Stan Ames : Private Eye, Episode 1

[jonqueztor]

I just finished the game, and I thought it was pretty cool, dispite a few difficult pixel hunts and enemy glitches. The FPS part was pretty cool.

I noticed that some of the music sounded strangely similar to some of the music in the GoldenEye and Perfect Dark games.Ã, 

Spoiler

By the way, I thought it was very, very convenient that an evil corperation building has a self-destruct sequence...

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[Hammerite]

is the next episode going to follow on from this one?
gr8ness twas.

[scourge]

Hey JRock.

I downloaded and have been playing for a while. It's lots of fun and the isometric is unique for an adventure game. I extremely like the iso!! I'm stuck right now but trying ...

Really good game and a series would be fun

Well, I'm glad that overall, everyone likes the game.  (pretty good for my first, eh?) 

Your game rocks, but please don't get arrogant after your first game! It's very unbecoming. I'm saying this out of concern, it happens too much with people.

[Pet Terry]

I can't say much as I have been playing only for about an hour and the only thing I have managed to do is

Spoiler

to kill the secretary and the guard in the Zyltec building. I know I need to climb over the wall, but I have absolutely no idea how to do that.

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I can only say that the graphics are quite inconsistent (why is the first room so blurry?) and the characters don't match the isometric backgrounds very well. Also, the music that plays outside the Zyltec building was used in Apocalypse Meow (free midi, I guess) and I guess that kind of ruined the atmosphere for me, but that's just me.

I can forgive all that for now as it is your first game, but I hope you keep all the critics in mind when working on your future projects. I'm off to click every single pixel now, I want to know what happens next in the game.

EDIT: D'oh, got it. So obvious!!

[Das Plans]

Hey there!

I just finished playing your game. Great job for a first-timer! I loved the movie-like atmosphere, what with the cutscenes and all. And, oh, that last guard's screeech on the floor was hilarious!Ã, 

Anyway, here's some things that disturbed me a little:

Spoiler

1. The rope over the wall. Not really a puzzle.

2. I know, that adventure game heroes are a shifty bunch, but... killing a guy just to get his fishing rod? Come on, that was too much.

3. The elevator incident. Unless Stan has a robotic arm with palms of steel (like that guy in I, ROBOT) his hand would have been crumbled to ashes after passing the 8th floor.

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Nevertheless, I really enjoyed playing your game, and I will definetly play the next installments!

See you!

[JRock]

Well, I'm glad that so many are downloading and playing and MOST of all of you are enjoying the game.Ã,  I know that there are a few FAR-FETCHED things in this game, but I wanted to make it seem as if Stanley grew more "super-human" as the game progressed.Ã,  Sort of like a james bond type secret agent of sorts.Ã,  And I'm glad everyone loves the screeching guard.Ã,  Ã, 
Thats my fav part too.Ã,  And don't worry about me getting arrogant over my first game.Ã,  I am just proud of myself cause I have never created something like this before and it makes me happy to know that a lot of people are enjoying it, thats all.

About the music, yes, it is from perfect dark and goldeneye.Ã,  i just thought it fit the mood of the game.Ã,  And that "Apocalypse Meow" thing petteri was talking about from the outside of the Zyltec building is called "Sanctuary" and its from Resident Evil 2.Ã, 

For those of you that are stumped in the game, just don't give up.Ã,  Keep trying!Ã,  Make sure to examine everything and use logic.Ã,  Thats really all I'm gonna say, cuz I don't want to give anything away. (if you REALLY REALLY need a hint, PM me)

About the next episodes, they will not continue the Zyltec story.Ã,  Each episode will have a new plot and a new evil corporation, terrorist, organization, etc.Ã,  for Stan to destroy.Ã,  But Mila will return in the next episode as a playable character, so thats cool.

And HOLY SH-T this is getting long, so....

Thanx Everyone!!!Ã, 

[Afflict]

Yeah Pm'd JRock on alot of those issues Herrstein And some others, but thats for him to acknowledge and beter in P I 2. Allround the game was interesting.

My Main concerns from me not mentioning my prior listed ones.

Spoiler

* Killing a man without a motive even as to why you want to obtian a certian item.
* The Iso graphics not keeping form after your in jail becoming a normal adv design
* One person in the house not accounted for... Who noticed this? I would love to know...

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[Mordalles]

finished the game, and i really enjoyed it.
i was stuck twice, and both were due to pixelhunting.
hahah, i couldn't stop laughinh when i shot the guy to get his fishing rod. i thought it was game over. but then, when nothing happened, i thought maybe i did the right thing?

overall, really enjoyable game.

