Game Status:
My graphics are about 65% complete and I may have to sacrifice some variety in colors and textures to get this out in time.
Animations are at 1% as I have to focus on the game mechanics before that. Will be focusing more on expression of emotion than nice effects, as using joints instead of bone movement is a crippling workaround.
I am currently working on the GUI, which will be very simple and straight forward. The color scheme I'm going for is muted to make up for the bright character sprites(careful not to overwhelm the eyes)
Game "story"
This game does not have a story, but it has a hidden theme about life, death and creation.
The lifespan of the pet will be very short, making how the players interact with the pet have meaning. Having created the pet, players will feel the joy of caring for something they shaped. Perhaps players may even feel attached to their pet, making the loss of their pet even more poignant or vice-verse.
Choosing an action in the event of theirs pets natural death will have the player consider the value of his/her pet, as choosing a more rewarding ending will leave the player nothing to remember their pet by. But choosing to have a burial will give players "photos" of their pet to remember it by.
Things working against me
Time limit (started with this a bit late too), I have a job, my art skills suck, I have never seriously tackled a project like this.
Why I could at leas make this game bearable
I am keeping things as simple as possible, focusing less on looks and more on ease of use. Simple game mechanics that allow for complex outcomes.