Adventure Game Studio

AGS Games => AGS Games in Production => Topic started by: Calin Leafshade on Thu 27/01/2011 03:47:01

Title: The McCarthy Chronicles: The Conclusion.
Post by: Calin Leafshade on Thu 27/01/2011 03:47:01
I don't usually do GiPs but I thought i'd do this one just to show that I am actually doing something with this game (albeit slowly while I write my main project). So with that in mind:

Can Rick McCarthy uncover the plot rooted in the Grosvenor household?
Will our hero die from slow suffocation (I would guess not.. it would be a short game otherwise)
And just what IS his secret?

Find out all this and more in:


The McCarthy Chronicles: The Conclusion!

(http://www.thethoughtradar.com/AGS/McCarthy2/mccarthypromo.jpg)

(http://www.thethoughtradar.com/AGS/McCarthy2/sshot3.png)
(http://www.thethoughtradar.com/AGS/McCarthy2/sshot4.png)


I know I said it was going to be a trilogy but it seems like a 2 parter for this chronicle seems more suitable.

Features:
-An innovative new dialog system!
-More graphical effects than you can shake a stick at including:
   Real time rain effects with depth of field and motion blur,
   Magical particle effects!
   Possibly some reflections on something..
-Updated graphics
-Less shitty writing, I promise.

Projected release date: May 2011 I hope.

Team:
Me: Everything I usually do.
Pinback: Portraits, some interface graphics
Mordalles: Original Sprites
Sookiesock: Backgrounds & Animation.

Let's see if I can do better with McCarthy second time around.
Title: Re: The McCarthy Chronicles: The Conclusion.
Post by: david on Thu 27/01/2011 08:11:59
hooray,
McCarthy is coming to light  :D
great job, guys
Title: Re: The McCarthy Chronicles: The Conclusion.
Post by: arj0n on Thu 27/01/2011 08:21:01
Very nice  :)
Title: Re: The McCarthy Chronicles: The Conclusion.
Post by: CaptainD on Thu 27/01/2011 08:38:27
Very moody graphics!  ;D

I await with interest your innovative dialogue system...
Title: Re: The McCarthy Chronicles: The Conclusion.
Post by: Diath on Thu 27/01/2011 09:28:48
Im looking forward to this. The McCarthy games dark feeling is right up my alley. One day ill have to hire your background artist  :P
Title: Re: The McCarthy Chronicles: The Conclusion.
Post by: Midian Design on Thu 27/01/2011 11:07:45
Quote from: CaptainD on Thu 27/01/2011 08:38:27
Very moody graphics!  ;D
Yes, beautiful ! I like these screenshots :)
Title: Re: The McCarthy Chronicles: The Conclusion.
Post by: Construed on Thu 27/01/2011 11:32:56
Nice graphics.
Title: Re: The McCarthy Chronicles: The Conclusion.
Post by: Igor Hardy on Thu 27/01/2011 17:22:18
I really like the new background art - much more moody and detailed compared to episode 1.
Title: Re: The McCarthy Chronicles: The Conclusion.
Post by: Calin Leafshade on Thu 27/01/2011 17:52:31
Quote from: CaptainD on Thu 27/01/2011 08:38:27
I await with interest your innovative dialogue system...

Don't get too excited.. it's not *that* innovative.

Title: Re: The McCarthy Chronicles: The Conclusion.
Post by: ddq on Thu 27/01/2011 18:09:40
Quote from: Calin Elephantsittingonface on Thu 27/01/2011 17:52:31
Don't get too excited.. it's not *that* innovative.
It's mostly stolen from Mass Effect and Alpha Protocol. I expect fewer diaries, more gameplay, fancier visuals, and a satisfying ending. And I know you're going for a really dark aesthetic, but you should definitely include a gamma slider at the least and preferably settings for brightness and contrast as well for those with shitty displays.
Title: Re: The McCarthy Chronicles: The Conclusion.
Post by: Chicky on Thu 27/01/2011 18:16:19
Looks great bud, nice progression from the old art style.
Title: Re: The McCarthy Chronicles: The Conclusion.
Post by: Kweepa on Thu 27/01/2011 18:34:47
Quote from: Calin Elephantsittingonface on Thu 27/01/2011 03:47:01
...it seems like a 2 parter for this chronicle seems more suitable.
More suitable for a lazy bum!
Looks good. I await eagerly.
Title: Re: The McCarthy Chronicles: The Conclusion.
Post by: Calin Leafshade on Thu 27/01/2011 19:33:53
Quote from: ddq on Thu 27/01/2011 18:09:40
It's mostly stolen from Mass Effect and Alpha Protocol.

