Sarena
@michellerakar.itch.io
Game Designer with a passion for character design and interactive storytelling. Writing a story called The Nays.
Senior Curriculum Developer with a BFA in Animation.
🔗 https://michellerakar.carrd.co/
Senior Curriculum Developer with a BFA in Animation.
🔗 https://michellerakar.carrd.co/
Pinned
Sarena
@michellerakar.itch.io
· Oct 21
I've been working on a story called The Nays with @nimbusstev.bsky.social for most of my life and finally started sharing it in the form of Twine stories the past few years. I'll post more about it in future posts!
Check out the first chapter ("Eventure") here: the-nays.weebly.com/the-gek-even...
Check out the first chapter ("Eventure") here: the-nays.weebly.com/the-gek-even...
I made a lot of progress on a new #RPGMaker plugin today! For this plugin, I'm printing a lot of game data to an external txt file that acts as a debug log. This is meant for external playtesting and for storing data on playthroughs. I'm learning more about parameters.
#IndieDev #GameDev
#IndieDev #GameDev
November 17, 2025 at 10:45 AM
#PokemonZASpoilers
I beat Pokemon Z-A a couple of weeks ago, but haven't been able to stop playing it post-game even after getting the full Pokedex; it's now one of my favorite Pokemon games! I made it a point to take a new trainer photo every rank, so here's my (slightly spoilerish) compilation!
I beat Pokemon Z-A a couple of weeks ago, but haven't been able to stop playing it post-game even after getting the full Pokedex; it's now one of my favorite Pokemon games! I made it a point to take a new trainer photo every rank, so here's my (slightly spoilerish) compilation!
November 16, 2025 at 9:29 AM
#PokemonZASpoilers
I beat Pokemon Z-A a couple of weeks ago, but haven't been able to stop playing it post-game even after getting the full Pokedex; it's now one of my favorite Pokemon games! I made it a point to take a new trainer photo every rank, so here's my (slightly spoilerish) compilation!
I beat Pokemon Z-A a couple of weeks ago, but haven't been able to stop playing it post-game even after getting the full Pokedex; it's now one of my favorite Pokemon games! I made it a point to take a new trainer photo every rank, so here's my (slightly spoilerish) compilation!
While it may not look like a lot of visual progress, I made a lot of data progress on my #RPGMaker plugin today! Now, instead of using party members, I store the characters in an array. I had to make two windows for the party and the area below, but they're all selectable now.
#IndieDev #GameDev
#IndieDev #GameDev
November 11, 2025 at 7:51 AM
I decided to finally learn how to make my own #RPGMaker plugin! I'm making a custom party manager plugin, so I'm learning about how windows work. Right now I have it showing the character's name and face in a party menu and a stats window on the side with who you're hovered over.
#IndieDev #GameDev
#IndieDev #GameDev
November 10, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Here's a gameplay video of the digital version of Nay Saga. I adapted 2/6 of the game types from the physical board game to RPG Maker MZ in a few months:
Nay Saga (Digital): Gameplay Video
YouTube video by Sarena
www.youtube.com
November 8, 2025 at 4:16 AM
Here's a gameplay video of the digital version of Nay Saga. I adapted 2/6 of the game types from the physical board game to RPG Maker MZ in a few months:
I've been playing a lot of monster collection games lately, and I've always thought it'd be fun to make my own. So I threw together this little test in #RPGMaker using the database, events, and JavaScript! I didn't actually need any plugins to put this concept together either.
#GameDev #IndieDev
#GameDev #IndieDev
November 3, 2025 at 9:38 AM
Reposted by Sarena
The Nays met Daniel, who tricked them into participating in his challenges, competing against The Gek for The Nays' admiration. The Gek rescued them, so they're ready to compete in more games of The Gek Point Championship!
📘 Read The Gek's Favorite Eventure here: the-nays.weebly.com/the-geks-fav...
📘 Read The Gek's Favorite Eventure here: the-nays.weebly.com/the-geks-fav...
November 2, 2025 at 8:17 AM
The Nays met Daniel, who tricked them into participating in his challenges, competing against The Gek for The Nays' admiration. The Gek rescued them, so they're ready to compete in more games of The Gek Point Championship!
📘 Read The Gek's Favorite Eventure here: the-nays.weebly.com/the-geks-fav...
📘 Read The Gek's Favorite Eventure here: the-nays.weebly.com/the-geks-fav...
