Adventure Game Studio

AGS Games => AGS Games in Production => Topic started by: Technocrat on Mon 17/05/2010 15:43:10

Title: Operation: Forklift - music makes the war go round...
Post by: Technocrat on Mon 17/05/2010 15:43:10
Atteeeeeeen-tion! Listen up soldier, VFP shows it's FUBAR out there, and we need you on the DZ ASAP. No more R&R for you - stock up on AA&E, get in touch with CINC.

After its first free elections in decades, the tiny island-chain republic of Vontinalys has been overwhelmed by seditious elements of its own army and a dictatorial political movement, the "Socialist People's Union for Democratic Democracy" (SPUDD), leading to the most brutal military dictatorship the region has ever seen.

(http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o33/Nedraed/logo.png)

As a last resort, the civilian government has appealled to the League of Nations. To put an end to the crisis and help restore democracy, the League has agreed to deploy its elite peacekeeping force, the legendary White Helmets, to the islands. Commanded from the nearby HMS Tactless, the White Helmets must return control to the legitimate government - and investigate rumours that SPUDD have been stockpiling weaponised Explodium, to unknown purposes. Prepare to commence:

OPERATION: FORKLIFT


(http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o33/Nedraed/novo1.png)

As part of my ongoing campaign of completely ignoring the "A" in "AGS", Forklift is a turn-based strategy and a shameful knockoff loving homage to certain other favourites (Nintendo Wars series, Endwar, and a bit of Cannon Fodder thrown in), putting your tactical skills to the test.
Featuring:

- Incredible AI!
- Turn-based hotseat mode! (requirements - at least one (1) friend)
- Play-by-mail mode! (if I get enough people telling me this is the kind of thing they'd make use of)
- Seven (7!) varieties of combat unit!
- A riveting campaign storyline!
- Surprise bear attacks!
- Fully-functional map editor, for if you feel I'm just not good enough and you want to build your own custom battlespace environment.

(http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o33/Nedraed/novo2.png)


Being constructed as part of a test of all sorts of elements for the next game I plan to make, Forklift is currently well underway, and helping avoid all this "socialising" nonsense my coworkers are trying to compel me into. At this rate, it should be complete by July/August. In fact, I guarantee August at the latest, since I'll be extremely sick of it by then anyway.

Graphics: 90%
Plot: 100%
Editor: 100%
AI: It will now make more reasonable choices of targets.
Bears: 100%
Levels: 40%, now just the campaign ones to do...
Sound/Music: Wonderfully appropriate music being cooked up by Shivermesideways

July 1st: Looks like I'm still on track for a July-August release. Skirmish testing will commence this weekend, provided I can get the demo up and running. Mostly to test for fatal errors, and balancing issues.

August 19th: Did I say July-August? I meant September-October. This whole "building the campaign" thing is deeper than I thought.
Further SITREP to follow at later date...
Title: Re: Operation: Forklift
Post by: Matt Frith on Mon 17/05/2010 16:09:06
Explodium! Yayyy.

I will keep my eye on this, it looks fun.  Good luck, Sir!
Title: Re: Operation: Forklift
Post by: tzachs on Mon 17/05/2010 21:52:02
This looks like a treat!
Waiting for some screenshots of the bears  ;D
Title: Re: Operation: Forklift
Post by: on Mon 17/05/2010 22:06:37
PLAY BY MAIL

I would use it
Title: Re: Operation: Forklift
Post by: Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens on Tue 18/05/2010 00:29:41
The title made me think of a fat man trying to lift his fork to eat that last hot dog, but this also looks quite fun!  Good luck finishing it.
Title: Re: Operation: Forklift
Post by: De-Communizer on Tue 18/05/2010 06:48:38
Are these advanced tactical bears like in Red Alert?

Also, how do you plan to implement play-by-mail? I'm intrigued, I'd probably use it.
Title: Re: Operation: Forklift
Post by: Wonkyth on Tue 18/05/2010 07:28:41
IMHO, PBM works well in LeyLines, so it should work fine here.
LFTPT!
Title: Re: Operation: Forklift
Post by: Technocrat on Wed 19/05/2010 15:18:10
Because I'm extremely lazy, and can only make a campaign game -so- long, Operation Forklift will include a map editor. With it, players can customise the ultimate battlefield, bigger than they could reasonably need.