*Inspired by
Title: Re: The McCarthy Chronicles: The Conclusion.
Post by: cianty on Thu 27/01/2011 20:04:58
Yay!! I really enjoyed the first chapter so I now I very much look forward to this.
Title: Re: The McCarthy Chronicles: The Conclusion.
Post by: on Fri 28/01/2011 01:37:34
You've made my day! Will there still be voice-acting?
Title: Re: The McCarthy Chronicles: The Conclusion.
Post by: SookieSock on Fri 28/01/2011 02:16:02
Yes there will be full voice acting.  :)
Title: Re: The McCarthy Chronicles: The Conclusion.
Post by: Scarab on Fri 28/01/2011 06:26:52
Sweet! :)

Looking forward to this, your skills have really improved since your first game, and I have no doubt they will shine through in this project.

Good luck. :)
Title: Re: The McCarthy Chronicles: The Conclusion.
Post by: MrCheminee on Fri 28/01/2011 06:41:49
Hooray! I was waiting for this!
Title: Re: The McCarthy Chronicles: The Conclusion.
Post by: CaptainD on Fri 28/01/2011 08:47:11
Quote from: Calin Elephantsittingonface on Thu 27/01/2011 17:52:31
Quote from: CaptainD on Thu 27/01/2011 08:38:27
I await with interest your innovative dialogue system...

Don't get too excited.. it's not *that* innovative.



Okay, I'll only await it with mild to moderate interest.  :=
Title: Re: The McCarthy Chronicles: The Conclusion.
Post by: PatientRock on Fri 28/01/2011 13:13:12
To whom do I send my pants dry cleaning bill after this announcement?
Title: Re: The McCarthy Chronicles: The Conclusion.
Post by: ThreeOhFour on Fri 28/01/2011 15:41:00
Lovely backgrounds Hayley (especially the lamp post ^_^)

I look forward to this and how it will be better than the first part and everything.
Title: Re: The McCarthy Chronicles: The Conclusion.
Post by: Igor Hardy on Fri 28/01/2011 16:14:06
Quote from: Ben304 on Fri 28/01/2011 15:41:00
Lovely backgrounds Hayley (especially the lamp post ^_^)

I vote for naming this lamp post "Ben The Lamp Post".
Title: Re: The McCarthy Chronicles: The Conclusion.
Post by: ThreeOhFour on Sat 29/01/2011 01:14:50
That is good, because my brother is Greg! The Stop Sign!!
Title: Re: The McCarthy Chronicles: The Conclusion.
Post by: Calin Leafshade on Sat 29/01/2011 01:47:55
"The lamp post seemed to glisten in the moonlight. It's manly goodness oozed from every pore, enticing me closer. Oh, how I longed to touch it and to feel its touch upon my skin. Orgasmic. I shall name it.. Lamp-post-Ben"
Title: Re: The McCarthy Chronicles: The Conclusion.
Post by: Ryan Timothy B on Sat 29/01/2011 02:25:42
Quote from: Calin Elephantsittingonface on Sat 29/01/2011 01:47:55
"The lamp post seemed to glisten in the moonlight. It's manly goodness oozed from every pore, enticing me closer. Oh, how I longed to touch it and to feel its touch upon my skin. Orgasmic. I shall name it.. Lamp-post-Ben"
I thought you said your writing wasn't going to be cheesy anymore?  :=
Title: Re: The McCarthy Chronicles: The Conclusion.
Post by: Calin Leafshade on Sat 29/01/2011 02:27:02
Just to clear up any confusion... the lamp post isnt really called lamp-post-ben...  ::)
Title: Re: The McCarthy Chronicles: The Conclusion.
Post by: ThreeOhFour on Sat 29/01/2011 03:00:52
To clear up any confusion, that little excerpt is clearly your best writing to date.

