(http://img39.imageshack.us/img39/8411/sovbanner.jpg)
Hello and Good day! Just thought I would treat you nice guys to a small teaser for our upcoming independent game.
click here to watch, HD available!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFc3Bi1kW18 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFc3Bi1kW18)
Shades of Violet is an episodic series of games that tells the life adventure of two sibling orphans growing in a Steampunk World.
A traditional Adventure game with a twist. Use the power of the blue flow to unearth secrets from the world around you, and use that hidden knowledge to prevail! Travel the globe along the Vendetta Family, the most powerful military force in the world!
It is a story of growth. From children to adults, and from innocence to knowing, the two will find what it means to live in a world without end.
A longer trailer and proper preview in a week or so! What do you think?
I'm guessing this is not an ags game then? Looks really nice, although I'm not a huge fan of anime-influenced character design. I'll be watching the progress of this. I also love steampunk.
Episodic? It's a good choice to cut down time between releases and to allow feedback from the player as to what is working and what is not.
Please, tell us more? Has your team developed it's own engine, an offshoot of another engine, or are you using a pre-existing framework?
From the quality, I'm guessing you are looking to sell this. What kind of price point are you aiming for each episode?
Looks interesting.
QuoteI'm guessing this is not an ags game then? Looks really nice, although I'm not a huge fan of anime-influenced character design. I'll be watching the progress of this. I also love steampunk.
A lot of adventure gamers are not fans of anime-influenced character design. But it was a good chance to do something different, and for the most part: untried. And steampunk is awesome :D
QuoteEpisodic? It's a good choice to cut down time between releases and to allow feedback from the player as to what is working and what is not.
Please, tell us more? Has your team developed it's own engine, an offshoot of another engine, or are you using a pre-existing framework?
The game develops its story in parts. As in Story arcs. Every arc is self-sufficient but still builds up from the previous iterations as the girls grow and mature. That, and what you mentioned are reasons for going episodic.
The engine we're using is Wintermute. 3d pre-rendered backgrounds and realtime 3d characters. The game is designed to run in many kinds of pcs, ranging from very old, to very new (With the options of better antialiasing and texture resolution)
QuoteFrom the quality, I'm guessing you are looking to sell this. What kind of price point are you aiming for each episode?
I wouldn't know. We're trying to seek funding to complete it sooner, but we are actually quite prepared to finish the deal (which is really, well into production) by ourselves. If we do that, I'd say something around 15 dollars or less to encourage people to buy it.
While I admire the graphics, yeah I don't care much for anime as well and how's it different, every game from Japan is anime. ;D :P
Oh, now you wrote it's not AGS. Thank God, had me confused for a second cause I wanted to ask you about how you managed lighting (that's one of mine concerns as well, cause I want to do that prerender background with realtime rendered characters so Wintermute is better for that perhaps).
And one minor detail from the teaser - at the end I heard some morse code in the soundtrack, if it's steampunk then no electricity, so no morse code, right? ;D
QuoteWhile I admire the graphics, yeah I don't care much for anime as well and how's it different, every game from Japan is anime.
Well, not all games that come from japan have anime styled designs. And this one started development in Mexico anyway. I was thinking of different for adventure games, because there are not many adventure games that employ the style.
Glad to see you like the graphics. We actually Don't use realtime lighting for the in-game models. Helps them look more cartoony, and the lack of lights and shadows (all is self-lit) allows for the game to run on very old pcs without being taxing on the hardware. Every light for the game is achieved by filtering and hues.
If for your own project you want to use realtime lighting for mood and shadows to better blend 3d realtime characters with pre-rendered backgrounds, Wintermute manages that quite well! It's the way to go.
QuoteAnd one minor detail from the teaser - at the I heard some morse code in the soundtrack, if it's steampunk then no electricity, so no morse code, right?
Actually, there is electricity. It is a different sort of steampunk. it doesn't veer towards the usual "Victorian" steampunk design, this is more of a "deco" and streamlined steampunk world. There is a faction in the game that actually does have electricity and more modern technology like combustion engines and electric generators.