(http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o33/Nedraed/screenie3.png)


Includes:
- Five custom level slots (at the moment, I'm sure I could add more in)
- Painting any of the landscapes, in 1x1 or 3x3
- Bears
- Starting off with an overbalanced, cheating army
- Starting off with an underbalanced, easily squashed army
- The ability to modify the singleplayer levels for your own multiplayer/skirmish use
- Send the maps to a friend, and see if they can fight their way through!

Still can't quite decide whether to make it "Left click does land, right click does units" or make two individual cursors for it, but I'll see which I'm most comfortable with first.
Title: Re: Operation: Forklift
Post by: Monsieur OUXX on Wed 19/05/2010 15:43:39
I love the GUI!
Title: Re: Operation: Forklift
Post by: on Wed 19/05/2010 17:58:44
That's just like the level editor of colorwise... made by a man who can actually draw! Nice one!
Title: Re: Operation: Forklift
Post by: ShiverMeSideways on Wed 19/05/2010 20:29:22
This looks absolutely WONDERFUL!

Good luck with this, I'm intrigued and really want to see it finished!

* whores to make music *
Title: Re: Operation: Forklift
Post by: abstauber on Thu 20/05/2010 07:40:01
Yay, Technocrat Computers!
This looks awfully familiar to the golden age of home computing .

If you could now just add the opponent's portrait like in Nuclear War (http://www.mobygames.com/game/amiga/nuclear-war/screenshots/gameShotId,203758/)...
That would be awesome. Good luck with this!
Title: Re: Operation: Forklift
Post by: Technocrat on Thu 20/05/2010 12:21:41

The positive reaction so far is encouraging! Now I just need to make the game work a lot more sensibly than it does at the moment. Being editable is all well and good, but when the computer acts like a lemon, things need fixing. And drawing. Right now, the artillery is an enormous square rolling around the battlefield.

@ bicilotti -
I'd hardly say I can draw properly! Just functionally, and I'm trying to pay attention to lighting sources after being yelled at in the critics lounge about it. Plus, I'm trying to go for a "1980s army computer" motif.

@ ShiverMeSideways -
It'll definitely need music, I can only use my "Now That's What I call Open-source Midi '95" CD for so long. It needs something that conveys both "martial" and "light hearted". Sort of "our army will crush you, but in a cuddly way".

@ abstauber

Well, I was considering using an array of different generals (on either side), and/or taking the AGS Football route and using people from the forum as the commanders, for variety's sake, with special abilities/strengths/weaknesses for each. Kind of like in Advance/Famicom Wars!
Title: Re: Operation: Forklift
Post by: Jim Reed on Thu 20/05/2010 13:09:32
I am very looking forward to this =D =D =D
Title: Re: Operation: Forklift
Post by: Matti on Thu 20/05/2010 19:00:49
This looks quite interesting and I'm looking forward to it!

Nice to see a growing amount of non-adventure projects around here as I'm currently only making non-adventures myself. This looks like fun and I'm totally into turn-based tactics.

Good luck with this, sir.

PS: I wanna see some damn bears too ;)
Title: Re: Operation: Forklift
Post by: Technocrat on Sat 29/05/2010 15:51:59
From: MilComCenLON
To: FieldComTacFORKLIFT


!EYES ONLY! Authentication Lv. Required: Blue with stripey bits

11 August 1997

Congratulations, <insert rank and name here>!

You have been activated and deployed to the League of Nations peacekeeping force, in accordance with the treaties signed by <insert member state here>. Rest assured that your participation in OPERATION FORKLIFT will help to better ensure the security of the region. If you believe you have been incorrectly assigned to this mission, please advise your nearest senior officer, who will doubtless treat such activity as seditious, and see that you receive the appropriate disciplinary action.

If you have chosen to stay with us, then congratulations! While you are here, you may find it useful to familiarise yourself with this guide to military units you are likely to come across. By a bizarre coincidence, SPUDD appears to have been able to procure military hardware comparable to our own. We wish to take this opportunity to remind you that selling your equipment to locals will result in severe disciplinary measures.




UNITS - A SPOTTER'S GUIDE

(http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o33/Nedraed/trooper.png) - Infantry
The basic unit of any army, whether conscript or professional. These are one of only two types of unit capable of securing positions, and also carry the added benefit of versatility, being able to conceal themselves in forests and scale difficult mountains.