To keep my thread on topic, I have used the dialogue system and it is pretty cool.
Title: Re: The McCarthy Chronicles: The Conclusion.
Post by: SookieSock on Sat 29/01/2011 22:59:32
Quote from: Lamp-Post304 on Fri 28/01/2011 15:41:00
Lovely backgrounds Hayley (especially the lamp post ^_^)


Thank you Mr Lamp Post
Title: Re: The McCarthy Chronicles: The Conclusion.
Post by: Takyon on Sun 30/01/2011 18:45:17
Probably my favourite AGS game last year. Look forward to the second version!
Title: Re: The McCarthy Chronicles: The Conclusion.
Post by: Anian on Sun 30/01/2011 20:20:51
I'm so dissappointed...

...that you decided to shorten the number of episodes, since I pressume it was meant to be more than two.
Title: Re: The McCarthy Chronicles: The Conclusion.
Post by: Calin Leafshade on Sun 30/01/2011 20:23:26
The title is actually a little misleading and may need refining.

This will be the end of the story at the manor. This is *not* however the end of The McCarthy Chronicles in total. There will be more McCarthy after this.
Title: Re: The McCarthy Chronicles: The Conclusion.
Post by: cianty on Sun 30/01/2011 22:24:28
Quote from: Calin Elephantsittingonface on Sun 30/01/2011 20:23:26
The title is actually a little misleading and may need refining.

This will be the end of the story at the manor. This is *not* however the end of The McCarthy Chronicles in total. There will be more McCarthy after this.

Hooray! :o
Title: Re: The McCarthy Chronicles: The Conclusion.
Post by: Mati256 on Sun 30/01/2011 23:22:35
Quote from: Calin Elephantsittingonface on Sun 30/01/2011 20:23:26
The title is actually a little misleading and may need refining.

This will be the end of the story at the manor. This is *not* however the end of The McCarthy Chronicles in total. There will be more McCarthy after this.

Great news!
Title: Re: The McCarthy Chronicles: The Conclusion.
Post by: theo on Sun 30/01/2011 23:30:05
I'm happy to see that your drawing skillz are improving! This looks real sharp.

Definitely looking forward to this. I loved the first part. (though I was stuck on the confounded "throw driveway at window" puzzle for an embarrassingly long time.)
Title: Re: The McCarthy Chronicles: The Conclusion.
Post by: Calin Leafshade on Sun 30/01/2011 23:35:11
Ha, well my rapid improvement of skillz might have something to do with getting someone else to do the drawing for me :p
Title: Re: The McCarthy Chronicles: The Conclusion.
Post by: theo on Mon 31/01/2011 08:57:55
Quote from: Calin Elephantsittingonface on Sun 30/01/2011 23:35:11
Ha, well my rapid improvement of skillz might have something to do with getting someone else to do the drawing for me :p

hehe clever! who's doing the bg's?
Title: Re: The McCarthy Chronicles: The Conclusion.
Post by: Dualnames on Mon 31/01/2011 18:39:20
Quote from: theo on Mon 31/01/2011 08:57:55
Quote from: Calin Elephantsittingonface on Sun 30/01/2011 23:35:11
Ha, well my rapid improvement of skillz might have something to do with getting someone else to do the drawing for me :p

hehe clever! who's doing the bg's?

Some chick.

Overall, I hope you don't repeat the error of your ways. I expect something more than awesome visuals and effects, as McCarthy 1, had those.

I expect to be re-claimed as a fan, as the only thing that still makes me interested in this, is the impression that the intro of the first episode gave me.

This time make no cheap walk back-n-forths, and no climaxes, this time please I beg you, blow my mind! I don't want to have the opinion (after McCarthy 2 ) that what I'm going to like from you as an indie game developer will be just that intro.

There were a lot of faults in McCarthy one or probably that my expectations after the intro, but regardless I felt disappointed. It's not that I make better games. It's just my opinion.

I've been writing this post over and over again, the last few days, deciding not to post it, and since you completely ignore me on IRC anyhow, I decided to bother with it here.
Title: Re: The McCarthy Chronicles: The Conclusion.
Post by: SookieSock on Mon 31/01/2011 18:44:11

QuoteSome chick.

Im offended. Im sure you know my name Dualnames. :P
Title: Re: The McCarthy Chronicles: The Conclusion.
Post by: Dualnames on Mon 31/01/2011 18:47:20
Quote from: SookieSock on Mon 31/01/2011 18:44:11

QuoteSome chick.

Im offended. Im sure you know my name Dualnames. :P

It was just a stupid joke :P
Yes, of course I do. I do love the backgrounds a lot. Especially that library!
Title: Re: The McCarthy Chronicles: The Conclusion.
Post by: qptain Nemo on Mon 31/01/2011 21:49:55
Will there be original soundtrack?
Title: Re: The McCarthy Chronicles: The Conclusion.
Post by: Calin Leafshade on Mon 31/01/2011 22:52:20
Yup, either scored by me or someone better than me if I can convince them to help.
Title: Re: The McCarthy Chronicles: The Conclusion.
Post by: Galen on Tue 01/02/2011 01:39:22
Seems a little too dark Calin, if its possible could you add some kind of Gamma setting? Does AGS capable fo that?
I always play AGS games in Windowed since I find them a little hard to make out scaled up to nearly 1080p which means those screenshots get the nasty end of my monitor's maximum contrast.
Title: Re: The McCarthy Chronicles: The Conclusion.
Post by: Calin Leafshade on Tue 01/02/2011 03:32:09
the gamma setting only works in DD and at fullscreen.

However I reckon I can use a plugin to fix that at the API level. If not i'll boost the level on all the backgrounds and use a black gui to darken to taste
Title: Re: The McCarthy Chronicles: The Conclusion.
Post by: theo on Tue 01/02/2011 07:29:47
oh. Good job SookieSock then!

Regarding gamma etc. Galen, you run a black n white horror game WINDOWED???!!! That's like watching the air duct scene in the first alien movie, in broad daylight.  :o
Title: Re: The McCarthy Chronicles: The Conclusion.
Post by: markbilly on Tue 01/02/2011 09:08:08
I play everything windowed, then the pixels still look proper.

This looks fantastic by the way, Colin Lampshade! :)
Title: Re: The McCarthy Chronicles: The Conclusion.
Post by: on Tue 01/02/2011 16:09:20
Looks good, and massively cut-sceney. I look forward to the one two three a cup four a cup rock debate. Best of luck Leafpoo!
Title: Re: The McCarthy Chronicles: The Conclusion.
Post by: Galen on Tue 01/02/2011 17:12:21
Quote from: theo on Tue 01/02/2011 07:29:47
Regarding gamma etc. Galen, you run a black n white horror game WINDOWED???!!! That's like watching the air duct scene in the first alien movie, in broad daylight.  :o

One can only upscale so much before things start looking like lego.

If it comes down to it I'd probably set my background to black and hide my icons.
Title: Re: The McCarthy Chronicles: The Conclusion.
Post by: qptain Nemo on Wed 02/02/2011 06:55:56
Quote from: theo on Tue 01/02/2011 07:29:47
Regarding gamma etc. Galen, you run a black n white horror game WINDOWED???!!! That's like watching the air duct scene in the first alien movie, in broad daylight.  :o
But... but it's a good way to prevent yourself from wetting yourself and screaming in terror so all neighbours can hear you!
Title: Re: The McCarthy Chronicles: The Conclusion.
Post by: Calin Leafshade on Wed 02/02/2011 07:23:15
Quote from: Mods on Tue 01/02/2011 16:09:20
Looks good, and massively cut-sceney. I look forward to the one two three a cup four a cup rock debate. Best of luck Leafpoo!

Any less than 5 cups and i'm kicking off and/or flipping out with rage.
Title: Re: The McCarthy Chronicles: The Conclusion.
Post by: Iliya on Wed 02/02/2011 07:40:25
Calin, I like The McCarthy Chronicles, but aren't the screenshots too dark. I understand that this is the mood of the game, but on some monitors even if you boost the brightness and the contrast all you can see is 2 or 3 lightning points.
Title: Re: The McCarthy Chronicles: The Conclusion.
Post by: Calin Leafshade on Wed 02/02/2011 07:53:55
Yes, they are too dark.

I make the game on an LCD monitor so the backlighting boosts the brightness to acceptable levels. On top of that, the noise effect significantly darkens the image.

I will fix this before release and i'll replace the screenshots as i update the engine.
Title: Re: The McCarthy Chronicles: The Conclusion.
Post by: Stupot on Wed 02/02/2011 08:02:22
Quote from: Galen on Tue 01/02/2011 17:12:21
Quote from: theo on Tue 01/02/2011 07:29:47
Regarding gamma etc. Galen, you run a black n white horror game WINDOWED???!!! That's like watching the air duct scene in the first alien movie, in broad daylight.  :o

One can only upscale so much before things start looking like lego.

If it comes down to it I'd probably set my background to black and hide my icons.

I play nearly every AGS game full-screen.. even most 320X200 ones... Is this bad?
Title: Re: The McCarthy Chronicles: The Conclusion.
Post by: theo on Wed 02/02/2011 12:40:07
Quote from: Stupot on Wed 02/02/2011 08:02:22I play nearly every AGS game full-screen.. even most 320X200 ones... Is this bad?

No. It's wonderful. I wish everyone had such good taste.  8) The whole "I play everything windowed, then the pixels still look proper." thing has me flabbergasted. I had no idea this opinion was so common. It's good to know though.
Title: Re: The McCarthy Chronicles: The Conclusion.
Post by: Calin Leafshade on Wed 02/02/2011 12:42:29
Yea, providing you choose the right scaling mode the pixels should render fine.
Title: Re: The McCarthy Chronicles: The Conclusion.
Post by: Calin Leafshade on Fri 18/02/2011 02:15:35
OP updated with screenshots and stuff.
Title: Re: The McCarthy Chronicles: The Conclusion.
Post by: Igor Hardy on Fri 18/02/2011 02:49:13
OMG is McCarthy attempting a hadouken in that picture!?
Title: Re: The McCarthy Chronicles: The Conclusion.
Post by: Calin Leafshade on Fri 18/02/2011 02:59:41
No, not a hadouken.
Title: Re: The McCarthy Chronicles: The Conclusion.
Post by: Mati256 on Fri 18/02/2011 03:19:57
No lamp post?
Title: Re: The McCarthy Chronicles: The Conclusion.
Post by: SookieSock on Fri 18/02/2011 12:08:46
I can't put a lamp post in every BG. It would look odd     :P
Title: Re: The McCarthy Chronicles: The Conclusion.
Post by: cianty on Fri 18/02/2011 16:28:09
Oh oh... These backgrounds just look soooo wonderful!
Title: Re: The McCarthy Chronicles: The Conclusion.
Post by: Ultra Magnus on Sat 19/02/2011 00:18:50
Quote from: Calin Elephantsittingonface on Fri 18/02/2011 02:59:41
No, not a hadouken.
Kamehameha?
Title: Re: The McCarthy Chronicles: The Conclusion.
Post by: Calin Leafshade on Sat 19/02/2011 00:19:58
I will kill you all...
Title: Re: The McCarthy Chronicles: The Conclusion.
Post by: Azazel1984 on Tue 07/06/2011 23:09:27
Hey ho. First of all...The first part was really really great and had an awesome amtosphere. But to the final question...How is it going with the second, the final chapter?
Title: Re: The McCarthy Chronicles: The Conclusion.
Post by: Darth Mandarb on Tue 07/06/2011 23:51:04
Azazel1984 - Please review the forum rules before posting.

Calin - let me know if/when you want to post an update and I'll unlock this.