Evidently I posted this in the wrong forum. I'm a butt, what can I say. If this is wrong again, please move it to the correct place rather than lock it. Thank you.
Original post:
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Hey gang. Some of you may remember me...but I'm not even sure how many of the old crew hang out here anymore.
Anyway, I created a couple of little games in the Larry Vales: Traffic Divison series. I promised a third, but never made it further than a demo. There were a few reasons for this. None of them are exciting enough to recount here.
But I recently bought a laptop PC and started poking around with the new version of AGS and, what do you know, I seem to have caught the creative bug all over again.
So I am going to create another Larry Vales game. A third Larry Vales game, but not the promised LVIII. It'll be more of a replacement game...entirely free standing. It's not a series reboot because there will be no series. There will be just one, big, complete and comprehensive game that I hope everybody will enjoy. It'll bump Larry up to non-DOS playability, which you'll all agree is long overdue.
Only trouble: you've seen my artistic ability. It stunk all those years ago and it's even worse now. So I'm looking to contract somebody to do my graphics work. It won't be the biggest or most involved project you've ever seen, but it will be a big job, and for consistancy I have to insist that whomever signs on in that capacity sticks around until the whole thing is complete.
One thing I will do is work out exactly what I need beforehand. By the time I give you anything, it will all be complete on my end. This is to ensure that your work isn't wasted by my losing interest in the project, and to protect you from me getting a "better" idea for a scene after you spent time and effort drawing it. (Oh, and you must be absolutely and totally tight-lipped about the project. I'm serious. If any spoilers leak out beforehand, I'll cancel the whole thing. It's that simple.)
So, basically, another Larry Vales is on the way, if anybody would be kind enough to donate their time and talents to the graphics department. I have plenty of ideas (reworkings of the first two games, salvaged ideas from the third, and plenty of brand new stuff as well) and can promise you, at the very least, a game with lots and lots of very well written boob jokes.
Reply here or to chickenbrutus [at] yahoo [dot] com. I'm open to creative interpretation of my world and characters, but please provide a sample, at least, of how you intend to draw Larry.
Addendum: somebody asked if I'd also be looking for a composer. The answer is yes.
I think I can sum up my feelings about this with :=
Teh sideburns are back!! I'd do your graphics for you, if I didn't have the artistic skills of an elderly tortoise.
This is a pivotal time in AGS history. Several members are returning out of nowhere, returning to work on making games, and now Phil Reed!? This is like the anti-apocalypse, where all the good things are happening all at once. ;D
Welcome back, Phil.
I think one of the strengths of Larry Vales was the naivistic, simplistic art. I hope it won't turn all professional and clean now.
Quote from: Andail on Mon 29/09/2008 20:18:47
Welcome back, Phil.
I think one of the strengths of Larry Vales was the naivistic, simplistic art. I hope it won't turn all professional and clean now.
Oh I agree...and thanks for mentioning that, so I don't feel so alone in my opinions...but what I said in my original post is true: I'm much, much worse now. I have no graphics programs and if I bought one there'd be such a steep learning curve that it'd be a project in itself just to learn it.
So I think the only way that the game will ever see progress is for me to farm out the visual side of things, freeing me to concentrate on the heart of the game: the story and jokes.
Honestly I'm not expecting photorealism or anything, but I am open to experimentation. Day of the Tentacle would be too cartoony for what I have in mind. Police Quest 4 would be too real. I think a simple, warm visual environment is the way to go with this...but I'm curious to see what people come up with.
If there isn't a promise of another trilogy after this one...I'm not sure you've sold me. But I'll replay the old ones and see what I think of this news then. I'd suggest making a skeleton of your game first and then trying to get art.
-MillsJROSS
Quote from: MillsJROSS on Mon 29/09/2008 20:52:38
If there isn't a promise of another trilogy after this one...I'm not sure you've sold me. But I'll replay the old ones and see what I think of this news then. I'd suggest making a skeleton of your game first and then trying to get art.
-MillsJROSS
I'll even do you one better than there not being a promise of another trilogy...I'm making a direct promise that there will NOT be another trilogy. I don't have the time or patience to get bogged down in a series, and setting one up, at this point, will only lead to eventual disappointment when a certain sequel doesn't happen.
I want to concentrate on getting everything about this game right, so that it can stand on its own as one completely self-contained adventure. And maybe I haven't sold you on that idea. And that's okay, because it's fully possible that this isn't an approach you will enjoy.
But I think it's a lot better than making any sort of promise that I already know I can't keep.
:=
Larry Vales won't quite be the same without the charming walking animations of the originals, but I'm sure it'll be amazing all the same. I'm afraid I can't help with the art either, but welcome back, Phil.
Huzzah! :=
I agree that it doesn't need any visual polish over and above I and II.
I'd really like to see the artist recreate the style of the original.
Your games attracted me to AGS, so a warm welcome back!
Welcome aboard, the spaceship Advanced Greatness Shuttle, we've missed you. Everyone on board including the captain Ulysses Jones, greets you.
This is good news!
And while I'm probably too horrible unreliable to do graphics work, here's some awkward looking fan-art I was inspired to do from this post:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/EggHeadCheesyBird/larreh.png)
I CAN PLAY LARRY VAELS!!!1111
Awesome news, and welcome back Mr. Reed. Unfortunately I too would be most unreliable to do any artwork for you. I can’t even seem to finish my own sequels, har-har, but here is some quick versions of one of my all time favorite characters.
(http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/lv.gif) (http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/lv2.gif)
Larry... Vales... Will return !!!
