Adventure Game Studio

ParanoiaPrison - In Production


Hello All!

One year on, it all starts again. An accident, or a deliberate well planned PR move?  :o  ::)

- Sean

Basic Plot Summary:

''Sunday, it's when the week starts. For most, anyway. For you, for you it's the day that your life changes. Forever. Displaced, plucked from your life.. and thrown into a prison of sin. Lessons are to be taught, and your teacher is yet to be unmasked. Let the escape... begin.''

Prologue -

“I woke with a partner that morning. A feeling that lay beside me. It followed me throughout the day.  My eyes stretched themselves apart. Stuck together by a thin sheet of yellow sleet. Opening my eyes, it was an effort. Like everything was. Exhausted from another pointless week at the office, I pulled myself up. The same old paper pushing crap, I was sick of it. I'd risen to that same damn alarm for one week too many. I left home every morning with it ringing in my ears. With bleary eyes I prepared for another day at the office. I couldn't figure out quite what was following me around, but I knew it was there. I knew, today my life was going to change…”   
Required Help:

Character Artist - Character Art is all that I currently need help with, PM me for any more information.

Media:

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v650/Magic265/Background1J.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v650/Magic265/Corridor4.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v650/Magic265/Corridor2_3.jpg)

Sidenote: Sorry for the lack of variation here, I originally had about 10+Shots posted.. some of which are for areas I've since lost. My hosting went down, and I didn't realize. I'll get some proper stuff up soon.


Development Stage:

Artwork - 5% - Character Art needs to be made from scratch. A few of the backgrounds have been rendered but a lot need to be built and then implemented. Approximately 10-20 backgrounds implemented and playable.

Story - 40%

Sound - 1%

Thanks for reading :)

- Sean


Developers Blog

Monday 21st January 2006 - Over the last few days I've built and implemented one of the main puzzle areas. I've also been looking into the possibility of creating character sprites myself. Development is progressing steadily if not a little slower than I thought.

Tuesday 22nd January 2006 - Been working away quietly in my own little corner of the world. Finished up some backgrounds today. Not had a lot of time to work on the project but I managed to finish about 6 backgrounds.

Wednesday 23rd January 2006 - Finished a 'section' of the game. I need to look into a approiate control scheme for this 'section' which I will do whenever I get time.

Friday 3rd February 2006 - I've been busy and Ill recently so I haven't actually done a lot but progress has been made nonetheless. Sprites and Music are now being produced by two fellow team members.

Sunday 26th February - After a few weeks break from production I'm slowly getting back into the swing of things. I've had a few development discussions since the last update and I've added a couple more areas but no real progress has been made. I will be writing up a formal design document over the next few days. From there I will start knocking out the required artwork.

January 04th 2007 (4:00am) - Well well well, after having "lost" this game when my computer died, It's turned up again. In the shape of a little plastic disc, love having the sense to backup. Dislike, forgetting you did so :P Anyway, having rediscovered the game, complete with roomfiles,art etc... I'll be picking this up again very soon. I'll keep you posted, new art is already in the works and the story is undergoing some minor changes.

--Project has again been halted, not sure I'll ever get around to finishing it-- {Sorry Folks}

Notes:

Added Screenshots

Recommenced production (Jan407)

Fixed screenshots, broken links and tidied the thread.

I updated your post to actually include the 2 required screenshots (visibly).

1 Question:
Are these actually "in-game" shots?  I ask because I see no characters and/or GUIs on these screens?  If they aren't, I'm going to let it fly as you have several of them and appears you've put some work into it.

While it is acceptable to ask for help in here, you might consider trying the ACR Thread (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=24117.0) as well.  I think more people would read the request in there.

The game/plot doesn't sound too original, but intriguing enough.  Who doesn't love the "wake up in a strange place with no memory" plot-line?

Thanks for the informative post.

My apologies Darth. I wasn't sure if I should IMG tag every image as that'd be a little harsh on the 56kers. Thanks for resolving that problem for me.

No. The shots are not In-Game shots as the character model I am currently useing is the basic Roger and misrepresents the graphical style that hopefully the finished game will contain. I am also useing a standard GUI for now that is likely to change before release. If you would like me to attach in-game screenshots aswell I could do so.

