Knight's Of Kooragalot: Shield Search - formerly known as: 'Knight's Quest: Shie

[WackyWildCard]

Knight's Quest - Shield Search
In the far reaches of outer space, in an ancient time, there dwelt the earth like planet, Terrapache. On this planet, the continent of Ameropesia was divided into 4 Kindoms.

The Divided Land, ruled by:
http://knightsquestcentral.bravehost.com/completecast.html

- The beautiful and couragous Queen Llixy.

- The traiterous Prince Charles I.

The barbarian filled Land of Morgal, ruled by:

- The sinister tyrant Lord Draklor. He is becoming a growing threat not only to the divided Land, but to Ameropasia as a whole.

The peaceful and rich Kingdom of Kooragalot, ruled by:

- The benevolent and wise King James II.

King James II has assigned Sir George, Commander of the Southern Knight's of Kooragalot, on a perilous quest to obtain the legendary Shield of Power. YOU are Sir George.

Guide Sir George as he makes his way to The Forbidden Forest.  Obtain valuable items to help you on your quest. Fight fearsome monsters, and endure deadly ordeals along the way.
Can you survive long enough to achieve your goal? That depends on the decisions you make and how bold of a knight you are!


Screenshots




Additional Screenshots
http://www.freewebs.com/wackywildcard/KnightsQuestShieldSearchPreviewPic8.jpg
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Progress:
Story: 5%
Graphics: 25%
Scripting: 10%
Music: 10%

Development Updates

SO FAR:

Friday, October 13, 2006:
- The story has progressed from Sir George being assigned the mission from King James II to obtain The legendary Shield of power, to, Sir George, all armored up and mounting his horse - venturing into the Forbidden Forest. The Forest Village is being fleshed out with different places to investigate characters to deal with.

- Latest characters that have been developed: The creepy elderly man, Sir Leonard (Captain of the Royal Guard), The elderly farm lady, Lord Draklor, Greylag the Barbarian, army of barbarians, Armory Guards, Squire Colby, Mayor of Forest Village, Village Baker.

-Latest items that Sir George has in his possesion from the beginning, or can obtain in the game: 10 silver coins, compass, salted pork, leather bottled water bread, map of the Kingdom of Kooragalot, old sword, suit of armor, new sword, spear, shield, dagger, throwing darts, mini-crossbow and mini poison arrows, large crossbow, regular arrows, longbow, slingshot, whip, mace, chain mace, battle axe. Additionally Sir George has a "Strength" Meter, with his face, so has to indicate how much life he has. Also, an "Armor Strength" Meter to indicate how much abuse it can take before Sir George can get hurt.

-The artwork is coming along beautifully, with characters and settings coming to life! I am particularly proud of the realistic yet cartoon like facial features of the characters.

(helps to put a date with the updates)

[Darth Mandarb]

I have updated your post to the proper formatting ... now please fill in the blanks and flesh it out so that it follows the forum rules.

I admire your enthusiasm and willingness towards the rules ... now you just need to follow them.

NOTE: He PM'd me with a request for help ... so please ... no comments on the 'rule breaking' nature of this thread just yet!

[ManicMatt]

Erm.. the second screenshot looks okay, but why does the first one use a photograph and the guybrush threepwood sprite? Sorry but that's just one weird mish-mash of different things!

[thewalrus]

     Yes, it does seem like an awkward kinda mix of graphics.... But the images in the other links are a little more consistant.

[WackyWildCard]

     Yes, it does seem like an awkward kinda mix of graphics.... But the images in the other links are a little more consistant.

Thank you for your helpful input.


Keep in mind, though, this game is not completed yet, and many of the graphics backgrounds especially are rough.

Also, besides a few of my friends who are contributing ideas, I'm doing the brunt of the Graphics and Programing work here.
Additionally, since this fun pet project of mine is a hobby, and not a job I don't get a great deal of time to work on this.

