Adventure Game Studio

Community => Adventure Related Talk & Chat => Topic started by: Vel on Sun 02/11/2003 11:14:15

Title: Teaming up for a Gabriel Knight-like epic
Post by: Vel on Sun 02/11/2003 11:14:15
After finishing "Who wants to live forever?", I decided to freeze "Curse of the Mushmuroc castle" and to start a completely new game. It will be of full length(maybe 20+hours), and mostly inspired by the Gabriel Knight series. The plot will concentrate on many aspects of both history and the main character's personal life. I plan starting the real work really soon - the beginning of december, but I realized that it would take much time to do it on my own. I want to do it in broken sword art style. I already have one sketch artist(the sketch is the hard part for those who cant draw very well by hand), and I can colour his sketches very well. I also have the plot outline(300 pages of research done so far), and some puzzles. So what I am looking for is:
- A character artist/animator - must do broken sword-like sprites.
- Background sketch artist/colour artist - either one who does both or two who do the same.
- Two musicians - must do Gabriel Knight 3-like both MIDI and digital music (I guess one would be enough, but it would be just too much work for him).

I will do the coding myself, with a little help from the techie's forum. I will also take care of the sound effects. As you can see, this is a very ambitious project(around 50 rooms planned) and the more of you join it, the faster it will be finished. Thanks for the support in advance.
Title: Re:Teaming up for a Gabriel Knight-like epic
Post by: Layabout on Mon 03/11/2003 05:22:40
Whoa ho ho!!! I've seen N00BS get more responses than this thread!!!

Whats wrong vel? You treat everyone like shit, so when it comes time when you want a little help, NO ONE WANTS TO!!!

In all honesty, you do actually finish games, and it wouldnt suprise me that you would finish this game, even though its a monster effort.

But being pretty much half the length of a sierra game when it comes to rooms, it would probably take a small team over a year to complete. And that would be one hell of a dedicated team. And wanting BS type graphics. They require a proper animator. Someone like Eric or Igor. But they are both busy with other projects arent they.

And I won't help you cause you would probably take the spotlight when the game is finished. Like the egomaniac you are.

Shizar!
Title: Re:Teaming up for a Gabriel Knight-like epic
Post by: GarageGothic on Mon 03/11/2003 10:30:09
Sounds interesting. Maybe you'd get more replies if you posted part of the story (no spoilers of course) and some character description. At least some basic facts about the location and the topic of the mystery.

Quote300 pages of research done so far

I assume this means that you've read a 300 page long book, not that you've actually compiled 300 pages worth of facts for the game?

I'd offer to help, but that would only delay Shadowplay. If you need some feedback on the story, structure and such, from somebody working within the same genre, I'd be happy to help though.

Good luck Vel!
Title: Re:Teaming up for a Gabriel Knight-like epic
Post by: Vel on Mon 03/11/2003 13:24:37
Layabout: 50+ rooms is half the length of sierra games? Well I don't think so.
GG: about 300 pages of reading about things which will be featured in the game's plot(NOT a 300page-long book)

About the story and such, anyone who's interested send me a pm and Ill pm him/her the synopsis - it would be too much a spoiler if I posted it here. I mean, the game isnt even in GIP forum.
Title: Re:Teaming up for a Gabriel Knight-like epic
Post by: Layabout on Tue 04/11/2003 05:05:33
You only addressed one point of my statement, which means I WIN, Vel = LOSER!!!

When I read 300 pages of research, i see that as 300 pages of notes, not reading 300 pages... 300 pages is nothing if you dont write anything down. MAEK TEHINGS CLEER!!!!

