Al Emmo: Official Demo released

[Erpy]

A new game, "Al Emmo & The Lost Dutchman's Mine," by start-up company Himalaya Studios (of AGDI fame) has been announced.Ã,  The game was postponed in 2002, but is now back in production full-time.

It will be an original and commercial product using the AGS engine.

Game resolution will be 640x400 with handdrawn backgrounds, as well as 3D models as sprites. The final game will come with digital music as well as a voiceover.

Currently, there's a competition on the website where visitors can win a free copy.

We're still looking for 3D artists for a paid position, as well as 3D artist interns (non-paid internship).

In addition to info about the upcoming game, the website also contains the travelling journals from the (former) AGDs if you're interested in a good read.

Website is at www.himalayastudios.com

Screenshots:

[Developer]

Wicked.

[chapter11studios]

NICE. Cool to see two wild west games on the way now! (The other, of course, being mine. ).

[Darth Mandarb]

Please post at least two in-game screenshots (as per the forum rules) in the initial post.

The game looks pretty neat.

The backgrounds look very well done and the plot sounds ... interesting.

[SSH]

From the webiste about... history page:

Company founders, Britney K. Brimhall and Christopher T. Warren, previously established AGDInteractive, LLC (formerly known as Tierra Entertainment), a company which nearly single handedly resurrected classic adventure gaming.

Nearly single handedly? All that typing "EGO" in the scripts over the years must have gotten to them...

[Erpy]

My apologies. I thought the rules merely wished to have screenshots available, rather than literally posted here.

Still, if a quick copy-paste job makes you happy:

[Darth Mandarb]

I suppose the rule isn't really clear ...

For me personally I don't like having to go to a website.  I'd rather just read about the game (and see the screenshots) inside the GiP thread.

But that's just me.

[strazer]

No, I agree.

Those backgrounds look very nice, but I think the 3D character doesn't fit in there.

But that's just me.

[chapter11studios]

Al Emmo... Alamo... I get it! Himalaya folks, really nice work here and very exciting stuff to see. I'm psyched about the Lost Dutchmen's Mine idea, as that's a legend I considered using for my game, too! (Before I settled on using a different "treasure.")

Can't wait to see this one come together. Although I agree with SSH... "Nearly single handedly?" Um, I think not so much.  :o

[Toefur]

I have to agree with Josh & SSH as well.

While it may sound nice to put that in your company profile, and possibily potential distributers or publishers may find that to be an endearing comment it sounds a little silly, and a little bit extreme.

I checked out the site, the game looks and sounds promising, but when I read that paragraph on the site I sort of thought, "Yeah, whatever" and closed the window.

[edmundito]

I single-handedly posted this topic reply!

[AGD2]

Hey, guys, thanks for the comments!

Josh, your project looks amazing too! It'll sure be great to play another AGS game with a Western setting. Those backgrounds look very Lucasarts'ish and ours are kind of Sierra'ish, so it'll be really interesting to experience the two different flavours. Can't wait!

As for the statement on the website, allow me to clarify this. I know it sounds conceited, egotistical, and probably even a little bit evil... but it's referring specifically to "classic" adventure gaming and its effect on the commercial market; specifically, how the release of our KQ1 remake, in turn, had an effect on commercial sales of MOE and garnered the attention of professionals in the gaming industry to take notice of classics again (many ex-sierra employees, ex-Lucasarts, and even some current iD software programmers have contacted us to name a few). It also sparked a rise in fan game production from other teams that continues to grow to this day and these teams also help to bring classic adventure games back into the spotlight.

The reason we said "nearly single-handedly" and not "single-handedly" is because it would be insulting to the rest of the amateur community to suggest that we were fully responsible for getting classic adventure gaming back onto its feet (particularly where the commercial market is not directly concerned). There are many awesome examples of original (non fan based) amateur games that have contributed to the publicity of the classic adventure genre as well... not to mention Chris Jones and others who tirelessly maintain and upgrade their game engines with classic features!

