“Sydney Claywood wakes in his alley one day to discover a new policy set in place by a joint venture between the political parties, churches and big businesses to rid the streets of homelessness and unemployment. There solution is a ‘final solution,' of sorts.
Sydney decides that the only way to save himself and his friends is to go directly to the heart of the plan, the CBD, and argue his case. However, in the back of Syd's mind is the constant idea that ‘Maybe I could, you know, just find a REAL job.â€
Hi, I'm a pixel artist (http://www.pixeljoint.com/p/279.htm?pg=1&sec=icons) over at PJ, and I frequently create hand drawn cartoons that I post on my blog (http://ivandstuff.blogspot.com/). I decided to create a game that features one of my characters, a homeless man named Sydney Claywood. This is my first outing as an adventure game maker, but I'm getting a bit of advice from buloght and bernie on the coding front. I also have Pixel Blink, a fellow PJ admin, creating an original score for the game. I'm hoping people will enjoy my efforts to bring them a fun and humorous adventure.
Here's some screen grabs of the game so far:
(http://www.pixeljoint.com/istvan/screen1.png)
(http://www.pixeljoint.com/istvan/screen2.png)
(http://www.pixeljoint.com/istvan/screen3.png)
(http://www.pixeljoint.com/istvan/screen5.png)
(http://www.pixeljoint.com/istvan/screen6.png)
And here's a promotional poster I drew for the game:
(http://www.pixeljoint.com/istvan/poster2.png)
Hope you like it so far- feedback is a plus!
Story_____________________100%
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Character graphics____________95%
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Music and sound______________0%
iSTVAN, that looks an excellent game! I am into the issue of homelessness and your game is a kinda a good way of making people aware of the issue plus it looks like a lot of fun. Keep up the work I will be looking to getting that game once its made :) Cheers
Hi iSTVAN,
Have just added your game to my list of the "Can't wait to play" games ;D
Really like your cartoon style and looking forward to find your game in the completed games announcements.
Nice screenies so far, keep it up!!
Apart from the looks of the game and screenies which are really great, what makes me most happy is that for once in the production forum:
i. The thread is very well made and carefully planned.
ii. The creator of the thread (iSTVAN) has read the forum rules obviously
iii. The announcement is not done early but on the perfect timing.
iv. The game is almost near completion (apart from the coding part, where Buloght will be of great assistance I'm sure, since he's a coder himself ;), and music where there is someone already working on the original score which is GREAT!)
Anyways, to cut down on the analysis, exactly what Petra said. Looking extra forward to this game. :)
QuoteI'm hoping people will enjoy my efforts to bring them a fun and humorous adventure.
We/I certainly will. There is absolutely no doubt about that :)
;D...........
............................... ;D....
OK, maybe the smileys are not enough, let me just say that this game looks awesome, and sounds awesome too, hope you finish it (it seems like you will), Gooooood Luck..
PS: Awesome :S
The story seems quite original and well planned, and the visuals look pretty nice too. I'll surely give this a try once it's released. :)
Thanks so much everyone who commented thus far! The support of the community is a big bonus :)
Since I posted I have gotten the custom GUI to work properly (I was originally having difficulty with this). I've also coded a few more of the puzzles so I'm pleased to say I can re-evalute the game's stats.
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ΗΑΗΑ!
Even better!
Now tell that music friend of your to get crackin, will ya? It's the only thing that's left behind!
(Of course I know that it is a free project, so there can be no pressure and so on, and also that music making is a timely buisnes and very demanding at times and so on, and still that making the correct soundtrack for the game is very important and so on (do you see a pattern here?) yet take this the right way: As encouragement to keep on working on the game :)
Just marvelous.
I love that graphics! Simple and retro, with all those colours. I hope you to get the music soon.
Good Luck with this!
Haha.
I've notified my music buddy of this thread, so hopefully he can gain some inspiration from it aswell. That said, he only offered to create the music merely days ago. The 0% is also somewhat misleading, as I'll be using Pixel Blink's entire back catelogue of previously finished songs as well as a couple of fresh ones made specifically for the game. I just won't update the percentage until I've chosen the right songs and put them in the game.
brilliant graphics!
Looks like an amusing romp. I like how brown everything is.
Great! Looks very nice, I can't wait to play your game! ;D
Istvan I hate you for making such functional graphics with that simplicity. I guess you'll be able to finish 3 or 4 per day... I envy you and I am going to send you a virus.
Of course, just kidding... Great work.
I'm speechless ... I'm without speech. What a deliciously refreshing post. Great looks, great story, great progress - what's not to love. Congrats! I'm definetely going to play your game! :D
I love the 30's graphic style.