I know the plot sounds un-original but it's much deeper than it appears at first glance. I will be includeing a 'Prologue' so for the brief 'flashes' that the character has upon awakening the player can gather some sort of background image on their new carrier. Also although the character isn't going to 'leave' the prison and explore other locations physically the confrontations and other elements will trigger a 'playerswap' system with a totally different setting in order to tell another part of the story. The first 'epic' I have planned with a largely original storyline is something that I am incapable of doing at the moment. I'd like to find my feet before I try fly :)

Also, I'll check out the ACR thread and post my requests there. I knew there must have been some sort of request platform around but I didn't know where to look. Do you think I should remove the requests from this thread after I post them in the ACR thread?

Thanks for takeing interest Darth.

Looks pretty cool. I wish you luck.

Thanks :)

I won't know how well the idea works as a game until after I finish it but hopefully it should be pretty fun. Also, I had a nifty idea for a game feature that I'll be looking into today and over the next few days.

looks like a cool game. im waiting in anticipation.

Glad to here it.

Today was a slow day and I didn't get much done. Tied up some loose-ends with the latest area The Canteen (Screenshots Above). Devised a proper puzzle for this area. Next thing for me to do is break from the mapping sides of things and look into programming one of the games key features. I'll update the thread accordingly when I have something worthwhile to say.

So, Sean,

By this time, next week we will have seen all the rooms of the game? Slow down. Don't show us every single screenshot you got! Of course it is your call! But just a small comment.

BTW, it looks very very nice, and I like very much the dark/dirty/grey BGs.

The story sounds rather cliched, but who cares! If the art is fine (including music, sprites and all), then the game will rock, no matter what!

The setting and basic story may be cliché but it gets a lot better, trust me. I won't be showing any of the key areas. Everything shown so far is from the start of the game. I'll be keeping a lot of things 'secret' from you guys.. I wont ruin the fun :)

Waow, this sounds and looks good! ;D

We know the basic story plot, and I must say it sounds unoriginal at first, but the most original storylines can still be crapgames. The way the story developes and what events and characters are in it matter a lot more to me.

I wish you good luck!

~yurina

Just a mini-update of sorts.

I've lost the pixel artist I picked up a few weeks ago due to personal issues at their end. There doesn't appear to be anybody else that immediately jumps at me. The search continues  ;). Production will continue shortly, it grinded to a bit of a halt over the last two weeks as I was busy with other things. Hopefully things will be picking up again soon. I'll update accordingly when they do.

That looks very good!

One question: why would you want to 'pixel' the main char?

I'm just not too sure how good that'd look in those 3D bg's.

I dunno, it was a different horse all together but they merged Pixeled Characters very well with 3D enviroment in Xenogears, so if they can get the style right, it my work really well.

didnt i bought this game a few years ago... or does it just look that good  :P

Thanks for the comments :)

@Aussie - I'd actually be happy with either Aussie but I was under the impression that pixel help may be easier to find. I'll consider consulting some 3DArtists when I start to approach people in the future about the position. Don't s'pose you know anybody?  :P

@Terric - I think that 2D/3D can mix quite well sometimes better than a 'One Style' approach. It all depends on just how it is done as you said and I'll make sure that my artwork doesn't clash.

@Corey - The graphics are made using Unreal Editor which powers quite a few different games that have been released in past years so I'm not suprised they look a little familar. Nice too I hope ;)

Thanks again for your feedback :)

- Sean

you can get good results using Poser for characters, it just takes time getting the rendering setting right
the pic is burt from a 3D based game i've done, no nasty anti alias edges :)
(http://www.rottengames.co.uk/uploads/burt.gif)
nice graphics btw

so you're using UnrealEd to make spaces and then you'll take the images just cut them out in Photoshop or somewhere and put them in game or are you going to use the full 3d models and create the whole game in 3d (like you would make a UT map)?
I'm asking cause I've worked in UnrealEd and it seems like a cool idea to just take still shots and turn them into backgrounds, cause my drawing isn't the best
btw why would you turn it into pixels, it looks good like this?

just saw this. Those graphics are awesome! :o
While the plot seems a little cliche, it will probably prove for an awesome game. Keep it up!

@Woodz- Poser requires custom meshes though does it not? I'll explore that option further. I was considering using Simpose in conjunction with custom models and stuff from the web but got stuck with the animating. Diffiicult!

