The McCarthy Chronicles: Episode 1

neon · Thu 04/02/2010 19:09:37

Quote from: SuperDre on Thu 04/02/2010 18:40:15

The only thing I don't like is the episodic part, I really hate it when a game doesn't finish, without an assurance that there will be a next episode (that's the biggest problem with episodic gaming, you're stuck with unfinished business if they stop creating episodes (just like on big TV-shows which just stop in the middle of a season or with a big cliffhanger at the end, but never get a new season or explained (luckily lately they do tend to finish it off with a tv-movie)..

I think that's the problem with episodic freeware titles. If you look at the games, that e.g. Telltale do, they hit the timeline, so the player knows that he gets an episode per month. But the procedures are very much different to freeware projects. They write the stories for the whole season and built most of the assets before they release the first episode. And they work in bigger teams with a fixed schedule.

Freeware developers don't work that way. In most cases they first make one episode, than look how the people like it. Then they start the second episode and in the worst case, the motivation drops and it can take one or two years until they release the third episode or find other projects, that are more interesting and drop the old series.

But it's even better than getting nothing at all. The McCarthy Chronicles are a very nice project and even if there will be no more parts, it was a pleasure to play the first one.

splat44 · Thu 04/02/2010 22:19:50

Quote from: Calin Leafshade on Fri 15/01/2010 11:28:40
All that seems pretty reasonable, thanks.

My next project wont make the same mistakes hopefully.

Nice game!

Just to suggest you in improving future games!
When it comes to inventory, it might be easier using items on characters (reading a book or something) instead seeing "use" icon while inside inventory.

Crimson Wizard · Thu 04/02/2010 23:03:12

Quote from: splat44 on Thu 04/02/2010 22:19:50
Just to suggest you in improving future games!
When it comes to inventory, it might be easier using items on characters (reading a book or something) instead seeing "use" icon while inside inventory.

That's a questionable statement.
This may be a problem of personal preference, and effectiveness of chosen method depends on overall UI design greatly.

SinSin · Sat 06/02/2010 19:08:07

I need to know whats gonna happen next, Calin step on it dude

Calin Leafshade · Sun 07/02/2010 01:13:42

its in production I promise

vertigoaddict · Sun 21/02/2010 09:37:08

I finally gotten around to finishing this! It was GREAT!

Me want moooore!!! /drool

Bobby · Sun 21/02/2010 13:20:44

Ryan Timothy - a belated thanks for the link to the article, it was a good read!

Calin, I know this is always an awful question to ask but how's the progress on episode 2 coming? Any kind of ETA you can give us or are you working on an "it's done when it's done" basis?

Calin Leafshade · Sun 21/02/2010 13:47:11

Episode 2 is 'in production'

what that actually means is anyones guess though

It WILL get finished but i'm having some plot issues at the moment. I'm sure i'll work through it eventually.

Captain Ricco · Thu 25/02/2010 00:49:46

This game was really good, i really liked the voice acting. Its in my top 3 AGS games for sure. It appears to have been heavily influenced by the Trilby series right? But i was expecting a more "unsupernatural" story because of the whole mood, glad i was wrong thought

There are some bugs, that im sure were mentioned, but there is one that i think no one noticed: WHen you get Tabithas Diary McCarty should say something when you try to give it to Victoria(even if you cant) cause she says exactly that she would like to read it...

But awesome game, too bad it was so short

Calin Leafshade · Thu 25/02/2010 04:04:13

right, I am going to fix those damn bugs after I've been to sleep and make that fucking window stay broken.

stupid window...

Thanks for playing though

The main reason It was so short is because it was my first AGS game so I kinda wanted to get it out there.

Next instalment will be longer I promise.

F1ak3r · Thu 25/02/2010 13:38:21

Well presented - good graphics, spiffy effects, nice voice acting, and good job with the SFX. Nice job - I'm excited for the sequel!

On the negative side, the textual speech had a few too many grammatical, spelling and punctuation-related errors, and there were times when it didn't match up with the speech too well. This game would not have worked nearly as well without the voice-acting.

To that end, I'd like to have the option to turn off the game's textual speech, so I don't have my immersion ruined by the unsightly aforementioned errors.

The puzzles weren't bizarre and far-fetched, and I didn't get stuck too many times, so that's a thumbs up in that regard.

I think you can also work on the dialogue options - some of the everpresent ones felt as if they should've been once-offs, if you know what I mean (especially with Sarah).

On the whole, it was good. Now finish the second episode so I can find out what happens next! =)

LRH · Thu 25/02/2010 15:36:35

Quote from: F1ak3r on Thu 25/02/2010 13:38:21
Well presented - good graphics, spiffy effects, nice voice acting, and good job with the SFX. Nice job - I'm excited for the sequel!

On the negative side, the textual speech had a few too many grammatical, spelling and punctuation-related errors, and there were times when it didn't match up with the speech too well. This game would not have worked nearly as well without the voice-acting.

To that end, I'd like to have the option to turn off the game's textual speech, so I don't have my immersion ruined by the unsightly aforementioned errors.

The puzzles weren't bizarre and far-fetched, and I didn't get stuck too many times, so that's a thumbs up in that regard.

I think you can also work on the dialogue options - some of the everpresent ones felt as if they should've been once-offs, if you know what I mean (especially with Sarah).

On the whole, it was good. Now finish the second episode so I can find out what happens next! =)

I'm pretty sure you can turn off speech in any game by choosing the option in the game's window setup.

F1ak3r · Fri 26/02/2010 17:47:00

Really? Subtitle speech? Because that's what I want to turn off - I know you can turn off audio speech, but I'd never do that in this game.

LRH · Sat 27/02/2010 04:18:30

Ohhh. I see. I misread what you said. Sorry.

Calin Leafshade · Sat 27/02/2010 07:17:59

I'll add disabling text speech as a feature once i've finished cleaning up the text and some other issues.

LimpingFish · Fri 19/03/2010 01:34:32

So there I am, browsing side B of this month's PC Zone cover dvd, and lo and behold one of the games in the freeware section is...The McCarthy Chronicles.

Two screen-shots, and a short blurb -

"A mix of film noir and point-and-click gameplay, McCarthy Chronicles is a damn finely made little game. The writing will make you cringe at times, but get past that and this is worth a play."

Hmm...bit of a poke-in-the-eye compliment there, but well done for making the disc. \o/

EDIT: And the magazine itself!

Calin Leafshade · Fri 19/03/2010 01:37:43

Ha! It wouldve been nice if they'd let me know.

Poke in the eye indeed. The bastards. I'll kill em.

But thats pretty awesome. Episode 2 does tone down the ermm.. 'poetry' a little so maybe it will be an improvement.

LimpingFish · Fri 19/03/2010 20:51:12

Always read the magazine before browsing the dvd, Fish, you lump. And not while drunk!

For a scan of the printed review of The McCarthy Chronicles, please go...here!\o/

Calin Leafshade · Fri 19/03/2010 21:57:17

So in conclusion: the puzzles are none existent, the writing is cringeworthy and the voice acting is dreadful?

I'll give myself a gold star.

ddq · Fri 19/03/2010 22:09:56

I'll give you another if you manage to get McCarthy to shout at the top of his lungs somewhere in episode 2. In a way that screams, "I AM FED UP WITH THIS MUMBLING SHIT, HEAR ME ROAR!" Either that, or a song and dance number, maybe during the end credits.