(http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o33/Nedraed/saper.png) - Sappers
Trained in specialist areas of demolitions, sappers can be extremely deadly against armoured vehicles and targets. Unfortunately, their heavy gear precludes high speed, meaning they're likely to be caught by swifter infantry. Can also repair vehicles on the go.

(http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o33/Nedraed/fav.png) - FAV (Fast Attack Vehicle)
This sporty little number? Only 4993 on the clock, one previous owner, a little old lady who only used it for shopping runs. For you? Well, since you're such a great customer, only $26,000. After all, where else are you going to find not only the fastest car around, but one that can spot infantry in cover?

(http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o33/Nedraed/APC.png) - IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle)
Does what it says on the tin - particularly good at dealing with footsoldiers and aircraft, but has a distinct weakness to tanks. In order to cut laziness among the ranks, the IFV's priorities have been changed from carrying soldiers to logistics and resupply. Its main role now is to refuel/rearm units out of reach from cities, and to provide air-cover.

(http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o33/Nedraed/tanky.png) - L-41 Boudica Armoured Fighting Vehicle
Also known as a "tank", this armoured fighting vehicle provides the cavalry backbone of the forces, with a force that can overpower most land-based combat systems. Suffers against helicopters, but will wipe the floor with anything that can't fly.

(http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o33/Nedraed/arty.png) - Artillery
Do you really, really need something blown up, but don't want to get your hands dirty? You need ARTILLERY, from Technocrat Armament Solutions LLC. The only unit that doesn't need to be in direct proximity to fight, they will unfortunately be rendered helpless if something gets within the inside limit of its firing range.

(http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o33/Nedraed/chopter1.gif) - Helicopter Gunship
Using arcane sorcery to levitate above the battlefield, the helicopter combines swift mobility with deadly firepower, hunting its prey across any obstacle on the battlefield. The only unit that can cross water, but it possesses only a limited suply of fuel. It must be returned to a city or base after each sortie, or you're going to find an awful lot of fields of parked helicopters, manned by lazy pilots.




We hope you enjoy your time in the Vontinalys combat theatre of operations! If you are in any way unsatisfied with your wartime experience, please complete a customer satisfaction form, available by the exit.

Lots and lots of love,

League of Nations Strategic Command
<insert current secretary general here>

~~TRANSMISSION ENDS~~
Title: Re: Operation: Forklift
Post by: Technocrat on Mon 07/06/2010 14:10:30
Just an update since the last report. It's all going swimmingly, and I now have a functional game - i.e. if I were struck with incredible apathy, I could release it as a half-drawn but fully working two-player hotseat turn-based strategy.

But of course, I'm not going to do that! Now I just have to teach the AI how to do its thing, finish up all the multitudes of drawing, build the singleplayer campaign, playtest/balance it to death, and find some music for it. The hard part is already over!
Title: Re: Operation: Forklift - a turn-based strategy
Post by: Victor6 on Thu 10/06/2010 17:26:49
This does look awesome....I'm probably going to lose a weeks work now while I play Advance wars again.

Besides the current lack of bears, a screenshot of the battle animations would be nice assuming you're doing battle animations. Unless they're part of the 60% of to-do graphics.

Good luck getting this finished.
Title: Re: Operation: Forklift - a turn-based strategy
Post by: Technocrat on Sat 12/06/2010 12:59:09

"Sarge?" The young corporal asked his superior. The sergeant tried to ignore him.

"Sarge? Why are we patrolling this forest?"
"Orders, that's why. We're flanking SPUDD's main advance up the highway. Weren't you paying attention?"
"Yes, but...why this forest?" The sergeant was unsure to what his junior was referring. He conveyed this with a expression that mixed equal parts confusion with contempt. "It's just...the bears, Sarge." This didn't answer the sergeant's unvoiced question, so he screwed him face up slightly more. "This is where they found 115th last week, isn't it? Torn to pieces..." the corporal explained. Sarge rolled his eyes - it was correct, there had been some bodies found, and it had looked like the wildlife had helped themselves.

