The Callahan Curse

[zeek]

Hello,

I brought up this game last fall while inquiring after some coding help on a couple of items.  This has been my "labor of love" project for the past 10 years (more heavily the past two years).  I am an art major in painting and computer art, and am currently teaching art in my local public school system... this is my "evening and weekends, and daydreaming during class" project.  I also have a background in voice acting, musical theatre and composing, which helps me in game production.  Of course I am in no rush to finish the project, but I feel like it's at a point where I feel comfortable sharing some work with all of you.  I estimate another two years at least before I have something to release.  I'm really enjoying working on this.

Hope you enjoy this short alpha teaser.

http://youtu.be/UACSTPpr_fY

*Edit*

Synopsis:
The Callahan Curse is an up-coming High-Resolution Adventure Game, featuring a classic "Point and Click" interface, lush interactive environments, hand-painted backgrounds, orchestrated musical score, challenging puzzles with multiple solutions and outcomes, rich voice acting, 2-D animations, and an engaging story-line.

After the disappearance of a beloved family member, young Gabriella ventures out on her own to find the mysterious "Elise", a rumored sorceress who can help to reunite her broken family.

Along the way, meet a variety of characters with needs of their own, who may be able to aide you in your quest.

Development Progress:


Story: 95%
Scripting: 60%
Graphics: 60%
Sound/Music: 25%

Expected completion date: January 2017

Development Diary:
**Many of these diary details may seem arbitrary and unrelated, but I'm including them because to me it was all part of this game's production.  And as with many people in this community, this project was worked on in the middle of a completely separate life, and sometimes has large periods of time with little progress.**

Spring 2001
Plot outlined.

Fall 2002
Plot refined/ detailed.

Spring 2003
Puzzle/ Game Design began
Concept Sketches for key scenes
Character Design began
Opening/ Ending Cut-scene Dialogue written
Main theme music conceptualized/ recorded

Summer 2005
Main musical themes refined
Background Art Sketches fleshed out/ color tests began

Fall 2005 - 2009
Changed focus from game production to refining skills:
Studied painting
worked as a music composer and voice actor for Infamous Adventures (Now Infamous Quests).
Worked full time as a graphic designer and musical theater actor
Began my Art Education Degree
Continued work on dialogue scripts
Began "Final" versions of game background art

Spring 2010
Looking for solutions for the "hand-drawn" animation look (without the traditional frame-by-frame method)
Began to study 2-D vector animation
Continued to (slowly) work on background art
Began to study AGS coding

Spring 2011
Further work on background art
Hand-Drawn/ computer aided 2-D vector animation practice for several months

Spring 2012
Finishing Art Teaching degree, interning/ student teaching at multiple schools
Began experimenting with game asset animations
Began music composing for "final" versions of musical score
Continued background art

Spring 2013
Graduated Art School (with teaching degree)
Began teaching traditional art at local public schools
Completed character design and character rigging for main character
Completed 8 view walk cycle for main character
Began basic interaction animations

Summer 2013 - Spring 2014
Kicked game work into gear!
Heavy character animation assets
Finished Designing/ rigging 30% of the supporting characters
Began creating/ implementing environment animations
Began coding with AGS
40 rooms in-progress with coding
Inventory GUI designed
Opening cutscene storyboards refined
Animations for opening cutscene began
Coding for opening cutscene 95% finished
Music for opening cutscene 95% finished
Background Music began
(25 music pieces in-progress or completed, music 35% done)

Game Screenshots:



















Isaac

[Darth Mandarb]

Please have a read of the forum rules and update your post.

[zeek]

Sorry about that, updating now.  I have read the rules in the past, but it's been a while.  I should have reread before posting.

Isaac

[Gurok]

Well, after watching that alpha, I wanted to see more. That's always a good sign. I think the fountain is very nicely done.

[Stupot]

This looks very pretty. Some nice animation.
Best of luck and keep up the good work :-)

[Tabata]

I also like that fountain - looks nice!

Good luck for your "labor of love" project 

[Darth Mandarb]

The two screenshots must be visible in the original post.  I have moved Tabata's [kindly provided] image into the first post but please make sure to update with your own screenshots (in case where ever this image is hosted goes down. You are responsible for keeping your post updated).  Thanks.

[zeek]

Tabata, Stupot, and Gurok, thank you for watching the promo video, glad you're enjoying the progress, and thank you for the well wishes.

Isaac