[xenogia]

Good first try, I liked the general flow of the game and it moved quite quickly.  Here are some critiques for you:

* Less pixel hunting puzzles (these can getting frustrating)
* Write some original music (I'd be more than happy to write it for you, if you want to contact me just PM me and I'll shall send you a demo if required).
* If you are going to put some pixel hunting put a hotspot label in your gui, so you know what is in the screen and what is interactable.
* Put unhandled events in your main script, this good when you interact with a hotspot/inventory item, etc and there is no description for it.  So you always get a message no matter what.

I love the atmosphere you tried to achieve with this game and it is definetly a great first try.  If you ever need help with music, ask away.  A bit of background I studied jazz at uni and completed it and I play piano and drums.  So if you need help, more than happy

Looking forward to your next game

[ness]

Very enjoyable gane. I can't really add anything that hasn't been said EXCEPT, some people don't like shootouts, perhaps because of problems with their hands or just poor coordination, so it would be cool if you had an option to skip the action scenes. Having said that, you put it right at the end so those not wishing to carry on didn't miss much. Well done for a first game. The opening scene was really great I played the game in a reduced screen so the pixel hunting was REAL tricky. Would never have found how to open the maintenance shed except for hints and tips forum.

[Sanguinous Rex]

I'll tell you what impressed me the most... the place hosting your file.  Downloaded 15 megs in under 2 minutes.  Nice!

[JRock]

I've gotten a lot of complaints about the "pixel-hunting".Ã,  Sorry everyone.
Just wanted to let you all know that Stan Ames 2 will be at a much higher resolution and pixel hunting will be no prob,( if there even is any pixel-hunting at all.Ã,  )

I've taken in all the feedback I have received and I will use all of it to improve upon what I have already learned and to make Stan Ames 2 much better than the original.Ã, 

On that note.Ã,  I have begun writing the story for Stan Ames 2.Ã,  Development will begin inÃ,  a few weeksÃ, 

[Saberteeth]

the game was really good, but it's flaws are:

*Blurry pictures
*A little more animation wouldn't hurt
*Okay, this isn't really a flaw but in the house you forgot the bathroom, the bedroom(parents) and more rooms!
*Use Random() for the guards to keep the FPS interesting.

Okay, I stated my point of view. The rest of the stuff was written to you by the other guys(and maybe girls ).

Otherwise, a great game, can't wait for the sequel!

[Afflict]

I'll tell you what impressed me the most... the place hosting your file.  Downloaded 15 megs in under 2 minutes.  Nice!

That is very true! It did come down fast now that you mention it.

As to regard with the pixel hunting, I did only experience this with the

Spoiler

paper in hand not with the light

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Once again great job for your first game Jrock

[Rd27]

I just finished the game and I must say that it was good!

The only really a complaint from me is, that there were too much of pixel hunting  .
I also didn't like the way I had to get the fishing rod, altough it was guite funny but still not very logical in my opinion.

But overall a really good game, can't wait for the sequel.

BTW: The FPS scene was brilliant, very good change for just adventuring.
Maybe you could use random for the enemys, but that didn't bother me at all.

Keep up the good work!

[Katrin]

HUGH,

this game was great for your first one, although I have not finished it...

I also have to "complain" a bit for the pixel hunting, and that there were no hot-spots to look for.

Sometimes it was a "try and succeed or not"

And this is only my opinion: I do not like these "action" games within an adventure..

I have given up after getting killed for the 30th time by the 7th guard in the shoot-out...

[xenogia]

If you were going to have the shoot-out arcade sequence and you said he was getting more super human as the game went along, why not have a health bar or some description.  This would make it quite easier.  For example; 3 lives or something

[JRock]

If you were going to have the shoot-out arcade sequence and you said he was getting more super human as the game went along, why not have a health bar or some description.Ã,  This would make it quite easier.Ã,  For example; 3 lives or something

Hmmm.  Thats not a bad idea. 
Well, like I said, Stan Ames 2 will be more forgiving as far as the shoot-outs, so I will use the limited lives idea most likely.  I'm glad everyone is giving me their opinions, cuz this will help me better the gameplay mechanics for the sequel.

Thanks for the ideas!   

[xenogia]

Remember also I am more than happy to help with the soundtrack

[CosmoQueen]

Looks great!! I'm downloading it now and I'll give ya some feedback when I play it