Download the Daemons In The Attics Demo

[Ghost]

I finally managed to finish the demo- after upgrading to Version2.56 I actually did it all again- i changed lots of small details concerning the characters, re-did some backgrounds etc.

So have a go at the demo!

http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/ditademo.zip

the demo already has the introduction and a good part of the first chapter, but of course some stuff is missing: some animations and sound effects, you'll notice the stuff.

i hope you'll like the first taste of DITA- give me as much feedback as you can spare time! I'm most curious how you liked the characters (especially Beverly and Bob the Night Guard)- the first reaction of some of you was very positive, so I'm curious if I live up to the expectations

[Anym]

^^^^^^^^^^
Awesome!

How many points can you get in the demo? I'm at 20 currently.

I love the graphics! Very professional looking. And I love the little details, like the sparks from the lanterns or the tutorial or the guard lighting his own face to look scary or the TV or the Quake-shirt. Keep up the good great work!

Some minor gripes tough:
- The backgrounds and the characters, even the command buttons, look amazing. However, the title screen doesn't live up to that at all.
- The volume of ambience sounds decreases when I (Beverly) move away from their source (e.g. the frog). I don't think that's a good idea tough as my (the player's) point-of-view and distance doesn't change at all, so why should it get quieter?
- There are occasional spelling errors and a bug or two, but I guess that's because it's just a beta and I'm sure that will be ironed out until the final version. Tell me if you want to know what problems there were.

Spoiler

- If the game is intended for absoulte newbies (as the tutorial might suggest), it might not really be obvious to search (PICK UP) the trash bin, as EXAMINE doesn't yield any clues to that, and it's not "normal" (outside of adventure games that is) to search trash bins, is it?

[close]

[Ghost]

Ahhh, that feels so good! I hoped to get a quick response, but THAT quick? Amazing!

Okay, let's just say you can get a bit more than 20 points. SPOILER! Some score is given for very very strange actions! I get 28 points

The title screen isn't what it once will be- it's supposed to be a makeshift montage when i release the full game, the DAEMONS will then be flickering like a TV screen- another little nod to The Ring.

Well, the ambience sound... I suppose ambience sounds get a bit louser/more silent whenever the player moves- since the pond scene is only "one screen" big, it really makes little sense. I think i'll replace the ambient sound with a "real" one that doesn't change volume.

about the spelling- first, i'm german, so english (and especially american english) isn't my mother tongue. i also tend to work on my game VERY late. of course the final version will be absolutely free of any spelling errors AND bugs

about the trashbin- my girlfriend found that dead easy, and she hates complicated computer games. She complained about the knife puzzle. But most games here at AGS had a puzzle involving the "search trashbin for stuff", so I thought it a rather simple puzzle. I'll think of putting a hint or maybe changing the graphic so that you can see the matches- in the first version of the demo the trashbin was wireframe, with rather gave away the puzzle...

Anyway, I'm very happy about this first positive response- if I smiled any wider, my head would fall off!

Spoiler for some "hidden score"

Spoiler

use matches on bushes (true boyscout points) , show key to bob (witty repartee points)

[close]

[Bernie]

Very well done, great game so far!
I really like your graphics, they have a dott-esque style to them. Also, they radiate the right feeling, and that means a lot to me.
The puzzles were great, just fine for the start of the game. Do you plan to keep the difficulty like that, or will they get more complex later on?
As for the writing - I can't really comment on it since I'm Austrian, and my english isn't all that magnificient, heh. All I can say is that I didn't spot anything wrong.

Also, a small bug:

Spoiler

The melon-froggy didn't disappear when I used it on the pond, that is all.

[close]

In any case, I enjoyed the game so far... keep it up!

[Ghost]

dott-esque, that was just what i wished to achieve.

well, the first puzzle- technically it's only a classic "get the key" puzzle- was supposed to show the humour of the game and give the player a few minutes to get comfortable with Beverly- the later puzzles will become more tricky, mostly because Beverly will find lots of ghosts in the house, so there will be lots of things to do. The "demo key" puzzle will, by comparison, seem rather simple.

Bernhard, about your "spoiler bug"- that's not a bug but a missing animation, it's supposed to stay floating. As I said, there are some animations missing, like talking views and most "take actions".

[Kweepa]

I think he meant that it didn't disappear from your inventory - which it doesn't.

VERY nice looking game!
It's a bit of a cliched plot, but hey, who cares?

The only problem I had was finding the pond - I didn't recognise that broken up thing at the front of the screen as a path. Also, I would remove the second porcelain frog from behind the sign. I thought the puzzle was moving the sign to reveal the second frog, and was about to consign the game to the stupid illogical puzzle bin.

