VNGen Studio has reached a point where the core workflow feels solid from end to end

A Complete Visual Workflow

VNGen Studio has grown into a fully visual editor for building scenes, menus, and scripts. The timeline, scene viewer, and preview systems all work together so creators can see results as they build without needing external tools.

Live Timeline Preview

The timeline and viewport stay in sync during playback. You can scrub, play, pause, or jump through keyframes and instantly see the effect in the scene viewer.

Menu Layout Authoring

Menus can be created and adjusted directly in the viewport. Dragging, resizing, restyling, and placing new menus all happen visually, which keeps UI building straightforward and intuitive.

Multi-track Keyframe Editing

All track types are supported in a unified inspector. Backgrounds, sprites, video, dialog, audio, FX, menus, and logic can all be edited through one consistent workflow.

Menu Graph and Marker Tools

Branching prompts and scene structure are easier to follow thanks to visual graphs and timestamp markers. These tools help keep interactive scenes organized even as they grow.

Asset and Script Management

The editor includes a full asset library and a built-in Python script editor. Scripts can be created, saved, and assigned to keyframes or menu options without leaving VNGen Studio.

Onboarding and Tutorials

A guided onboarding flow, interactive tutorial, and coaching overlay help new users explore the engine and understand the workflow step by step.

Project Compiler and Runtime

Projects can be bundled and prepared for sharing. On Windows, VNGen Studio can generate a standalone VNGen Player executable so others can run scenes without installing the editor.

Scene Video Export

Scenes can be exported as MP4 files with optional audio mixing. This makes it simple to create previews, trailers, or showcase clips.

Current Quirks and Limitations

VNGen Studio is still young, and there are a few quirks worth noting:

Performance in Compiled Executables

In heavier scenes, especially ones with many active objects or layered assets, the compiled Windows executable can run slower than expected. The current runtime processes everything in Python, which means complex scenes can put noticeable pressure on performance. This is a known limitation and something that will be improved as the runtime becomes more optimized.

Menu Geometry Syncing

Menus can be created, edited, and styled, but their real-time geometry syncing still needs polish. Dragging or resizing sometimes behaves inconsistently depending on the scene.

Branching Complexity

Branching works, but large branching structures can feel a bit clunky. The tools are evolving, and this area will continue to receive attention as scripting expands.

These issues are not permanent and are already guiding upcoming improvements.

What’s Next

Now that the major systems are in place, development is shifting toward refining behavior and unlocking more power in the tools that already exist.

Stronger Scripting Features

The built-in script editor is already part of the workflow, and the next step is to deepen what scripting can express. Planned improvements include richer conditionals, simple variables, helper functions, reusable logic blocks, and tighter integration between Python and timeline events.

Performance Improvements

Reducing object overhead in the runtime and optimizing scene playback are high priorities. The goal is smoother performance both inside the editor and in compiled executables.

Menu Interaction Polish

Menu geometry syncing, dragging, resizing behavior, and real-time updates will be refined so UI authoring feels more consistent.

Branching Tools and Workflow Cleanup

Branching and logic workflows will get clearer tools and quality-of-life updates as the engine grows.

A Personal Note

VNGen Studio is still built by one person, and reaching this milestone means a lot. The engine has most of its core systems in place, even with the quirks and limitations that come with early development. From here, the work shifts toward smoothing the rough spots, improving performance, and expanding the creative possibilities.

Thank you for experimenting with the tool, pushing it, and giving feedback. Every message and every suggestion genuinely shapes the direction of the project. There is much more in motion, and I am excited to share what comes next.