Adventure Game Studio

I'm rewriting/redrawing Hero Theorem at the moment. Most backgrounds are going to be replaced and the whole game will be started from scratch.

Overview:

This is the story of a naive police officer clinging to his own morals too much, a 17 year old boy who witnessed a murder and a female psychologist unable to let go of her past. The pasts of those three have something in common and the game revoles about uncovering those connections.

Features/Facts:

-Hero Theorem is a medium size game
-Sports a few science fiction elements
-Features memories in comic book form obtainted throughout the game. These are entirely optional.
-Uses the same interface as Cedric and the Revolution (which in turn used the old Hero Theorem interface) with a few addons.

Random info:

Where does HT take place and what is it about?

Hero Theorem takes place is in a fictional town in Austria, a few years in the future. It touches a few 'modern day' issues such as terrorism and corruption, but also deals with emotional issues like the things people would do out of desperation, hope or greed.

I want to make this a somewhat serious adventure game without using too much cliché's. That said, I must admit that the game also features a bit of an amnesiac story, something a lot of people dislike. However, my game will take this story device and turn it inside-out.

Gameplay Stuff:

The game features memories presented in comic form. Some of these can only be obtained by solving additional puzzles. One of the challenges in the game is getting all those memories. To understand the whole story, it may be neccessary to read trough all of them, but they aren't needed to finish the game. The idea was derived from the vaults one could find in the game Psychonauts.

Later in the game, other characters can be played or will come along. I finished all of their neccessary standard animations (walk & talk in 4 dirs) recently.

Art & Drawings

All my old art is pretty much obsolete now. All the characters have gone through a redesign and the art doesn't apply very much anymore. The same goes for most of the old screenshots. Locations have been changed or removed, etc.

Here's a recent sketch:

(http://www.origamihero.com/pics/leopic1.jpg)

Screenshots:
(http://www.origamihero.com/htshot3.jpg)

(http://www.origamihero.com/htshot4.jpg)

(The game's interface is going to get a visual overhaul as well.)

Wow, this game looks really good. I like the look of all the backgrounds, the characters, the story, everything really.

Good luck with it, and make sure it gets released!

By the way, you mentioned that your grip on the English language is not that good, although it seems that you speak it pretty well, from what I just read. The only thing I spotted is that I think policeman is spelled as just one word. It's just a slight thing, I know, but I thought you might like to know about it so that you can change it throughout your game, if you want to.

Anywho, this looks really promising, keep up the great work!

Yeah, i loooove everything about that ;D, backgrounds and... wow, nice job!

I also think it's "policeman" not "police man".
Also, it'd be "the 17 year old Edward J. Wright", and (I think) it should be "the connection of their fates will lead them" or "leads them". Little things, and I only mention them because a) I'm a pedant, and b) these are the only things I can see that aren't totally awesome.

Finish this. Or I'll think mean things about you.

EDIT: Pah! Make a pedantic post, and arse up the italics. Just my luck.
And, I quite like the green tint, I'd thought it was a deliberate 'style' you were going for.

Looking good, but why does three of the four screenshots have a green hue to them? Part of the story?

trylle: Not really - I'm a little color blind, so miscolorings will happen a lot throughout the game.

Ashen: Ooh... more typos! Gonna fix them! :D

Thanks for the comments so far!

Quotetrylle: Not really - I'm a little color blind, so miscolorings will happen a lot throughout the game.

Haha, and I always thought it was just part of your style. :)
While a nice individual touch, I have to admit the excessive greenness bothers me a little...

Edit:

And I think the proportions of the car look a bit weird. Otherwise the game looks great, as always. Keep it up!

Sweet!

Quote
While a nice individual touch, I have to admit the excessive greenness bothers me a little...

I better try be careful with green from now on. I'll try to retouch some of the backgrounds to get some other colors into them.

strazer - About the car... when you say proportions, do you mean it looks too big?

No, the size is ok, maybe it could even be a bit bigger. What I mean is the main body and tires seem small, while the windows are rather large.

Quote from: Bernie on Tue 05/04/2005 15:24:59
Oh look - it's me, starting a new project. Only this time it's a smaller one.