"Look here, boyo," he tried his best to be reassuring. "115th were sloppy, and they were engineers. We have something," he continued, unshouldered his rifle, "that they did not." He stroked his armament, in case the corporal did not quite grasp his subtle hint, but this did not seem to reassure him. Instead, the young man seemed to be shaking visibly.

"I've had enough of this. What the hell is your..."

(http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o33/Nedraed/bearattackdemo.png)

As you can guess, I've finally implemented functional bears into the game. Operation: Forklift promises at least 130% more bears than the next leading AGS turn-based strategy game. As one of several randomly occuring events, bears serve as one of the greates hazards to poorly-armoured infantry. So much so, that they have to go into battle mode to handle them!

(http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o33/Nedraed/bearattackdemo2.png)

The GUI and all the mechanics for it have been worked out, now I'm working on more detailed scenery depending on where the units are fighting, and combat animations for unts.
Title: Re: Operation: Forklift (NOW WITH MORE BEARS!!!)
Post by: kaputtnik on Sun 13/06/2010 16:06:24
I must admit: I am shocked.

You promise something one week, and the next week you actually do it. This...this is outrageous! And the game now has actual bears, wow.

Also, I quite enjoy your graphics on the screenshots you have posted up to now, they look not only very functional but really nice.
Title: Re: Operation: Forklift (NOW WITH MORE BEARS!!!)
Post by: Technocrat on Mon 14/06/2010 16:16:54
Quote from: kaputtnik on Sun 13/06/2010 16:06:24
I must admit: I am shocked.

You promise something one week, and the next week you actually do it. This...this is outrageous! And the game now has actual bears, wow.

Also, I quite enjoy your graphics on the screenshots you have posted up to now, they look not only very functional but really nice.

When I say my game is going to have bears, it'd damn well better have bears in it! More than a veritable picnic-full of them.

My drawing skills are limited to "technical" and "knock-off", that's why there's been very little in the way of people in what I've done. After I've finished this game, I'm tempted to have a spell of learning to draw properly (can anyone recommend a good resource for that?). Can't spend too long learning though, I've got the next big idea in my brain already - a kind of "Tropico meets X-Com"...


...must finish this one first...*grumble*
Title: Re: Operation: Forklift (NOW WITH MORE BEARS!!!)
Post by: Monsieur OUXX on Wed 16/06/2010 08:37:01
Bear attack, eh?
So why is your squad labelled "attacker" and the bears band labelled "defender" ?
It's pure bears mistreatment. It has to stop.

I propose the label "no animals were harmed during the making of this point n' shoot the bear".
Title: Re: Operation: Forklift (NOW WITH MORE BEARS!!!)
Post by: kaputtnik on Wed 16/06/2010 19:42:55
I'd rather go with the super edgy and ultra manly "Six bears and one raccoon were harmed during the production of this game."
Title: Re: Operation: Forklift (NOW WITH MORE BEARS!!!)
Post by: Technocrat on Thu 17/06/2010 01:54:19
Quote from: Monsieur OUXX on Wed 16/06/2010 08:37:01
Bear attack, eh?
So why is your squad labelled "attacker" and the bears band labelled "defender" ?
It's pure bears mistreatment. It has to stop.

I propose the label "no animals were harmed during the making of this point n' shoot the bear".


But that would be inaccurate, and I'd be lying to players! I should instead say "many, many bears were harmed in the making of this bear-tastic slaughter-fest."
Title: Re: Operation: Forklift (NOW WITH MORE BEARS!!!)
Post by: Monsieur OUXX on Thu 17/06/2010 08:54:27
Quote from: kaputtnik on Wed 16/06/2010 19:42:55
"Six bears (...) were harmed"

Aren't pandas VERY close to bears? ;-)
Title: Re: Operation: Forklift (NOW WITH MORE BEARS!!!)
Post by: Technocrat on Sun 20/06/2010 11:31:19
Quote from: Monsieur OUXX on Thu 17/06/2010 08:54:27
Quote from: kaputtnik on Wed 16/06/2010 19:42:55
"Six bears (...) were harmed"

Aren't pandas VERY close to bears? ;-)

With the added weapon of opposable thumbs - even more deadly...


Also, playtesting a game becomes a lot harder now that the AI is actively fighting against me as I test it. With tanks.
Title: Re: Operation: Forklift (NOW WITH MORE BEARS!!!)
Post by: Jim Reed on Sun 20/06/2010 11:50:37
Quote from: Technocrat on Sun 20/06/2010 11:31:19
Also, playtesting a game becomes a lot harder now that the AI is actively fighting against me as I test it. With tanks.