We dislike blowing our own horn, but also understand that this must be done sometimes from a business sense. Ã,  Most companies have some similar type of marketing slogan, though they have no way of backing the statement up. We, at least, have some basis of justification behind ours. There's no denying that Tierra/AGDI has had a dramatic impact on the adventure gaming world and has sustained interest in the genre. After all, this was our original intention and goal. I know some people will find ways to refute the statement, but we believe that there's truth to it... and as you said, it also looks cool to publishers! j/k Ã, 

As far as the 3D prerendered graphics are concerned, they allow us to render complex animations in a shorter amount of time, and make them more detailed than their 2D equivalents.

Many 2D adventure games have amazing backgrounds, but are marred by substandard character animations. Ã, 2D character animation is no easy (nor speedily accomplished) task -- and we'll willingly admit that we don't currently have the resources, talents, nor time to create as many 2D frames as this game requires, and still maintain the level of quality we want to reach. Prerendered 3D animations can look very good and can also provide more complex movements with less effort. Plus, the animations are a whole lot easier to edit, too, if changes are required. Ã, The frames generated make use of alpha blending which makes the character edges blend smoothly into the backgrounds -- something that is not so easily accomplished with 2D sprites. Ã, 

If a player analyses a game from a technological standpoint, they're bound to notice things like this, regardless of the technology used. A similar argument could be made about 2D sprites looking 'pasted over' the backgrounds... but I digress -- such things are merely stylistic choices made by the designer to achieve the look and feel that they envisioned for their game. It all comes down to personal preference and in the end, we play adventure games primarily to enjoy the stories and that's what counts, right?

[Barbarian]

Wow, the background art looks fantastic. I can see a lot of detail and effort must have been put into making them. The main character "Al" sort of makes me imagine as to what "Larry" (from classic Leisure Suit Larry games), might look like being if he were even more emancipated, rejected, whimpy and depressed looking. (I know the original Larry was emancipated, rejected and whimpy looking too, but at least he seemed to appear more "confident" and "happy" in being in such a sad state) But, that just some first impressions I get from looking over the main character at your main website too. Once seeing "Al" in animated action and how he relates to the game surrounding and situations may make for a fun(ny) and interesting character to control.

Reading through the storyline/plot ideas of the game seems interesting too, and I look forwards to playing through the completed game.

Question: Who's the guy with the big "Astro-boy-looking-hair" you are posting in your messages? Is that some character that will be in your game? As I don't see it over at your main website anywhere.

Comments regarding the "nearly single handedly" statement: I know this is a Game in Production thread, but as a long-time fan of "classic style adventure games" and now as an amateur game creator of "classic style adventure games", I thought I could share a couple of my thoughts on the matter. Yes, reading the statement, for me, seems a rather bold statement and a bit of a turn off, and as ADG2 put it:

it sounds conceited, egotistical, and probably even a little bit evil...

And, yes it does, almost to the point that a long-time fan of adventure games or someone who is keeping a regular watch on the "Adventure Gaming Scene" in general might be turned off by such a remark even to the point of losing any interest in your games, no matter how wonderful of a game it was. I think many people may feel similar to the way that SuspectDevice did when he said:

checked out the site, the game looks and sounds promising, but when I read that paragraph on the site I sort of thought, "Yeah, whatever" and closed the window.

.

The people you want most interested in your game(s) and project(s) are indeed, fans of adventure games, and people who keep a regular watch on the "adventure gaming scene". Instead, with your one bold statement alone, you may in fact be causing the opposite effect and turning away potential "customers" of your wonderful game.

So, my friendly suggestion (take or throw it away) may be to slightly re-word that statement so as to still get your valid points across, still sounding good to potential interested "publishers" , media and such, but, still not offending the "true fans of adventure games" potential customers. Play around with the wording a bit as you best see fit, but I might think something like:

"a company which played a key role in helping to resurrect classic adventure gaming."

would still sound great, and much less likely to offend the old time true fans of adventure games.

I do agree with some of what you say, in fact, I really very much enjoyed the remakes of the Kings Quest games you guys made, and yes, it most likely did indeed help to grab attention and get a lot of people to become interested or perhaps interested-again in classic-style adventure games, and to let some game-makers / publishers / media, etc... become more aware that there's still very much an interest in these type of games and that there's still good potential to create and market these type of game if approached the right way.