@Anian - I'm creating the maps in Ued then taking stills and modifying them in PhotoShop before importing into AGS and using them as backgrounds. Quick way to get good looking results. I suck at pixel art too, playing to my strengths as a UED Mapper :)

@Fluke - It is a little 'cliche' if I'm honest but hopefully the way the story is told and everything revealed will make for an interesting play!

Whoa, isn't this an oldie?

It's been 9 months since the last update, doesn't that suck!

So, let's get this update going...

Basically, I put the project on hold a while ago because I lost everything when my old computer died. I didn't cancel the project, and that's why there hasn't been an update. It's been a whole "I'll get 'round to it" affair. Both the game and the update ;)

Recently, I was searching through a pile of CDs and heck.. I found the thing. The backup's a little old, and isn't ALL I had but it's enough to remotivate me. I've put some new art into production, and have started reworking the story slightly. You'd be suprised what a years thought can do to things ;)

Don't expect anything to happen too soon but if you're interested in this... keep your eyes peeled and I may have a suprise for you shortly ;)

Bump

A little taster of what I've made since I got back on my feet...

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v650/Magic265/lghswip.jpg)

- Sean

     Great looking stuff! Love the graphic style. You have great talent in designing backgrounds. I will be looking forward to further updates. Keep up the good work, glad to see the project is back on track.....

The backgrounds look great - very much in the vein of the survival horror games I love :)

And the plot looks almost like something I would have written!

Definitely looking forward to this!

Thanks for the encouragement, I hope to have something more substantial for the next update which should come within a week or two with any luck.  :)

I remember reading this post the first day it was posted. When I re visited the forums, like half a year later, I thought the project was dead,  but now I read this, and I must say, I wish I had your determination. If I start some project, I won't even remember what was the whole thing about 3  months later. Good luck.

PS do you know if it will be ready this semester?

Semester?

I'm British so I don't quite follow the american lingo :P

I haven't been working on the project for the last year, but It has always been in the back of my head. It's something I'd really like to put out and I eventually will with any luck. I could give you a rough idea of when I think I might finish this, but it'd be totally wrong so there isn't much point!

Wow, it's amazing how many people have lost stuff because of dying computers. I'm starting to get paranoid.

Is this is a 1st-person adventure? I know you mentioned designing characters sprites, but the screenies look 1st-person, and I see from the critic's lounge that your using the Unreal Editor.

Anyway, the screenshots looks great in my opinion, and it sounds like an interesting premise. Good luck on getting this finished ... and back up your stuff! :)

Hey Eager,

Thanks for the crits :)

I am indeed using UnrealEd, but that doesn't mean I'm making it completely first person!

No siriee, instead I'm going for a mixture of both first person and "third person" (traditional AGS). I find, with AGS games that are First person 3D things are always a bit static. So, to try and avoid this I'll have moving characters on screen, and then first person interfaces where neccessary! Plus, I'll try and make a few animated backgrounds..  just to keep things interesting :)

Back up my stuff indeed, I've got a 1gb memory card that everything is going on everytime I finish working :P

Good luck with your project, Sean.
If you ever need a hosting mirror, I can help you with that.

I'm kinda worried how you are going to make your characters. You said you can't model and pixel characters in 3d bg's looks kinda weird.

I wish you good luck though!

Quote from: Mr. Buckéthead on Sun 07/01/2007 09:35:02
I'm kinda worried how you are going to make your characters. You said you can't model and pixel characters in 3d bg's looks kinda weird.

I wish you good luck though!

Yeh, I'm not going with pixels.. I've decided against that. I'll get all my other art out of the way first. Then, I'll start looking around for alternatives.

Photographs, maybe?

Have you tried with Jed's Half life Model Viewer (http://www.wunderboy.org/apps/jhlmv.php)?

You can animate a model frame by frame, screenshooting each, then put them all together in a GIF, import it into AGS, and done...

You don't even need to own Half Life- just download any mod (http://moddb.com/ is a good source) and look for the "models" folder (Or the pak files in case there aren't any custom models in the mod).

I hope it helped.

Photographs, might work.. I'd need an actual "model" to do the walkcycles and stuff and let me film them though, which is an arse :P

The Half-Life tool is interesting, I've got HL.. I'll install it and check it all out ;)