I realize that I perhaps should mention this in another catagory:

I'VE MADE A SPECIAL POST UNDER THE CRITICS LOUNGE. PLEASE CHECK IT. THANK YOU.

Erm.. the second screenshot looks okay, but why does the first one use a photograph and the guybrush threepwood sprite? Sorry but that's just one weird mish-mash of different things!

Ahhhh! I get it now! Guybrush! That's the character from Monkey Island that I used to portray the little boy, Young Peter.

post combined by Darth - please do not double post

[splat44]

Yes, I though that was a repost!

I hope when completed that downloaded file wouldn't be extremely huges.

[WackyWildCard]

 

Progress:
Story: 6%
Graphics: 30%
Scripting: 15%
Music: 20%

Development Updates

SO FAR:

Thursday, March 7, 2007:

I'm gradually, ever so gradually improving the quality of Knight's Quest: Shield Search. It will be available for download very soon, on my website: http://knightsquestcentral.bravehost.com/knights_quest-shield_search.html

In the mean time, please enjoy these screenshots of the game in slideshow format. Yes, there should be more variety of scenes from the game, but I will be able to add pics periodically.

Also when the game beta/demo is available for download, please fill out (in www.knightsquestcentralbravehost.com)  the Guestbook, Guestmap, Message Board, and Blog. Thank you.




Screenshots

[Rui 'Trovatore' Pires]

Now, don't lynch me... but the "Knight's Quest" title is already taken, maybe to avoid confusion you might want to change the title?

http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/games.php?action=search&sterm=Knight%27s+Quest

Just want to make clear that I have no issues, per se. It's just that the formula "Title: Subtitle" implies a series, and there's already a Knight's Quest series. If it doesn't bother you that they might be mistaken, and if the author of the existing Knight's Quest isn't bothered, then I truly and completely have zero issues.

[WackyWildCard]

BB code doesn't allow for flash. Upload the images somewhere. www.photobucket.com is good.

Chicky: Thanks for the great photo website suggestion! I'll get right on it A.S.A.P.!

Rui "Trovatore" Pires: Thanks for your helpful advice. I've already sent your recommendation to my friends, Fearful Ace and Wild Tiger 30  (The Co-Creators of the www.knightsquestcentral.bravehost.com and "Knight's Quest: Shield Search") I'm not sure what they will say.

Does anybody else here have issues with the name "Knight's Quest: Shield Search"? I'd appreciate your opinions.

[CosmoQueen]

Wow I've never seen so many screenshots in one thread before! LOL

[WackyWildCard]

Wow I've never seen so many screenshots in one thread before! LOL

LOL! Thanks! I'll take that as a compliment.

I used this free image hosting website for these pics:

http://imageshack.us/

I highly recommend it!

[WackyWildCard]

My friends an me have been working on an independent Adventure/RPG Game project called Knight's Quest: Shield Search.

Please go to www.knightsquestcentral.bravehost.com

We need your input!

Please go to www.knightsquestcentral.bravehost.com/knights_quest-shield_search.html and download your FREE Beta/Demo copy. Don't forget to register on the Mailing List, Guestbook, Guestmap, Messageboard and Blog. Please let us know of any bugs or errors in the game, no matter how minor or obvious.

Thanks for your helpful advice and patience! We appreciate it!

[WackyWildCard]

  I've decided that I want this game beta/demo download easier accessed, so I've enabled a direct download on this thread as well:



UPDATED:
March 13, 2007

Compiled (406.8 M.B.) Download:

Long Link Condensed ...





UPDATED:
March 13, 2007

Compiled (406.8 M.B.) Download:


Download Knights_Quest-Shield_Sear7.zip from FileFront!



Please let me know whether or not the download works, and feedback on the game. Please remember to indicate the rooms where you found the errors (Press Ctrl + X to indicate the room).

SPECIAL NOTE: Yes, I know the game size is quite large and is buggy. Please be patient with me, and I will improve the quality of this game. Satisfaction and Captivation of the Adventure Gamer is my Project Priority!