This is just the opportunity to let me play...err, test the beta a bit =P
Title: Re: Operation: Forklift (NOW WITH MORE BEARS!!!)
Post by: Technocrat on Mon 21/06/2010 08:29:33
Well, since the AI can now attack of its own volition, I may well need some enterprising souls to test things like balancing and making sure it doesn't crap out under certain circumstances.

Though first, I need to make it buy things sensibly. Then maybe make the ingame editor able to tweak combat strengths etc. *Then* it's ready for skirmsh-testing.
Title: Re: Operation: Forklift (NOW WITH MORE BEARS!!!)
Post by: Monsieur OUXX on Mon 21/06/2010 08:50:48
Quote from: Technocrat on Mon 21/06/2010 08:29:33
Though first, I need to make it buy things sensibly. Then maybe make the ingame editor able to tweak combat strengths

Indeed, the first RTS (like Warcraft II for example) were relying on AI behaviors: agressive, passive, defensive; having an AI smart enough to find the balance between all that is difficult to achieve, so they cheated by setting it in advance, behind the scenes.
Title: Re: Operation: Forklift (NOW WITH MORE BEARS!!!)
Post by: Technocrat on Mon 21/06/2010 10:50:53
Quote from: Monsieur OUXX on Mon 21/06/2010 08:50:48


Indeed, the first RTS (like Warcraft II for example) were relying on AI behaviors: agressive, passive, defensive; having an AI smart enough to find the balance between all that is difficult to achieve, so they cheated by setting it in advance, behind the scenes.

At least with turn-based AI, I can break its activity down into "Movement", "Attacks", "Special Attacks/Capturing" and "Buying Reinforcements" in nice, clearly demarcated chunks of script. After so many complaints of my games being hard, I've decided to handicap it a little, so it won't take certain things (like terrain) into account as much as the player would, but I might have to cheat here and there in the campaign game to make it challenging.
Title: Re: Operation: Forklift (NOW WITH MORE BEARS!!!)
Post by: mkennedy on Wed 23/06/2010 08:46:24
Talk about the right to "Bear Arms", how about the right to "Arm Bears"? I assume the bears can only attack close targets and don't have ranged attacks? It would be funny if the bears suddenly learned how to pick up guns and shoot back at the soldiers.
Title: Re: Operation: Forklift (NOW WITH MORE BEARS!!!)
Post by: Monsieur OUXX on Wed 23/06/2010 09:50:14
Quote from: mkennedy on Wed 23/06/2010 08:46:24
I assume the bears can only attack close targets and don't have ranged attacks?

Can hives be considered as artillery and bees be considered as homing missiles?  :D :D :D
Title: Re: Operation: Forklift (NOW WITH MORE BEARS!!!)
Post by: Victor6 on Wed 23/06/2010 22:11:41
Quote from: mkennedy on Wed 23/06/2010 08:46:24
It would be funny if the bears suddenly learned how to pick up guns and shoot back at the soldiers.

It's a slippery slope. 1 minute the bears have guns, next there's a couple of pandas wandering into a Chinese nuclear silo, and......BOOM! Bears rule the earth and the statue of liberty is half buried on a beach somewhere.
Title: Re: Operation: Forklift (NOW WITH MORE BEARS!!!)
Post by: Technocrat on Thu 24/06/2010 04:34:22
I should have just made it a game about the army versus nature in general, shouldn't I?
Title: Re: Operation: Forklift (NOW WITH MORE BEARS!!!)
Post by: GarageGothic on Thu 24/06/2010 06:46:40
Wait, so there AREN'T actually any forklifts in the game? Most misleading game title since Final Fantasy (a dozen or so sequels later)! ;)

Looks great anyhow - and I'm sure I'll still have that (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wErpaF1jvjU) MST3K song playing in my head whenever I read the title. The graphics remind me a bit of Raid on Bungeling Bay, the Will Wright game that inspired SimCity when he discovered it was more fun building the levels than playing the game, and also an old DOS game I used to play, with a red and a blue tank, forgot what it was called.