Welcome istvan.
Pixel joint has some excellent pixel stuff, three of our own AGSers are among the top elite artists on the pixel joint website. Check out their amazing galleries:
big brother (http://www.pixeljoint.com/p/1891.htm)
helm (http://www.pixeljoint.com/p/2203.htm)
buloght (http://www.pixeljoint.com/p/4993.htm)
Istvan, the style looks simplistic indeed and nice, I would like to see more consistency in the sprites ;)
I really like the look of this game. In my opinion, it fits perfectly into the game. Style well done.
Good Job,
visionmind
If the gameplay matches the quality of the graphics then it's gonna be a great game!
Thanks everyone!
Nacho: Viruses are no laughing matter! Atleast save sending it until after I've finished the project ;)
Calacver: Thanks. Yep, big bro, buloght and helm are all very gifted. I never realised helm made adventure games, actually. About the sprite consistency, the only characters that appear shaded differently are the business people, this is because they're also the only ones who have walk animations (apart from Syd). I thought it better to shade them simplistically, but your crits are valid.
Thanks again everyone, I can't guarentee new screenies (because I don't want to ruin the plot points), but I will try to keep you all updated on the latest.
Helm made gladiator quest (you can get it www.adventuregamers.com), the graphics are very impressive in oldskool style.
I was more referring to the anatomy, some of the sprites are a little all over the place, but in a cartoony game I doubt anyone will notice. I think the shading is consistent, don't worry about that. And this isn't the critics lounge so ignore all of this :)
Goodluck!
PS: Infact I think this game looks like it'll reap all the awards this year (as I doubt any of the anticipated games will be finished).
I think this game looks and sounds great! Yet another game to add to my long list of can't wait releases...... Now only if some of the games on my list would just get released my list would shrink instead of grow.....
sweet jesus! The pressure's on to make some suitable music. Thanks for the name drop, iST. For anyone interested in my back catalogue, you can have a listen over at my SoundClick (http://www.soundclick.com/blinkonce) page
Hopefully, I have some workable themes made up by the end of the week
Fantastic! Thanks for posting PB. No pressure of course, but music with in the week would rock.
Calacver: The Gladiator Quest game wouldn't run for me, has something to do with resolution and me using a laptop...I think. Yeah, the anatomy is intentionally cartoony- I mean, one of the character has no arms or legs! But feel free to crit all you want here, it would be silly for me to post another thread in the crits lounge. I like the chance to improve my game.
EDIT: Calacver, I knew I'd heard your name before. You commented on my Coliseum game graphics, right? Why does it say your Pixel Joint account is disabled?
EDIT2: And what are these awards you mention?
Progress you ask?
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It's seem at great game.
Myself, I do volunteer in places that deal with homeless issue.
It will be great if someone can create a flash version of this game (playable online) assume this game content doesn't use any forces in getting rid of homeless!
Thanks spalt44, and others who've posted about the issue of homelessness (thankfully all have been positive so far). I try to deal with the issue of homelessness in a satirical way. I do the same in my cartoons, which I thought would be worth posting here.
(http://www.pixeljoint.com/istvan/bhlonecolour_v3.png)
(http://www.pixeljoint.com/istvan/episodetwo2.png)
(Thats the two coloured versions, Ive got a handful of uncoloured ones complete on my blog: ivandstuff.blogspot.com).
The idea is not to make fun of homeless people, on the contrary. It's a satire of lifestyle programs that tell people how to live. I've just flipped the idea on it's head, making it centre around someone with real life experience and I tried to have some fun with the visuals. I don't think homelessness should be ignored, or patronised in anyway. They can be total asshole characters if they want, but they can also be loveable. Sydney's a bit of both.
I really like the art style. It sorta reminds me of the old black and white cartoons. Which is a good thing.
I also like the psudo social commentary in the fact that all the Business people have Big heads.
(then again I may be just looking too deep into things ;))
Really cool comic strips! I love the art style.... Best of luck with the game......
Oh my God...that last comic strip took me by total surprise.
I MUST play this game!
Hey, thanks a million guys! Don't know why that second comic link isn't working.
My game got a mention on Independent Gaming News: http://indygamer.blogspot.com/2006/10/news_18.html
I've also made a lot of progress. Two out of three key items are completely coded (meaning you can work through the game and get them) and I only have one room of 11 left to code.
Then I just need to add in a few more necessary details and reactions to throw the player off, then send it off to get play tested (and check a lot of the spelling) then she should be done. The game that is.
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Well, if you get around to hiring voice actors, I would love to play as Sydney.