[Nikolas]

I'm really sorry for saying this but:

Who would download a 406 Mb (!) beta/demo? For some reason AGS games do not end up this big. You must be doing something wrong!

Second,

You are obviously looking for people to check your game for bugs. It might be best to advertise that you're searching for beta testers instead of having people 'accidently' downloading 0.5 GB only to find out that the game is full of bugs, potentially.

[Dualnames]

I'm really sorry for saying this but:

Who would download a 406 Mb (!) beta/demo? For some reason AGS games do not end up this big. You must be doing something wrong!

Second,

You are obviously looking for people to check your game for bugs. It might be best to advertise that you're searching for beta testers instead of having people 'accidently' downloading 0.5 GB only to find out that the game is full of bugs, potentially.

I don't want to be cynic but imagine the FULL GAME size.
Just to help you and me save space for your game first try and use the sprite manager and delete any anused sprites.
Then...
One question. How many rooms are there in the demo?
4000?
Or maybe you have a speech vox and a music vox. Well try and use a program called Audacity and convert all your music files from Mp3 and wav to Ogg. That will dave up al lot of space. And do the same with the speech files. The program is very easy to use. you just open a file and select file--> convert to Ogg Vorbis.
and thanks to Chris Jones it works with AGS. Also if you have cutscenes try and make the video files with less resolution and bit rate. I'd love to check your game but I hate a game with no sound and music. Also try and find midis for your Mp3 files. That will save up a lot of space. Well I hope I've been helpful. And please delete some links it's like .. I don't know.

[WackyWildCard]

Nikolas:

"Who would download a 406 Mb (!) beta/demo? For some reason AGS games do not end up this big. You must be doing something wrong!"

Wacky Wild Card: "You might be on to something there! Seriously folks, I realize it is quite large, all my friends are mentioning that to me. It believe it may have something to with unused sound files, perhaps. Also I have some sound files, music files, speech files as Midi, WAV, Mp3, and OGG. Perhaps I should have ALL sound/music, speech files as either MIDI or OGG? I honestly want to reduce the size of  my game!"

Second,

"You are obviously looking for people to check your game for bugs. It might be best to advertise that you're searching for beta testers instead of having people 'accidently' downloading 0.5 GB only to find out that the game is full of bugs, potentially."

Wacky Wild Card: "Thank you for that insight. So when would it be a good time to release my game for bug - testing?"



"I don't want to be cynic but imagine the FULL GAME size.
Just to help you and me save space for your game first try and use the sprite manager and delete any unused sprites."

Wacky Wild Card: I appreciate your honesty, I'll definatly  work on reducing the size of the game in the near future. Deleting unused sprites sounds like a great idea. However, I have eliminated all but one short cutscene video. Well, it's not quite a cutscene, but it's an introductory video for Cranial Creations Company Logo (1.47 M.B.) is the file size too large? Is there a way to compress the video if it is too large?

"One question. How many rooms are there in the demo?
4000?"

Wacky Wild Card: 208 to be exact.


"Or maybe you have a speech vox and a music vox. Well try and use a program called Audacity and convert all your music files from Mp3 and wav to Ogg. That will dave up al lot of space. And do the same with the speech files. The program is very easy to use. you just open a file and select file--> convert to Ogg Vorbis.
and thanks to Chris Jones it works with AGS. Also if you have cutscenes try and make the video files with less resolution and bit rate. I'd love to check your game but I hate a game with no sound and music. Also try and find midis for your Mp3 files. That will save up a lot of space."

Wacky Wild Card: "You might be on to something there! Seriously folks, I realize it is quite large, all my friends are mentioning that to me. It believe it may have something to with unused sound files, perhaps. Also I have some sound files, music files, speech files as Midi, WAV, Mp3, and OGG. Perhaps I should have ALL sound/music, speech files as either MIDI or OGG? I honestly want to reduce the size of  my game!. I have Audacity, Cheetah Audio Converter, Media Coder, and Winamp. Perhaps it would be a good idea to start using those programs more with my game project?"