Very cool to see more non-adventure games made with AGS.
Title: Re: Operation: Forklift (NOW WITH MORE BEARS!!!)
Post by: Technocrat on Wed 30/06/2010 06:14:57
Barring major disasters, I should have a working demo on the go by the middle of this weekend (just replacing a few of the placeholder sprites for it), featuring the map editor and the skirmish mode (AI and hotseat). Because I can't keep playing the AI over and over again (otherwise it'll learn too much about me and try to take over my place), I'm obviously looking for foolhardy brave testers for the demo. Mostly bug-checking, but also stylistic issues are something I'm looking to address before the finale.

Once I can be sure that players aren't going to get errors complaining that a loop ran 15001 times, then I can finish up the singleplayer campaign.
Title: Re: Operation: Forklift (NOW WITH MORE BEARS!!!)
Post by: Jim Reed on Wed 30/06/2010 10:13:54
Me, me, me! Pick me!
Title: Re: Operation: Forklift (NOW WITH MORE BEARS!!!)
Post by: NsMn on Wed 30/06/2010 16:21:16
Me, me, Mr Technocrat! I'm so intelligent!
Title: Re: Operation: Forklift (NOW WITH MORE BEARS!!!)
Post by: Dualnames on Thu 01/07/2010 14:55:51
Quote from: Victor6 on Wed 23/06/2010 22:11:41
Quote from: mkennedy on Wed 23/06/2010 08:46:24
It would be funny if the bears suddenly learned how to pick up guns and shoot back at the soldiers.

It's a slippery slope. 1 minute the bears have guns, next there's a couple of pandas wandering into a Chinese nuclear silo, and......BOOM! Bears rule the earth and the statue of liberty is half buried on a beach somewhere.

Nice reference to the planet of Apes there.

On the game this looks wicked!!
Title: Re: Operation: Forklift - a Turn Based Strategy
Post by: mkennedy on Fri 02/07/2010 20:32:27
Maybe have someway to use picnic baskets to pacify the bears?
Title: Re: Operation: Forklift - a Turn Based Strategy
Post by: Monsieur OUXX on Tue 06/07/2010 15:52:37
I certainly don't want to spoil but                           
Spoiler
THIS GAME IS SO MUCH FUN!!!!
[close]

PS:                                                                         
Spoiler
BOOM!
[close]
Title: Re: Operation: Forklift - a Turn Based Strategy
Post by: Technocrat on Wed 07/07/2010 17:41:53
Quote from: Monsieur OUXX on Tue 06/07/2010 15:52:37
I certainly don't want to spoil but                          
Spoiler
THIS GAME IS SO MUCH FUN!!!!
[close]

PS:                                                                          
Spoiler
BOOM!
[close]

That's a good sign - positive reviews already, and it's not even finished yet!

...now I just need to iron out those bugs...and put the singleplayer in...and the help...not much more, then!

Also, since so many changes have been being made - new screenshots:

(http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o33/Nedraed/novo1.png)

(http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o33/Nedraed/novo2.png)
Title: Re: Operation: Forklift - now with v0.3 screenshots!
Post by: Victor6 on Mon 12/07/2010 21:35:17
Dude. You should really repost when you sneak in new screenshots.

It is looking really nice now.
Title: Re: Operation: Forklift - now with v0.3 screenshots!
Post by: Matti on Mon 12/07/2010 21:44:21
Yeah, I just discovered the new screenies myself..

Spoiler
..as a betatester!
[close]
Looking nice.
Title: Re: Operation: Forklift - now with v0.3 screenshots!
Post by: Technocrat on Sat 17/07/2010 12:16:21
Just a status update for the people interested in the progress on this game. Coming soon for the beta testers is v0.3, in which a full help system and the tutorial level of the campaign will have been constructed. I've put in 4-way directions, animated battles, and explosions. All of the technical issues have now been seen to, and it's just a matter of dealing with stylistic issues, building the campaign maps, and putting in any new features that seem like fun.

Speaking of which, one I've just added last night - WMDs

Tactical Airstrike - knock half the health of a single unit targeted

Carpet Bomb - damages half of the health of the units in a 3x3 area

Apathy Bomb - a secret combination of narcotics and pamphlets on the futility of life and inevitability of the end causes the unit targeted to not want to move next turn

Weaponised Explodium Device - an immensely powerful but focused bomb, will destroy not just the unit targeted, but also the ground underneath it, leaving a picturesque new crater lake where forests/cities/bases once stood.