"About 50% complete with 26 rooms so far." #

So 52 rooms is a 'smaller' game? hehe, looking forward to it Bernie. Give me a shout if you need beta testing.

The part that takes ages is spriting. The sprites are very small (compared to CoF), so it's fairly easy to work with.
Backgrounds... when I have a free day, I can do up to 3 of them and code them in. They're usually only 320x145, that helps very much. :)

I've been working on this game for about three weeks now.

Beta testing? As soon as the game can be played through completely, I'll probably need beta testers.

Three a day?!
The first two backgrounds I like a lot more than the bottom two.
Still, looks awesome (except the car - I think you need some reference photos...)
Looking forward to it!

Like I said before, this game really does look the dog's watsits.

And you can count me in for beta testing when it's ready, too  ;D

Yes, get this finished, or I'll start a thread with lots of made up nasty things about you in it  ;)

If you stop making your backgrounds green, I will have to kick you in the shin. Honestly, it's such a unique style that I'm envious. So stop this crap about using other colors.

Hehe, thank you! :D I'll simply leave them as they are.

Here's a screenshot of the town map:

(http://www.origamihero.com/pics/pshot22.jpg)

I must admit, that your style of backgrounds is very outstanding. The green touch gives it a more neon or metallic touch. I like it this way.

How did you do the images? What are your steps from the first idea to the final background? It interests me, because I'm really astonished by your artwork.

cheers
nihilyst

Wow, truly nice art.  ;)

Yesh, I concur.  Excellent artwork. :)  Looks good, sounds good, smells good(?).  Anyway, keep up the good work.

Seeing as you've done 26 rooms, can we see some more screenshots? Please?

Spectacular graphic style, really. And nice idea. Even if I don't like police stories too much.

Quote
How did you do the images? What are your steps from the first idea to the final background? It interests me, because I'm really astonished by your artwork.

Thanks! I usually just bring down big blobs of color in photoshop, no sketch or anything. Then I just keep refining every color blob. Afterwards, I use the line tool to define edges of the different objects a little. I usually make a new layer for stuff like furniture. When I need a texture, I sprinkle different colors about and smudge them into form.
Also, don't use the lightning tools (dodge, etc) too much. You're better off making a lighten, screen or multiply layer.

Abisso: It's not really as much a police story as one might think. This game focuses on the two main character's pasts much more than anything else. This game isn't about finding or catching a killer or similar.

Another thing I wanted to mention is that the game's name isn't Hero Theorem because the main characters are being (or are trying to be) heroic or anything like that. There are no heroes in this game.

Anyway, here are three more screenshots:

(http://www.origamihero.com/pics/pshot26.jpg)

(http://www.origamihero.com/pics/pshot27.jpg)

(http://www.origamihero.com/pics/pshot28.jpg)

Spectacular.

Orgasmic.

I really like the way you use warm colors in your outdoor scenes (telling the player its autumn) and the cool colors for the indoor scenes. Very nice device.

Very eXtreme graphics there. The palletes especially are very nice.

The green well looks funny...but honestly, I don't have a problem with that....
When I think about how long I need for one screen and how it looks after that...and comparing it with yours and read that you can make in a good mood 3 per day I'm a bit astounded.  :o
I wish you much luck with finishing this game!

Quote from: big brother on Fri 08/04/2005 00:03:17
Orgasmic.

I really like the way you use warm colors in your outdoor scenes (telling the player its autumn) and the cool colors for the indoor scenes. Very nice device.

LOL

Yeah, its truly amazing!  ;)

Amazing looks.
Release it soon!

Heh, I see you included a "hit" button on your GUI.
I did so as well, and... it's used only once in a really long game.
Drop me a word once you find any reasonable use for it ;)

I've already used my Hit command in two puzzles - might use it in a third one, too. One puzzle involves making something burst, the other one's about making something fall down.

There's a bunch of possiblities this verb allows for - for example, one could hit a locked chest to get it open. Raw violence can be so useful sometimes! :D

I think I might be able to finish the game in a month or two. I added a lot of puzzles the last few days and the game is ~55% complete now.

Looks interesting!

