Disquiet OROW Entry

Dualnames · Wed 04/08/2010 14:24:16

Since I've taken the step to put it on the database (it's not for the cups), here it is my entry for the OROW competition along with ptpt88 who composed the music.
DISQUIET

The game is a 3rd person perspective short adventure game, with a simple left-right click interface. There's no inventory in the game. The game is very short and probably won't take you more than 5-10 minutes. Hope that time is worth it.

Download Here

MAKING OF:

Well, if anyone cares, I'm just gonna say it to get it out of my system, with my last entry OROW entry being almost last, I decided to just make something better, and I failed to come up with anything cool from June.I was trying to find ideas for the OROW or any game really, but no luck. So I decided to not enter anyways. Returning from a hangover and being extremely happy, I put Pink Floyd's Final Cut and I wrote the game within 2 hours. It's apparent of the connections that they share,if you've seen the Wall at least, or heard any of Final's Cut songs.

I finished the game in 4 days and we wrote the music in 5-6 hours. Surprisingly enough for both me and ptpt88 who did outstanding job, the game fitted the music and vice versa. Some various issues were fixed and there.

Thanks to everyone who liked this game, this is my first Drama game. Any feedback is welcome.

AJA · Wed 04/08/2010 17:02:12

Okay, let's see if I can avoid repeating what I already posted in the competition thread...

The atmosphere is very well crafted and really depressing. Great job with the sounds and music! Whenever you're just feeling too damn happy, you should play this game. It'll bring you right back down.

The graphics are good too, especially the living room background. It really sets you in the mood and has a lot of character. I also like the fragmentation thing you've got going on in there, like it's not quite correctly pieced together. It puts you visually into the mindset of a deeply troubled person.

The writing also supports the atmosphere well. One could always wish for a bit more length and gameplay but I think the overall experience is what counts here.

A very good OROW game, all in all! An enormous improvement over your previous entry.

Dualnames · Fri 06/08/2010 17:06:02

Quote from: AJA on Wed 04/08/2010 17:02:12
Okay, let's see if I can avoid repeating what I already posted in the competition thread...

The atmosphere is very well crafted and really depressing. Great job with the sounds and music! Whenever you're just feeling too damn happy, you should play this game. It'll bring you right back down.

The graphics are good too, especially the living room background. It really sets you in the mood and has a lot of character. I also like the fragmentation thing you've got going on in there, like it's not quite correctly pieced together. It puts you visually into the mindset of a deeply troubled person.

The writing also supports the atmosphere well. One could always wish for a bit more length and gameplay but I think the overall experience is what counts here.

A very good OROW game, all in all! An enormous improvement over your previous entry.

Awww, thanks a lot.

Glad to get you all depressed.

LimpingFish · Fri 06/08/2010 19:53:23

I liked this a lot.

Dualnames · Sat 07/08/2010 03:29:18

Sorry to bump this, I got some pms, from people who are pissed with the panel, saying that my game's rating is another example of how harsh and unjust the panel can be.

And that's because the game was rated ONE CUP.

I'm sorry to be taking this publicly, I did reply to them in pm, but to those that may see the game's rating and feel the same, please don't start a turmoil. I don't wish for another rating, and if there is I'd rather remove the game from the database.

Thanks to the AGS Panel for taking their time to rate my game. I hope to improve my game-making skills in the future. I'm very glad that some people have liked this game, so thanks a lot for those nice comments. And thanks to everyone for rating and playing the game.

ddq · Sat 07/08/2010 04:19:07

I thought it was a very nifty game, especially the sound design. Very disorienting and a bit trippy at times, but it packed a lot into an unfortunately short period of time.

tzachs · Sat 07/08/2010 14:16:03

I got that same weird feeling like when I was playing Trilby, so that part was excellent, I love stuff like that when don't know what's going on...

I didn't love the ending, though I think I was not supposed to...

Dualnames · Sat 07/08/2010 18:58:56

Quote from: tzachs on Sat 07/08/2010 14:16:03
I got that same weird feeling like when I was playing Trilby, so that part was excellent, I love stuff like that when don't know what's going on...

I didn't love the ending, though I think I was not supposed to...

Thanks for the comment tzachs glad you liked some part of it.

Stupot · Tue 10/08/2010 03:01:19

I really liked this. Great efforst for a OROW entry.
I would have liked to know more about the storyline. I reckon you should make this the first in a trilogy, and in subsequent parts, go into more depth about the storyline, and have some proper puzzles

la_bouteille · Tue 10/08/2010 16:15:01

What a nice little depressing game - I like it!

Graphics and sound create a fine atmosphere. Only the font of the dialogues is a bit hard to read.

Dualnames · Tue 10/08/2010 16:41:36

Quote from: Stupot on Tue 10/08/2010 03:01:19
I really liked this. Great efforst for a OROW entry.
I would have liked to know more about the storyline. I reckon you should make this the first in a trilogy, and in subsequent parts, go into more depth about the storyline, and have some proper puzzles

It was hard to get people into this story with this entry, and I decided to put puzzles in a very simplified form in order not to break the immersion. I will think of making this more complete or so, glad you liked this Stu.

