Clarissa | making Enigma Heart

(a.k.a. Clarissa the Dogcow)

Founder, LGBTQ+ game studio Hadrosaurus Software (@HadroSoft)

Projects:
- Action RPG "Enigma Heart" in development!
- DOS run 'n' gun "Acronia" on hiatus but still alive!
- JRPG "A Rulonian Tale".... someday!

She/her 🏳️‍⚧️

Avatar by Kyle Bosman [https://kylebosman.itch.io]; colorized by me

Public Key

npub1n8pmqjhlkq3re3cshkpmwydrw7td5gcygyh6683zrgydv90ypptsjquz6n

NIP-05 Address

ClarusPlusPlus@peoplemaking-games.mostr.pub

Profile Code

nprofile1qqsfnsasftlmqg3ucugtmqahzx3h09k6yvzyztadrc3p5zxkzhjqs4c0retc2

Author Public Key

npub1n8pmqjhlkq3re3cshkpmwydrw7td5gcygyh6683zrgydv90ypptsjquz6n

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Last Notes

2025-02-23 20:04:23

Thinking of porting Enigma Heart to #SFML 3.
I worry about not being able to do a Switch port at that point, at least not without a buttload of ifdefs, but that's a problem for future me

2025-02-16 20:52:38

The pixel scaling in the UI in Stardew Valley on the Switch is....not great
https://s3.wasabisys.com/pmg-media/media_attachments/files/114/015/536/642/810/788/original/eb2f3295c009c54f.jpg

2025-02-14 02:27:39

#GameDev #PixelArt #EnigmaHeart
https://s3.wasabisys.com/pmg-media/media_attachments/files/113/999/872/860/359/140/original/de1e9881c60ffd56.png

2025-02-12 21:19:57

When Zalia casts the Protect spell, her clothes change from white/teal/purple to yellow/cyan/blue.
I wonder if I should change the health meter in the HUD, too? Maybe change the color of the hearts? Or print "LIFE" in a different color?
Pixel art by @nprofile…063f, @nprofile…a227, and me. Zalia portrait by @nprofile…6s7y.
#GameDev #EnigmaHeart @nprofile…7x3r
https://s3.wasabisys.com/pmg-media/media_attachments/files/113/992/995/683/779/086/original/5243618dc27d0a36.png
https://s3.wasabisys.com/pmg-media/media_attachments/files/113/992/996/249/411/942/original/9cc754dde3022e73.png

2025-02-08 17:18:49

The place I go to for physical therapy has a CRT mounted on the wall. It wasn't on when I was there. I'm guessing they don't use it anymore?
When I'm closer to being done there, I'm thinking of asking about it.

2025-01-24 15:16:00

- reply

@nprofile…uhu3 lol this has no right to work as well as it does

2025-01-17 16:00:15

Thoughts on using high-res character portraits for dialogue boxes in an otherwise pixel art game: yea or nay?
#GameDev #PixelArt #Art

2025-01-02 15:55:27

- reply

@nprofile…cgs9 still less weird than the gender binary

2024-12-08 18:14:25

lol
#Doom
https://s3.wasabisys.com/pmg-media/media_attachments/files/113/618/558/576/040/298/original/32f9d7095576cb88.png

2024-12-02 21:35:22

Sweet; cutscene scripts now have the ability to turn off the HUD.
Most scripts won't do this, obviously -- no need to for run-of-the-mill NPC dialogue. But for cinematics? Heck yeah
https://s3.wasabisys.com/pmg-media/media_attachments/files/113/585/369/718/709/749/original/13b19ef3d92d2dab.png
https://s3.wasabisys.com/pmg-media/media_attachments/files/113/585/369/901/178/636/original/9df5596d6eb094b9.png

2024-11-29 20:20:10

lol she big
#GameDev #IndieDev #IndieGame #IndieGames #PixelArt #EnigmaHeart
https://s3.wasabisys.com/pmg-media/media_attachments/files/113/568/091/900/666/728/original/3927af5bf6be3484.png

2024-11-10 19:46:01

Question: suppose I want to do a physical release of Enigma Heart. Are there any companies that do that kind of thing that aren't shitty companies that skim off a million percent of what I'd make for the game? Or am I better off manufacturing and shipping them myself like you-know-who did with Planet X3?

