Making a hard decision to put certain projects on hold indefinitely

[Joseph DiPerla]

We have all been there, I suppose. We start a project, or have an idea and then we move on to something else. After years, you have a closet full of adventure games that have never come out of the wood-work. Lets face it, that was me as well.

I have worked over the years to create Two Simpsons games which have ever only made it to demo's. I have of course created a Simpsons Template for AGS 2.71 which I am proud of that can fully be used to make a game, if someone wanted to. I will upload that template at some point for you all again. That is my pride and joy for AGS. It contained about 9 characters, 40 rooms, tons of GUI's and such and much more. I think though, with lack of drawing talent and resources on the web for what I am looking for, that template has reached its limit of what it could be. And to be honest, over the years, my interest in the Simpsons games and project has diminished. Of course if someone would make a game using the template, I would certainly play it.

Lets not forget that there were other projects I never fully finished such as my very first project before I even knew of AGS, which was my Zak McKracken sequel with Maniac Mansion Crossovers. I had gained some popularity with that game on the web. I was considered at the time one of the main Zak 2 projects and actually had some rooms designed and was using Maker R2 to code it. But of course, for being a teenager, that was also an ambitious project and I was falling way behind the other projects out there. So I dropped it.

I had tinkered with the idea of creating a RON game, but that faded quickly. I even thought of creating a video game based on the tv show Psych. Unfortunately I dropped that as well.

My problems with all these games? Lack of graphics artist. I could not draw for the life of me. I couldn't even draw a simple four wall, baron room in sierra AGI style. I always had a difficult time even finding artists to help with my projects. Even when attempting to draw stick figures I would fail at that as well.

So, for the last few months, I have been trying a new approach to things. USING FREE CUSTOMIZABLE RESOURCES. The best way I found to do that, is to use 3D software. I seem to have better luck with that that with anything else. I have been practicing and though I am not a great 3D artist, or even a good one at that, I have been able to create some things that have impressed me. So I dropped all these other projects, or at the very least put them on hold until I finish my next project: Justice League: United. Its a game based on the heroes of the DC Comics brand.

Its ambitious, but I am letting go of my other projects for now to work on this. I am using DX Studio, Poser, Daz Studio 3D, Bryce, Blender and XWorld 3D to create my graphics. I have tinkered with a few scenes and I like how I have developed them. Keep in mind, these are not going to be mind blowing graphics, but they will atleast allow the game to be playable.

So, I ask for encouragement as I try this new phase of Adventure Game Development. Hopefully, some time in the near future, I would have completed my first full AGS game.

[Snarky]

Ultimately you should do whatever you want, but I think you ought to at least consider not using the DC characters. Everything you mention having worked on is based on some sort of franchise; maybe it's time to try some original ideas?

Apart from adding the risk of a Cease & Desist letter to all the other factors that can block a project from being completed, the "license" strikes me as being unsuited for the process you've chosen. We don't want our classic superheroes as Poser models! Drawn as comics, definitely. Cartoons, yes. Action figures and live action portrayals, well OK. But garishly lit renders of plasticky anatomy awkwardly posed and covered in textures that try to match familiar costumes (all of it optionally post-processed with some crude Photoshop filter)? No thanks! If you go that route, you might as well remake the Simpsons template with Poser models of the Springfield inhabitants. 

Now, as you might gather I'm not a big fan of Poser or indeed 3D-rendered graphics - as practiced by amateurs - in general (though if you absolutely cannot draw I guess it's better than nothing), but at least if you use your own original characters we won't constantly be comparing them to their official, canonical portrayal. When it's something you created, you get to define how they're supposed to look, and it's easier to accept the creepily smooth skin, the dead eyes, the unnatural-looking hair, the stiff postures and the shiny clothes without any creases.

Substitutes, rip-offs and "analogues" are common among superhero universes already (for every Superman there are dozens of Captain Marvels, Hyperions, Supremes, Apollos, Samaritans, etc. etc.), so this wouldn't have to add any more work than coming up with some new names and somewhat different costume designs.

I'm assuming there's more to the game than "based on the Justice League"?

[LUniqueDan]

Nah, Zak fan-projects never die. They just go to hell to regroup.