@nimbusstev.bsky.social and I have been thinking about remaking our #GGJ project from 2020, The Note Competition (and probably renaming/retheming it). So I updated the game to RPG Maker MZ and optimized some of the code. In my blog post, I detail what I've done in preparation:
#GameDev #IndieDev
#GameDev #IndieDev
The Note Competition Remake Devlog 1: RPG Maker MZ Updates & Optimization
A blog dedicated the to artwork and game development process of Michelle Rakar, a Game Designer with a BFA in Animation.
michellerakar.blogspot.com
October 29, 2025 at 1:22 AM
@nimbusstev.bsky.social and I have been thinking about remaking our #GGJ project from 2020, The Note Competition (and probably renaming/retheming it). So I updated the game to RPG Maker MZ and optimized some of the code. In my blog post, I detail what I've done in preparation:
#GameDev #IndieDev
#GameDev #IndieDev
I wrote about my process on making the mini-Unity project from the other week, Outlaw Bar Bowling. Check out my blog post here: michellerakar.blogspot.com/2025/10/nay-...
#IndieDev #GameDev
#IndieDev #GameDev
Nay 50 Project: Outlaw Bar Bowling
A blog dedicated the to artwork and game development process of Michelle Rakar, a Game Designer with a BFA in Animation.
michellerakar.blogspot.com
October 21, 2025 at 12:32 AM
I wrote about my process on making the mini-Unity project from the other week, Outlaw Bar Bowling. Check out my blog post here: michellerakar.blogspot.com/2025/10/nay-...
#IndieDev #GameDev
#IndieDev #GameDev
I've been playing a lot of Digimon Story Time Stranger these past few weeks and I think I'm close to beating it. I have multiple pages of notes like this on what stats my Digimon need to gain in the Digi Farm so they can digivolve. The digivolving is really my favorite part of these games!
October 17, 2025 at 9:45 AM
I've been playing a lot of Digimon Story Time Stranger these past few weeks and I think I'm close to beating it. I have multiple pages of notes like this on what stats my Digimon need to gain in the Digi Farm so they can digivolve. The digivolving is really my favorite part of these games!
Over the years, I've always enjoyed making lists and tracking data relating to my interests in spreadsheets. My brother and I have been tracking our Pokémon TCG Pocket cards in Google Sheets so we can see which cards to trade, and I'm making a lot of progress with the EX packs.
October 16, 2025 at 7:28 AM
Over the years, I've always enjoyed making lists and tracking data relating to my interests in spreadsheets. My brother and I have been tracking our Pokémon TCG Pocket cards in Google Sheets so we can see which cards to trade, and I'm making a lot of progress with the EX packs.
Last night, I was thinking about clever ways to create the team menu for The Note Competition Remake. I came up with an idea to be like an equipment menu where you equip different characters for different slots in battle. So I made some sketches to brainstorm before implementing.
#IndieDev #GameDev
#IndieDev #GameDev
October 13, 2025 at 11:13 AM
Last year, I made a game called Clove’s Story in Ren'Py for the "Only One of Any Asset" (O2A2) Visual Novel Jam 2024. Here's a video where I play through the game:
Clove's Story: Gameplay Video (O2A2 VN Jam 2024)
YouTube video by Sarena
youtu.be
October 11, 2025 at 12:35 AM
Last year, I made a game called Clove’s Story in Ren'Py for the "Only One of Any Asset" (O2A2) Visual Novel Jam 2024. Here's a video where I play through the game:
I've been brainstorming a lot for our remake of The Note Competition. We're leaning towards completely re-theming it and most likely renaming it. But for now, I've been optimizing the code and fixing some functionality to set us up for an easier time when we dive into it!
#GameDev #IndieDev
#GameDev #IndieDev
October 6, 2025 at 7:46 AM
Reposted by Sarena
The Nays went back to The Gek's World for a few days, played more games, met more Nays, and sneaked out to go on missions as "The Night Kids". Now they stay up before bed to go on another mission, but with a bigger group.
📘 Read The Gek's Rival Eventure here: the-nays.weebly.com/the-geks-riv...
📘 Read The Gek's Rival Eventure here: the-nays.weebly.com/the-geks-riv...
September 27, 2025 at 1:55 AM
The Nays went back to The Gek's World for a few days, played more games, met more Nays, and sneaked out to go on missions as "The Night Kids". Now they stay up before bed to go on another mission, but with a bigger group.
📘 Read The Gek's Rival Eventure here: the-nays.weebly.com/the-geks-riv...
📘 Read The Gek's Rival Eventure here: the-nays.weebly.com/the-geks-riv...