2024-11-09 17:47:15

I want to love Jazz Jackrabbit, but it's got one major flaw that I can't get past: the camera is too close for how fast the character moves. It creates this very Sonic the Hedgehog-like problem where the game encourages you to go fast, but actually doing so is dangerous.

2024-10-06 13:41:56

Silliest thing I've read in an RPG all week: "You will never take the snow globe, insignificant mortal!"

2024-09-20 18:54:33

so, how does post visibility work when two people are replying to each other in Followers Only mode? Are they able to be seen by a union of the two people's followers? An intersection? Are there inevitably some people who can only see half the conversation?

2024-08-29 21:15:42

Looks like I'm going to be doing some font hunting tonight. I need two pixel fonts at two different, specific sizes, that complement Enigma Heart's main UI font. Tall order!
It's so I can put together the titles for the opening cutscene

2024-08-13 14:49:24

I wonder if boxing could somehow be turned into a point-and-click adventure game

2024-08-08 22:55:04

- reply

@npub1x6a…d5cx Can't afford to do that. Weekend is when I catch up on work on EH

2024-08-08 22:49:55

I'm trapped in a cycle now and I don't know how to break it. I'm tired all the time, so I end up napping after work in the afternoon. Even when I set an alarm, I end up sleeping for like 2 or 3 hours. And then I'm up all night. And then I have to do the same thing the next day because I'm exhausted

2024-08-07 04:32:33

I've watched loads more sci-fi than I have fantasy in my life time.
Why, then, am I more comfortable writing fantasy than sci-fi?
Not complaining; I just don't understand lol

2024-08-05 13:45:07

⛈️
#GameDev #IndieDev #EnigmaHeart #Screenshot
https://s3.wasabisys.com/pmg-media/media_attachments/files/112/909/710/886/993/347/original/b2715e472003ee51.png

2024-08-04 18:09:40

I never thought I'd find an underwater enemy scarier than the Dopefish 😱 🦊 🐟
#KitsuneTails
https://s3.wasabisys.com/pmg-media/media_attachments/files/112/905/089/644/281/184/original/40a27c8ee584e839.png

2024-08-02 14:08:51

starting to realize that the reason a lot of platformers piss me off is because I approach them expecting to play them fast. I have certain behaviors burned into my monkey brain from years of Sonic the Hedgehog and Mario games with timers
When I slow down and play the way a given game expects me to play, I actually start to have fun with it

2024-08-01 20:32:05

Forget discovery and algorithms -- for 30%, Steam should do your entire marketing campaign for you. At 30% they're in fucking publisher territory

2024-07-14 22:06:18

I kinda hate programming almost as much as I love it

2024-07-04 21:08:44

Droleon is entirely unimpressed with whatever it is Zalia's bringing to the table.
#GameDev #IndieDev #PixelArt #EnigmaHeart
https://s3.wasabisys.com/pmg-media/media_attachments/files/112/730/259/359/997/235/original/55489c598197ec36.png

2024-06-28 22:32:41

Enigma Heart exists at the intersection of high fantasy, goofy camp, melodrama, and lesbianism

2024-06-28 03:56:54

I wonder if what I want is actually impossible

2024-06-27 13:13:17

- reply

@npub1x6a…d5cx I'll have to keep reminding my impostor syndrome of that 😅

2024-06-27 13:10:58

Heh.
So, the artist I've commissioned to do the promo art for Enigma Heart just called me "very professional" and *thanked me* for my detailed instructions on the revisions I requested 😳
And I thought I was being annoying and overly picky 😶

2024-06-18 23:32:55

There's no amount of sleep that can fix the kind of tired that I am

2024-06-14 17:28:43

idea: Proton, but for Linux games on Windows

2024-06-09 16:17:57

Torn between feeling like I need to use X, Threads, Bluesky, and Facebook for games promotion vs. not wanting to support corporate algorithmic social media
⚖️

2024-06-05 16:10:34

Life carries on, and the seasons change ❄️ 🦊
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1325260/Kitsune_Tails/

2024-06-03 16:28:50

#introduction #introductions
Hi! I'm Clarissa! I'm currently working on a retro-styled action RPG called "Enigma Heart."
(Think "Sapphic Zelda II"!)
@HadroSoft
https://www.hadrosaurus.net/enigma-heart
https://www.patreon.com/hadrosoft