A Little Cat in the Rain

I've been making another little experiment for Wallpaper Engine. This time, a small black cat has found its way into the rain. 🐈‍⬛

It's inspired by Ameko, a tiny animated cat I remember having on my Amiga back in the 90s. It was one of those wonderfully pointless little programs that lived on your desktop and made your computer feel a bit more alive. No particular purpose. Just a little creature sharing the screen with whatever else you were doing.

I later discovered that Ameko was an Amiga version of an older Japanese program called Neko. So this little cat has been wandering around people's computers for quite a while.

For my version, I've given it a dark home, reimagining it in ASCII amongst a gloomy city of barely visible buildings, flickering red windows and falling rain. A small bit of life tucked away in the dark.

One thing I've noticed while exploring Wallpaper Engine is how difficult it can be to find wallpapers I actually want to use. So many have far too much going on. When I'm trying to work, I like having something moving on the desktop, but I don't want it constantly demanding my attention.

I'm drawn to subtle movement. A little atmosphere. Something that can quietly get on with being there while I get on with something else.

That's what I'm trying to explore with these experiments: making something that feels alive without needing to be particularly noticeable. A few windows flickering in the distance, rain passing through the scene, a little cat keeping you company.

I've always loved these tiny bits of software that don't really serve any practical purpose. They add a little character to a computer and make it feel more like somewhere you spend time.

You can find this latest experiment on Steam Workshop for Wallpaper Engine.

Anyone else remember Ameko or Neko? 🖤