DOCTOR WHO - TIME SNARE Big Update, Release Date And New Screens 7th Nov

[ScoobyFan14]

Some of those characters look like Indiana Jones and his partner from "Indiana Jones:The Fate Of Atlantis"

[Michael_TSM]

I played through the Demo, and I must say I loved it.

You got the stlye of dialogue for Tom Baker's Doctor spot on,

I enjoyed the cliff hanger at the end, though can I say it would be nice if you hadn't posted a screenshot of the Dalek, kind of ruined the surprise I had a feeling I knew what was going to happen from the start of the game.

Have you thought of doing it in an episodic format? I loved how it played out like an actual episode especially time wise as well as the great cliff hanger, it was just like sitting down to watch Doctor Who at 6 'o' clock in the evening.

It would be cool if this wasn't the 'DEMO' but the first episode, and the second episode would be a continuation of the first, but wouldn't require me to play through the first episode...

Anywho, thats my two cents, I loved it, can't wait for the next part.

BTW, one of the German scientists looks suspicously like Guybrush from Monkey Island 2...and you did say you used some Lucasarts material, will you be removing that in the future?

[Duckbutcher]

Cheers for the FB guys.

The Lucasarts stuff at the moment is staying, because I'm not really an artist - I can draw and animate backgrouds and machinery, but people always come out wrong - I can add the flourishes to an existing model, but can't really do one from scratch. For major characters I'll always attempt to disguise the paintovers as much as possible. The Guybrush paintover you mentioned only appears in one scene, and to be fair, he was the most obvious paintover.

There are three paintover backgrounds in the demo, out of about 13 screens. This is because I quickly realised that I was proficient enough to rattle up backgrounds from scratch myself. So there will be no more paintover backgrounds, at least.

Incidentally, if anyone wants to help me with character design, get in touch. You could rustle up some re-done sprite sheets for existing characters from the demo or potential characters from later on in the game and I could include them in the final game.

[chaos4700]

I have to say I actually found the Guybrush repaint sprite nostalgic and charming, after a fact. Kind of like a favorite actor who turns up in a new role. Anyway, you've stated right out in front that you were borrowing art so I, personally, don't have a problem with it. What you may lack in drawing characters from scratch you've more than compensated for with witty dialog, solid background art and engaging story.

In short, don't be so hard on Duckbutcher.

[Klytos]

Duckbutcher, I've gotta say, really well done. You've captured the essence of the early 4th Doctor to such a point I can almost hear Tom Bakers distinctive voice saying your dialog.

Being a HUGE Dr Who fan I'm always sceptical about such things as fan based games, novels, stories etc, because I believe that 9 times out of 10 the fans manage to get it too bogged down in the backstory instead of exploring strange new worlds (to steal a quote from Star Trek). You've avoided that. Well done.

I can't wait to play the full game.

Again, great job.

[davidnagel]

Hey man, I've joined the forum just to tell you how great your game is!

I've downloaded it and played it, and its blooming brilliant! It feels like playing a Doctor Who game Lucasarts has made! :-p

I wish I got there fair... i did do some preproduction in the style of "Toonstruck" and had planned to record my own Doctor on video and create a walkcycle/whatever cycle for a photo-realistic game.

But I have to say that my efforts wouldn't be as good as your brilliant demo here. I loved every minute of it!

Dialogue while alittle too long really set the story. I love Tom's dialogue.

Characters were brilliant, except the Guybrush-rip I couldn't tell where they had come from.

Backgrounds, brilliant, you said you were no good, but they are brilliant mate.

Plot, I wasn't expecting the dalek to be honest, despite the screenshots, i wasn't expecting them at all - i thought maybe its another episode screenshot.

I can't wait to see the full episode and the next episode, it would be a brilliant set of games, its just a shame the BBC never got into this idea, instead they realised that awful "Destiny of the Doctors" game.

Keep up the good work, mate.

Thanks,
davidnagel

[davidnagel]

The original 3d Doctor Who Adventure Game was created by a chap called Scarecrow (didn't get his real name)

The site went down years ago, but there was a demo released of the game, featuring a 3d Tom Baker Doctor in 3d environments, outside the TARDIS was some 2d aliens.

So, Geoffkhan, if you're interested, I do have this original demo released. I do not know how I stand on redistribution, or even if I'm allowed! I'd rather see if Scarecrow reads this and tells me otherwise! But I think the chap passed away awhile ago - i don't know so don't hold me to it.