"Well I hope I've been helpful. And please delete some links it's like .. I don't know."

Wacky Wild Card: "...like...perhaps, over excessive?"



Gentlemen, I would like to thank you for your frank, but polite as well as helpful advice. I encourage MORE input on this matter. Please, don't be afraid to voice your opinions. It is viewers and gamers like YOU that make this Gaming Project possible!

[Nikolas]

It would also be nice to learn how to quote people:

if you enter the following tag : [ quote ] and end it like this [ /quote ] without the spaces you will get something like :

this for example

Now, on what you say. There is no way I will download 406 MB to check what you have inside there.

There are 3 posible things as far as I can see that can make the game so big:
1. WAV files. simply don't use them. Make them into mp3 or ogg. mp3/ogg is 1/10 the size of wav files.
2. Video files. From the last time you were around, I remember a huge video file with nothing in it. Learn to use AGS and make your cutscenes with AGS, not by adding video files. Very rarely AGS games have video files and they usually have them for very good reasons.
3. Your BGs. BMPs are big in size. If by any chance your 208 (!) rooms are in BMP format then this is where the size is coming from. Change them to PNG which is severely lower size without lossing quality...

On the bug testing. When you have a smaller size game then put something in this thread like this:

My game is almost ready and I'm looking for beta-testers. Please PM me for further details

(<-I used the quote in order for you to get used to it). Also there is a thread in the Adventure related talk forum where you can post for asking for help. Post there as well.

On other idea about this thread: If you add tags like this [ url=www.hugelineofaddress.com ] THE LINK [/ url ] without the spaces you will get the word THE LINK in blue and not the huge address you have above.

Try clicking here and you'll know what I'm talking about. Right now the screen is scrolling because of that pandos address you have there

[WackyWildCard]

Thank you for your help regarding quotes.

1. No problem OGG files shall they be!

2. Hmmm...Like I mentioned before, I have only 1 Video file in my game: Cranial Creations Company Animated Logo - Download it here:  [ url=<a href="http://files.filefront.com/6933284" title="CranialCreationsAnimatedLv.zip">CranialCreationsAnimatedLv.zip</a> ] THE LINK [/ url ] without the spaces you will get the word THE LINK in blue and not the huge address you have above.


3. My 208 Game Rooms are in PCX Format (300 dpi) Is that bad? The Colours are Full Colour, and the Screen is 800 x 600. Is that bad? Should I reformat the files? Please help.


As much as I am reluctant, I will refrain from releasing further Beta/Demos in the future until the game size is significantly down.


Please believe me, when I say, I want to cooperate and contribute to and with the high-quality standards that AGS Game-makers have prided themselves on!

[Dualnames]

Well, I found the source of all evil here.
And a way to make your demo very short.
And those links also.


1) The source is the game's resolution 800x600. My game is 640x480 and when I add a background my game gets half a mb bigger. Imagine yours.

2) About the links you need to have only 3 links. Which should be the following
a)your game files without speech vox and music vox.
b)speech vox alone
c)music vox alone

3)Importing the background images may delete your walkable areas and hotspots so making them to PNG and then re-making the hotspots and walkable areas for 208 is like a hard job to do. So just make a demo with lesser rooms. whcih means that you willl have to stop the scenario a bit earlier. I hope you have understood my point here.

[WackyWildCard]

1) I see your point. I will make comply with that recommendation, however, I am concerned the the graphic quality of my backgrounds will diminish. What about colour? Is it alright that's it is Full Colour?


2) Thanks for that, cuz I have been getting alot of complaints about the download links - especially from my friends!  Consider it done!


3)That's ok. I will re-format ALL of my Background images to 640x480 PNG. The game is a long way from the finish line. Much more work on it needs to be done. Rome wasn't built in a day.


Thanks again for your Tech Insight! Keep it coming!