Infinity String - v 1.04

[Mozesh]

When I first started the game up I was basically ready to go to bed. So I WAS going to skip all the intro text... but then I saw the beauty of the graphics. And I knew, that I was NOT going to NOT give this game the attention that it needs.

Anyway, I am going to try this game out for real soon. Looking forward to it!

[GarageGothic]

Ah, so I finished the game with both endings and have a few more comments.

• I love the backgrounds. You've managed to emulate the early 1990's style to perfection. Some of the rooms would fit seamlessly into FoA while others made me think of Innocent Until Caught/Guilty and Beneath a Steel Sky. The character animation is also exellent (love the janitor's idle anim) and there are so many little details to notice, like the puke freezing after a while.


• Sound design was excellent, footstep sounds, ambients, everything just right. And even though the music wasn't original it added greatly to the atmosphere.


• The interface is really well designed (and nice idea to have two different graphics for the GUI). The more I use it, the more I come to realize that a single cursor interface is probably the least intrusive for adventure games. Having to "look at" the necklace to activate it does show the system's limitations I guess. The doubleclick-on-exits option is very welcome (although it's slightly inconsistent for some exits).


• I had a lot of fun with the puzzles. Many nice twists that don't often appear in AGS games such as time limits and multiple use items that you have to go back to retrieve. It did cause a bit of backtracking, but it was worth it.  I also liked how several puzzles could be solved using different items. I was only truly stuck once (see end of post) and considering this the probable most balanced gameplay in any AGS game I played this year.

While the game overall is great, there's also room for improvement - some of these details could be dealt with in a later version, others you could keep in mind for your next game:

• Starting from the very beginning, the "Press SPACE to continue" screen in the beginning come across as an attempt to seem more professional, without considering that those screens mainly show up in crappy console ports as a stand-in for the PS/2's ubiquitous "Press START button to continue". Why even ask the player to press space in a game that's otherwise controlled by mouse clicks?


• As I and others have commented, the English translation is a bit lacking in places. But another detail I noticed in the text is that you put a space before question- and exclamation marks. This may be a style choice, and I know it's common in French, but due to the linebreaking this often leads to the character being isolated on a line of its own which just looks bad. If you do need the space, use a hard space (hold ALT and type 0160 on the numeric pad) that won't linebreak.


• Is there any special reason that the intro movie wasn't done as part of the game (in-engine rather than avi file)? Except for a few blur effects and perhaps the audio sync, it doesn't contain anything that couldn't be displayed using AGS script. No big deal, I would just prefer it hadn't been a separate download is all.


• "He is ugly" as a look response for most of the NPCs doesn't help to establish the characters. And the lack of conversation with the two soldiers near the end - especially the last - means that you can't even TRY to TALK your way past, which makes them seem more like mere obstacles than people.

Most of the above are minor annoyances, but the issue below seems to be a problem for several users judging by the hints forum. It's a simple matter of a lack of hints that stops the game dead in its tracks:

Spoiler

The door to the room with the blue crystals in the spaceship is lacking proper look/interaction responses. All I got was "I don't know what to do with it", "I'm not touching it" and "I better leave it alone". No indication that it might be interesting, and even less that it's stuck and a tool should be used.

[close]

[Giddy Plant]

I've been playing this one and I find it to be most excellent. I don't really understand the story much but it's very atmospheric with perfect use of sound effects. I'd love to go through and correct all those spelling and grammatical errors to make it even better.

[xelanoimis]

Aha! Finaly!
I was waiting for this one for a while and I'm so happy it finaly came out.
Downloading it now - had to make time and play it.
Congratulations for finising it, and keep the good work!
Alex

[Sektor 13]

Hey

By the way, Intro music and Credits music is original to Infinity String, and I want to know if you like those two tracks ?

Version 1.02 will be ready soon (for linux too). I tried to fix some grammar problems, added responses when interacting/looking "characters" (as i totaly forgot to do it before ). And added few extra responses as some people suggested (like half opened door in the ship).

Linux version will be just like v 1.02 only without rain and snow effect.

...

[Groogokk]

The outstanding graphics and the cool story made this game lots of fun to play. In many ways this is a game that is on a par with professional products from good ol' Lucasfilm Games.

There was only one thing that I really got stuck on for ages - the fact that a right-click on an item in the inventory mostly meant "Look at" - but also "Use" sometimes! It took me hours to figure out that you needed to right-click on

Spoiler

the pulse reader, for example...

[close]

As I have pointed out in the comments on the database page, I recommend changing the violence rating of this game from "mild" to "strong" or whatever the other adjective is. A game in which people get stabbed to death by bony fingers in the intro is _not_ mildly violent.
I just saw this has already been done.

[Mordalles]

just finished the game and loved it.