Quote from: heribertovalle on Fri 29/05/2009 15:59:23We actually Don't use realtime lighting for the in-game models. Helps them look more cartoony, and the lack of lights and shadows (all is self-lit) allows for the game to run on very old pcs without being taxing on the hardware. Every light for the game is achieved by filtering and hues.
I see, that's interesting, well then I look forward to seeing some in-game videos then. Thnx for clarification.
Quote from: heribertovalle on Fri 29/05/2009 15:59:23
this is more of a "deco" and streamlined steampunk world.
See, now saying this makes me even more interested in the project. I love deco influenced art and architecture.
Your trailer confused me slightly. It looked full 3d. That is why wintermute didn't cross my mind, hah.
Still, very much liking what I'm seeing.
Oh! That's because it IS full 3d. That's an FMV from the game.
In game, it's kinda like this:
(http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/9500/screeniehallowedhallway.jpg)
I'll let you in on the game's characters! One of the features of our game is that it is a tale of growth. Starting from humble beginnings, the girls soon grow into seasoned adventurers!
(http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/7642/growthvv.jpg)
(http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/6199/growthww.jpg)
Ooh, this looks great. I'll be following this eagerly.
Do you have a blog or website with an RSS feed or anything?
I still haven't broken into the episodic scene. Not even for Sam and Max, yet. But how ever you release this game, I think I wanna play it :)
Oh I can recommend the Sam & Max episodes. They start slow, but get good. And you can actually buy both seasons in nice boxes now. I'm eager to play Wallace and Gromit myself. Adventure games that are episodic are a good idea.
Blog or website... nope. The game's website is www.sov.imagineergames.com but it's merely parked space till we release the long trailer by next week hopefully. What is an RSS feed?
the project looks pretty sweet, and the 3d is smooth and pleasingly rendered to. Though i'd have to ask, wouldnt Violet's character growth discription be concidered a spoiler?
Not really, It happens pretty quickly, it's not something that happens after a game or so, it happens almost at the onset to get the story going. and she grows further from there. It is important for us to show they won't stay as simple orphans. Not a spoiler at all.
ah ok
I just wanted to pop in to say I noticed your game over at the Adventure Gamers forums, and I found the look of your characters to be quite "catchy". I'm now very interested to find that their looks "grow" over the course of the game too. Great work :)
ps. an RSS feed is basically a file that tells people when the content on your site has changed. It allows people to follow a blog, or anything that has frequent changes. Here's a site with some good info on how to do an RSS feed: http://www.downes.ca/cgi-bin/page.cgi?post=56
I like the look of these characters a lot, I'll look forward to seeing what comes next.
The characters are looking very nice indeed. That in game background looks rather spiffy too. Good luck with the project.
I'm almost certain that I have seen those characters before. You have been posting on Polycount haven't you?
Anyway, this looks very solid. Clean modeling and nice cartoony style. Me likes!
Quote from: Buckethead on Sun 31/05/2009 09:17:37
I'm almost certain that I have seen those characters before. You have been posting on Polycount haven't you?
Anyway, this looks very solid. Clean modeling and nice cartoony style. Me likes!
Yup. A Poster in Polycount is me.
I'm glad you people are liking the art and characters.
By the way Auriond, thanks a lot for explaining RSS feeds, a nice link too, so double thanks.
And because Yer a bunch of nice people, here are some more Cinematic snippets, and Some model sheets of game characters! this game is designed from the ground up. Every poly you see, it's a poly we've made :)
(http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/5606/introsnippets.jpg)
(http://img188.imageshack.us/img188/4505/sheets.jpg)
Meet two more of the Diverse Denizens that inhabit the border town of Cog South!
(http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/8153/margotk.jpg)
Margot is the quiet, knowledgeable and light hearted eldest orphan. She’s so responsible and loving that Miss Dickens already took her specially under her wing to inherit the orphanage, and gives her private classes in many lady-like topics.
Margot loves to read stories aloud, and dutifully does all hard work at the orphanage such as laundry and cooking. She loves nurturing children and all orphans have a very special place in her heart.
(http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/2281/mirandamaocard1.jpg)
Miranda is the silent and oddball orphan of the bunch. Being a bit shy and unfitting at times, she prefers to speak through her puppet avatars: Akai and Kuroi. Even if she comes off as a strange one, she means no harm.