Police Quest

[JNSlay]

Hi I am starting a new game in which I combine Police Quest 1 VGA, Police Quest II, and Police Quest III.  I want to do the whole story in one game. 

I am using SV version 1 to export all sprites from Police Quest I and III.  I want to use these Sprites for the whole game.  A lot of the graphics for Police Quest II will have to be redrawn.  I am able to use a lot of sprites, from PQ3 specifically, for the PQ2 bit, but most areas and characters will have to redrawn, e.g. Keith, some instances of Mary, Jessie Bains, Cotton Cove, Warehouse District, Sewers, etc.

I am quite new to AGS, but I am starting to get the hang of it.  I am not a very good artist.  I am able to edit a lot of sprites like I will show in my Pictures, but I am still struggling a lot with creating my own characters, especially to get them to look like the Characters in PQ3.

In this game I combine all three Police Departments into One, but I am going to leave the Jail in a different location, for sake of the story (Bains' Escape).  First Floor = Parking, Evidence Counter, Dooley's Office, PD Briefing Room, PD Locker Room (with Shower).  Second Floor = Narcotics (PQ1). Third Floor = Homicide Locker Rooms.  Fouth Floor = Homicide Offices, Homicide Briefing Room, Phychiatrist Office (PQ3).  Fifth Floor = Shooting Range (PQ2, Must be Redrawn from Scratch to look like PQ3 Graphics).  Sixth Floor = Radio Room (PQ3).

The rest of the game will basically be a 1to1 remake of all 3 games.  If I get more help we might be able to add a few things like e.g. Bank Robbery, few more Traffic Stops, Hostage Rescue, etc.   

You can view all the images, music, etc. at the following site:
http://www.4shared.com/dir/14688041/886541bd/Graphics.html

Regards

[LRH]

Hey, sounds good!
The images don't appear for me, but it could just be my college's craptastic internet. I'll look again when I get home.

[JimmyShelter]

It seems a bit ambitious for a first game...

Isn't it better to make a small Police Quest inspired game first?

[Darth Mandarb]

Yeah ... this has disaster written all over it (the thread, not the idea!)

Before this turns into clutter-fest 2009 I'm going to lock this!  JNSlay - when you have posted the screenshots online and can link to them properly send me a PM and and we can re-open this thread!

I have unlocked this so the screenshots can be added so please, no comments on the graphics not working!

JNSlay - please update the screenshots promptly and also, please ensure they adhere to the forum rules (TWO different in-game screenshots that is)!  Good luck on the game!

[poc301]

Interesting indeed.

I would tend to agree that maybe your first ever game might want to be a little less ambitious.  Its going to take a LOT to do a game of that magnitude.  I mean a LOT.

I wish you luck on it, but make sure to do a lot of beta testing prior to release.  I didn't think to do that on my first game, and it was buggier than a big bag of trash on a hot summer day (ba dum, ching!).

-Bill

[JNSlay]

I am done with all the background art for the first part of the game (PQ1).
I will do the third part (PQ3) next because it is easier & faster to just edit existing backgrounds.
Thereafter I will try to draw the second part (PQ2) (I would really appreciate some help there). 

[Kangourou pas sympa]

Just one word:
Woaaaaaaah  :o

[snoopy]

Wow it looks cool  JNSlay will you be having a speech pack for this remake?

John

[xenogia]

Those screenshots are just whats removed from SV, from what I can tell there is nothing different about those screenies.

[JNSlay]

Those screenshots are just whats removed from SV, from what I can tell there is nothing different about those screenies.

Xenogia, since this is a game where I combine PQ1, 2 & 3 of course most of the screens will look exactly the same, and I will surely use some screens as is, but look at the first ones I posted, they all have more elevator lights to accommodate the 6 floors instead of 2 (PQ1) or 4 (PQ3). 

Some of the Screens my get some minor changes, but the Part for PQ2 will have to be totally redrawn, so they will look more like PQ3 style graphics, but nothing like PQ2 (Maybe just the layout).

Sometimes I even combine Background from PQ1/3 with Foreground from PQ1/3.  If you look closely you will notice that.

Everyone tells me this is going to be a very difficult game to make, which is surely true, but what makes it easier is that most backgrounds and sprites and scripts have already been written.  Thus it removes 2/3 of the hard work that's needed to be done.  Where the difficulty comes in is remaking the second part (PQ2), which I am sure is just as diffcult as making any other good AGS game. 

One thing that makes PQ2 part easier is the fact that the story has already been written, dialogs are also basically complete I just have to change the interface.  Also the backgrounds and scenes are basically set, they just need a graphics overhaul.  So I am positive about this game, and know that it will be 'n a great success.

It will definitely be a lot easier if I can get some help with this project, e.g. Graphicswise, Animationwise, Soundwise and Scriptwise.

Kind Regards!

[JNSlay]

Wow it looks cool  JNSlay will you be having a speech pack for this remake?

John

Hi snoopy

Thanks for the comments.  A speechpack is certainly a great idea.  It is however a huge job to implement since you have to find voice actors.  I I can get help with his it is definitely an option that can be implemented.  Also If I can get someone to help with lip sync it will be great.