Thank you! Your game Force majeure 2 looks interesting as well. :D

Here's a picture of the game's protagonist:
(http://www.origamihero.com/pics/charpic1.jpg)

Quote from: Bernie on Tue 05/04/2005 20:00:52
The part that takes ages is spriting. The sprites are very small (compared to CoF), so it's fairly easy to work with.
Backgrounds... when I have a free day, I can do up to 3 of them and code them in. They're usually only 320x145, that helps very much. :)

I've been working on this game for about three weeks now.

Beta testing? As soon as the game can be played through completely, I'll probably need beta testers.

Bernie,

I certainly would like beta test that for sure.

For your reference:
I did some beta test with Frank the land 2 at:
http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=20030.0

When it ready, simply PM me.

you obviously weren't paying that close attention, as hte title was "frank the farmhand 2" ;)


looks lovely bernie, a piece of AGS art.

Those are really beautiful screenshots - I liked principally the town map.
I'm anxiously waiting for the complete game!

This is truly an amazing game (at least it looks like it). But one question, what do program do you use to make the characters, backgrounds, etc....?

Thanks for the comments! :D

Beta testing isn't something I'm thinking about at the moment; picking people for that now wouldn't be appropriate as the game is only about 60% finished.

The backgrounds were done in Photoshop, the sprites in a basic, paint-like editor (the sprite editor that comes with CnC/TGF, if you know those programs).

Looks awesome.

Since the tiltle involves a "Theorem", is this game about math, or does the tilte refer to some truth about heroism?

Great looking artwork you got there Bernie!
Looking forward to it.. :)

Huh... I won't be original as well... :P
Brilliant artwork! Hope the whole game will be equally good... ;). Looking foward to it. Good luck!

Bernie,

   You have an amazing grasp on backgrounds, and as well, your GUI is very nice.  I look forward to playing this game!


Bt

Thanks for the comments! :D

rookworm3: I would rather not explain the title as it might spoil some of the story.

I'm almost done with chapter 2 of the game. Once that's finished, I'll draw new backgrounds and post more screenshots. Work is hampering my progress at the moment, but I'm still getting somewhere.

By the way, my server is being annoying at the moment, the screenshots in previous posts may not show up for a while.

EDIT: My server works again. Hooray! Here's a shot-o-screen:

(http://www.origamihero.com/pics/pshot29.jpg)

this stuff bloody rocks man!  nice tight artwork.

can't wait to play this game :-)

Bernie, this game looks great.  You should really make a tutorial on background art.  I would love to see how you make these great backgrounds--in a step by step way.  I know a lot of other people would appreciate it too.

I don't know.
A tutorial would most likely just depress you.
"Start blocking out colour. Add details until it looks like this."

Hmm... why do you think a tutorial from me would sound like this?

Just kidding... ;D
My point is that it looks like it takes a lot of innate artistic ability to produce your backgrounds.
Which you don't get from a tutorial.

You're right Steve, it does take some innate ability, but there are skills and techniques involves that anybody can learn.  This is especially true when it comes to computer graphics, as there are very specific ways to do things that can be very helpful in the long run (though a lot of it can be specific to the drawing program used).  I think if Bernie showed how he does a BG step by step, layer by layer, you'd see that there are a lot of techniques that anybody can learn.

Quote
Just kidding...
My point is that it looks like it takes a lot of innate artistic ability to produce your backgrounds. Which you don't get from a tutorial.

I can't draw with pencils at all and I haven't been any good at art at school. I doubt I have an innate artistic ability, but I've been drawing on the computer for a few years now.
I suppose that means you still can learn to draw even if you're born with zero innate artistic ability if you just keep drawing a lot.

Maybe I'll make a small tutorial when I have some more free time. :)

Quote from: SteveMcCrea on Thu 21/04/2005 18:56:16
Just kidding... ;D
My point is that it looks like it takes a lot of innate artistic ability to produce your backgrounds.
Which you don't get from a tutorial.

I disagree.
And then I agree.

You see, I disagree with this "innate artistic ability" thing.
I've seen plenty of people who actually drew quite horribly practice for a year and then make marvellous art.
However, you're not going to get that from a tutorial.
Practice a lot. And practice right.
Draw from life/nature/pictures/whatever. Learn to draw what you actually see, not what you think you see, ie. don't draw a leaf, for example, draw curves and shapes that make up the leaf.
Anywho.
Enough babbling!