So, nearly there!



P.S. I may be looking for voices soon, if anyone fancies the role of part of the armed forces, news reporters, or you can do a "senile general" impression
Title: Re: Operation: Forklift - now with v0.3 screenshots!
Post by: Victor6 on Sun 18/07/2010 18:31:43
Quote from: Technocrat on Sat 17/07/2010 12:16:21
Speaking of which, one I've just added last night - WMDs

Tactical Airstrike - knock half the health of a single unit targeted

Carpet Bomb - damages half of the health of the units in a 3x3 area

Apathy Bomb - a secret combination of narcotics and pamphlets on the futility of life and inevitability of the end causes the unit targeted to not want to move next turn

Weaponised Explodium Device - an immensely powerful but focused bomb, will destroy not just the unit targeted, but also the ground underneath it, leaving a picturesque new crater lake where forests/cities/bases once stood.

No spraying the enemy infantry with bear pheromones?

*disappointed*
Title: Re: Operation: Forklift - now with v0.3 screenshots!
Post by: Nickel on Thu 05/08/2010 14:28:35

(http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o33/Nedraed/logo.png)

I read "DIE DULCE FRUERE" in this logo. This makes no sense in any language I know, however, "DULCE" sounds like "DUCE", the title of a very famous person in italian history, and "FRUERE" sounds like "FUEHRER", the title of a very famous person in german history. I hope you are not compensating any fascist fantasies with this game.
Title: Re: Operation: Forklift - now with v0.3 screenshots!
Post by: arj0n on Thu 05/08/2010 14:52:00
@ Nickel:
Die Dulce Fruere does make sense.
It's Latin, meaning "enjoy the day" or "have a nice day".
Not so fascistic after all ;)
Title: Re: Operation: Forklift - now with v0.3 screenshots!
Post by: Nickel on Thu 05/08/2010 15:28:36
Oooops... ::)
Sorry, Technocrat!

3 weeks without my computer and I forget that there is something called google...
Title: Re: Operation: Forklift - now with v0.3 screenshots!
Post by: ShiverMeSideways on Fri 06/08/2010 11:53:43
Hey, guys, a little update about Operation Forklift: I've been co-opted to compose the soundtrack for the game! I'll try to do my absolute best and I hope you guys'll like my work!

:D

A very big thank you to Technocrat for giving me the opportunity to work on his absolutely marvellous game!
Title: Re: Operation: Forklift - now with v0.3 screenshots!
Post by: Technocrat on Fri 06/08/2010 11:58:46
Quote from: Nickel on Thu 05/08/2010 15:28:36
Oooops... ::)
Sorry, Technocrat!

3 weeks without my computer and I forget that there is something called google...

Haha, it's alright! I was wonering if anyone had noticed the "have a nice day" on their logo.

Also, as mentioned above, welcome to Shivermesideways, who so far has done a lovely job engineering the League's soundtrack.
Title: Re: Operation: Forklift - now with v0.3 screenshots!
Post by: Dualnames on Fri 06/08/2010 14:44:41
I heartily cheer on him being part of the team!! This is looking better and better!
Title: Re: Operation: Forklift - now with v0.3 screenshots!
Post by: ShiverMeSideways on Fri 13/08/2010 11:15:29
Hey, guys! The game is coming along nicely, and I've been working on the soundtrack as well. I hope it lives up to the game. What do you guys think? Here's one of the tracks from the League's side of the songlist:

Listen on Newgrounds! (http://www.newgrounds.com/audio/listen/355146)
Title: Re: Operation: Forklift - now with v0.3 screenshots!
Post by: Monsieur OUXX on Fri 13/08/2010 12:05:48
Quote from: ShiverMeSideways on Fri 13/08/2010 11:15:29
What do you guys think?