Kind Regards!

[Leon]

Everyone tells me this is going to be a very difficult game to make, which is surely true, but what makes it easier is that most backgrounds and sprites and scripts have already been written. 

And I think that's just the point. When you combine them, you must make sure that all screens are 'alike' and feel as if they're from the same building. To show with your example of the elevator lights (hey, you brought it up ;-) it looks to me as if they came from different games. I've never been to a building where an elevator panel and indicators looked different on each floor.

In your first two screenshots it feels to me you needed six lights so you added them for the sake of the six lights. And because some of them would be off-screen, you shifted them to the left to make sure you'd see them all (but who cares when the screen is for the lower floors?)

The real challenge in this is to make it look like all screens from different games came from 1. And that all elevators look like they're in the same building. I did a quick mock up of your first shot to show what I mean.

[image removed on request]

Please keep in mind that I am no graphics artist by any means and this was done for demonstrating the point only. And see what other benefit you get? All lights fit!! 

Good luck with the project and I'll be playing when you're finished. Or before if you need a betatester... 

[JNSlay]

The real challenge in this is to make it look like all screens from different games came from 1. And that all elevators look like they're in the same building. I did a quick mock up of your first shot to show what I mean.

Thanks for the reply, I will definitely look fix these.  Thanks for the advice, and example!  When game goes for beta testing I'll let you know.

Kind Regards!

[Peter Bear]

well, that's a project.

what's the plot of sending ripped game screenshot ? SV works ?
we can see them on mobygames... You can talk about your project and its advancement, but showing like 20 screenshots from an already existing game is useless.

This is not a criticism, this is a comment.

Good luck with your work.

[Leon]

what's the plot of sending ripped game screenshot ? SV works ?
we can see them on mobygames... You can talk about your project and its advancement, but showing like 20 screenshots from an already existing game is useless.

The screens are slightly modified. I admit there could be a bit less and a bit smaller to speed up loading time...

[JNSlay]

I just reuploaded the images, I made them 20% smaller so load times can be a bit better.
I changed all the elevator screens in the PD.  Including the Radio Room's Elevator Interior.
I am starting to get all the PQ3 part backgrounds ready, as well as the car interior for the Patrol Car, Unmarked Car and Sonny's Sports Car.  I'll upload the images as soon as I'm done.

Thanks for the comments and tips.  Please refrain from sending insulting comments.  If you don't have tips/advice or encouraging comments please refrain from commenting. 

Thanks.

[Darth Mandarb]

Keep the graphical edits out of this thread please (Leon) ... if JNSlay wants help with the graphics he can post in the Critics Lounge!

[snoopy]

Here is some more questions i have about this remake.
1.How are you doing the shooting range for the 2 part of the game?
2.If you are combining the 3 games will the driving be the same in all 3 parts?
3.Are you keeping the hijacking of the plane with the bomb on board (this could be a tough dicision some people might not like this part since 9/11)But whatever you decide it will be all right for me.
4. I hope you fix the court bug sometimes the slow driver is found innocent even though i show the calibration chart and put the correct time.
5. Will this work on Vista.

John

[poc301]

One other thing you might want to think about is adding new, fresh, original content.  Some of the classic remakes out there have additional content added in just to spice things up.  Maybe some additional events, crimes to investigate, etc.  That might be really neat.

Also, if I might ask, other than just combining the games into 1 big game, is there any reason in particular you are doing this?  All the PQs except 2 already has the VGA versions out there..  Why not just do an upgrade/remake of PQ2?

Thanks,

Bill

[JNSlay]

Here is some more questions i have about this remake.
1.How are you doing the shooting range for the 2 part of the game?
2.If you are combining the 3 games will the driving be the same in all 3 parts?
3.Are you keeping the hijacking of the plane with the bomb on board (this could be a tough dicision some people might not like this part since 9/11)But whatever you decide it will be all right for me.
4. I hope you fix the court bug sometimes the slow driver is found innocent even though i show the calibration chart and put the correct time.
5. Will this work on Vista.

John

Hi John

Thanks for the comments/questions.

1.  The shooting range will be basically the same as in PQ2, except now you will use the mouse to aim.  (this is a bit difficult to implement, and I will have to get some help with this, but I think it is doable).
2.  The driving sequences will be the same throughout the game.  A.t.m. I am thinking of using PQ3's driving interface, I might combine PQ1's & PQ3's interfaces (Applying the Map from PQ1 to the Driving Sequences from PQ3).
3.   The Hijacking Sequence stays.  Let's face it, terrorism is still a huge thing throughout the world.  Without this scene the game will surely not be complete.  I will thus keep it.  (The Hijack scene has nothing to do with 9/11, it is a terrorist hijack nothing else).
4.  Well I am not copying the whole game as is, I am basically recreating it from scratch, just using all the art from PQ1 and 3, and recreating the art for PQ2, there will be a lot of beta testing before final release, thus chances are slim for the same bug to appear in final release.
5.  Did QFG2 remake work on Vista?  I guess all games created with the new AGS should work on Vista, I can't see why not.

I hope that answers your Qs?
Want to join in the fun making this game?  Please let me know via PM.

Kind Regards!