[Duckbutcher]

Just a quick update guys - I'm going to Greece for a couple of weeks for a well earned holiday, so things'll be a bit quiet on the Who front for a bit. In the meantime, here are two new screens.





Progress wise, I've finished the Chateau's story and I've got about 80% of the rooms in place for the first of the game's alien worlds. The story's ready and waiting to be put in place, and,  in an antidote to the relative ease of the demo, I have one or two extremely nasty puzzles lined up. See you soon!

[davidnagel]

Brilliant duckbutcher - I absolutely love this game and i'd love to host it for you on my official website - I produce fan audios and videos in my spare time. the site is down right now for a revamp but its here www.damproductions.org

Can't wait for more! Love the screenshots.

[StrayGator]

I signed up to the forum just to congratulate you on a great project and I hope it gets completed. You have the dialogue down to a tee Dont go and post too many screenshots though might dampen the surprise!!!

A minor gripe is that I thought that some of the graphics could do with a little polish just to make them a bit sharper, and a bit more texture, such as the outside walls of the chateaux, and the doctor who logo at the beginning. Apart from that I thought it was faultess and I can wait!

[johnnyfacecake]

man i've been waiting for a doctor who game! demo is looking cool will play thru tonite! ;)

[Duckbutcher]

Well, I'm back from holiday and am tucking into some more backgrounds tonight.

davidnagel : That sounds great. Let me know when your site is up and running and I'll have a look at some of your stuff. Since I'm not making any money from this thing, and we've never had a decent Who game (I'm not being big headed - I'm just going off the generally positive feedback I've had!), it'd be nice for as many people as possible to be able to get hold of this. Any exposure is good exposure!

Re comments from other posters - I don't like the logo either! The one in the final game will look better. It might even be one of my own design, I'm not sure yet. I used that one simply because it was there and I needed the title sequence done for the demo.

And yes, looking back over this thread, I have posted rather a lot of screens. Rest assured they'll be rationed from now on.

Anyhow, progress continues steadily. I still don't have any idea of a release date - I'm not even halfway through the story at the moment.

I have considered perhaps releasing the game 'episodically' as suggested by some posters. What do people think? Would it work that way or would you rather wait for the complete game?

[Chicky]

Some truely brilliant script, lovely cut scenes and a great feel. But unfortunatly let down for me by the inconsistancy of the art. I fell in love with your demo's intro but when it came to display the inside of the tardis i was somewhat dissapointed. There was a lovely animation of the pair falling over when the tardis was knocked off course but it all seems a little to scatty.

The outside of the nazi castle was lovely (all be it with a few oddly placed pixels) but the inside room seemed like it needed some more work and as did the room that followed.

And when guybrush Threepwood came onto the screen dressed in a white coat i was a little worried, maybe he was there to meet Indy and Sophia

Seriously pal you've got a brilliant looking game here which seems to be going like a steam train, and you (or whoever is responsible) is obviously very talented at script writing. But i really feel that this game could benifit from a more consistant style, the random changes in art really help loose the feel that the rooms link.

I hope im not being too harsh, and i also hope you can take my points into consideration. Ether way, i'll still play the finished game for sure

[Duckbutcher]

As I've stated again and again, I'm not really an artist. I started this thread by asking for help with art. None was forthcoming, so I decided to give it a shot myself. I do tend to rattle backgrounds out and not agonise over perfection and details - not because I'm lazy, but because it would be a pointless exercise. I'm doing this for fun, not profit. I am, admittedly, improving as the game progresses, so maybe once the game is finished, I will re-do some of the clunkier backgrounds and ditch the Guybrush paintover which seems to have enraged one or two people so much. In the meantime, I trust you'll agree that what I am producing is at least adequate. That's all I can do and that's really all it needs to be. So you're stuck with my inconsistent, scatty art, I'm afraid. Sorry!

Some truely brilliant script, lovely cut scenes and a great feel. But unfortunatly let down for me by the inconsistancy of the art. I fell in love with your demo's intro but when it came to display the inside of the tardis i was somewhat dissapointed. There was a lovely animation of the pair falling over when the tardis was knocked off course but it all seems a little to scatty.

The outside of the nazi castle was lovely (all be it with a few oddly placed pixels) but the inside room seemed like it needed some more work and as did the room that followed.