[Secret Fawful]

I've had so many canned projects or projects I've given up on in the past before I gained more responsibility, talent, experience, and the urge to see things through. I have enough mistakes in my past to be really ashamed of myself, but I don't let that drag me down, and I keep trying to improve myself. I'm finally at a stage in my life where I will finish something no matter what, and I will not slack off. There are so many ideas for adventure games that I have or series I'd love to write into an adventure game that it's unreal, because I love the genre so much. It actually surprises me that the two projects I want to do the most out of all of the ones I've thought of are original ideas, because there are so many shows like MacGyver or Futurama I'd love to translate into an adventure game.

BTW, Joseph, your Simpsons template is amazing. I really feel like it should be used by SOMEBODY. Maybe after Draculator II is finished, that could become the next AGS Community project. I feel like the Simpsons would work better the more people work on it.

[EnterTheStory (aka tolworthy)]

there were other projects I never fully finished such as my very first project before I even knew of AGS, which was my Zak McKracken sequel with Maniac Mansion Crossovers.

As the guy who runs the Zak McKracken archive I say PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE finish this!

[Anian]

+1 to the "make your own worlds" and very much to "don't use poser models" especially if you know how to work in Blender.
Find a tutorial about making character models (with bones and all) and make your own template...I don't know, I think making the game assestes that way is half the fun, and again I think Poser models always suck, they look the same and are very much in uncanny valley territory.

[Joseph DiPerla]

Ultimately you should do whatever you want, but I think you ought to at least consider not using the DC characters. Everything you mention having worked on is based on some sort of franchise; maybe it's time to try some original ideas?

Well, there are few things here to address. I have had a few original idea's. But the idea's themselves have not been original either. There have been one room competitions to try escape rooms, there have been cop games, hero games, save the girl, save the world games, etc...

Its hard to come up with something completely original. And if you use a genre thats been done before, its hard to come up with something truly original for that Genre itself. I am not saying that its not possible to make up hundreds or thousands of completely original games. I just lack the foresight and creativity for something like that.

And to be honest, the reason why I had based games on properties already created is because in honesty, I had always wanted to see adventure games based on those stories and brands. I am just making my dream come true. Or atleast trying.

Nah, Zak fan-projects never die. They just go to hell to regroup.

Nah. More like pergatory.

BTW, Joseph, your Simpsons template is amazing. I really feel like it should be used by SOMEBODY. Maybe after Draculator II is finished, that could become the next AGS Community project. I feel like the Simpsons would work better the more people work on it.

It would be nice. I would love to see my work being used for something. However, I am not sure if there is that much interest in the Simpsons in this community for it to become a community project. But it would be nice.

there were other projects I never fully finished such as my very first project before I even knew of AGS, which was my Zak McKracken sequel with Maniac Mansion Crossovers.

As the guy who runs the Zak McKracken archive I say PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE finish this!

LOL. Sorry, not enough interested team members to help me with this.

+1 to the "make your own worlds" and very much to "don't use poser models" especially if you know how to work in Blender.
Find a tutorial about making character models (with bones and all) and make your own template...I don't know, I think making the game assestes that way is half the fun, and again I think Poser models always suck, they look the same and are very much in uncanny valley territory.

Well, I am limited with Blender anyway. I have dropped the Poser idea. I found better ways to animate my characters and render them.

Just to give you some background on the game... Its not original. However, there will be an introduction to a new original hero that I am creating with a whole new made up home city, sidekicks, enemies and backstory. He will not be a playable character, but will be featured prominently.

The game will take place in the DC multiverse, particularly the one where smallville tv series took place. I have not decided which multiverse batman I plan to feature as the same as the smallville one. Wonder woman will be from the multiverse of the latest dvd animated movie. Green Lantern will be all new.

I plan to add control for six characters. Each has his/her own unique talent for you to use. Green lantern will have ring powers. Superman will have specific powers as Batman has detective and gadgetry skills, etc... The year the game takes place is 2019. Thats all I am giving so far. I am working on designing some rooms and puzzles at the moment as a product test. I Will then finish out the story. Anyway, wet your appetite with my Superman render that I have for the game: