The Great House of Reflections

[PureGhostGR]

The Great House Of Reflections (working title)


Presentation Plot :

The aim of this adventure is basically to absorb the player into a fantasy world that unfolds a powerful storyline, supported by a complex society and interesting characters. The main concept is about three very different and individual centers of power, the three Great Houses.

Crystals are a natural power source that is available to this land and as such, subject of many studies. Although the process of understanding the crystals and unlocking their powers is slow and complex, the scholars of the land have taken it upon themselves to achieve this task.

While all the scholars at first lived united under a single house, specialization of their studies forced them to split up into three different houses of study. The Great House of Energies/Flows, the first and most powerful house that studied the simplest function of the crystals, the production and the flow of raw energy. The Great House of Reflections/Mirrors, the second house that studied the ability of the crystals to protect from and reflect back energies and the Great House of Records/Memories, the last and by far the wealthiest of the houses that studied a newly found power of the crystals, that of converting memories and feelings into energy and locking them inside.

While it would be natural to assume that further study of the crystals would possibly reveal more powers and perhaps lead to the creation of new Great Houses, the main three leading scholars of the three houses placed terribly cruel laws to any who would study the crystals outside the main houses and made certain their secrets were kept safe.

Years of many unspoken changes passed and as the three houses grew further apart, so did their powers grew and evolved along with their reputation to the lands.

You are the only child of the High Councelor of the Great House of Reflections/Mirrors. You have grown into a life of duties, expectations and responsibilities that seem to be perhaps too much for someone as young as you, but it is a life that you are comfortable with.

It is the start of the autumn season and the ambassador of the Great House of Records/Memories is expected to arrive for her annual meeting with your father. It has been many months since anyone came to the Great House of Mirrors, and you are so excited about the visit that you have climbed to the rooftop of your study to observe the arrival.

That is where our story begins.





Information :

- 320x200 resolution.
- Fantasy setting.
- Detailed Magic-casting animations.
- Same GUI layout used as with my previous MAGS game 'Astranded'.
- Hand drawn and painted backgrounds using WACOM digital tablet and Pixel by Pixel editing.







Concerns :

a) One of my main concerns with making this game is the level of work required for the 320x200 backgrounds. Although I wish to make this game in memory of the adventures I played in childhood and as such, follow the particular style used by the companies at that time, I am also concerned about the time it requires of me to work at this scale with a pixel by pixel editing process. I wonder if I should take this into a higher resolution and use modern digital painting methods for the artwork.

b) My second concern is about the names and titles used in the script. I have been trying to decide what names would sound better, even for the title of the game. The Houses could be Energies, Reflections and Memories or Flows, Mirrors and Records. Although the story is entirely fictional, I would not wish for the names to remind someone of something different they read or saw. I understand that with all the available stories, movies and games, this might be pointless and impossible, still I would like to keep the script as true to my original idea as possible.

c) Another concern of mine is the music that will be used for this game. I have a very clear understanding of what I would like to have and where to use it, but finding such royalty free music pieces is perhaps somewhat impossible. That is one of the reasons I am thinking about using classic music pieces for this one. I think I will start exploring this aspect of the game when I will have passed 50% of the production.









Timetable & Edits :

20 July 2006 - Presentation of the game and graphics at the AGS forums.

[i k a r i]

This game looks awesome and sounds awesome too...

Do you have an estimated release time? I wanna know NOW what's going to happen with the arrival, this could be a great story... Hope you finish it, because it looks amazing.

[linus]

The game looks very promising and I love your original story concept. Some aspects very loosely remind me of Loom, but that is definitely not a bad thing.

One advice: Don't use a higher resolution than 320x200 if you're doing all the graphics on your own and if you want to finish the game in the next few years. Everything will be more than four times the work if you want to get decent results at a higher resolution. You've mastered the current pixel style perfectly and you will probably get faster as you go along, so keep the current resolution.

[Jimtbrit]

Pure Genius, both the graphics and storyline teasers you have given us make me wanting more.
This looks very promising and I the story concept is certainly original.

In responce to your concerns:

a: I agree with linus, the graphics used have recaptured the essence of the games that we grown up with and loved, so many games released now are visually stunning but lacking in other areas. The 320x200 really does work here and the higher resolution may make the game seem out of place. Also although I myself cannot draw to save my life, there are plenty of artists out there in these forums alone who I'm sure would be prepared to get on board and give you assistance.

b: How about changing the names to something in a foreign language for example through using an online English - Latin translator, 'Energy' is translated to 'Navitas' giving you the Great House of Navitas. This could help to bring some history to the different houses and give you a nice introduction to the story e.g a long time ago there were a group of scholars who...

c: From reading this post, I am not sure as to wheather this is an individual project by yourself or whether you will be requesting help from others, if you are working alone, I wish you the best of luck and apologise if I have offended you in this post.Ã,  Although if you are prepared to seek for royalty free music then perhaps you could consider asking someone to compose for you, this would allow you to be more specific as to the type of music you require and it would be a shame for the overall product to be spoiled because of some old royalty free music that doesn't work well being put in for the sake of it.

I hope this helps and all the best with the project.

[Lizo]

Wow.

I'm really intrigued by this game.  The artwork looks amazing--the first screenshot, particularly, looks flawless.  The main character is one of the best things I've seen, ever, especially for so few pixels.  The story sounds like it's going to be interesting and complex, which I'm really excited about.

Basically, you've got me hooked.

One thing I'm curious about: There seem to be a few different versions of the main character in the pictures you posted (the color test one, for instance).  The first thing I thought of was that the player might get to choose what the playable character would look like, but that would be a lot of work.  Are those other versions going to appear in the game somehow?

[Vlad]

Your game looks VERY promising, I love the graphics (256 colours, isn't it? Ah, the memories...) and the story.

Concerning music: I agree with Jimtbrit, this project deserves more than ready made royalty free tracks.

About the names: when I read the title my first association was a house of mirrors in a funpark. However I don't think that it would make the project less interesting, such references (it felt like a reference for me, at least) make the game more ambigious and are a promise of a more elaborate, deeper plot. If I were you I wouldn't worry about the name's originality too much. I'm very curious how you'll use the mirrors/reflections imagery.

Hmm, my first post

[Sheepisher]

Wow,

The graphics you've produced so far look gorgeous - you're clearly very at home with your pixel art in both backgrounds and animation, and I certainly don't think that upping the resolution would really add anything significant.  Besides which, trying for something in a higher resolution would probably only mean having to master a whole new set of artwork skills and set you back in the long run.

This will definitely be a project to watch out for.  Keep us posted!

[Bartimaeus]

Looking great, I really hope you finish.

[Mordalles]

this looks great! the graphics just looks so alive.

[Josh R]

Concerning the time it takes for pixel by pixel graphics...

Have you considered just doing a digital painting, and then pixelating the image by shrinking it and then expanding it? In my game (see sig) I am using screenshots from oblivion, shrinking them to 20%, and then expanding them to 400%. You might get some decent results from it. Certainly hand painting it pixel by pixel would look best, but I doubt you would ever be able to finish the game that way.

[buloght]

Concerning the time it takes for pixel by pixel graphics...

Have you considered just doing a digital painting, and then pixelating the image by shrinking it and then expanding it? In my game (see sig) I am using screenshots from oblivion, shrinking them to 20%, and then expanding them to 400%. You might get some decent results from it. Certainly hand painting it pixel by pixel would look best, but I doubt you would ever be able to finish the game that way.

Lots of people (lots and lots) have finished AGS games by painting or pixelling. That's not very good advice.

Your screenshots looks amazing, pureGhost. Keep doing what you are doing, you obviously know what you are doing.

[Erenan]

I didn't notice that you mentioned, and I'm wondering: Is this meant to be a freeware game or a commercial game?

As for concern b, I personally prefer the sound of Flows, Mirrors, and Records.

It looks great, by the way. I'm looking forward to this.

[MalleTheRedPhoenix]

Nice graphics. Reminds me a little bit about the Kyrandia-Series. I'm a great fan about these fantasy-adventures.

Good luck with your work! 

[Petra]

Have to agree with all the others here, I really like the graphics, they look excellent!

Can't wait to play your game.

Good luck!!!

[PureGhostGR]

Thank you everyone for your positive replies. I do think that supportive feedback is always needed so I am grateful to you.

i k a ri : As for the time of release, I am not certain at all. The game concept was put together a few years ago, when I first discovered AGS. When I realised the level of work required for the game to be released, I decided to wait until I would get better (and faster) at digital illustration.

linus: I would have liked to make a sequel to Loom, but I find that doing so, would overanalyse my memory of the original, so I am against that idea. I admit I am concerned when you say that there are parts that remind you of it loosely.

About the resolution, 320x200 might appear quite nice for the creator, but one of the reasons I have second thoughts is because adventurers have connected those resolutions (and that particular style) with Lucasarts, Westwood and Sierra.

I certainly wouldn't want to work on this game only to be told in the end that the graphics look like a copy of something else. A higher resolution would allow me to use my own personal style in the game so I am still thinking about this.

Jimtbrit : Your idea of using latin for the names is excellent. Thank you. I am indeed working alone on this project again. Although I love working in helping others with their own projects, I feel more comfortable doing this particular game alone at this time. Thank you for the supportive comments.

Lizo : Great comments, and I am thankful to you for writting them. As for the main character, I must have drawn 100 different versions of her so far. The funny part is that I have done so many animations of her and all in different versions.
To answer your question, although you will not be able to choose different versions of her, you will be able to pass to the reflected side (enter the mirror so to speak) which will be in a different hue altogether (not shown yet).
That is basically one of her powers, to reflect herself (and other things).

