Once Upon A Time

[Rui 'Trovatore' Pires]

I'd just like to ask for some clarification - I need to know two things if I'm going to keep playing the game. I'm loving it, but if it includes one or more of the following I think I'll stop now, because in conjunction with the long maze-ish corridors it just doesn't make the game a fun experience for me -

1 - Are there pixel-hunts?, such as finding the key in Chapter 2. That makes one. Are there any more?

2 - The Hints and Tips thread talks about a walking dead. Now, is this true? I would very much like to know about it, so I can just stop playing the game now without further aggravation. Nothing against your wonderful-looking and very-well-scripted game, I just hate walking deads, especially in games where a rather slow character speed is combined with long treks down empty, maze-ish corridors. What can I say, it's not my idea of fun.

[elentgirl]

I'd just like to ask for some clarification - I need to know two things if I'm going to keep playing the game.

I'm sorry that you are finding aspects of my game annoying.  I know the feeling, with some of the games I have played, but I also know that others enjoy games that I hated.  It is a matter of taste, so I will try to give you an idea of my type of game, because I have made Once Upon A Time in the mold of those games I enjoy (as much as my ability allows!).

The game originated in a simpler version I made a good few years ago on a Sinclair QL, when all you could really do was run around a 2D maze avoiding monsters and picking up things left lying around!  The current incarnation probably shows its origins to some extent (I enjoy mazes!) and for any maze haters, I will warn you that the last chapter is titled The Triple Maze! (enough said - I don't want to spoil it for others).

Once Upon A Time is far more than a maze game.  I have tried to construct a fantasy world, with a history and geography, a place for players to explore for themselves.  During those explorations you will come across things that might be useful to you, and problems that demand a bit of thinking to work out a solution.  But not all avenues lead to discoveries - that would surely be unrealistic.

I have tried to include clues (often in Jack's comments) as to what he may need to do, and I have tried to put things in a fairly logical place (eg. if you dicover that Jack needs a key to get out of the dungeon, where is the logical place to look for it?).  I have not made hotspots being active contingent upon reaching a certain stage in the game, as some games do; you can often find things before you need them if you look around you carefully as you go.  Is that not part of the gaming experience, to explore everywhere fairly thoroughly as you go?  And I have put a lot of useful guidance in the various books.

If you decide that Once Upon A Time is not for you I shall be sad to have disappointed another adventure game player, but if you do not enjoy the kind of game I have tried to make, then there is no point in your suffering further frustration.

Elen

[Rui 'Trovatore' Pires]

Well, my biggest concern is the walking dead... is there one, or more?, or did some player misunderstand a puzzle?

Wouldn't be the first time I put my misgivings aside and turned out to love a game, but this sort of mechanics I feel I have to know beforehand, because they'll change my gaming experience, just as it changes whenever I play a Sierra or a Lucasarts game.

[sthomannch]

This game is different than many other point-and-click games, and I enjoy it a lot. It is a matter of taste, as you said before, elentgirl

[gavin82098]

I really like the game. I am glad that it is challenging. The graphics are beautiful. Faster walking would be nice, but I am glad that I can point to a space and he walks there rather than having to keep clicking. If I ever get out of the garden, I am sure it will be wonderful. Good work.

[elentgirl]

Hello All

Various of you have pointed out errors in my game, which I have tried to fix as quickly as I can.  Thank you to all those who have contributed in this way, and I am sorry if the bugs have spoiled your enjoyment.

The latest version of the game (V1c) is now available on the web site, and there are patches available to update from versions 1a and 1b.  Details of what has been fixed are in the version log in the game file.

The patch to update Version 1a to 1c is at: http://www.box.net/shared/static/ri6vaibs44.exe

The patch to update Version 1b to 1c is at: http://www.box.net/shared/static/6566117sog.exe

The bugs fixed can be got round in other ways, but they are still irritating and diconcerting.  I hope that you all continue to enjoy my game.

Elen

[Nostradamus]

This looks like a game with potential, looks like you made an effort to make a long story but unfortunately it starts really really bad. You DO NOT start a game with a long maze with almost no interaction. A big turn off. There's just a big maze, the graphics look rich (though a little weird) but there's nothing to do in the screens. There's barely any spots to interact with and the little interactions available result with short uninteresting unsatisfiying comments. Walking around in a big barely interactive maze picking up random items that I don't even know why I pick up (what are those tiles supposed to be?) is boring and does not give me any motivation to do anything. This game has a well built skeleton but no meat on it so to speak. If you made more interaction with spots and items, people to talk with it and more info on what the hell I'm doing and what my goals are this could be good. But like this it's just not interesting and not motivating to go on. Sorry but take it as constructive criticism, to help you make a game better.

[elentgirl]

Hello All

I have made a few more modifications to Once Upon A Time to reflect some of the comments received from you guys playing it.  I have released these as Version 2, because one of them (increasing Jack's walking spped) affects the whole game, and there are quite a few others as well.  You can either download the new version complete, or there is a patch to update Vesrion 1c.  You will still need to play the game form the start again to get the full value of this update.  Sorry!

If you want to download the patch, it's at: http://www.box.net/shared/static/ulqt7jcco0.exe

Good gaming.
Elen

[Rui 'Trovatore' Pires]

Of course, I have to ask this -

Is(are) the walking dead(s) still there?