Anyways, I'm sorry, I've gotten off track here.
I wish you all the best with your projects, and I look forwards to seeing your game(s) in action. Keep up the good work.

--- Don, "The Barbarian".

[AGD2]

Hmmmmm... hummmmmm.... HMMMMMMM...

Okay, I guess you're right. At first glance that statement could easily be misinterpreted. It doesn't go into further detail and people might naturally jump to the most literal conclusion. That's not our intention, however, so I've reworded it to sound slightly less evil.Ã,  Ã, 

Cool? Now, let's all hold hands and sing "We are the World".Ã, 

Thanks for the compliments, btw! As for the guy with the Astroboy hair... you mean, Nash, Erpy's avatar? Heck no, if we used that in our commercial game, Squaresoft would probably form a lynch mob of their own to send after us!

[Erpy]

Question: Who's the guy with the big "Astro-boy-looking-hair" you are posting in your messages? Is that some character that will be in your game? As I don't see it over at your main website anywhere.

Actually, it's Working Designs who published the game. 

And yeah, it's from an RPG called Lunar:Silver Star Story. (for the PSX) I've been using that avatar as my signature even before I arrived at AGDI. (which was in 2001)

So if they want me to part with it, the lynch mob had better be big.

[Barbarian]

Hey AGD2, the new re-worded statement looks much more nicer and friendly now I think than the original ( Hands around coca-cola and sings "We are the World" ) Ã, 

See, you've just proven that "Himalaya Studios" is open minded an willing to listen to and respond to the typical/average/little-guy "Adventure Gaming Fan", which in turn may attract more potential customers to become interested your projects.

Keep up the good work and the positive attitude, and I'm sure your team can achieve much success.

PS: Thanks for the info on the "Astro-hair-guy", I thought it looked familiar. 

[Blackthorne]

Hmmmmm... hummmmmm.... HMMMMMMM...

Okay, I guess you're right. At first glance that statement could easily be misinterpreted.

It's often hard to write something positive about your own endeavours and such, without sounding pretentious or pompous.  I know that you guys are proud of what you've accomplished, and rightly so - and those always in the highest of positions have not only the farthest to fall, but also the most taking pot-shots at them.

Don't worry; having conversed with many members of AGDI privately, I can say collectively that they are a bunch of people who just like adventure games, and are trying their best - and a commercial movment is no easy task.

Good luck guys!

Bt

[SSH]

See, you've just proven that "Himalaya Studios" is open minded an willing to listen to and respond to the typical/average/little-guy "Adventure Gaming Fan", which in turn may attract more potential customers to become interested your projects.

Who are you calling little? 

j/k

Anyway, thanks for fixing your typo  AGD2! I hope that you have success commercially, and that you can get QFG out this year!

[Snarky]

Not-So-Anonymous Game Developers now, eh? 

Good going, Himalaya Studios! Personally, I'm not a big fan of the Western setting (and didn't like Freddy Pharkas), but for all the fun that you guys have provided with KQ1VGA and KQ2VGA+, and in anticipation of QFG2VGA, I'll certainly buy your game. Besides, an effort to relaunch adventure games commercially deserves all of our support.

I wish you awe-inspiring success!

[AlbinoPanther]

LOOK I AM REAL ADVENTURER!!! Live with them whole my life(18 years)!!!
And i live in Serbia & Montenegro, that is a country in eastern Europe. I don't have visa or master card or any other card. Are you start to reallize?
Now commercial adventures are rarre(good games).And AGS is my only hope it is really one of the gratest things in da world offcourse therre is basketball 'n' RAP!!!
   Your game is really promissin' i would be happy to play it!!! But therre is allways but, how you expect from me to buy it!!! Only way is to send a money.With mail or something, damn be this shit world!!!

Hope for understandin'. ADVENTURE FAN WhiteNigga!!!( Sorry for bad english if it is actually bad)

Keep dream of adventure makeing world better usin' adventures this is a end of my letter!!!