And when guybrush Threepwood came onto the screen dressed in a white coat i was a little worried, maybe he was there to meet Indy and Sophia

Seriously pal you've got a brilliant looking game here which seems to be going like a steam train, and you (or whoever is responsible) is obviously very talented at script writing. But i really feel that this game could benifit from a more consistant style, the random changes in art really help loose the feel that the rooms link.

I hope I'm not being too harsh, and i also hope you can take my points into consideration. Ether way, i'll still play the finished game for sure

[Joseph DiPerla]

If someone was enraged with your artwork, tell them "Screw you!" and ask them to make something better for you. After all, your making a game for US, in YOUR SPARE TIME, for FREE. Do what YOU NEED to do and not worry about 1 or 2 people that aggravate you. Actually, I should learn to take my own advice. It just gets on my nerves when I see people being enraged for something they cant do better in.

Keep up the outstanding work!!!!!

EDIT: Sorry, maybe you shouldn't say "screw you". But something to make them understand that they shouldn't tell you negative things or be enraged toward you...

[Michael_TSM]

I'm all for the episodic format of release,

- It would make each segment of the game's cliff hanger ending more intense.
- It gives it the feel of the actual show.
- Makes it easier to work on, because your working on small sections not the entire epic at once.
- Means your more likely to finish, and even if you don't you will still have a bunch of self contained episodes to show for yourself, instead of a half playable epic.

Anywho, keep up the good work, I'm looking forward to it no matter how you do it.

[Duckbutcher]

Whoops - I purged my photobucket album like an idiot, and consequently a lot of the screenshots have disappeared from this thread. Sorry about that guys! But hey, I guess it's better this way - not as many spoilerific screens.

Anyhew, progress continues slowly. I'll soon be moving on to character designs for the second part of the game. May post some sprites here for people to look at - and to guess who they're paintovers of ...

I'm still debating whether to release the game episodically. I can understand the argument for an episodic release, but here are my thoughts:

Personally, I'd rather play the whole thing in one go - I hate waiting a week for cliffhanger resolutions. I'm really into Lost at the moment, but don't watch it on TV...I use...ahem..other means...and sometimes sit and watch up to five episodes in a row. I think the game will be more satisfying if the player can choose whether or not to take a break at the close of an episode. Bear in mind, that if I did choose to release the game episodically, there would be a wait of at least three months between episodes - probably longer.  And also, it does seem unlikely that episodes will be of an equal length - kind of like the 'parts' of Monkey Island 1 - part one was far and away the longest part, part two you could do in ten minutes etc.

Really, I split it into episodes as primarily as a way of pacing the story and breaking the game into manageable chunks that I am able to work on seperately, and secondly as a nostalgia thing - trying to evoke the feel of the show (I'm even doing a reprise of the last 30 seconds or so of episode 1 after the titles of episode 2).

Anyone think I should have the 1970s BBC1 logo and a continuity announcer at the beginning?

Just kidding....

Anyhow, let me know your thoughts.

[Mac]

Perhaps you could wait till the whole game is finished and then start releasing each part weekly or however frequently (perhaps fortnightly or monthly might be better for a game?). That way people could either go along with the experience and enjoy the cliffhangers or just wait till they've all been released and play them in one chunk.

[mkennedy]

Glad to see a Doctor Who game. A minor note about the TARDIS screen shot, the circular depressions are aranged in a honeycomb pattern so every other vertical row should be shifted down by about  half a repetition.  As for having Guybrush in the game, if you decide to keep him make him a good guy, not a nazi! He could be one of the brigidare's soldiers.

[Duckbutcher]

Quick update and a bit of blurb for the second part here guys - cheers!

Following the leads they aquired in France, The Doctor and Sarah travel to the planet Tethis in the year 4000, landing on a mountain which has a starship crashed halfway up it. The survivors of this crash have set up a makeshift colony at the foot of the mountain. They've been stranded here for nearly twenty years. A perimiter wall protects the villagers from strange creatures marauding outside the colony. But just who is protecting whom - and from what? Enlisting the help of one or two villagers, our heroes resolve to get to the bottom of the mystery. Why were the survivors never rescued? What is the secret of Excalibur's Glory? What purpose does the mysterious Beacon serve? And is the Captain all that he seems to be?

Here's a screen from the second part of the game:



Progress wise, it would be nice to have something ready by Christmas. But I can't promise anything!