[WIP]Retracing memories

[madifier]

(06-13-2012 09:33 AM)Adrianis Wrote:  Hmmm ok, is that 'retracing your steps' going to involve going back over the 150+ maps, or that some of those 150+ maps will effectively be the player retracing their steps? I get that realism is important, but 6 straight maps just going through a forest is the kind of realism that should be avoided, or at least the kind of situation that should be avoided if realism is important to you. You may find later on that it will be of benefit overall to the story (though of course, I don't know your story) and gameplay to cut down and refine the number of maps you include, to improve the quality of the ones that stay

Still, best of luck regardless mate, I sincerely hope you pull it off, 150 maps and 15 endings would be an impressive achievement if only for the sheer quantity of content. I have respect for your balls

I can clarify a bit. It's always easier for me to answer a question directly. The sheer size of the map gives players the freedom of which way to go, so they are not necessarily going back the way they came, but familiar territory might be more relaxing. The character has memory flashbacks at key places, but not in every area. It's not really important HOW you got there, but WHAT happened at the place. 150 seems high, but in reality there are about 10 key places/objects and maybe 10-20 sub key places/objects, with extra content everywhere else. My numbers are going to be slightly off as I'm still early in development. I want this to be big, so players can enjoy the environment rather than run through. Of course should one linger too long they might draw attention.

The 6 forest areas setup that I was talking about are set up in a 3x2 or 2x3 grid setup, so traveling straight through may be 2 loading areas or 3 given the direction, but because of multiple entrances and exits in each section, a player may end up going back on themselves by accident without realizing it. I can imagine the relief a person will have after making it out of the woods alive for what seemed like a while, when in fact it's a lot smaller than they thought. You wouldn't think a person could get lost in a corn field of straight rows, but it happens enough for farmers to teach their children as soon as possible.

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Thank you guys for all the great comments.

[madifier]

Recap:
*Retracing memories is the name of the story. You will be wandering this world in search of WHO you are and WHAT you were doing to know WHERE you need to go. This should be simple enough to figure out, so much of your time will be spent looking at all the scenery.
*There will be multiple endings. like 14 or 15 I still haven't taken the time to count. All of them are a matter of personal preference.
*The world is massive and yet not, so you have options as to how you get from point A to point B and for the most part you can either backtrack or go through unexplored areas.
*I'm doing this for fun with the only thing in mind of receiving is attention. So anyone able to contribute will only be able to receive credit for the work they do. I"m sorry for being poor, but that's life.
*It'll probably be sometime 2013 before I'm done since I'm spending what little free time I have on it between 40-50 hour work weeks. Not to mention fighting the programs that I'm using to build it. The more I work, the easier it's getting.
*The story itself is pretty well laid out, with ending scenes still needing to be made.

Progress Report: (probably make these regularly on Sundays)
*Took a couple days to make the first forest area, but afterwards the next 3 sections went up pretty fast which laid out the "Woodlands" area. There will be 3 forests "Woodlands" (easy), "Forest of the Lost" (you guys are gonna hate me XD), "Forbidden Woods" (most dangerous). I have a problem though, I'm using the same model tree for everything. I would like a variety if I can, but it's not the end of the world either.
*Other map areas I've worked on and am pretty happy with are "East District", "West District", "Docks", "Ranch", and "Southern Valley", so in total this week I've laid out 9 areas.
*"East District" is still gonna need a bit of work. It's an industrial part of town where raw materials would go and basic products would come out. Example is a tree would go in and planks come out. So a lumberyard will most likely be here. The area is known for the transfer of goods on land, meaning the demand for carts are high, and thus built here next to the lumberyard. I don't know what else to build.

Things I could use, but not just yet:
*Entities: For now I'm placing the generic Amnesia models, enemies, misc in my maps as place holders until I can get some custom models. I have in mind a few enemies I'd like in the game, but I'll only disclose that via PM. It wouldn't be much fun if I posted what was to be expected.
*Voice actors: I won't worry about this until the end of the project. Might try to bum some locals for this one. I can safely say there are at least 4 people that speak at the end of the game. Two older men, a young woman, and a deep voice male. I say at least 4, because I haven't decided if I should use text or voice for the multiple endings.
*Music: The only time you'll hear music is in man-made areas such as taverns, castles or places of entertainment such as a group of bandits who have instruments to play. Most of the game is sound effect driven. There are a couple of endings that will need music as well.

[madifier]

Progress:
Maps laid out this week: 12
Total maps laid out: 26 out of approx 150

Woodland forest is just about done, probably work on the forbidden woods next.
The ocean shoreline has well been laid out, this circles around the forbidden woods.

Thought I'd give ya an image of a fort I made on the ocean shoreline. The texture I picked out was the
right color, but I'm gonna have to change the glossy appearance the rocks give. Not to mention fill all the cracks between static objects.


  SouthShoreFort-small.jpg (Size: 84.53 KB / Downloads: 24)

I have started making scenes up as well, but until I lay out their map location they shall remain in notepad.
People you might meet: Rich man, woman of the forest, "thing" in the mines.

I may not get much done over the course of July, but I will continue to think of elements to add.

[madifier]

Progress:
36 maps laid out in total consisting of the "woodlands", "southeastern shoreline", and most of the "forbidden woods". I think what I'll do is lay the maps out without the unique qualities until later on, since some of them are going to require models not readily available. One example is the shape of the laboratory in the forbidden woods, I won't know what it will look like from the outside until I get the inside laid out. Another example is a horse and cart moving merchant, only there's no horse or merchant, but the cart might still have goods inside.

So in other words, the landscape comes first, then the unique elements, creatures and path nodes, then little stuff (boxes,rugs,trinkets,decorations).
Again with the fourth of July, an obligated vacation, and any other interruptions I may not get much done this month, but I will try.

Upcoming:
next on the list is the "forest of the lost"... If I can come up with a better name I'll use it instead.
In addition I'll be running the shoreline on around the map.

[Traggey]

Please stop bumping this thread over and over on your own, double posting is bad enough as it is, you're taking it a whole new level.

[DaAinGame]

This sounds like a rather interesting project. I will be sure to check it out when it is all said and done, but please do continue on this. I know that everybody is having their doubts but if anything, let that motivate you even more to show them that you can pull something like this off.

[madifier]

(07-02-2012 01:31 PM)Traggey Wrote:  Please stop bumping this thread over and over on your own, double posting is bad enough as it is, you're taking it a whole new level.

Sorry, I was just trying to give an update regularly. Any way of doing that without bumping? I'm not overly familiar with forums.

[Traggey]

(07-04-2012 01:10 AM)madifier Wrote:  

(07-02-2012 01:31 PM)Traggey Wrote:  Please stop bumping this thread over and over on your own, double posting is bad enough as it is, you're taking it a whole new level.

Sorry, I was just trying to give an update regularly. Any way of doing that without bumping? I'm not overly familiar with forums.

You can just edit your original post.