TestGame (working title) -- UPDATED 10/11/08

Lizo · Wed 28/06/2006 01:42:31

The story:
Paul is a typical young man who, as far as he knows, has never once traveled outside his own universe. A young woman who awakens Paul in the middle of one stormy night, however, seems to think otherwise. This strange visit soon leads Paul to stumble out of his front door and right into the middle of another world, with the promise of adventure and self-discovery in store.

The game's actually much more interesting than I've just made it sound, but saying more than I already have would give things away. You can expect to see plot twists in the future, involving Paul's identity and his relationships with the characters around him. As for the title, I've been referring to this game as "TestGame" since its beginning, when it really was a "test game," though it has since evolved into something much bigger.

Screenshots:

Progress in first 1/4 of the game:
- backgrounds 95%
- animation 80%
- scripting 100%
- puzzles 100%
- music/sound 40%

Progress in second 1/4 of the game:
- backgrounds 70%
- animation 50%
- scripting 90%
- puzzles 100%
- music/sound 0%

Progress in the rest of the game: 0%

Projected length: Medium/long.

Release date: Indeterminate. I've been working on this game in the background for over two years now (make that close to four years), and it has certainly come a long way, but is nowhere near completion.

Try the game out and read my monthly game production journal here, on GameCola:
http://www.gamecola.net/7-10/testgame.htm

jetxl · Wed 28/06/2006 11:36:45

Wow, that looks impressive. I'll read your articles when I have some time.
I hope that you're not making the game into a monster, being a "testgame" and all. But that doesn't matter as long as you're having fun making it.

I see that there is a black button in the gui that changes the cursor in the active item.
manual

Quote
The default option is the Sierra-style pop-up inventory window, which is popped up by clicking on the Bag icon on the icon bar (which uses the text script InventoryScreen function to display it). You can also have the current inventory item displayed in its own button on the icon bar by creating a button on the GUI and setting its text to (INV) which stretches the item picture to the button size, or (INVNS) which draws the inventory item picture straight onto the button with no resizing. Finally, (INVSHR) , probably the best option, will draw it at actual size if it will fit, or shrink it if not.

Lizo · Wed 28/06/2006 13:30:11

Thanks for your interest.

This monster is a lot of fun to work on--I would've stopped a looong time ago if it wasn't.

Quote from: jet on Wed 28/06/2006 11:36:45
I see that there is a black button in the gui that changes the cursor in the active item.

That's actually something I was just wondering about! I only recently changed the gui icon bar to have my own buttons on it, and I knew that's what that box was for but hadn't had a chance to look too far for a solution yet. Rest assured it'll be fixed in the next installment.

Sam. · Wed 28/06/2006 13:36:43

This looks really good! A really great start.

PS. Are you Lizo off of newsround?

Steel Drummer · Wed 28/06/2006 16:36:24

Wow! Looks LucasArts-y

. Welcome to the forums. Hope you release this soon.

m0ds · Wed 28/06/2006 16:42:30

Looking good! I'll be testing this the first chance I get

Lizo · Wed 28/06/2006 23:13:11

Woo! More responses! Thanks everyone, this place is cool.

Quote from: Zooty on Wed 28/06/2006 13:36:43
PS. Are you Lizo off of newsround?

Nope! I must ashamedly admit that I acquired the name Lizo after my friends heard about that Lizo though....

Quote from: yodaman11111 on Wed 28/06/2006 16:36:24
Wow! Looks LucasArts-y . Welcome to the forums. Hope you release this soon.

It's funny that you should say that--I'm a big fan of LucasArts games, but I've only actually been playing them for a few years. I'm a Sierra girl at heart, and I've been trying to make this game a mixture of both worlds (LucasArts-style dialogue and humor, Sierra-like deaths (a la KQ7) and interface design).

I wouldn't get your hopes up about the game being released any time soon, but I update regularly every month and will update here as well.

Domino · Thu 29/06/2006 00:29:28

Nice work on the graphics, i'll be looking forward to playing this one.

m0ds · Thu 29/06/2006 17:42:06

Music is at a pretty low percentage - who's working on it??

Lizo · Thu 29/06/2006 23:41:07

Quote from: m0ds on Thu 29/06/2006 17:42:06
Music is at a pretty low percentage - who's working on it??

Haha, I was wondering if someone was gonna ask me that. Technically, I am! I just haven't started the actual "working on it" part yet.

I'll push it towards the top of my todo list though, so hopefully there'll be something resembling music before the summer's over.

Darkmaster400 · Sat 01/07/2006 00:17:52

This looks like Monkey Island with a Super Eagle version ran in ScummVM..

Good work!! Really looking forward to it..