Quote from: la_bouteille on Tue 10/08/2010 16:15:01
What a nice little depressing game - I like it!
Graphics and sound create a fine atmosphere. Only the font of the dialogues is a bit hard to read.

The font indeed may cause eye straining, it didn't bother me that much though, but I can totally see if it bothers you. Glad you liked it as well.

CosmoQueen · Mon 16/08/2010 00:53:56

Hmm this was very interesting but I still feel lost. What was it about exactly? What was his problem? And what's the deal with his father? Sorry if I'm slow LOL.

straydogstrut · Mon 16/08/2010 01:25:37

I really enjoyed it too, though I wasn't expecting that ending. I feel pretty depressed now=(

I didn't mind that there wasn't much gameplay as such, what suggestion there was of a story really drew me in and I could've easily played for longer. The artwork was really good, especially the living room, although it didn't really match with anything else, but that didn't bother me. The fragmentary feel mentioned by AJA works in this game. The music was excellent and really created atmosphere. I haven't tried a lot of the OROW games yet, but creating such a moody, cohesive whole in such a short space of time is, to me, simply amazing. Well done!

I would definitely play a prequel/sequel just for more of the story=)

Dualnames · Mon 16/08/2010 03:31:52

Quote from: CosmoQueen on Mon 16/08/2010 00:53:56
Hmm this was very interesting but I still feel lost. What was it about exactly? What was his problem? And what's the deal with his father? Sorry if I'm slow LOL.

It's all a bit vague to let room for imagination, so you guys can feel the gaps,but here's the official explanation.

Spoiler

You're having this headache, that's driving you crazy, you also seem to be lost in your mind, confusing your own self, you see flashbacks of the past, where you tried to fight over your mental problems (the pills at work, the drugs). Mental problems caused by the loss of your dad, who you never met. The game flashbacks and goes to present in my idea to sort of give the hint that this is all too much for the main character. It's supposed to confuse you and drive you mad. (even a little). The voices,the music, it's supposed to create a very unnerving tone, so when the ending comes it all just quiets down.

[close]

Quote from: straydogstrut on Mon 16/08/2010 01:25:37
I really enjoyed it too, though I wasn't expecting that ending. I feel pretty depressed now=(

I didn't mind that there wasn't much gameplay as such, what suggestion there was of a story really drew me in and I could've easily played for longer. The artwork was really good, especially the living room, although it didn't really match with anything else, but that didn't bother me. The fragmentary feel mentioned by AJA works in this game. The music was excellent and really created atmosphere. I haven't tried a lot of the OROW games yet, but creating such a moody, cohesive whole in such a short space of time is, to me, simply amazing. Well done!

I would definitely play a prequel/sequel just for more of the story=)

The style I tried with this game evolved and that explains why every background is quite different to each other. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

CosmoQueen · Mon 16/08/2010 03:33:28

Ooohh okay that makes sense. Thanks for taking the time to clear it up for me. Very amazing! I can't wait for your next brilliant creation

AnalogGuy · Tue 17/08/2010 21:03:08

I also feel a bit shamed of those arrogant people giving only one cup.

This game is more or less something like visual novel which means the gameplay is not the main thing at all and in my opinion electronic and visual novels are always the most underrated games... they are not games, but so called "multimedia experience".

I certainly have played many different adventure games and I have always loved visual novels even more than adventure games with puzzles.

Among the best games I have ever played is this among the most underrated and forgotten game called "Dark eye". It's made in 1995 and it's just stunning at atmosphere and visual elements. The game is made from several Edgar Allan Poe's horror novels. Specially the voice acting is stunning.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfPJF3ksJic&fmt=18

AnalogGuy · Fri 20/08/2010 12:27:27

I was about to release the Disquiet soundtrack but I thought there's not really much of material so I decided to do at least one bonus track.

But then I realized I did something more radical than the same style of Disquiet's dark ambient... instead of just some ambient addition, I did soundtrack for an unseen scene of the game! :o

Now I want Dualnames to hear it first, because I belive he maybe could make an additional scene for the game because I think this soundtrack deserves it.

I sent several messages for Dualnames without responds althought he's online so I hope he sees at least this message.

Dualnames · Fri 20/08/2010 14:26:06

I don't think there will be an enhanced version of that. I'd rather make a more complete version 6-7 times larger than just add a scene, so it would be something new for all players.

But I'm working on something else now, so perhaps Disquiet will be a break to that.

Pinback · Fri 20/08/2010 14:55:13

An interesting experience- was Disquiet.
At first I thought more puzzle elements would have been nice, although upon completing it I had changed my mind, as they might have detracted from what I thought were some very well constructed and immersive dream sequences.

Dualnames · Fri 20/08/2010 15:07:47

Quote from: Pinback on Fri 20/08/2010 14:55:13
An interesting experience- was Disquiet.
At first I thought more puzzle elements would have been nice, although upon completing it I had changed my mind, as they might have detracted from what I thought were some very well constructed and immersive dream sequences.

I knew the puzzles were easy and not much anyhow, but I felt that anything that would make the game harder, would somehow break the immersion. And I didn't want that at all.

Same goes for voice-acting, it would be what the internet wants, but it'd break the immersion like nothing.

So I decided to get complains about puzzles.

Thanks for the comment and rating.