The Vacuum (NOW COMPLETE!)

DazJ · Thu 24/07/2008 01:11:25

As a beta-tester for this, I can confirm it REALLY is a great game. I'm sure this'll be an AGS hit.

Makeout Patrol · Thu 24/07/2008 09:18:43

Hey, thanks for the kind words, DazJ!

So, you'll all recall that I said that this thing would be released no later than August 1. I'm now thinking that this target may have been a tad optimistic. A couple of the beta testers have been wondering when the next beta will be finished, and it will be a little later than expected, too. If you happen to care why (and this is the Internet, so I don't see why you would), it's because I have a ridiculously long list of obligations and responsibilities this summer, and a bunch of them trump working on this game. This is going to get worse over the next week (because I have a big long research paper to write) and then better afterward (because I will be done with my summer classes).

The newest beta includes a number of major changes, and several minor changes that took a ridiculously long time to put together (basically, maps). I'm still in the process of overhauling the last act of the game, which included several bugs and logical impossiblities that were thankfully caught by the beta testers. I still have a day or two's worth of work on that front, but it's the last change I need to make before releasing the newest (and hopefully last) beta. I'm kind of disappointed that this is pushing back the release, but it's better to catch all of these issues before the game gets distributed, right?

In order to try to generate some interest, here is a brief, non-exhaustive list of recent changes:

-There are now 34 distinct endings, or 17 if you don't count the binary possibility at the end.
-The game will include maps of every area, ensuring that they are easy to navigate
-A WHOLE ENTIRE ROOM has been added
-The look of the interface has been changed to give the game a more unified, distinct visual feel

Additionally, I've posted not one, not four, but THREE new screenshots in the OP, so you should probably look at them if you are into that sort of thing.

FURTHERMORE: If you are bilingual, I SURE WOULD LIKE some translators to take a crack at this! German is covered (thanks, neon!) but other languages are WIDE OPEN.

Thanks for your interest, everybody! Assuming that there aren't any more difficult bugs, complicated additions to the game, or additional trips to the hospital, the game will be in your hands in a week or two!

BOYD1981 · Thu 24/07/2008 09:24:24

new screens aren't showing up

Makeout Patrol · Thu 24/07/2008 19:16:34

I actually put them in the OP, but I'll put them here, too, I guess:

LuciferSam86 · Mon 04/08/2008 20:36:56

hey! where is the game? I can't wait...

Anyway, the game seems fantastic, good work!

Makeout Patrol · Tue 05/08/2008 01:18:09

Actually, unless something horrendous rears its head, I think we're ready for release within a couple of days. The translations will take a bit longer, but I don't see why we can't release the English version first...

EDIT: Nothing horrendous has reared its head but at the last moment I've decided to redo a bunch of the GUIs so all you jerks have to keep waiting, nyah-nyah

LuciferSam86 · Tue 05/08/2008 22:16:09

Thanks for the informations!

LuciferSam86 · Mon 11/08/2008 14:58:38

Quote from: Makeout Patrol on Tue 05/08/2008 01:18:09
EDIT: Nothing horrendous has reared its head but at the last moment I've decided to redo a bunch of the GUIs so all you jerks have to keep waiting, nyah-nyah

You are so evil

i'm just kidding, btw when the final game will be out? :

neon · Mon 11/08/2008 15:04:06

Rockets are burning, I guess. ;-)

Can't be long.

shayavr · Mon 11/08/2008 15:07:40

Looks nice.
I think this will be a good one
Love that simple graphics

neon · Mon 11/08/2008 15:25:03

The main reason for the delay is, that Makeout Patrol is working very hard to make this game as perfect as it can be. But I think he can see the light at the end of the tunnel now.

CosmoQueen · Mon 11/08/2008 15:34:35

Well from what I've already seen, it's pretty darn perfect already. So I'm anxious to see what else he's gonna do with it.

kaputtnik · Mon 11/08/2008 21:35:30

I really hate to give so much away here, but I see you folks are really dying of anticipation.

He implemented the real time strategy fight against the loudmouthed space goblins and the fun ride through the halls of the space ship on your space unicycle (with various nice mp3s such as "Born to be wild" and "On the good ship lollipop" playing in random order). These were my suggestions, but in the end I suppose they will be taken out again. Sorry for causing this delay, I just thought those were good ideas. Maybe we'll at least release the unicycle ride as a module.

Makeout Patrol · Tue 12/08/2008 00:59:47

Getting rid of that unicycle ride was a tough decision, but in the end I think it was the right choice to make - it just didn't suit the "feel" of the game. Maybe I'll implement it in another game in the future.

In other news, this should be done and released within the next three days at the very longest, and perhaps as early as later tonight.

neon · Tue 12/08/2008 06:23:49

Sorry to disapoint you, but the native inca translation will not be finished in time.

The travel guide who was send out to find the correct word for 'dish washer' is lost in the jungle, so I booked a ticket to bolivia, but I hope to be back in three months. It would be a shame to release the game without that important feature. I'm sure that you guys don't want to have the game without it.

Another little problem is, that DazJ fell through a hole in the engine room while beta testing two weeks ago and until now we were not able to find him. We can hear him yellin', but it's very tricky to get him out. We've thrown a notebook down there, so he can keep on working on Fallen Legend, but the game shouldn't be released with DazJ inside, it would cause too much traffic on the download server.

Quote from: DazJ on Thu 24/07/2008 01:11:25
As a beta-tester for this, I can confirm it REALLY is a great game. I'm sure this'll be an AGS hit.

I hope you won't change your opinion after all this...

LuciferSam86 · Tue 12/08/2008 14:37:49

Quote from: Makeout Patrol on Tue 12/08/2008 00:59:47
...
In other news, this should be done and released within the next three days at the very longest, and perhaps as early as later tonight.

i'm waiting here

and (again) excellent work Mr. Makeout Patrol

DazJ · Thu 04/09/2008 10:32:24

Quote from: neon on Tue 12/08/2008 06:23:49Another little problem is, that DazJ fell through a hole in the engine room while beta testing two weeks ago and until now we were not able to find him. We can hear him yellin', but it's very tricky to get him out. We've thrown a notebook down there, so he can keep on working on Fallen Legend, but the game shouldn't be released with DazJ inside, it would cause too much traffic on the download server.

Quote from: DazJ on Thu 24/07/2008 01:11:25
As a beta-tester for this, I can confirm it REALLY is a great game. I'm sure this'll be an AGS hit.

I hope you won't change your opinion after all this...

I'm intrigued and confused at the same time...I don't get what you're saying? lol