BunnyMilk · Sun 02/07/2006 12:41:22

Wow...That's looking slick! I really hope you complete this 'cause it's looking hella nice!...I mean all I can see right now is screenshots, don't have time to try out the link but it's looking very proffessional so well done with that. OnceÃ,Â I get home I'll be checking that link out though...

EDIT:
Right well I downloaded and played it but there's a few things...Firstly let's say something nice. The graphics are downright sleek and they look bloody excellent.

Now onto a few things I didn't particularly like. Inconsistencies in the voice acting. Also whenever someone spoke you could hear the on off of the microphone and the feedback/squeeling whatever was going on which did my head in a little bit at the beginning. I got used to it but I still thought I should mention it...

Lastly, Paul walks at a complete crawl. Games get a bit tedious when it takes 10 minutes to make your way from one end of the room to the other and of course I am exaggerating but still I think you get the idea. There's just a "Find the difference between walking unnaturally fast and unnaturally slow."

Other than that..."Great!" I still hope you complete this because it looks nice.

Lizo · Mon 03/07/2006 03:08:26

First off, thanks so much for your feedback!

Regarding the voice acting: I know the sound quality isn't exactly top notch, and the squealing, as you put it, is definitely something I've noticed, and have basically just learned to live with for now until I can figure out how to fix it. Some of the inconsistancies you noticed probably have to do with the fact that the files have been recorded over a period of a year, using various recording devices. Other inconsistancies within a particular character's voice (Artie and the Vine, for instance) come from one person recording all the lines in one session, and the voice changing as the session progressed. Ideally, I would like to get well-prepared voice actors into a recording studio and have them produce multiple takes of each line so that I could pick and choose what worked best. This is pretty much always the case with Paul's lines (except for the recording studio bit) but I've quite frankly been scrambling for voice actors recently, with Artie, the Vine, and Thurston all being recorded quickly and added in the last month.

Regarding Paul's walk: If you think he walks slowly now, you should've seen him last year. I've definitely had this complaint before, and I guess it's time to up Paul's speed again

. You can also hit ESC while Paul's walking to make him jump to his destination.

And thanks for the compliment about the graphics.

They're only gonna get better from here.

BunnyMilk · Mon 03/07/2006 03:12:08

Ahh I didn't know about hitting ESC. And understandably this is an independant game so my comments on the voice acting...I'm not trying to say "OH MY GOD HOW UNPROFFESSIONAL OF YOU!"...I understand that it's not easy to pull something like that off. If it didn't come across in my last post I am actually saying that this is a very cool game.

Lizo · Mon 03/07/2006 03:43:47

Haha, yeah, I understand what you mean. Well, we'll see what happens!

Also, I guess it's time to make a readme file; the hitting ESC thing is probably something I should be telling people about. But I'll still make Paul walk faster.

Lizo · Sun 16/07/2006 16:42:40

A new update of the game is now online.Ã,Â Significant improvements include the addition of some music, prettier GUIs, and the ability to go farther in the story (including a new puzzle).Ã,Â See the original post for a progress update and a new link to download the game so far.Ã,Â

Josh R · Sun 16/07/2006 22:53:50

This looks very nice. I like the art style.

AÃ¯Â¿Â½rendyll (formerly Yurina) · Tue 18/07/2006 15:52:59

I really like what's on the screenshots (especially the Pirates of the Carribean-like poster

).

I will download the demo right away, I definitly like to see it!

Good luck with this game,
~Yurina

Lizo · Sat 02/09/2006 04:28:55

Another updated version of the game is online (still far from finished as you can see, but it's trudging along). Additions include two new cutscenes, a quasi-puzzle, and work on the backgrounds. See the original post for a current link to the game. Feel free to ignore the bulk of the production article this month--it's a little... bizarre, to say the least.

Lizo · Tue 03/10/2006 00:26:56

Today is the day of updating. There's hardly any new stuff (some new music, background work, and some more bonus dialogue). I'm seriously considering taking the voice acting out, so if anyone has any input with regards to that, feel free to let me know.

splat44 · Tue 03/10/2006 02:24:25

Quote from: Lizo on Tue 03/10/2006 00:26:56
Today is the day of updating.Ã,Â There's hardly any new stuff (some new music, background work, and some more bonus dialogue).Ã,Â I'm seriously considering taking the voice acting out, so if anyone has any input with regards to that, feel free to let me know.

I see not no problem with voices.

I know speeches file can too big.

You can probably do the followings:
1) have the game without speech file for members on low bandwith
2) Have speech file as seperate download.

Regarding inventory:
What to with rock fallen from three hole.
Where can I find some sharp to cut wine.

Great game.

jetxl · Tue 03/10/2006 08:40:28

I enjoy your articles.

Do the voice action when the game is done. That way the dialog and story in the game won't change again and you don't have to ask people to record the changed dialog. People will record all the lines in one session using the same mircophone, soundcard and volume.