Well I'd really like to hear your interpretation of the character :) Feel free to PM me with a recording (I recommend borrowing dialogue from the strips).
And I'd love to do a version with voice acting. I myself have provided the voice for Sydney, as well as my other characters.
Here's a sample, there's a few different versions floating around my blog:
http://www.pixeljoint.com/istvan/1_4.mp3
If the game does prove popular then I just might do a deluxe version with voice acting and other additions. In which case, I'll certainly need some help with voices.
Goodluck with finishing ivan. It looks awesome!
Wow this is your first game?? Looks fantastic!!! I can't wait to play it!!!
Yes, looking very good indeed! The "period" feel is intriguing... it's almost like Sweethaven from the Popeye universe (I notice that Sydney seems to talk a bit like Popeye too - a casual resemblance, I'm sure). Keep up the good work!
Do you need musicians?
Buloght, CosmoQueen, BaRoN, cheers! I'm a firm believer in solid drawing foundations. I've followed John K's recent advice on his blog (if you don't know who John Kricfalusi is, and you like drawing then shame on you!).
Steel Drummer: Pixel Blink is providing an original soundtrack for the game. Thanks for the interest.
IN OTHER NEWS!
I've very nearly completed the game ready for beta testing. All that needs doing now is for me to complete the intro cutscene.
IN EVEN OTHER NEWS!
My blog has been recieving an unsually large amount of mixed feedback of late. If anyone wants to show their support for the project (or related comics) feel free to post here: http://ivandstuff.blogspot.com/
Cheers
Whooo hoo!! I can't wait!
If ya need someone to do the beta testing I could help if ya want ;D.
Thanks cosmoqueen, but I've already got a handful of testers lined up. Cheers for the offer though.
Okay, I'm posting because playtesting is officially about to start! Pixel Blink, Buloght, Bernie and Ensellitis will be playing the game and giving me feedback. Hopefully the rest of you will see the improved version very soon.
Thank you for all the support so far community.
That's quite alright! Just keep me in mind for the next game! LOL
I am continuously very impressed with the progress of your game!! You are doing great! I wonder how you got your game into the magazine and how I could do this for my game down the track? Publicity and advertising are the hardest part lol :). Am keeping my eyes peeled for the release of your game ;) And iSTVAN, you are an inspiration to us here, well to me at least, just had a read of your blog! Its brilliant and I can see you have a lot to offer in the way of teaching us many things. Thank you once again!
Wow, get those beta testers moving.... I want to play this fine work of art! It looks like an awesome game!!! (I think I've stated this before) But now it seems that the game is very close to being released! So, I am really excited!!!!!
Thank you so much! It's amazing how welcome the community has made me feel.
Gypsysnail: I think the fact that my game has been based on a comic that I write might add a little more weight to the concept. I could be blowing gas though. I'm going to try to get an ad in the next Reverb magazine, to go next to my comic. It's only a regional publication, but the more people playing the game the better, I reckon! Glad you read my blog aswell, thanks :)
thewalrus: I hope such enthusiasm is maintained when playing the game!
Well, the guys I mentioned have all received the game- so it's only a matter of time really.
:) thanks heaps for the tip iSTVAN. I think I will do similar when my game is finished or further on in its progress and hey guys, don't worry I will start to post the progress of my game in a thread when I get to the stage that its ready to be put together. iSTVAN, your blog is brilliant and inspired me to set up one for my game so I will post the link here soon. *Excited clapping* (lol this is my funny trademark that I have carried for the 23 years I have been playing computer games - always clapped like mad when I solved even one small puzzle/problem in a gameÃ, :D :D :D, it was loud and my family would come running to see what it was about lol and it makes me laugh today, that clap.) Anyhow, I am sure I will do a few claps throughout your game :P.
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almost done... pretty exciting game as well. Just finished it an hour or so ago and it's a fun and entertaining game all around. Looking forward to seeing how my music fits in with it.
And I know how you all like your screenshots:
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y28/pixelblink/screener.gif)
The proof is in! I actually did some work.
Q: How sexy is that?
A: Very (rubs nipples on screen.... aww yeah)
OMG!
I'm so horny now!
Game is ready for release (almost)... YAY! for that!
This is one neat-looking game. I love the palette and consistent style.
Wow, I didn't even know people had started posting again. Thanks for keeping people updated Pixel Blink.
Alright, the official news is that the game is completely finished minus the music. Only about three songs are left.
I'm aiming for a release between the 10th and 20th this month. Hopefully you'll all be seeing Sydney really soon!
If I were a big dork and could break dance I would be spinning on the top of my head right now. I have been waiting for this one. May I just say...whoo hoo!