Adventure Game Studio

Creative Production => Critics' Lounge => Topic started by: FrankT on Thu 22/11/2012 20:04:02

Title: It's back...
Post by: FrankT on Thu 22/11/2012 20:04:02
[imgzoom]http://www.majhost.com/gallery/EvilGuy/TWotW/titel.png[/imgzoom]

Yeah! My first real project wasn't really dead after all, just in a state of developmental limbo. But with The New Generation album and tour on the horizon, I figure there's no time like the present to resurrect this game adaptation!
Right, to start off, what do you think of these title cards, and a brand new icon bar? I'm shooting for something loosely based on Glimmar's Steampunk texture pack for Minecraft.

[imgzoom]http://www.majhost.com/gallery/EvilGuy/TWotW/card1.png[/imgzoom]
My thoughts were to make a sort of intro like Dr. No... hmm. Does that sound good at all when there's a Steampunk atmosphere...?

[imgzoom]http://www.majhost.com/gallery/EvilGuy/TWotW/iconbar.png[/imgzoom]

Title: Re: It's back...
Post by: FrankT on Tue 27/11/2012 20:46:08
But if that doesn't convince you... this should!

[imgzoom]http://www.majhost.com/gallery/EvilGuy/TWotW/title_cards.png[/imgzoom]

Of course, if I could, I'd animate the gears in the lettering like the real deal, but that's kind of tricky when you're working in such a small workspace. Never mind, I'll live! Maybe...
Title: Re: It's back...
Post by: MurrayL on Tue 27/11/2012 21:01:09
Wow - that looks gorgeous!
Title: Re: It's back...
Post by: selmiak on Tue 27/11/2012 21:27:06
Cool. A lot better than the old one on which it is losely based! And since it is losely based on it and this is the critics lounge, here are some suggestions. The stuff coming down from the first R (in waR) looks not so good imho, when you want to fill this space, why not let the swoosh from the second W go under there?! There are some white outline missing on the swirl of the first W. And when the swirl is supposed to be throwing a shadow on the other part of the letter below, why is the outline darker? (same for the very last S) I'd keep it the same brightness as the rest when there is no shadow on it. And the outline on the A in wAr is too much and the shadow is in the wrong direction. Of course I see this only in 3x resolution, so yeah, good job!

The skyline in the tripod is also a cool idea, but why is the image antialiased and the tripod outlines not?
Title: Re: It's back...
Post by: FrankT on Tue 27/11/2012 23:36:19
Quote from: selmiak on Tue 27/11/2012 21:27:06
The skyline in the tripod is also a cool idea, but why is the image antialiased and the tripod outlines not?

Ah, that was a rough draft anyway; I reckoned I might be able to do something else with it.
Title: Re: It's back...
Post by: dactylopus on Wed 28/11/2012 10:29:40
That is beautiful.  Good work!
Title: Re: It's back...
Post by: Cuiki on Wed 28/11/2012 17:52:29
Awesome, I really hope you get it done someday. Preferably someday soon. :)

Those icons look especially cool. (Except maybe the look icon, I'd probably wanna desaturate that just a little bit...)
Title: Re: It's back...
Post by: FrankT on Fri 30/11/2012 21:17:57
I'm not much good at portraits... does this look much like Liam Neeson?

[imgzoom]http://www.majhost.com/gallery/EvilGuy/TWotW/copy_of_portrait_0.png[/imgzoom]
Title: Re: It's back...
Post by: Armageddon on Sat 01/12/2012 00:14:17
It kinda does, he looks too sad though. The hair is good though.
Title: Re: It's back...
Post by: FrankT on Sun 02/12/2012 17:30:25
Hm. A little tricky, but I think I managed to make him a little less sad. We'll see how it rolls.

Here's one of his walk-cycles.

[imgzoom]http://www.majhost.com/gallery/EvilGuy/TWotW/journal_walk.gif[/imgzoom]

I did have a bit of trouble trying to get his hair to look right and... tell me his trousers don't look all screwy!
Title: Re: It's back...
Post by: FrankT on Sat 08/12/2012 13:57:03
And when it comes to drawing new animations... well I'm not much good at consistency either, am I? I have here one drawn from a shot made for the stage show. It's unpolished, but does it look correct?

[imgzoom]http://www.majhost.com/gallery/EvilGuy/TWotW/j_punch_wip.gif[/imgzoom]

Title: Re: It's back...
Post by: dactylopus on Sat 08/12/2012 14:03:11
It looks really nice.  Very smooth and lifelike.

The walk cycle is very stiff by comparison, but everything in here looks fantastic.
Title: Re: It's back...
Post by: FrankT on Sun 09/12/2012 08:05:52
Thanks!

