[OLD THREAD] Forge: Loom sequel

[Radiant]

Still looking pretty good. Keep it up

[cianty]

Abisso,

the donations system does sound fair to me. That's a lot spent on the backgrounds but it definately pays off - they are really beautiful.

I have played through the tech demo and I am worried... the tolerance for the "cursor path" seems pretty small and I had problems even when trying. I think they could be widened a little to make it a bit easier (if only optional)?
Anyways, I really like how you came up with an interface that has the good old Loom flair while still being new and with a twist.
I hope there's be a fully playable version soon.

[Abisso]

I have played through the tech demo and I am worried... the tolerance for the "cursor path" seems pretty small and I had problems even when trying. I think they could be widened a little to make it a bit easier (if only optional)?

You're not the first to ask... by the way it seems most of the people who found it difficult to draw the Schematics are either playing in a window, or have a malfunctioning mouse. Don't know if that's your case. Next demo and full game will have keyboard support though.
Are you talking about the Practice level by the way? If you're talking about an harder difficulty level, consider choosing an easier one.

Anyways, I really like how you came up with an interface that has the good old Loom flair while still being new and with a twist.
I hope there's be a fully playable version soon.

I feel particularly happy for this remark, since the idea behind the drawing system has been one of the few significant contributions I gave to the game so far (scripting excluded).

As things are now, a fully playable demo of Chapter 1 will surely be ready before the end of the year. I hope to have it ready before the end of November though. From that release, the future of the Forge will depend EITHER on a background artist joining the team OR the donations. We really hope that, when the demo is out, there will be more people offering their help. Otherwise, the project will be in a deadlock (a stall), until one of the two conditions above are satisfied.

[cianty]

Judging from the tech demo and the available screenshots and I can very well imagine you receiving quite some donations for continuing the project - or better yet, a background artist. If Chapter 1 plays nicely, I'm sure people will come...

About the controls: My mouse is not a problem and I did use full screen. Maybe I was just too impatient... I'll wait for Chapter 1 and see how it goes with a bit of practice.

I wish you all the best for the project.

[Da_Duke2000]

Thank you all for your comments and suggestions. As Abisso had mentioned, we have plans to revisit and beta test the usability of the Current GUI for players using a Mouse, a Trackpad, and of course numpad support.

Also piggybacking on what Abisso has mentioned, the finished Chapter 1 will involve around 15 backgrounds or so, with the addition of character portraits and the fully artistically stylized menu system. Some of the animations you're bound to see we hope will recreate the days of old with Mark Ferrari and his zany-beyond-reason animations.

Lastly, we do indeed plan to have the finished Chapter 1 done for the years end, and ideally sooner. Progress beyond that will assuredly rely on donation or sponsorship. Chapter 2 will require around 5 new backgrounds. Not too bad I must say!

I cannot wait to share our hard work with everyone here in only a few short months.

[Da_Duke2000]

Update: September 15, 2010:
-We have enabled our Donations page. Take a look .

[Da_Duke2000]

October 22nd, 2010:

First off, a big thank you to all the current names on the Donations listing. It is through the efforts of those people, that the second Guild is coming to life, and Chapter 2 is well under way and our first panorama sized background is simply gorgeous...really it is sexy! A BIG hats off to Matt Walkden our background artist.

Chapter 1 has been completely finalized in terms of Background Art, Plot and Puzzle points, and Dialogue. We're currently in heavy active scripting with the final 10-20 animations to be completed.

FORGE is still going strong, and I'm gratified to share this good news with everyone.

Until next update! Thanks again!

[cianty]

Yay!

[daioros]

Hi!
This game looks good, 80's alike style, like good old games.
But the mouse-Schematicts-cursor-thing is very "hard", even unplayable.
I'd tried for 30 minutes the tutorial and the minigames and i finally abandoned the game: it's too easy loose the Scheme. Irritating.
Not a good impression, despite the very good idea of the gaunlets and schemes.

Keep making and very good demo.

[krum110487]

Hi!
This game looks good, 80's alike style, like good old games.
But the mouse-Schematicts-cursor-thing is very "hard", even unplayable.
I'd tried for 30 minutes the tutorial and the minigames and i finally abandoned the game: it's too easy loose the Scheme. Irritating.
Not a good impression, despite the very good idea of the gaunlets and schemes.

Keep making and very good demo.

I agree that it is really tough to keep it on there (especially when you use a laptop, like I did when I tried it).

it would be nice to have an options setting to raise the tolerance, that way people without a steady hand or a mouse available can still enjoy the game!

that being my ONLY "complaint" this game looks fantastic, and I cannot wait until it is here!

thanks for all the hard work!

[Abisso]

Actually, at the Practice Level, casting is really easy, and most of the people I asked till now found a touchpad makes things even easier. Either using a mouse, a joypad, or a touchpad, by the way, sensitivity settings may keep things harder or easier. A too high sensitivity can make casting almost impossible (and any other operation with the pc as well, I must say ).

