Well, it's ready.
I have to say I'm quite happy with it. While it may not be the best thing ever, it's something that can finally be taken seriously, it's what I always wanted the original to be.
To download, go here:
http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/Newsite/Games.aspx/Detail/1294/Living_Nightmare_Deluxe
(Please vote/comment after playing. :=)
WARNING: There are some scary moments that can make you jump. If you don't like that, read the spoilers text included with the game, or just don't play at all. :D
The plot is as such:
James isn't feeling very well. It's his 20th birthday and
he has come down with some sort of cold. This isn't too
unusual for April, it is very cold and rainy outside.
His family and friends visit, but James quickly calls off
the celebration after only an hour or so,
fearing that he will accidentally spread whatever illness he has.
However, what he
is dreading the most is how he will sleep, as through his
whole life, he has had strange dreams (mostly nightmares...)
and delusions whenever he sleeps while sick.
Although he no longer fears the nightmares as he had in the
past, James is certainly no fan of becoming delusional and
suffering from incredibly light sleep.
Dreading the worst to come, James decides to write to his
journal to take his mind off of things, but ends up writing
about his current situation. Thinking about the nightmare(s?) sure
to come, James can't help but think of the very first time it had
happened, and begins to think back to the experience...
You then take control of the 5-year-old James in the memories
of the now 20-year-old James.
(http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/2143/gameexample1.png)
(http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/4083/gamexp3.png)
(http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/8111/gamexp2.png)
Commentary video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSZ5GDzzZuk
Faster than the speed of light, and wow, I'm really glad this is out!!
OK Domithan got the game. Playing very cool. Very original too. Just walking around trying to figure how to look out the window. ;D .. I like the story too. Good work I can't say I would've done much better. :P
Edit: Me too glad this is out.. Really wanted to play it after I first saw it. ;D
If you need help, feel free to start a thread in hints in tips, I'll be up for a while tonight. Thanks for the nice words, the both of you. :D
Quote from: Domithan on Mon 22/03/2010 23:27:51
If you need help, feel free to start a thread in hints in tips, I'll be up for a while tonight
Nah I am better then that. ;D .. At least for a hour or so. I love to play adventure games and win the whole thing but I get too frustrated too quick.
But I will try really hard with this one ;D
Wow, that's quick. I wasn't even finished with the second run. Some spelling errors I indicated haven't been corrected... :-\
Nevertheless, a very nice game to play. Good story, well told. Good graphics to accompany it: simple, clear, not distracting from the main object.
Well done!
Sorry about that Leon, but I'm pretty positive everything was fixed... I'm not sure which part you mean.
In any case, glad you like it. :)
Found another thing: I crashed the game:
Error: unable to render character 0 (James) because loop 1 does not exist in view 3.
Occurs when:
Spoiler
Enter the basement in dream 3. Use the ruler on the dryer to get the bear. Use the toolbox (James sits down) and when moving around, he doesn't stand up anymore. At some positions the game crashes.
Oh wow. I was positive I had fixed that... :-\
In any case, I'll have a fix up in a second.
Edit: Fixed. Sorry to whoever downloaded version 1.0.
This was a lot of fun! Nice graphics! And I proudly admit that I pretty much covered my eyes EVERY time I opened a door. ::)
The only bug I see is in the last scene--using the hand icon on the washer, the game crashes. I know that's not what I'm supposed to be doing in there anyway (seeing as how I've finished the game), but thought I'd throw that out there. Luckily, I am a savegame-a-holic. ;D
Very well done, I thoroughly enjoyed playing it!!
~Sarah
Hmm. I don't have that problem and I can't re-create the crash. Do you have version 1.1? I'm willing to bet this is the same thing Leon mentioned that I released a fix for earlier. Did you do anything special before trying to open it?
Very glad you liked it though :)
Yeah I just had the error that Leon described in the basement. Loop 1 does not exist in view 3.
A bit a of a pain cause I never saved it. :P .. Oh well I am going try the new version 1.1.
I am enjoying the puzzles a little bit irritating at some points but still good.
Edit: Ok replayed I was so close to the end ;) .
Good story, Good graphics, OK puzzles and Animations were bearable ;) .
Good work. Not to mention Good scripting bugs were very minimal.
Gotta play it! looks nice...
Quote from: Danman on Tue 23/03/2010 10:38:42
Yeah I just had the error that Leon described in the basement. Loop 1 does not exist in view 3.