Some of the most beautiful backgrounds i've seen in an ags game, with real attention to detail. great sounds, weather effects and footprints. 
i liked the intro.
ooh, and what an amazing title screen! that grass moving in the wind is simply stunning.
and i also found the puzzles really logical.

definitely one of my favourite ags games.
thanks, sektor, for the effort you put in the game. 

[Sektor 13]

Check the first page to DL LINUX VERSION, 1.02 -

or click here: http://rapidshare.com/files/41226700/StringLinux.zip.html

Enjoy

[cosmicr]

played the game last night. I dont usually download many ags games, but I was a fan of Stargate so I thought I'd give this a try. I didnt get very far.  The only criticisms I have(apart from whats already been said) is that at the start of the game its not entirely obvious what you're supposed to do. I mean you wander around and explore, but I get the feeling like you're already supposed to know whats going to happen, instead of gradually discovering or working it out. For example, I picked up the pulse meter straight away, but then later I get given a quest to go and find the pulse meter, even though I already had it. And then with the power generator - there's no hint as to whats meant to be done with it - at least I didnt get that far but I am assuming you need to use it to melt ice? I just got a general feeling like I'm supposed to know what to do without been given any hints. I figure its either me, or maybe just a problem once again with the english. Its not too disturbing and is easily forgotten when looking at the great graphics. And one other niggly thing - I missed the first intro text screen because it didnt stay up long enough for me to read all the text - and then the second one stayed up too long...

but well done, I'm gonna have another play tonight, and I look forward to sektor 13's next release!

[TheJBurger]

Congrats on releasing the game. I just finished it.

Comments:
- The background art is superb, definetely one of the best, if not the best looking backgrounds in an AGS game.
- The attention to detail in most places is amazing, good work.
- All of the animations and effects like footsteps, lighting, etc. really add alot to the atmosphere.
- Like others have said, the game has alot of typos and grammatical errors. There are too many to list right here, and some sentences were particularly hard to understand because of this.
- Some hotspots and actions have no responses or feedback. This is particularly frustrating when I think I have the right solution, but I don't know if I'm performing the action in the correct way because the player won't say anything.
- It would have been nicer to remind me of my goals. Sometimes I forgot what I was supposed to be doing and I would just wander around trying to solve different puzzles to achieve progress.
- I found the story somewhat confusing and by the end of the game I had no idea who I was anymore, what I was trying to achieve, or what had happened up to that point. Story Spoilers:

Spoiler

All I understood about the story was that there were Aliens who were fighting a war, they tried to control the universe using strings, then they built a research facility on Antarctica, and then humans discovered it. I'm a bit fuzzy after that.

[close]

That's probably just me though. My brain must be working really slow.

Bugs:
- About the vine:

Spoiler

I put the vine down the lattice to swing across, and then it appeared in the room below. After I figured out how to cross the chasm, I went back up and removed the vine to put the screws in. I forgot to put the vine back in the lattice, but when I went down, the vine was still there. The vine should disappear if you remove it from the lattice, but it stays there once you put it down for the first time. (I think)

[close]

- The Shorter Ending:

Spoiler

When you interact with the radio as the skeleton man, the animation for turning into a skeleton plays over again. You probably wanted the use animation to play but it bugged up here.

[close]

Overall, the game is one of the most professional AGS games I've seen so far, and it easily looks and plays like one of the old Lucas Arts classics.

Great job!

[FireOrange]

Wow, just great. This atmosphere is wonderful. I`m still in the beginning but I really enjoy it.

[Sektor 13]

Hmm i'll already fixed vine and skeleton bug for now, and i'll probably add a bit better explanation in game, in version 1.03

I'll also write story explanation here..

[Rui 'Trovatore' Pires]

I don't get it, the 1.02 version is for the Linux specifically - i.e., no plugins? And there's no version *with* a plugin? So any effects that the 1.01 version had are now, and forever, disabled, in the 1.02 and future versions?

[Sektor 13]

I made two versions 1.02, one for linux (without plugins) and one with plugns for windows. The only thing is that i didn't upload version 1.02 for wins, as i will soon add/correct few other things and release version 1.03.

So lets just say that 1.02 with rain/snow was skipped.. and will be available in v 1.03


And i think version 1.02 will be the only version without the snow/rain plugin - > only version for linux, as i won't upload every version twice.

[Rui 'Trovatore' Pires]

Ah, right, gotcha.

Mind you, here's a thought - you could actually have a check in your game. In every place you use the snow_rain plugin have:

Code: ags

if (System.OperatingSystem == eOSWindows) {
  //put the snow/rain plugins effects here!
}
else {
  //well, else do nothing
}

Just a thought for future projects.

[Stupot]

This game looks top.