One thing that must be kept in mind is that casting doesn't have speed requirements. So don't rush it. Take your time. Tutorial was made for this purpose. Always play fullscreen, and if you use a touchpad, remember that you should use buttons to click and use pad surface only to draw (you can lift the finger from the pad's surface without failing the casting).

On the other hand, I'm grateful for all of you giving their opinion, cause if it becomes clear most of the users find the casting system frustrating, I will surely do everything that's in my power to lower the difficulty, at least fro Practice Level.

It would be nice to have an options setting to raise the tolerance

There are. Difficulty Levels (Practice, Standard, Expert) raise tolerance actually. You can test them all in the minigames' submenu inside the tech demo.

[krum110487]

Actually, at the Practice Level, casting is really easy, and most of the people I asked till now found a touchpad makes things even easier. Either using a mouse, a joypad, or a touchpad, by the way, sensitivity settings may keep things harder or easier. A too high sensitivity can make casting almost impossible (and any other operation with the pc as well, I must say ).

One thing that must be kept in mind is that casting doesn't have speed requirements. So don't rush it. Take your time. Tutorial was made for this purpose. Always play fullscreen, and if you use a touchpad, remember that you should use buttons to click and use pad surface only to draw (you can lift the finger from the pad's surface without failing the casting).

On the other hand, I'm grateful for all of you giving their opinion, cause if it becomes clear most of the users find the casting system frustrating, I will surely do everything that's in my power to lower the difficulty, at least fro Practice Level.

It would be nice to have an options setting to raise the tolerance

There are. Difficulty Levels (Practice, Standard, Expert) raise tolerance actually. You can test them all in the minigames' submenu inside the tech demo.

It took me about an hour to do the longer ones on Practice mode! All I had to play it on is a laptop which has a pretty bad touch pad, (which could be part of the problem) although there may be others out there with the same issue!

I love the idea, I just rather focus on playing then being precise, I don't mind the harder modes being hard, but I have a hard time even on the easy modes!

unless you changed the demo since I played, I got it when the demo was first released.

it would be nice to have it like so...
Easy - For people with no option but an iffy touch pad (almost impossible to leave the line) possibly for people who want to focus on puzzles
Standard - For people who have an external mouse
Expert - For people looking for a challenge

an alternative, could be, and this is just an idea...
Easy - Shows line, High tolerance
Standard - Shows line, Lower Tolerance
Expert - Does not show lines, Lowest Tolerance

and by show lines, I mean what you have drawn from node to node.


sorry for an ADHD post, and I don't want to sound like I hate the game or the idea, I love it!

thank you for the quick response!

[Abisso]

Easy - Shows line, High tolerance
Standard - Shows line, Lower Tolerance
Expert - Does not show lines, Lowest Tolerance

Things are exactly the way you described them, except for the fact Easy is called Practice. In the tech demo you played, I mean. Try it again and you'll see for yourself.

By the way, keyboard support (using arrows instead of mouse) has been implemented already. This will make things as easy as they can be.

[krum110487]

Well that changes my opinion dramatically then! 

people like me with a crappy and unpredictable touch pad will use the keyboard, perfect solution, I am sold!

thanks!

[Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens]

Judging by the dark hues of the backgrounds generally, it might benefit your sprites to give them a dark outline.  I notice parts of one of the npc were lost in the background here and there.  Otherwise it looks quite good and I hope you can stick with it until it's complete!

[Abisso]

Otherwise it looks quite good and I hope you can stick with it until it's complete!

Don't just "hope"... BE PART OF IT! 


P.S. I'm a huge fan of your art. Respect.

[MissCrystalix]

Are we still allowed to donate or is it too late?

[Da_Duke2000]

@ MissCrystalix
Reading this almost made me cry with joy. .

Thank you immensely for your contribution MissCrystalix. As it stands, we are now in active background making for the second chapter, and have a stunning 480x200 transition screenshot leading to the second Guild, and an incredibly beautiful 640x200 of inside the Guild. Three more need to be completed, and then sprited before Chapter 2 will realistically be ready.

For Chapter One's art to be completed, we need perhaps 20-25 animations left. A NPC here or there, and a few more complex animations. Altogether nothing too complicated. Unfortunately, sound effects are still in its infancy, as is general music. Scripting is coming along well too. Kind motivational words are the fuel Abisso needs . The side project I've spoken to you about you'll receive an email about soon. (I've had some real life work issues redirect my priorities for a while).

@ProgZmax
Thanks for your support, we certainly have the drive and progress is made every week. While I'm not the type to use this topic for recruiting, Abisso is right. If you're interested, I'm sure you could lend a great hand.

[Da_Duke2000]

Update: December 15th, 2010
Well, Christmas has been a busy season for everyone, so not as much progress as we'd have liked. After a discussion with Abisso, I've resolved to seek out another individual to help with puzzle and plot developments. If anyone might be interested, please email me directly.

[selmiak]

Looks good so far. Can't wait to play the full game