was trying to do the animation. When I first started SFM I learned how to animate via 'pan' camera, which is difficult and time consuming since it shows all of it all the time, so breaks in the model, glitches in whatever, odd angles etc. are visible. 'Still' cameras are more aligned with the animation and model and is easier and I think better, but I default to my 'roots' all the time and forget to stop doing that.

    An example of is right below. Black Cat's knees are pretty jagged/pointed in this pose, but, since the camera doesn't show that high up, you can't see it, thus it looks fine. At one point in this angle her left elbow swings into view much more, hiding a jagged bit on her chest.

    It's still rough of course. I only got this working properly yesterday, but now that I know what I'm doing again, I can really get things swinging.

    Black Cat Café. I think it's a fantastic name. I didn't come up with it; a follower did. According to Wikipedia, a cat café is a theme café whose attraction is cats who can be watched and played with. Well; Black "Cat" is about to be watched and "played with", so it works on a fun play on words type level.

    Still a lot of general scene sorting. (What's in the background, how much of the background needs to be shown, is there anyone else visible, etc.) so there isn't much to show yet. Also, I have a lot more textures to work on, mostly for Black Cat and for various things, like the dildos for the machine. Interesting what can happen by just changing a texture outright and editing the bump map (the file that determines the way the light bends/reflects on the object to show wrinkles/texture). I like them. More interesting than just a solid color or flesh tone. I'll probably keep them somewhat like the preview picture.

    It's already been chatted about some on my Discord about the possible use of a gag for this. Yes, there will be a bit gag this time. In fact, it's the one on the banner picture here on SubStar that Judy Alvarez has on.

    Still not sure what music I'll use. I need to look around for that soon. Even though this won't be musically timed, the music will still need to help set the tone.

    Might take a bit to sort a name for this one.

    Felicia Hardy (Black Cat) is invited to a spiffy charity event hosted by a new company Obsidian Mirage.  Little does she know that they know that she's also Black Cat and they have an....interesting theme for the event.

    Long limo ride on a dark and rainy night. (Yeah, I like rain in animations. I've not figured out why yet.) Hope nothing happens like a spiked drink, or some kind of knockout gas gets pumped into the car. "Hint hint" and all that.

    Not much to say about this yet; still early in concept. The intro, which is also where I'm also going to place the credits, is nearly finished. I miss intros and more a cinematic style. I like how BM Ivy has the detailed start. I was going to do a single camera angle, but I've decided to do several. One wouldn't show enough of what's going on and it be kinda boring.  The lighting has turned pretty nice on this section. I think I do lights well these days.

    This one will not be timed to music, since the concept wouldn't make sense for it. It will, however, have music in the background, most likely a loop. Something that won't grate on nerves to hear over and over and over and over and you get the point. Lastly, this one is meant to be longer than anything so far. I really want to convey a lengthy passing of time, so there will be the nice time transitions (Like Yin-Ping) and expression changes (Like Sancus 1) plus actual project length. How long? Not sure yet.

    Lastly #2. Since this will be longer running, it will take longer to make. It's going to have a lot of transitions. Hopefully you all bare with me on this, since there most likely won't be anything released for a bit.