This game looks great, Bernie.
I really hope you finish this one. :)

Being one that takes great pride in putting a lot of effort into backgrounds I have to say this:
OUTSTANDING WORK!  :o

Really great looking backgrounds. Clever colouring! You've really found your style, and it works great!

Nice, the character proportions seem somewhat odd though , the head looks too big or maybe the arm is too long, but its hard to see so it could just be me. The backgrounds seem to be tinted green , which is fine if thats the style you're going for.

Bernie,

   I think you have an excellent style of art, and I would love to see a tutorial from you.  I feel that one could learn quite a bit from one of your tutorials.


Bt

Do you use photoshop? Can you tell me how you shade your bg's so well? (pixel by pixel?)

Quote from: Alias on Thu 19/05/2005 19:57:31
Do you use photoshop? Can you tell me how you shade your bg's so well? (pixel by pixel?)

Please review the FORUM RULES (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=1987.0) for this board.

A private message could have answered this question without bumping a thread from a month ago.

Since the thread's been bumperized, I might as well post an update:

The game will now feature video sequences for a few scenes, about 2-3 minutes overall.
I've made several bugfixes (thanks to Dave G. who playtested it so far) and added 3 rooms and 2 new characters. I wanted to get more done this month but life didn't allow for it.

Alias: I use adobe photshop for backgrounds, no pixelling. My sprites are pixelled, though.

I would hardly call it bumping,  I would of PMed him but I thought the information would be useful to any other people around. (I doubt its a month old too, besides one month is hardly old.  ;))

Could you explain the way you shade? I've learnt many techniques over the years but never found one that was just right. Could you maybe add a small walkthrough of what you do with some pictures of your layers? Cheers.  :)

Alias - It's bumping.  When you write the forum rules, you can determine what is and isn't bumping ;)

The last post before yours (from Blackthorne) was from April 25th.  Your post (today) was on May 19th.  That's a month (give or take a few days)

This thread is for the game, not for art tips and tutorials.  Check the critics lounge or send a PM for these types of questions.  Otherwise this thread gets cluttered with off-topic posts.

Please do NOT post in here again asking the same question(s) again.  Thanks.

Bernie - glad to know you're still moving forward!

If you plan to answer the questions please do so in a PM, thanks :)

I do believe that even after a month it is still perfectly reasonable to bump a game-in-production thread.
This is game making, not cookie baking. It takes time, and I seriously can't see what's wrong with digging up a month-old thread of a game that is probably still in production.

As for the rules, they say 'do not dig up old threads'. That is quite subjective, no?
Perhaps if you clarified that a bit, people would know what's bump-able and what's not.

Just my two cents.

Bernie - Sorry to use your thread for this discussion.

I would think that common sense would dictate that a thread that isn't on the 1st page, and has been inactive for [near] a month, should be considered an 'old thread'... subjective or not.

Just my two cents :)

However, if it requires clarification, so shall it be done.

The rules have been updated.

Now please, everybody, no more off-topic posts.

Again, apologies to Bernie.

I have only two words:

You got stule man !!!

Well that's four but hey! :) I can't wait to play this jewel :)))

Thanks! :D I'm still working on it, but it's going a bit slow at the moment.

I've saved a few step-by-step images of a background which I want to turn into a bg drawing tutorial whenever I find the time.

This looks great.. i cant belive i hadnt seen it before. And trust me im an honest person when i say this "i would run over anyone to get this little piece of artwork perfection and play it!!"..

everything looks really nice.. i specially like that screens are very different from each other. i mean the angles.. very nice.

Answer this question please... From the day you read this, how much time do you honestly think it will take you to finish this game.

I'll probably finish it some time this year - can't be more accurate than this, sorry. ^^ We'll see... I've decided to change some aspects of the game, making it shorter. It should be easier for me to finish it that way.

I just have to say well done  :o This game looks extremely impressive! But I have to admit the character looks a bit well... small compared to his backrounds.I know Karimi said this a while ago but I just wanted to say. But what do I know, eh? My backgrounds and characters look like graffiti doodles you find on toilet walls compared to your artwork ^_^; . But hey looking forward to the game! :D

Bigmac

Dare i say PURRRRRRR...