A bit a of a pain cause I never saved it. :P .. Oh well I am going try the new version 1.1.
I am enjoying the puzzles a little bit irritating at some points but still good.
Edit: Ok replayed I was so close to the end ;) .
Good story, Good graphics, OK puzzles and Animations were bearable ;) .
Good work. Not to mention Good scripting bugs were very minimal.
Actually at this point I'm willing to say there are no bugs left after quick-fix 1.1... ???
In any case, thanks for the feedback.
Somehow I missed the original Living Nightmare, but I have to say I liked this game.
Using a five-year old's continuous nightmare is an amazing storytelling device. Basements at night can scare kids, the reason the player won't open the basement is that he's scared. It made a perfect way to limit what the player can do. Additionally, the music, sound effects, muted colors at night and especially the expression on James's face, all worked together to build the atmosphere. The puzzles helped advance the story as well. Expect for the one that didn't make sense... because it wasn't supposed to.
In order for this to be a useful post, I usually try to come up with something constructive to say. In this case there isn't much to improve upon. So I'm left with a lame suggestion of... better graphics would have been nice. Of course I can't draw, so feel free to ignore me.
Keep up the good work,
Cogliostro
Played it, liked it!
Original story!
Congrats, Domithan! ;D
I am just writing to congratulate you on making a brilliant atmosphere at the beginning of the game. I felt very nervous and turning round the corner or opening doors.
I am only ten minutes in, but I felt the need to do this before continuing ;D
Cryxo, Jim, cogliostro, MrCheminee,
Thank you all very much for the comments! They mean a lot to me and encourage me to work on a sequel. :P
just finished :D
You built the plot and atmosphere whith a several changes so well that this one is really worth to play.
Very well Domithan
I am so excited what you will come up with next time ;D
cheers
The game took one hour to finish. My comments:
Overall, a great game. The mood-settings such and graphics, text and music are excellent for the type of game it's intended to be. The graphics could be sharpened up a bit - they are somewhat plain.
One area I would suggest improving is that there's not enough storyline in the game. Essentially, the game consists of different scenarios where you have to do some tasks to move to the next scenario with little plot connecting them.
Thanks for the game! :)
Yay! I honestly was hoping for 2/5 this time around. (Twice as good as the original? :D)
In any case, I suppose I'll learn from it and make the next even better. I am kicking myself in the ass for that one puzzle though... I'll try to make the next a bit more comprehensive?
I did think it odd it says it's unclear what James is suffering from...is it not clear to others as well? :-\
I would really appreciate some input via votes and comments to help me understand the issues.
I didn't play the original, but just finished this one. I enjoyed it quite a lot, especially the last sequence. It captured the atmosphere of a nightmare pretty well. Good and creepy, congrats!
Spooky and interesting, thanks!
Spoiler
How about a super deluxe version where you turn off the icon bar in the title screen?
Quote from: SteveMcCrea on Sat 27/03/2010 18:14:50
Spooky and interesting, thanks!
Spoiler
How about a super deluxe version where you turn off the icon bar in the title screen?
Errr...damn. :(
Shall not be a future problem I suppose.
Anyways, thank you all for the comments, and again I would very much appreciate votes/comments on the games page as well, constructive criticism or otherwise.
Congrats! Great Job!
Quote from: Crincoq on Mon 29/03/2010 19:07:47
Congrats! Great Job!
Thank you, I appreciate it. :)
I've just finished your game, and I really enjoyed it, once I started to play I couldn't stop. Great work!!, congratulations!! ;D
By the way, I loved the way the story was told
Quote from: xenohexx on Fri 09/04/2010 11:25:57
I've just finished your game, and I really enjoyed it, once I started to play I couldn't stop. Great work!!, congratulations!! ;D
By the way, I loved the way the story was told
Your first post is about how you like my game? That's pretty awesome! :D
I'm really glad you liked it, this kind of things only motivates me even more while making the sequel.
Well, the graphics are a bit simple, but it was well worth a play. It did convey a certain atmosphere I like, so congrats! :D
Was very atmospheric, especially at the beginning! Really enjoyed it. Thank you!
Thanks for the nice words.
Wanted to let people know that I'm most likely entering the sequel in MAGS, because it gives me a good reason to persist.
I also plan on releasing a more cleaned up version of this one with maybe a bit more exposition as well.