Of the walkcycle: I can see what you mean, especially looking at the later SCI games like Laura Bow 2, where the characters all had the same amount of frames for each direction. I'll see if I can fashion a few additional frames from the ones I have.
Title: Re: It's back...
Post by: Andail on Sun 09/12/2012 22:54:32
The punching animation is lightyears ahead of anything else in this thread. I'm really impressed by it!
Title: Re: It's back...
Post by: selmiak on Mon 10/12/2012 18:16:26
The punching animation is looking really good. I like it when there is some humor added to otherwise serious games, why not show some of his underwear when his jacket goes up while the punch. Of course with hearts on it :D
Title: Re: It's back...
Post by: EchosofNezhyt on Tue 11/12/2012 17:55:41
(http://www.majhost.com/gallery/EvilGuy/TWotW/title_cards.png)

Looks pretty awesome.


But yeah that punching animation is pretty damn cool! If I had anything to say about it was maybe the head is a bit jerky when he turns back but meh it looks fantastic as is.

Edit: I've watched that animation like 100 times now its so smooth the pixely goodness makes me happy.
Title: Re: It's back...
Post by: FrankT on Wed 12/12/2012 21:33:10
Thanks for the input!

Well.... is anyone willing to help me do the backgrounds...?
Title: Re: It's back...
Post by: FrankT on Fri 14/12/2012 17:19:32
Well... I said I'd shoot for it, and I did:

[imgzoom]http://www.majhost.com/gallery/EvilGuy/TWotW/intro1.gif[/imgzoom]
Title: Re: It's back...
Post by: selmiak on Fri 14/12/2012 18:26:57
Cool, this kind of reminds me of the intro to Dr. No ;)
Hey, I can see your grey circles.
Title: Re: It's back...
Post by: FrankT on Fri 14/12/2012 23:12:56
Oh yeah, I kind of deliberately left those in. I imagine that should present the illusion that it's assembled on an electrical board and circuit.
Title: Re: It's back...
Post by: FrankT on Sat 15/12/2012 18:50:17
And it doesn't stop there! Here's the Live On Stage set designed for the introduction.

[imgzoom]http://www.majhost.com/gallery/EvilGuy/TWotW/theater.png[/imgzoom]

I'm not entirely happy about it - I may have to settle for something simpler - but what do you think?
Title: Re: It's back...
Post by: FrankT on Mon 17/12/2012 18:51:25
I'm really starting to consider the mixed reviews The New Generation is getting; I figured I'd better ask the AGS community: which one would you prefer, the original musical or the new one? And considering the extended content being present either way.

Or... perhaps a hybrid of the two? After all, the prologue comes directly from the original PC game...
Title: Re: It's back...
Post by: FrankT on Wed 19/12/2012 12:28:49
...any input? Please?  ???
Title: Re: It's back...
Post by: tamatic on Wed 19/12/2012 14:33:47
The animations and emblems you show here look great.
Not sure if we can judge the Live On Stage set foreground from that one screenshot. Seems the menu is glitching inside it. And whether the foreground is fitting would depend on what is on stage maybe? But perhaps I am not informed enough about the project and missing something. :p
Title: Re: It's back...
Post by: FrankT on Wed 19/12/2012 18:48:01
Thanks! But do you think I should make the whole thing a sort of hybrid between the original and the New Generation? Or just the one of those two?
Title: Re: It's back...
Post by: tamatic on Thu 20/12/2012 01:39:39
Quote from: FrankT on Wed 19/12/2012 18:48:01
Thanks! But do you think I should make the whole thing a sort of hybrid between the original and the New Generation? Or just the one of those two?
Funny thing, I don't know what original you mean, or even what you pointing at with new generation. War of the Worlds always was just a radio play to me. So yeah I think I am missing something. :P
Title: Re: It's back...
Post by: Cuiki on Thu 20/12/2012 12:13:24
Quote from: FrankT on Mon 17/12/2012 18:51:25
I'm really starting to consider the mixed reviews The New Generation is getting; I figured I'd better ask the AGS community: which one would you prefer, the original musical or the new one? And considering the extended content being present either way.

I think the original version is miles better than The New Generation. But seeing as you've already got a Liam Neeson sprite and all... I dunno. The narrative is pretty much the same in both versions, isn't it?
Are you planning to put the actual tracks in the game? Or perhaps make your own stuff based on them? Same songs (minus the vocals), but maybe tweaked a bit so that they can loop? That would be sooo cool if you can pull it off (and/or can actually be bothered). :P
Title: Re: It's back...
Post by: FrankT on Thu 20/12/2012 14:43:55
I was hoping to use different arrangements of the songs, but... yes.

And by the way... the Liam Neeson sprite isn't all I have, because.....

[imgzoom]http://www.majhost.com/gallery/EvilGuy/TWotW/george.png[/imgzoom]
I'm bringing this guy back! Remember him? The generic/Larry II/Richard Burton Journalist? His sprites will be the same, though.
Title: Re: It's back...
Post by: FrankT on Fri 21/12/2012 15:35:46
Alright! We're off and going! This is the first scene painted for the game:

[imgzoom]http://www.majhost.com/gallery/EvilGuy/TWotW/deskb.png[/imgzoom]

Granted, the black outlines detract slightly from the mood of this scene, but... it's easier to paint that way.
Title: Re: It's back...
Post by: tamatic on Fri 21/12/2012 22:32:53
Quote from: FrankT on Wed 19/12/2012 18:48:01
But do you think I should make the whole thing a sort of hybrid between the original and the New Generation? Or just the one of those two?
Okay, did some digging. I see on wikipedia there were so many versions made that even Glen Beck was in one, the irony.
Bit barbaric of me I didn't figure at first the original was a book, lol. But thats because I learned about the radio drama first. And by it's original nature I assumed it was the "real" thing.

