Frictional Games Forum

Keep in mind there is no available download for The Shaft right now. It is a work in progress. Very few people have any clue what the mod will contain.

Alas; a new topic. This topic will contain only officially finished pictures, news, ect. I'm getting the finishing touches on my website, which will be posted tomarroe.

Why a new thread? My ideas for The Shaft have changed alot; and my motivation has also. In the beginning, I had visions of huge levels, incredible scripts, amazing chase scenes. Well, it wasn't as easy as I thought it was.

The sheer amount of work made me discontinue the mod for a week, than pick it up again. I kept doing this for about a month, until I decided that I needed to stop the project, and just mess around. I did this for a few weeks, and got alot better with Maya.

I than started studying the Tech Demo layouts. I can't replicate them exactly, but I can create the general feel the tech demo had, which is what I'm trying to do with my mod. Overture just wasn't scary after the second wolf. Some parts still scared me, but the majority of the game didn't.
The tech demo, on the other hand kept me on my edge. There was alot of suspense, and the feeling that somethings going to be around the next corner.

About a month and a half ago, when I really started work on this mod, I had the general idea of getting a 'unnatural dark feeling' going on, using dark-orange lights. It makes a nice effect, but it's totally different from the Tech Demo. So, I switched back to more narrow hallways, whiter and brighter lights.


So, every once in awhile I'll post some new info that is confirmed (unless a drastic change is needed) for the mod.

Confirmed: The Shaft will use Black Plague as the main engine. While Overture and Black Plauge use the same engine, Black Plague will have more effects, scripts, optimizations, that Overture doesn't.

So, if its using the same engine as Black Plauge, does that mean you wont releace it untill 1Q 2008?

Heh, I'll be surprised if I've finished the mod by then :o

Can you create a very simple mod? Something like big room full of physics stuff, some simple not scary lightning. It will be 1st mod for Penumbra so we can see your options

You can do it!!

Klaymen,
Pnumbra isn't really 'modable' compared to some newer, modern games. True, you can create custom levels and scripts for those levels, models, ect. But you can't change the core of the game, and many things are hard coded.

Heh, doubt it. I'm planning several hours of game play (minimum of 1 hour before I release a version for people to play) but the rate of making maps is horrendously slow.

Well, I sent you a pm that might help.

Getting objects isn't what's slowing me down, it's more of learning how to use the model editor, msn messenger (most of the problem) and re-doing the same area several times trying to get the same feel the Tech Demo had.

One thing that is hard is for the developer to feel the same way as the player. Beta testers does not only search for bugs but trying the feeling of the game as the player. That's an important thing as a developer. When i'm in on testing things, have you decided any testers? I'm just curious.


And keep up the good work! I can't wait to see the final results!

Heh, website will be up tomarroe (not turning messenger on until I've finished what I can on it)

It's been delayed because of Halloween, life, and homework. I'm getting back into it though :-D

http://clanbom.net/theshaft/
That is temporary hosting. The site is not complete yet, so none of the links work.