Maybe you should COOL DOWN YOUR "teh silly" EGO before trying to get people to help you.
Title: Re:Teaming up for a Gabriel Knight-like epic
Post by: Andail on Tue 04/11/2003 11:31:48
For yet some days, newbies will probably think twice before asking for help with their projects
Title: Re:Teaming up for a Gabriel Knight-like epic
Post by: scotch on Tue 04/11/2003 12:17:22
As I told you in IRC I'll help colour your pencilled backgrounds, once the game has progressed a bit.  Because although you are an egomaniac and annoying at times you'll probably finish this ;)
Title: Re:Teaming up for a Gabriel Knight-like epic
Post by: Layabout on Tue 04/11/2003 12:42:52
I didnt say he wouldnt finish it. He probably will IMO. It's just he acts as though he is the AGS lord, and we MUST help him.
Title: Re:Teaming up for a Gabriel Knight-like epic
Post by: Vel on Tue 04/11/2003 12:55:04
Thanks scotch!
I know that I have read about 300 pages, becase I copy the text on the website, format it in word and then print it.
Title: Re:Teaming up for a Gabriel Knight-like epic
Post by: Dave Gilbert on Tue 04/11/2003 15:10:32
Research means nothing if you can't put a good story around it.  I was chief editor for a TV show back in college.  It was called "Shadows" and the two writers impressed the fact that months of research went into writing it.  The plot was a hodge-podge of egyptian mythology, physics and astral projection that was kind of fascinating but altogether incomprehensible.   I can't fault their ambition, but the scripts themselves were boring as hell.  A chunk of the dialog was just the characters spouting out the writers' research.

Anyhoo, what I mean is don't let the research be the crux of the game.  Best of luck.
Title: Re:Teaming up for a Gabriel Knight-like epic
Post by: Vel on Tue 04/11/2003 15:52:33
Ditto!

Research does not mean good plot. But I have the plot outline ready, and I want to put in more accurate historical events, persons etc.
Title: Re:Teaming up for a Gabriel Knight-like epic
Post by: GarageGothic on Wed 05/11/2003 09:30:39
QuoteI want to put in more accurate historical events, persons etc.

Vel, just beware that it doesn't become another Young Indiana Jones Chronicles with its historical-celebrity-of-the-week. With Shadowplay, I've been very concerned about this, like: "Is it too cheesy to have Harry Houdini and Orson Welles in the same story?". If you add historical characters, keep to those who are actually related, don't throw in every single interesting person who was alive at the time (a non-fictional League of Extraordinary Gentlemen). I've seen this done in roleplaying games, and connecting too many factual - but unrelated - people and events actually detracts from the believability.
Title: Re:Teaming up for a Gabriel Knight-like epic
Post by: Vel on Wed 05/11/2003 11:13:40
Yes, GG, I am concerned about this too, and I am trying to make everything match.
Title: Re:Teaming up for a Gabriel Knight-like epic
Post by: Meowster on Thu 06/11/2003 00:54:54
Well, I'd help with backgrounds except I have BR to finish, then a small project after BR, and then another large project after. So if you wanna wait about three years, knowing me....

But if you need research done (Or any more of it anyway) then I'd love to help! Or even if you just need concept art of characters or locations, again I would love to do this. But backgrounds would be way too big a thing for me to take on, and it's all I'm really any use at.

And I think you're being brilliant ignoring all the comments made about you. It must be hard to resist replying to such inane comments. I think it's about time these people got a new shtick.

EDIT: Hmmm, if you want, actually, I could sketch the backgrounds. I'd obviously research whatever art style you were taking on, and I could get them done on the train. Hmm, interesting thought. Well, if ya need anything like this, just give a shout :)
Title: Re:Teaming up for a Gabriel Knight-like epic
Post by: Vel on Thu 06/11/2003 12:42:13
Thanks Yufster!
Ill pm you when I have anything concrete.
Title: Re:Teaming up for a Gabriel Knight-like epic
Post by: |Alky| on Thu 06/11/2003 13:35:43
Quote from: GarageGothic on Wed 05/11/2003 09:30:39...just beware that it doesn't become another Young Indiana Jones
Heh, I loved that series ^_^
Title: Re:Teaming up for a Gabriel Knight-like epic
Post by: Vel on Tue 11/11/2003 17:57:24
New position open:
Puzzle designer. Has to be one who can make realistic kind of puzzles, not McGyver type ones.
Title: Re:Teaming up for a Gabriel Knight-like epic
Post by: Meowster on Tue 11/11/2003 19:05:58
Quote
Has to be one who can make realistic kind of puzzles, not McGyver type ones

Oh, crud.

*walks away slowly and sadly*
Title: Re:Teaming up for a Gabriel Knight-like epic
Post by: Vel on Tue 11/11/2003 19:08:35
Lol!
But really, too adventuresque and wacky puzzles will seem out of place here.
Title: Re:Teaming up for a Gabriel Knight-like epic
Post by: Snake on Tue 11/11/2003 19:21:32
QuoteThey require a proper animator. Someone like Eric or Igor.
Not that I'm taking sides, but they aren't the only good animators here. I'm not known as a good artist nor a good animator (though I have nothing to show for it anyway) but I feel that I am. I think I'd do the job right if I wanted to do it.
Anyhoo, I'm sure someone will do it right for his game.