Here's a video of Outlaw Bar Bowling, the mini game that @nimbusstev.bsky.social and I made in Unity over the weekend:
#IndieDev #GameDev
#IndieDev #GameDev
[Nay50] Outlaw Bar Bowling: Short Unity Game
YouTube video by Sarena
youtu.be
October 2, 2025 at 12:23 AM
Here's a video of Outlaw Bar Bowling, the mini game that @nimbusstev.bsky.social and I made in Unity over the weekend:
#IndieDev #GameDev
#IndieDev #GameDev
@nimbusstev.bsky.social and I spent another day in Unity on a mini game called Outlaw Bar Bowling! We spent more time on the visuals than the others, but didn't quite get the bowling mechanics working yet. He did the 3D art, and I did the 2D materials/art!
#IndieDev #GameDev #ScreenshotSaturday
#IndieDev #GameDev #ScreenshotSaturday
September 28, 2025 at 11:45 AM
@nimbusstev.bsky.social and I spent another day in Unity on a mini game called Outlaw Bar Bowling! We spent more time on the visuals than the others, but didn't quite get the bowling mechanics working yet. He did the 3D art, and I did the 2D materials/art!
#IndieDev #GameDev #ScreenshotSaturday
#IndieDev #GameDev #ScreenshotSaturday
Working on some more Unity projects tonight! I just finished the mechanics for this drink mixing game. It's mixed with a bowling game where you bowl for ingredients, and then can mix the drinks you get to create power-ups. The core mechanics of this scene are there. Next up, art!
#GameDev #IndieDev
#GameDev #IndieDev
September 28, 2025 at 3:57 AM
Last week, my brother and I made a few mini games in Unity. I made a blog post where I walk through the process here: michellerakar.blogspot.com/2025/09/nay-...
#IndieDev #GameDev #ScreenshotSaturday
#IndieDev #GameDev #ScreenshotSaturday
Nay 50 Project: Dump Typing & Harrugh Ball
A blog dedicated the to artwork and game development process of Michelle Rakar, a Game Designer with a BFA in Animation.
michellerakar.blogspot.com
September 20, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Last week, my brother and I made a few mini games in Unity. I made a blog post where I walk through the process here: michellerakar.blogspot.com/2025/09/nay-...
#IndieDev #GameDev #ScreenshotSaturday
#IndieDev #GameDev #ScreenshotSaturday
I had this idea that there could be a local multiplayer mode where you battle against a friend. So that led me to figure out how to control another event using keyboard inputs and code in RPG Maker! Movement and interactions are working so far. Next up: picking up item spawns!
#GameDev #IndieDev
#GameDev #IndieDev
September 17, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Looking at our #GGJ projects, we were thinking about which one we could expand/remake into a full game. The Note Competition (2020) is looking most likely because it was very bite-sized and has potential. So I converted it to RPG Maker MZ and updated the title with new plugins.
#IndieDev #GameDev
#IndieDev #GameDev
September 17, 2025 at 5:58 AM
Another small Unity game with @nimbusstev.bsky.social! We spent a bit more time on this one, and it was a bit bigger than the previous one. This time, I worked on all of the art assets while he did most of the programming. It's a mini dodgeball game in the desert.
#IndieDev #GameDev
#IndieDev #GameDev
September 14, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Another small Unity game with @nimbusstev.bsky.social! We spent a bit more time on this one, and it was a bit bigger than the previous one. This time, I worked on all of the art assets while he did most of the programming. It's a mini dodgeball game in the desert.
#IndieDev #GameDev
#IndieDev #GameDev
I made a little Unity game with @nimbusstev.bsky.social tonight. I programmed the mechanics where you have to type names and phrases to move Chila forward and beat Boney in a race. He made all of the 3D art assets for the game. It was a fun project to make within a few hours!
#GameDev #IndieDev
#GameDev #IndieDev
September 14, 2025 at 5:09 AM
I made a little Unity game with @nimbusstev.bsky.social tonight. I programmed the mechanics where you have to type names and phrases to move Chila forward and beat Boney in a race. He made all of the 3D art assets for the game. It was a fun project to make within a few hours!
#GameDev #IndieDev
#GameDev #IndieDev
Reposted by Sarena
The Nays rescued Mar from Mr Dude World, where she swapped places with Stinky Girl, and joined the group. Now they're back home and meeting up to see where they'll go next.
📘 Read The Night Kids Eventure here: the-nays.weebly.com/the-night-ki...
📘 Read The Night Kids Eventure here: the-nays.weebly.com/the-night-ki...
August 28, 2025 at 3:39 AM
The Nays rescued Mar from Mr Dude World, where she swapped places with Stinky Girl, and joined the group. Now they're back home and meeting up to see where they'll go next.
📘 Read The Night Kids Eventure here: the-nays.weebly.com/the-night-ki...
📘 Read The Night Kids Eventure here: the-nays.weebly.com/the-night-ki...