However I don't want to start playing it until I've seen the Intro movie.
Unfortunately my poxy little laptop won't let me watch it nd I've tried 3 different media player, downloading codecs left right and center and nothings working?
Do you have a stream of the video on YouTube or anywhere that I could watch?
Or does anyone know why the movie won't work for me?

Cheers.

[Sektor 13]

This game looks top.

However I don't want to start playing it until I've seen the Intro movie.
Unfortunately my poxy little laptop won't let me watch it nd I've tried 3 different media player, downloading codecs left right and center and nothings working?
Do you have a stream of the video on YouTube or anywhere that I could watch?
Or does anyone know why the movie won't work for me?

Cheers.

That is why i didn't add movie to the game, as some people have problems playing it, still you can try the game without seeing intro....
----------------------------------------

OK here is story explanation, SPOILER , READ ONLY IF YOU?VE COMPLETED THE GAME:

Spoiler

Infinity String - Plot !


What happened in the game FAQ:
------------------------------

Q: Why did Delegian home world "explode" ?
A: There is more complex story behinde that and will be explained in Infinity String 2, if ever made.

Q: What's with those two guys talking in the beginning and the end of the game ?
A: Those two persons are actually only one, the good and the bad side of Yerik Elnar (one wants necklace the other one doesn't)

Q: So Yerik was a clone of that guy we see talking to coucillors and to the ships captain in another cutscene (memories)
A: Yes, DNA for Yerik was collected from the escape pod, found in antartica, the one you found the necklace in.

Q: Whats with the doctor Selec ?
A: He was one of the first humans to find cloning facilities. He was scaned and cloned (original was killed) with the brain chip, so he could be controled.
   He feed you bits and pieces of the story slowly and to unknowingly force you to use the necklace.

Q: But if the base was found in 2009 and Yerik was cloned there, how can he be so old in 2011 when he visits the base ?
A: Goverment said it was found in 2009. In truth they first found it in 1943. After they've sent elite troopers to find German secret base in Antartica.
   Delegian technology is far more advance than human.
   They needed over 20 years to adapt some of the human technology to work with Delegian tech.
   Not only that, but most of current human technology is based on Delegians. Like microproccesors and other stuff that only army uses for now.

Q: Whats with that beast, that's chasing me throught the first part of the game ?
A: That beast is you ! Beast is trying to scare you to use the necklace (with the help of Dr. Selec too)
   
Q: But I never choose "bad" end of the game, to be the beast.
A: Because that happend before. The necklace was designed specialy for Yerik and it's a cloning device too. When you put the necklace on
   regeneration process killed the original clone,added brain chip, transfered all memories
   and ability to control necklace to a new clone. This cloning procedure was fast. But before new clone was aware of himself, brain chip controled
   his sub-consciousness and made him go back to the past and first kill all the soldiers, to prevent more interference and to scare Yerik to use necklace.
   In the end of Antarctica, when you use necklace on yourself in front of a monster (other self), you become aware and try to take control back to your hands.
   2nd clone than wakes up a week later in the jungle shuttle. As he is actually a week older, he has a beard and his genes were "upgraded", he doesn't need
   glasses anymore.

Q: But 2nd clone was first walking skeleton and later again normal man with a beard, how is that ?
A: Walking skeleton actually represents his position. If he wants to use/is using necklace he becomes empty inside, no feeling, no life.
   While if he doesn't except the necklace, he is still human and is unable to use necklace powers.

Q: Whats with the Earth and reptiles ?
A: When the Delegians found Earth (Terra), reptiles were the dominant species and were evolving in inteligent creatures.
   But Delegians were mammals, and they wanted to crate clones that were mammals too.
   They didn't have much time, so the made reptiles (dinosaurs) extinct and made mamals the dominant species.
   From there the humans evolved after few thousand of years. Clones were ment to be weak and pink skined.
   But through evolution that changed and humans become stronge with longer life and new skin colors.

Q: Delegians councillors were all black, why is that ?
A: All Delegians are darker and stronger than usual human.

Q: So were Delegians saved if you choose "bad" end ?
A: No, necklace didn't work as it should. Living mind dies, so the clones begin to "die". Their minds were lost over time. They are only empty shells.

Q: What happened to the humans after the "bad" end ?
A: Althou military was very cripled, they've survived.
   About 10 000 people died in the attacks and another 1000 were kidnapped to be changed into clones.
   Other humans were left alone.

Q: What happened to Yerik ?
A: In the "good" end he sacrificed himself and didn't use the necklace. As he was binded to it, he died.
   In the "bad" end he created the army but before they've learned to control the necklace powers, their personality was gone. They scattered around the time
   and universe but succeded in nothing. Yerik was the stronges. He is still "fighting" with the necklace to gain ethernal life and keep his mind.


Here are logs, that i didn't put in the game, but could be there.