The tune is nice but I find the title offensive

I thought that Technocrat had avoided using real factions names, a bit like in C&C (GDI & NOD) -- hence my comment, but after double-checking the "S" in SPUUD stands for "Socialist", so you tune's title makes sense.
Title: Re: Operation: Forklift - now with v0.3 screenshots!
Post by: ShiverMeSideways on Fri 13/08/2010 12:10:35
Well, that's the point. The title is basically from the League's perspective... It's like in WWII, the Allies called the Germans Krauts. You shouldn't take it too seriously. However, I'm glad you liked the song. :)
Title: Re: Operation: Forklift - now with v0.3 screenshots!
Post by: Technocrat on Fri 13/08/2010 22:48:40
Quote from: Monsieur OUXX on Fri 13/08/2010 12:05:48
Quote from: ShiverMeSideways on Fri 13/08/2010 11:15:29
What do you guys think?

The tune is nice but I find the title offensive

I thought that Technocrat had avoided using real factions names, a bit like in C&C (GDI & NOD) -- hence my comment, but after double-checking the "S" in SPUUD stands for "Socialist", so you tune's title makes sense.



Well, the League of Nations was a real organisation - sort of a proto-UN. The game's in an alternate fictional universe where they're heavily involved in post-Cold War Peacekeeping.

As for SPUDD, they're not so much actual communists, as military dictators and all-around evil folk trying to use the trappings of socialism as a front. Kind of like the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (which can really only claim to be the last of those four things).
Title: Re: Operation: Forklift - now with v0.3 screenshots!
Post by: theo on Sun 15/08/2010 21:19:09
Nice music!

I'm lookin' forward to this one. I liked 1st drop a lot -  though I thought it was hella difficult I must admit.
Title: Re: Operation: Forklift - meet the cast...
Post by: Technocrat on Sun 22/08/2010 12:08:19
Right, just to prove everything's still going, here's a few introductions to the protagonists. After some prodding and poking from Shivermesideways, about a third of the campaign will be played from the perspective of a SPUDD battalion. So, with limited ado, here are the main characters. You're not any of these folk, you're an anonymous, faceless "commander" to whom these folk speak.

League of Nations
Colonel Kraft

(http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o33/Nedraed/kraft-1.png)
An American veteran of numerous conflicts in Eastern Europe, Colonel Kraft has been placed in charge of the League's peacekeeping taskforce dispatched to the Vontinalys islands. Ever the "old fashioned soldier", he can sometimes rub his men up the wrong way, but the consistent record of successes of forces under his command speaks for his skill - or that or those he happens to be commanding.

Private Peces

(http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o33/Nedraed/Peces-1.png)
A volunteer to the peacekeepers from the Czech Republic, Peces sometimes feels he might have chosen the wrong career, despising the corruption and incompetence that seems proportional with rank in the League. Until he can find a good use for his History of Art BA however, he'll have to stick with the soldiering.


S.P.U.D.D.
General Arierat

(http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o33/Nedraed/arierat.png)

One of numerous generals in SPUDD's top-heavy command structure, nobody can accuse Arierat of being unsuited to warfare. On the contrary, his vicious and sadistic nature have led SPUDD's forces to many victories. Some of the rank-and-file have expressed doubts about his commitment to the revolution, but such dissent tends to be short-lived, as do those voicing it.


Private Prost

(http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o33/Nedraed/alexei-1.png)

An illiterate peasant farmer from the Balkans, Prost is nonetheless an extremely enthusiastic cog in the machine that is SPUDD. Fairly gullible, he takes the organisation's party line unquestioningly, believing it to be the path to true peace and equality in the world. Is more concerned by the General's apparent lapses in Socialist thought, than by his frequent colourful genocides. Sends his paycheques home to his elderly mother on the family potato-farm.
Title: Re: Operation: Forklift - now with v0.3 screenshots!
Post by: Dualnames on Sun 22/08/2010 12:23:03
The SPUDD are looking BAD-ASS!! :D
Title: Re: Operation: Forklift - now with v0.3 screenshots!
Post by: ShiverMeSideways on Tue 24/08/2010 18:53:44
Hooray for socialism! :D
Title: Re: Operation: Forklift - now with v0.3 screenshots!
Post by: Technocrat on Wed 25/08/2010 14:43:43
The game's well on its way towards the closing stages, so in order to keep stringing people along build further anticipation, here's another fine contribution to the project by Shivermesideways to the glorious peoples' game project, before he starts on the SPUDD side of the soundtrack.


Remember, vote "5" for it on Newgrounds, or the Commisar will find you guilty of anti-party dissident thought. (http://www.newgrounds.com/audio/listen/357879)