I added some more rooms to the game:

(http://www.origamihero.com/pics/pshot35.jpg)

(http://www.origamihero.com/pics/pshot36.jpg)

New car:
(http://www.origamihero.com/pics/car2.jpg)

Wow! Looking better and better! You have an interesting graphics style. :) I'm really waiting for this game.

The wheels on the car are way too small. Otherwise, looks great.

Well, since it HAS been bumped, let me just say that this is without a doubt the best looking independant game I've seen in a long time. You're doing a phenominal job with the visuals.

Ildu: Hehe, no matter what I try, I never get those wheels right. I'll try to fix em up.

Pablo: Thanks! ^^

Kinoko: Thanks! I'm not really satisfied with my backgrounds, though. I've redrawn a few because I couldn't stand looking at them anymore. I guess that happens when you're looking at your own game too often. Feels good that people like them as they are, still. :3

Some more stuff from cutscenes:

(http://www.origamihero.com/pics/pshot39.jpg)

(http://www.origamihero.com/pics/sleepy2bb.jpg)

Zat luks almoost owgasmik! :)
Seriously though, this looks great, can't wait to get this onto my HD. ;D

Oh hey, thanks! :D

Things have been progressing very well lately. I've added a few cutscenes and made a cell phone GUI with close-up pictures of callable characters.

Here's a screenshot of something completely different:

(http://www.origamihero.com/pics/pshot41.jpg)

I'm %$@ing speechless. Amazing Stuff.

Looks amazing Bernie, keep it up :)

i only just saw this thread, and needless to say, those graphics are incredible! Those cutscenes look like they are from a big commercial industry game. again, great work.

Are you using 32-bit colour?

Yes, because I'm using a few alpha channel sprites. The resolution is pretty low, so I guess this shouldn't cause too much speed loss - or so I hope.

Hehe, now I'd like to know why you want to know that... do tell, please! :)

If you have a computer baught from 1998 onwards should run a simple 32-bit game. So I wouldent worry about the speed unless your game travels back in time.  :P

I was just curious because most people use 16-bit.  ;)

Hey, bernie, looks excellent. I'm mad about the green feel (atmosphere) your game has throughout. It makes it kinda sinister and mysterious. Can't wait to play it.

I know a lot people have commented on your bgs, and there's the bumping thing, but... but... i can't help myself.... losing control ..... noooo..... YOUR BACKGROUNDS ROCK!!!!! WOOOWWWWOOOOW!!!!

That reflective floor in the office, from a distance it looks 3D. Way to go! This is gonna be great.

Bernie could you give us a percentage of progress because this game keeps looking better and better!  :) Cheers
Bigmac

Alias - You're right. :) And just in case it runs too slow for someone, AGS has a downgrade to 16 bit option now. Handy!

Calacver - Thanks! ^^

Bigmac - I had to cut out a part of the game and that threw me way back to 30%, but now I'm back at 50%. Hooray! :D

Here's a pic of the two main characters:

(http://www.origamihero.com/pics/pc1.gif)

By the way, a lot of the older screenshots aren't up to date anymore, I've edited and redrawn a few of the backgrounds, and some had to go completely.

First of all, great overall looks and style to your game... I'm REALLY looking forward to it. Now, a little request:

Quote from: Bernie on Mon 11/07/2005 23:50:13
(http://www.origamihero.com/pics/pshot41.jpg)

In rooms with reflective floors, I would just LOVE the player character to be reflected in it. It's something that really bothers me in newer, commercial adventures. I think it shouldn't be too hard to do, adding a flipped version of the sprite (maybe a little less contrasty, or even translucent, OR even dissolving with the distance) beneath the player sprite. It might look cool, and I remember having it seen in "Monkey Island 2".

I'd just like to say the portrait of the two main characters is amazingÃ,  :o.And see the character with red hair, he has a anime/manga look to him. I was wondering will other characters look this way too or was it not deliberate? ???