Vlad : Thank you. I will try to find someone to help with the music once the game has advanced further. As far as the function of reflection goes, it will be part of the way that the puzzles will be solved. This is one of the main abilities of the character and subject to many riddles and puzzles I have in mind. The graphic presentation is another subject as I have not yet decided on the resolution of the game.

Sheepisher : Thank you for the kind words. I admit that although I would be able to work faster and easier in the backgrounds, the animations at higher resolutions would be.. a pain. Especially if I was to consider a realistic style that would require more complex work.

Bartimaeus : Thank you.

Mordalles : Thank you as well.

Josh R : Thank you for your reply. I know what you mean about alot of work. Decreasing my own artwork is a good solution.

sir_gibberishbuloght : Thank you for the kind words.

Erenan : This is a 100% free game. I wouldn't dream of making something commercial, especially when Chris has given us such a great engine for free.

Mulle The Striker: The Kyrandia I and II have perhaps the most amazing graphics I have ever seen in 320x200. I would have been really happy if I could paint like that to be honest, but it is not within my abilities.

I think that perhaps it would be wiser to work on a higher resolution at this point.

I guess that if I do make this game in 320x200, everyone will keep seeing the ghosts of older games haunting it. I don't want that to happen.

This needs alot of thought.

Petra : Thank you for your kind words.

Edit: Fixed spelling and weak english.

[Afflict]

Concerning the time it takes for pixel by pixel graphics...

Have you considered just doing a digital painting, and then pixelating the image by shrinking it and then expanding it? In my game (see sig) I am using screenshots from oblivion, shrinking them to 20%, and then expanding them to 400%. You might get some decent results from it. Certainly hand painting it pixel by pixel would look best, but I doubt you would ever be able to finish the game that way.

I dissagree with you Josh many people finish there games and they paint there graphics pixrel by pixel...

[linus]

linus: I would have liked to make a sequel to Loom, but I find that doing so, would overanalyse my memory of the original, so I am against that idea. I admit I am concerned when you say that there are parts that remind you of it loosely.

About the resolution, 320x200 might appear quite nice for the creator, but one of the reasons I have second thoughts is because adventurers have connected those resolutions (and that particular style) with Lucasarts, Westwood and Sierra.

I certainly wouldn't want to work on this game only to be told in the end that the graphics look like a copy of something else. A higher resolution would allow me to use my own personal style in the game so I am still thinking about this.

I guess that if I do make this game in 320x200, everyone will keep seeing the ghosts of older games haunting it. I don't want that to happen.

Oh no, what have I done! I absolutely didn't intend to say that your game doesn't seem to have a very original and creative concept that I would be able to enjoy as an experience by itself. It's just that I've played and finished about 200 adventure games in my life and of course every game at least very loosely reminds me of something else I've played before. People like to draw comparisons and they always will, that is not to say they won't recognize the game as standing on its own merit.

Games and works of art in general are influenced by former works of arts and I don't see this as a bad thing. There is still much room for originality, even when influences are more or less visible. There are quite a few AGS games in 320x200 resolution that have managed to achieve a mood and atmosphere not seen in any LucasArts, Sierra or Westwood game.

I really would hate never to see this game finished because you get frustrated with the speed of your progress (and a hand-drawn 640x480 game is a hell of a lot of work to do all alone, regardless how much talent you have).

However you decide to continue with your game, I wish you the best of luck

[MalleTheRedPhoenix]

Mulle The Striker: The Kyrandia I and II have perhaps the most amazing graphics I have ever seen in 320x200. I would have been really happy if I could paint like that to be honest, but it is not within my abilities.

I think that perhaps it would be wiser to work on a higher resolution at this point.

I guess that if I do make this game in 320x200, everyone will keep seeing the ghosts of older games haunting it. I don't want that to happen.

This needs alot of thought.

You don't need to make professional graphics like the pictures of Monkey Island 2 or of Legend of Kyrandia. As long you have a wounderful idea for the puzzles and for the story everything of this game will work perfect.

I wish you good luck for this project and I will keep my eyes on it.Ã,  :o

[Josh R]

I dissagree with you Josh many people finish there games and they paint there graphics pixrel by pixel...

I understand that, and I think his pixel painting is amazing, and would be the best way to go. But it sounded like he was expressing some doubts as to whether or not he would be able to handle the workload if he painted pixel by pixel. I was just offering some advice that might be a good idea if he ever finds himself giving up on all the tedious artwork.

Anyhow, I'd certainly prefer to see the game done with the pixel style shown above.

[MashPotato]

This both looks and sounds great ^_^. 
I feel your pain about the background uncertainty, though in the opposite way... I'm trying to paint mine at 640x480, and was thinking THAT takes too long, and whether I should go with a lower resolution (though I'm probably sticking with the higher res).  So both ways have pluses/minuses... go with whatever you feel most comfortable with, and I'm sure it will look good ^_^
Good luck to you!