About the research bit. Quit the harping, guys. Wether it's 300 pages or not, I'm sure he's not qoing to throw every fact in the game, most likely he's going to use it as a reference and use things as he needs them. Sure he won't just throw a bunch of jumbled up notes in there in hopes of making it sound better.

Yes, he's got the rep of a smart-assed jack-ass, but that didn't stop me from wanting him to help with the character developement in my game. He's very focussed and a good writer. He just needs to learn how to shut his mouth when needed...

All the luck to ye, Vel.


--Snake
Title: Re:Teaming up for a Gabriel Knight-like epic
Post by: Vel on Tue 11/11/2003 19:23:47
Thanks, Snake!
Always nice to hear a good word.

PS: Anyone interested in the realistic puzzle designer job?
Title: Re:Teaming up for a Gabriel Knight-like epic
Post by: Raggit on Tue 11/11/2003 22:17:17
You say you need two composers because it'd be too much work for one??

How much music is this game going to need?
Also,
You said that one composer will do MIDI and the other will do digital.  
I don't think the game will sound that great if you use both MIDI and digital music in it.   IMO it'd be better to have your composers do the same format of music insted of bouncing from one to the other throughout the game.  
Title: Re:Teaming up for a Gabriel Knight-like epic
Post by: Snake on Wed 12/11/2003 03:09:30
Yes, Vel, I agree (forgot to mention earlier). You should pick what you think would fit (most likely digital) and stick to it. You need the music to be consistant throughout the game and each scene whether you've got 1 composer or 30. But I say have 1 composer, since, like I said, the music must be consistant. If you have more than one it'll be all fucked up ;)


--Snake
Title: Re:Teaming up for a Gabriel Knight-like epic
Post by: scotch on Wed 12/11/2003 04:46:26
I would have thought he meant that there would be both midi and digital music, the digital replacing the midi if you download it.
Although I think just digital would be fine personally, and I'm on dialup.
Title: Re:Teaming up for a Gabriel Knight-like epic
Post by: remixor on Wed 12/11/2003 04:50:39
scotch: Even if that's the case, however, it would be difficult to do with two composers.  Just because one would be skilled with MIDI and one with digital methods, there's no guarantee either one would know how to interpret the other's music into their own format.  Also, if that's the case, which one would actually compose the music?  It would be more accurate to say "one MIDI composer and one person to create high-quality recordings of those MIDIs" or vice-versa.
Title: Re:Teaming up for a Gabriel Knight-like epic
Post by: Raggit on Wed 12/11/2003 05:22:35
I second what Remixor said.

Well, if you decide to use digital music in the game I guess I'd be willing to compose and conduct the music for it, if the job is up for grabs.    ;)

If you hire two or more composers/musicians I'd suggest you carefully outline their work for them and be descriptive so that they both know what to do etc...  

Judging from the work I've done in the past, it would probably be easier if you only hire one.  But then again I never worked alongside another composer.  Just do whatever you think is best for your game!  :)

Good luck!

Title: Re:Teaming up for a Gabriel Knight-like epic
Post by: Pet Terry on Wed 12/11/2003 11:10:18
Well, I'm meant to make a MIDI-soundtrack for this one, as I did for WWTLF, and Vel converted it into a digital format. Although I had to work hard, because every time I finished track, I started a new one so I didn't had much time to work with my own project(s). Because this is probably going to be such a long project I don't really want to do the whole soundtrack by myself.
Title: Re:Teaming up for a Gabriel Knight-like epic
Post by: Vel on Wed 12/11/2003 11:24:06
As scotch said, the soundtrack will be similar to WWTLF - MIDi and digital if you download. And it'd be too much work for one composer - I guess 60+ minutes of music or so.
Title: Re:Teaming up for a Gabriel Knight-like epic
Post by: Ptraci on Sat 15/11/2003 16:31:43
I'd like to help designing the puzzles, but I don't know if I'd do well. I haven't worked in an AGS game previously but I'd like to try.

I'm supposed to be developing a game at the moment, but I can't get the rest of the team to work or even brainstorm a little, so I think it's OK if I team for another game as mine seems to be dead. People who volunteer for projects they are not interested in...