CarrotsCritters

This Week in the Forest! #186

Added 2025-03-28 04:37:26 +0000 UTC

YO FOLKS!

Here's what we've been up to this week! Starting with a Word from Vixel!

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3/26 update:

Hey floofs!! <3

Last week I worked on a savestate upgrade for Adventures, and finished remaining code for a new illustrated scene with Rascal and the Plant. I should have the last of my coding todos finished today, then Carrot and I will finish playtesting the build and do any final polish/bugfixes! Have a nice week! <3

-Vixel

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On my end, I've been making progress with those end-credit-illustrations! All six scenes are fully sketched, AND fully lined! I've started dropping the flats for ALL SEVENTY SEVEN characters featured in these illustrations xD It's slow but going well :>

I've been doing this all while still taking it easy with the hands. SPEAKING OF WHICH THO, I recently started to do some more exercises for the fingers in general. There's this regiment that has to do with grabbing handfuls of raw rice grains. Aaaaand I maybe went a lil' hard? Sooo feeling more thumb pains xD But it's different, like thumb muscle. Anyways the idea is to start improving strength in the area and increase the bloodflow. BUUT, I gotta still take it easy :|

ANYWHO, Let's talk MABELS! So I've been getting price quotes on custom bags for when it's time to ship these Mabels :> Things are looking good! Pretty stoked!

And earlier today, I got the new samples in! These have the better buttholes and adjusted insides to have more texture! This newer version addresses some concerns I had with the previous opening. It was way too small, resulting in easier tearing, and less airflow, so possible hygiene issues!

But these new ones are perfect! The two here are different hardness versions, but it's so subtle, you literally can't tell. SOOO, oh well.

One problem that came up is the seams. Personally, I totally don't mind the silicone seams, and assumed they would happen. Since it's she's such a unique shape, I figure we can get away with some imperfections! THAT SAID, the manufacturers said there is more time needed, and additional cost needed to cover failed pieces due to this complexity. SO they are charging more per piece.

It's not bad still, and I'm all for the manufacturers getting more money since they totally deserve it. But the price for these will likely be about 80$ as a base.

Anywho, with the higher price, it'll be harder to front the cost of everything, so I will be opening for pre-orders once everything else is lined up. For now I'm waiting on a few things:

Final decision of colors for the toys. (I was considering changing it to make coloring easier? But coloring is going to be totally experimental, and the reality is I'd probably only color like, 10 or so at the end of the day anyways.) SO I'll prolly keep this fleshy pink. Besides, this is the color of her ears/tail/paws/bits - so it still helps the painting process.
Pulling the trigger and sending the OK for mass production.
For the custom bags - Figuring out what the duplex print estimate is, and deciding on which print to go with.
Final decision of price.
Then I'll have to re-check shopify to make sure everything will go smoothly!

So keep an eye out :> I'll likely make a telegram chat to keep people updated or answer specific questions for this toy later.

OK that's it! Y'all take care!