ps. I want to see your comments about what you see here.
Well, it looks sexy
Of course you will need skin recolor options, not to mention hairstyles and clothes. It's a lot of work if you don't have ready presets.
QFT.
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Is it even remotely possible to create convincing Anime characters using a doll like this? I tried searching anime chars for Daz3D and even a few that are available are not anime like and I couldn't find one even for the most widely known anime characters like Miku. They all look really great but too lifelike.
I am sure that this setup will work for original characters and maybe you'll even manage to get a good game together but ever since you've said: Unity + 3D Characters instead of RPG-Maker + High Res Sprites, I lost all faith that this will ever become a better/more advanced version of SimBro 2 with a different storyline (Build a city/Kill stuff in dungeons) meeting characters from well known anime/games/manga and etc.
While in the past I was convinced that there might be a game like you've described (eventually), now in order for me to accept that there is even a chance, I need to see:
1) At least one map (or area) with collision, layers, events, sprites and acceptable effects (lighting, shadows and etc.) player would expect in the game (demo version) + at least one simple quests + at least simple combat setup + building at least a couple of buildings.
2) *
Most important of all: A convincing way of adding/creating new content for the game in reasonable amount of time in order to believe that the game can be created by a small team in at least 5 - 6 years of "hobby time".
3)
If still applicable (I am not clear if you abandoned this concept or not), at least 3 characters of different figure/face/hair/clothing from famous sources that do not look out of place and can be interacted with.
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It's a lot... I don't really care about interface/items/equipment because that doesn't raise any flags with me at all (aka I have full confidence that it will and can be done at any point and in my opinion a development interface that offers convenience for devs is more appropriate), I'd prefer sprites to keep original clothing/go naked (if no equipment) than equipping each set of clothing/armor changing the way they look *Obviously also only if famous characters are still on the table...
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Last notes:
1) So far best (famous) anime sprites I've seen working in unity were imported (*converted) from MMD but I am not sure how difficult it would be to have nude interactive versions due to lack of experience with 3D and both engines.
2)
Link to a very promising 3D crawler made with unity without financial support, promised free distribution and a two man "hobby" project:
*Took them 6 years to get this close to release.
*Got random dungeons you've mentioned + randomized items system + unique items.
3) Only game I am aware of that allows to create a lot of famous characters in 3D convincingly is AA2. All other games from Illusion or their competitors are... crap (
in that department), although some provide really beautiful original characters. It
is likely impossible or a lot more trouble that it's worth to port that to Unity but I thought it was worth a note... maybe some customization options ideas can be borrowed from it.