Many AGS games don't have voice acting because it's such a time taking task, so you won't be looked down upon if the game doesn't have voice acting at all. People will understand.

mishels · Tue 03/10/2006 13:10:56

Quote from: BunnyMilk on Sun 02/07/2006 12:41:22
Now onto a few things I didn't particularly like. Inconsistencies in the voice acting. Also whenever someone spoke you could hear the on off of the microphone and the feedback/squeeling whatever was going on which did my head in a little bit at the beginning. I got used to it but I still thought I should mention it...

Lizo, about the on and off of the microphone, I have stumbled upon the same problem and solved it, you can see my thread here:
http://americangirlscouts.org/bbc.com/yabb/index.php?topic=28552.msg362992#msg362992

Good Luck!
Mishel.

thewalrus · Tue 03/10/2006 15:12:19

I don't think you need voice acting to have a great game. If you really want to have it, you can release your game and then if you have the time after, come out with a deluxe version or something like that with voice acting. Lots of people do this. Good luck on completing your game, Lizo!

I am he as you are he as you are me and we are all together!

Lizo · Wed 04/10/2006 03:53:14

Hmm, OK. I'm leaning towards taking the voices out, at least for now. Thanks for your input, everyone.

Quote from: splat44 on Tue 03/10/2006 02:24:25
Regarding inventory:
What to with rock fallen from three hole.
Where can I find some sharp to cut wine.

Answers/hints below, spoiler protected:

Spoiler

You can't do anything with the blue rock yet, but there is a planned use for it which will get implemented in the future. As far as a sharp object goes... try thoroughly exploring Paul's bedroom. You might be able to find something there.

[close]

ScoobyFan14 · Fri 06/10/2006 19:40:46

If it's not too late,I want to voice some characters in your game!

thewalrus · Wed 11/10/2006 05:58:21

I finally got around to downloading and trying out your game. I really like what I have seen so far. I do have to say that the graphics look very much like the graphics from the Winter Rose.....

Lizo · Wed 01/11/2006 13:35:13

Newly updated. New features include a new room and a new character (and very little else). I have taken the voice acting out, at least for now.

marlamoe · Wed 01/11/2006 18:30:13

Possible bug.

Spoiler

After Artie disappears, if you walk back to where you cut the vine, game freezes.

[close]

Lizo · Wed 01/11/2006 23:46:58

Thank you, marlamoe, I might not have found that!

It has been fixed for next month's update.

marlamoe · Thu 02/11/2006 01:44:10

Happy that I helped. I like this game. Nice graphics and good story. I look foward to the final result.

Quote from: Lizo on Wed 01/11/2006 23:46:58
Thank you, marlamoe, I might not have found that!

It has been fixed for next month's update.

Lizo · Sat 02/12/2006 02:07:22

Lots of new stuff in this update! Two new rooms, more and dialogue, four new items, and one fixed bug.

Lizo · Sun 04/03/2007 19:00:42

I haven't updated this in a while because progress has been a little slower than usual. But since my last post here, the game has gained three new rooms (and a half, if you count the fact that one of the rooms now scrolls), more animation, two new characters, and plenty of background work. I updated the screenshots in the main post as well.

Lizo · Sun 08/07/2007 22:49:11

So I guess I haven't updated in a while, but progress is still happening! Since my last update, the game has gained a new room, a new character, two new cutscenes, tons of new dialogue, and lots of new animation and background work. I've updated the original post with a link to the current version of the game.

Lizo · Wed 05/09/2007 17:18:21

A new update: The game now has a new character, a new room, new dialogue, five new items, more background music, more animation, and some fixed glitches. See the main post for an updated status report and the link to the game thus far.

CosmoQueen · Thu 06/09/2007 08:43:27

Wow this looks pretty good. I can't wait to check it out

Lizo · Sun 12/10/2008 02:53:22

Before you ask, I am, in fact, still working on this game. It's just been... over a year since I posted an update on the forums.

I don't think I can even begin to list the amount of progress that's happened since my last post. I now have almost exactly half of the game scripted and playable (yeah, it's turning out to be much longer than I thought), which means lots of puzzles and dialogue and action and such. Look at the original post to see the updated progress stats.

In case anyone's wondering, I strongly doubt this game is going to be finished any time soon. It has settled nicely into the role of a fun project that I work on when I get the time, and that's the way I like it.

Dualnames · Sun 12/10/2008 11:52:28

I get this feeling too. Well, I thought this was gone. The last time I noticed of this game was when I first came here!.. so well I'd really like to play this one, looks good, hope it feels that way.

dirk delshire · Mon 13/10/2008 23:58:19

You don't have to add it if don't want to, but if you leave it out make sure to closely indicate what emotion the character has at any given moment in the text.