Rejoice brothers!!
Woo hoo!! :=
I thought this day would never come... when I read this I checked my calendar to see if it's not April 1st... apparently it isn't... YES !!! :=
I also share the sentiment that a part of LV's greatness was its awkward unproffesional graphics.. but I understand what Phil is saying about not being able to do this anymore... unfortunately a 4 year old can draw better than me even with a computer... I beg the person that will do the art to stay within the original style... don't do it too good please.
Thanks Phil for returning and wanting to do another LV game !!
I started a new version of the classical Larry Vales Theme by m0ds but sadly ran out of time, I'll have to get to work quick now! Anyway, here it is, the far-from-finished version for you to have a look at: Larry Vales, Ho-Dad! (http://erdbeertelefon.net/sites/default/files/save-the-vales.mid)
Good news! This will be teh awse! You know you always have a friend! :=
Hows the movie script coming along? ;)
Phil Reed? Who let that bastard in?
Let's replace that Moustache thread with a Sideburn thread!
I've started "writing" the game to give it some shape and I'll probably start a development blog fairly soon so people can track the progress. It'll be a long time coming, but with enough effort I'm sure it'll be worth the wait.
Also: Mods, if you're up for composing, I'd absolutely love that.
The rest of you: voice acting. If anyone is interested in supplying a voice for a character or two, PM me or email me at the above address. I'm mainly concerned about getting a good Larry Vales actor. I'll be handling the role of the narrator myself but Larry would, obviously, be a large and important part.
There will be plenty of other roles to go around...a few more "main" characters (no prizes for guessing who they might be) and loads of minor background parts. But, as I say, getting Larry "right" is my priority.
Hah! Excellent! Glad you are back Phil. It makes me pee.
The Joy of playing a Larry Vales game once again fills me with unrelenting joy.
Quote from: Simple on Thu 02/10/2008 14:36:06
Also: Mods, if you're up for composing, I'd absolutely love that.
Hey - now, I guess that's your official reaction to my petty try of remaking the original Larry Vales theme. Well, all the better to round up the original team. Good luck!
kaputtnik, I've saved your version to my phone, I like it! :) Phil had just forgotten I existed, that's all. With Phil's permission, the music will be the classic "jukebox" of well known tunes interspersed with a m0ds-underscore. That is, providing the game is freeware :=
Quote from: kaputtnik on Thu 02/10/2008 15:52:58
Quote from: Simple on Thu 02/10/2008 14:36:06
Also: Mods, if you're up for composing, I'd absolutely love that.
Hey - now, I guess that's your official reaction to my petty try of remaking the original Larry Vales theme. Well, all the better to round up the original team. Good luck!
Ha! No, it's not. I haven't had time to do much on the internet at home lately (other...projects...ahem...) so I do most of my posting at work, and haven't heard your theme. I'm looking forward to it actually!
Quote from: Mods on Thu 02/10/2008 16:24:10
kaputtnik, I've saved your version to my phone, I like it! :) Phil had just forgotten I existed, that's all. With Phil's permission, the music will be the classic "jukebox" of well known tunes interspersed with a m0ds-underscore. That is, providing the game is freeware :=
Yeah, it'll most likely be freeware, though I'm toying with the idea of releasing the first version for free, then a second deluxe version that will fix any bugs (if any), include a few extra scenes, and--the big one--commentary nodes scattered throughout the game.
Though, Mods, to be honest, I'd prefer a full original score this time around. The old midi classic rock stuff was good while it lasted...but it might seem a little corny now. I'm all for replicating the "feel" of that kind of music, but I'd rather not use non-original music this time around. Hopefully that'll work for you. If you can come up with a few really good, distinct tunes for use at various points in the game, that'll be fine.
Damn, I was really hoping for a Bohemian Rhapsody extended cut scene.
See, great idea! ;) But wholly original is more than OK, too, Phil :)
Started a development blog.
http://larryvales.wordpress.com/
Not much is there yet--default header graphic ftw!--but I'll be adding to it before long. Bookmark it so that you can keep up to date on all the developmental details that are too trivial to gum up the AGS board with.
I'll also be posting some tantalizing tidbits there such as story details and artwork, as it's ready. I'm excited about getting this one finished as I have some really big ideas that I think all of Larry's fans are going to enjoy.
There will also be an official call for voice actors very soon, so watch out for that. A few of the roles will be substantial but a lot of them will just get a handful of fun lines to contribute.
Bookmarked, cannot wait to see some art & stuff :=
I posted on the site regarding help with certain aspects of the game...you've got first dibs on original score if you want it though, Mods!
Alright, uploaded the first game design "document." Ahem.
But the big, important update is the cast list. Or, I guess I should say, character list. This is the official call for voice actors/actresses, ladies and gents. So go check it out to see which characters are returning, and then offer your services in bringing Larry to life. And, hopefully, making this game so long the making worth the wait.
Consider me for voice acting. I can do English, French, American, Irish and Australian accents. You will not be disappointed.
If you'd like to send me some sample dialogue and a little profile on the character, I'll get you a voice test.
:)
Shoot me an email, Lay. Address in profile.
Have you played the previous LV games? There are a lot of characters carrying over into this project.
Lay's French accent is legendary.
I'd definetely be interested in working on the new Larry Vales, thing is I'm not really sure if i could up to it.
Everybody who expressed interest in voice acting should have received an application package. If you haven't, check your spam filters and let me know if you need it resent.
It's not too late to apply, by the way!