Bigmac

Quote from: Laserschwert on Tue 26/07/2005 19:18:05
First of all, great overall looks and style to your game... I'm REALLY looking forward to it. Now, a little request:

In rooms with reflective floors, I would just LOVE the player character to be reflected in it. It's something that really bothers me in newer, commercial adventures. I think it shouldn't be too hard to do, adding a flipped version of the sprite (maybe a little less contrasty, or even translucent, OR even dissolving with the distance) beneath the player sprite. It might look cool, and I remember having it seen in "Monkey Island 2".

Thanks! :) I'll most likely not add mirroring because there are quite a few different characters moving about in the library. It would be sort of hard to do for all of them.

Quote from: bigmac on Tue 26/07/2005 19:39:39
I'd just like to say the portrait of the two main characters is amazingÃ,  :o.And see the character with red hair, he has a anime/manga look to him. I was wondering will other characters look this way too or was it not deliberate? ???

Thanks. I usually try to draw with only a hint of manga (no big eyes/small noses etc). My characters will most likely always look slightly manga-esque, I've always drawn that way and can't seem to put it off.

By the way, the kid's hair should be brown, not red. I hate being color blind. :)

Quote
Thanks. I usually try to draw with only a hint of manga (no big eyes/small noses etc). My characters will most likely always look slightly manga-esque, I've always drawn that way and can't seem to put it off.

By the way, the kid's hair should be brown, not red. I hate being color blind. :)

When I talking about the manga style to it, I didn't mean I didn't like it. I actually watch manga and I think it's cool. So don't 'put it off' as you put because it looks good. Also on closer inspection of the kid I noticed it was slightly red-ish brown. So it's my bad.

Bigmac

I'd like to bump this thread because the first post has been updated.

CLICK HERE TO TELEPORT TO THE FIRST POST (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=20167.0)

Rock 'n' Roll, but are you really redoing it from scratch? Seems like quite a lot of work.

I can still use a few of the more recent backgrounds from the old version, but the rest is going to be redone. The new version is shorter and the sprites are a lot easier to work with. I couldn't have worked with the old graphics, can't stand looking at them anymore.

Quote from: Bernie on Mon 16/01/2006 16:31:08
I can still use a few of the more recent backgrounds from the old version, but the rest is going to be redone. The new version is shorter and the sprites are a lot easier to work with. I couldn't have worked with the old graphics, can't stand looking at them anymore.

no don't say that for poor mortals like me. I really liked your old screens, something i can't do :). But if its gonna look even more impressive, go for it. Goodluck.

I liked the old backgrounds and the new ones even more.
The character with the white hair looks a lot better now I think.
I don't think I would've redone it if I was in your position, but I'm not discouraging you from doing so because the new stuff simply rocks!

so...it wont be done this year then?

It took me three weeks to finish Cedric and the Revolution. Hero Theorem is about three times as big and I've done a lot of the spritework already. I'd say definitely this year, maybe just a couple of months if I can keep up my current speed. It depends on whether I can keep my interest in this project up for long enough or not. The revision is a neccessary step.

Bernie,
Are you the author of "A Game With a Kitty"?
That game is so much fun! I can't find the 2 of the treasures in Alibaba Heights and other 2 in Lake Asgarth, though.
Nice job on your eclectic game production. Loved Cedric and the revolution and can't wait to play Hero Theorem!!!!!!

Cheers,
Stefano

Yeah, A Game with a Kitty is my first release. Good to hear you liked it! :3 There's no special ending or anything if you find all the money bags, but if you PM me with some details, I might be able to help you out.

The final boss in that game is so cheap. No offense.

just a tought:

new BG:
(http://www.origamihero.com/htshot3.jpg)

-----------------------------------------------------------------

new BG's with a old GUI ;D it rocks
(http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/LJUBILICA9.png)

LD

SergioCornaga: Mind explaining that some more? Did you find it too difficult, or something?

LJUBI: Actually, I'm gonna make a completely new GUI!

The new screens look better as a few people have said before but anyway good luck dude! ;D

so how long till it be finn'd then now??

THIS MESSAGE (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=20167.msg305964#msg305964) answers this as accurately as I can at this time.

I updated my first post with some more info (everything under 'Random Info') and some art:

(http://www.origamihero.com/pics/leopic1.jpg)

Hey, awesome art. This game looks awesome, goodluck bernie.

Hey there Brenie games looks great! keep it up!

don't bump old threads.