Also, unless there's some strong reason not to, I would call the game "Demons in the Attic" rather than "Daemons in the Attics". Even if there are multiple attics, it still sounds a bit odd.

Hope to see this finished soon!

Steve

[Anym]

I didn't have any problems finding the matches either. I just wasn't sure if searching the trash bin seemed natural only because I've been doing in adventure games ever since (to the point that some adventure games actually point out that there's NOTHING hidden there).

About the bug, I think what Bernhard means, is that the item remains in your inventory. Actually, you can abuse this bug to get 99 or even more points (as 8 points are awarded each time).
EDIT: What Steve said.

And had problems finding the pond as well, but I thought that was just me.

Another bug is that you get marshmallows upon entering the first location, so even after you "used" them, they miraculously re-appear in your inventory. Unfortunately I couldn't abuse this to get some cheap extra points.

Damn, now I'm at 21 points...

On a totally unrelated note, and totally off-topic, I'd like to state that I'm an Austrian as well.

EDIT: As screenshots can help a lot promoting a demo, I took the freedom to add one to my previous post (see above).

[Bernie]

Yep, that's what I meant, that inventory item is still there after using it. But that's easily fixed, right?
(ANYM - yay, so many german-speaking dooders 'round here! )

[Ghost]

Anym & Bernhard- yes, right. I forgot to remove the froggy puppet after dropping it, and shame upon me, i didn't notive it when playtesting. fixed now. and the marshmallow bug, well, that bit of code was done at around 3 in the morning- cheap excuse, but it's fixed now.

if you find all four "hidden points actions", you should get 28 points... unless i did buggy code again.

as for the name, I'm not even sure if the finished game will be called Daemons In The Attic(s) at all- it's more of a working title, but I think it rolls off the tongue nicely.

The trouble to find the pond surely can be fixed, I'll think of something. And yes, after a second thought the second ceramic frog will be removed.

And special thanks to Anym for putting up a screenshot- really nice, thank you! There's another thread on this very board on page 5 or six- "Working Screenshots from Daemons In The Attics". There's also a preview of Beverly after she's cursed into a Werecat- see and enjoy

As to when the game'll be finished, I really don't know. The demo contains about 80% of chapter 1, and though the plot is written down and I have at least all puzzles on paper, I tend to spent a lot of time adding all these little details... so we'll see. The feedback I got so far surely gave me an endorfin boost!

[Gameflip]

I love the demo. The graphics are pretty simple, yet they look very professional. It's got a certain Nick it & Run touch to it.

[Ghost]

gameflip, that was your first post? here's the chance to do another- what is nick it & run? never heard of that...

okay, i'll put a "second edition" of the demo up here in a day or two, this time te complete first chapter, together with Beverly's "werecat transformation".

stay tuned!

[remixor]

http://www.agsforums.com/games.php?action=detail&id=226

[Lucky]

Absolutely wondeful! Can't think of any big complaints that haven't been mentioned yet. I'm surely waiting for the full version. ^^

BTW, Beverly's cute, her werecat form is cute, but why the demon tail?

[Sockmonkey]

The game is beautiful. Continue with this level of quality and you will have a great game...

But make the SFX for that chirping frog less freqent! It started to really drive me nuts!

[Gord10]

NICE DEMO
Btw, how can I pick up the key under the frog? (I amn't experienced at adventure games )

[Gord10]

Nice demo

[Ghost]

Lucky: The story behind Beverly's looks is quite a long one, but it basically boils down to this: First she wasn't to have a tail but a much mre cat-like face. Then I posted the first designs, and someone called for the tail, and my girlfriend agreed, and I tried a few "models", and somehow she looks better with the long demon's tail than with a furry cat one. Plus, as the story will reveal, there is a certain logic to Beverly's looks after the curse. I will not tell you what, but the plot has a few twists and turns.

Gord10: Thank you! Read on if you're still stuck!

Spoiler

Getting the key is the main puzzle actually, but try this: Take the melon and walk into the booth. Have some fun with the knife. Then burn the marshmallows. To distract the frog, what could you do now with the slimy sweets and the jack-o-lantern

[close]

Now try to take the

[Migs]

That's a pretty nice game.  Is that music from the 7th Guest?  I haven't heard that in years!

[PureGhostGR]

Really good,

The characters have personality, the graphics are carefully in place. In-game dialogues fit right in. I luv it.

I want more.

I found the "Scare" option to be a great idea..

keep it up

[Gord10]

Thank you, Ghost I've finished the demo.