------------------------
Delegian Space Ship log:
------------------------

-Universal Time 130 500 9 par 2

We have arrived to sektor K.
130 light years away from home, we finaly found suitable planet.
We've named it Terra.


-Universal Time 130 500 9 par 4

Close exemination shows that it supports carbon units.
Atmosphere consists of, 77% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 1% argon, and small percent of carbon dioxide.
Dominant species are reptiles.
They are showing first signes of inteligence, as we can notice crude buildings and tools.


-Universal Time 130 500 9 par 6

Colonizing this planet proved very difficult. Reptile species are very hostile.
We must reases possibility of colonization of this planet.


-Universal Time 130 500 9 par 8

We come to agreement. We cannot afford to travel any further. Talks for Reformation plans of Terra is already in motion.


-Universal Time 130 500 9 par 10

We will send asteroid back in time, to criple reptile population and add humanoid lifeforms, to suit our needs.


-Universal Time 130 500 9 par 12

I am feeling a bit guilty for extermination of indigenous species. This doesn't feel right, but it must be done.
So we can preserve ourselfs.


-Universal Time 130 500 9 par 14

Plan is complete, bioengineers are working on humanoid-gene dispersal unit.
We will made new kind of life.


-Universal Time 130 500 9 par 16

Sun is being used to charge time device and add extra speed boost to steroid.


-Universal Time 130 500 9 par 18

Our calculations were precise. Reptile species is almost extinct. Mammals evolved.


-----------------------
LOG of chief scientist:
-----------------------


Now it's time to explain this situation to you.
I really wanted to help ! I work day without sleep on string project. But those council bastards just didn't listen. Their master plan was more important
to them as the real thing, strings. They "moved" my project far away from home planet. So I wouldn't be in a way. But I know, that strings are our only
solution. Our enemy is too strong and far superior in technology, aside string research. It's real miracle that we survived this long.
Newertheless I won't abandon my brotherens.

As we found suitable planet to colonize, I talked to captaion about my plan. He did't agree with me at all.

Its tearing me from the inside. Nobody listens to me. Those fools.

I guess I am on my own. No matter, I can do this. I have a complete knowladge about current string achivements and capabilities. It is time for me to act.

MY first step will be to "improve" our yunglings. I will made them stronger and smarter. Three groups will be enought.

After close studies they found out that some of the speciment evolving on Terra are far superior to those we were trying to make. They found my boys.
They don't know that I made them, they think it was an error.

Captaion ordered termination of all "evolved" speciments on Terra, with clean nuclear weapon.

Damn. MY plan failed again.

There is no doubt, they are abstructing me. A can't execute my plan while they are around.

I sabotaged all the emergency escape pods. Nobody will survive, not even me.

But before that, I must do some work on our ground station.

I rearanged all cloning facilities, so that they are in auto mode. I used internal scaners to gain any speciments DNA.
When scaners detect any life, they first check basic abilities and if they are in range of certain parameters they begin no measure brainwave patterens.
If all parameters are good, subject is "guided" to a special room where he's cloned with few extra abilities and special control chip is added it his brain.
I've written all the instructions.
I've set coordinates for escape pods to "land". As there can be only one gathering point, I cannot make other pods to crash out of my way. But with some fine
tuning I will be able to crash my pod in the exact spot for me to be found first. My puppet will do the rest.

It is time to damage the ship, it's an emergency guys !

-----end of log-------

[close]

[Stupot]

That is why i didn't add movie to the game, as some people have problems playing it, still you can try the game without seeing intro....

Ok, I'll start playing it soon, but could I ask a request?
Do you reckon you might be able to somehow put the intro onto youtube or something similar so those of us having video problems could still see it?
In your own time, of course, just a suggestion, really.
Just it'd be a shame not to be able to experience such an awesome-looking game with all the trimmings.

[TheJBurger]

OK here is story explanation, SPOILER , READ ONLY IF YOU?VE COMPLETED THE GAME:

Spoiler

Infinity String - Plot !

etc.

[close]

Thanks for clearing that up. I'm a little confused still

Spoiler

about who you are and how this cloning process comes into the story.

[close]

Other than that, I think I get it now.

By the way, are all of those details in the game? You could intepret the story that way in the game, but lots of the scenes seemed ambiguous to me

Spoiler

and meeting the 2 dead guys down the pit threw me off (I thought they were the guys at the beginning in the cut-scene).

[close]

[Sektor 13]

->

Spoiler

Only clones can use necklace, you were made clone few years ago and sent into the world to get some experience without any enhancements, so you wouldn't be suspicious to the world and yourself. Afte you got necklace you had to be "recloned" to add brain chip and some extra features to use necklace..")

[close]

Hmm never thought about those 2 guys, still in the intro , they were brutaly murdered, in that room one was shot. And at the end they talk again. And colour of the jackets don't match..