I scanned the musical versions. Personally I don't like the overly dramatic voices and how they keep talking in past tense. -but that could work fine in a game of course.-  The radio drama didn't use that, apart from the intro. Then agian the radio version didn't have any iconic music either. Just a constant stream of weirdly worried voices.

But yes, I think jumping from one version to the next could make for an interesting game.
It might also be interesting to incorporate the fact that a lot of people took the radio play for a real report into the game. And how those radio makers had some real world repercussions from their own creation.


Anyway, your first scene kicks ass. :D
Title: Re: It's back...
Post by: Armageddon on Sat 22/12/2012 00:40:29
That painted table looks really really good, you should do the whole game in that style.
Title: Re: It's back...
Post by: FrankT on Sat 22/12/2012 12:32:13
Don't worry, I will!  :)
Title: Re: It's back...
Post by: Armageddon on Sun 23/12/2012 03:19:10
I mean characters included.
Title: Re: It's back...
Post by: EchosofNezhyt on Sun 23/12/2012 06:52:42
I say stick with pixel it looks better. :D
Title: Re: It's back...
Post by: Cuiki on Sun 23/12/2012 07:52:14
Quote from: Frito Master on Sun 23/12/2012 06:52:42
I say stick with pixel it looks better. :D

Nah, I say stick with whatever takes less time to make, it all looks good and I really wanna see this game finished at some point. :-D

Though I'm not entirely sure about the Burton sprite.. he used to look somewhat prettier than that. :P :)
Title: Re: It's back...
Post by: FrankT on Sun 23/12/2012 12:08:57
Quote from: Armageddon on Sun 23/12/2012 03:19:10
I mean characters included.

Ah! Much as I'd love to, I think I'd better stick with a combination of the two. It's easier. I've also got the whole code to write, unless someone is willing to assist.
Title: Re: It's back...
Post by: FrankT on Thu 27/12/2012 13:12:30
Although... come to think of it, it is a possibility, considering that I'm shooting for a sort of "Gabriel Knight"-esque graphic novel approach. But there'd be considerably less animation too, unless that's preferred. I got this screenshot from one of Richard Burton's other roles; it might serve a nice foundation for his introductory narration.

(http://www.majhost.com/gallery/EvilGuy/TWotW/richie2.png)

On another note: voice acting is also a possibility; I've got the recordings for the original script from the Collector's Edition of the album. But I still have to get some of it from the actual tracks themselves, so they still have a strong bass underneath them. Whether or not I try to isolate those vocals (which, by the way, I've tried numerous approaches to, all with unsatisfactory results), it sounds like half-assery! Plus, I was hoping to incorporate the "Distant Shores" scene from the new tour, a scene which wasn't written in the original cast's time... I'm not sure, is anyone willing to replicate their voices, or...?
Title: Re: It's back...
Post by: Cuiki on Thu 27/12/2012 17:12:36
I guess I could do the voice of Beth if all else fails...
Wait, you don't mean the singing parts as well??

Damn, I'm way too excited about this (the game, not voice acting. I'm not excited about voice acting at all, I assure you. Please let me be Beth, I just wanna be Beth. Not in the slightest).
Title: Re: It's back...
Post by: FrankT on Thu 27/12/2012 17:20:16
You want to play Beth? Well - I suppose I could draft you in. How good are you at replicating Julie Covington's voice?
Title: Re: It's back...
Post by: Cuiki on Thu 27/12/2012 21:10:00
Quote from: FrankT on Thu 27/12/2012 17:20:16
How good are you at replicating Julie Covington's voice?

I'm not good at all. But yeah, I recorded a few lines, I can send them to you now.

Oh god why... :P
Title: Re: It's back...
Post by: FrankT on Tue 01/01/2013 23:01:42
Now - come to think of it... one person on the TWOTW forum said:

QuoteI wonder, with all the other recordings and variants of musicals such as Les Miserables etc. out there why does it seem there cannot be a different take on this, why does this musical ALWAYS have to have the same cast?

Hey, I'm sure some people will say the only Ché should be David Essex in Evita but I happen to like the Banderas version (even if, IMO, the film of Evita was, ahem, bad) and think he does have more venom in him as well. In a simular fashion I also happen to think Michael Keaton was a brilliant Batman but that doesn't mean I don't enjoy the recent Batman movies, or the fact that Batman/Bruce Wayne is played by someone else.

And they had a totally new cast, even replacing Richard and the NASA guys, in that planetarium show in New Zealand! Heck with it, I'm going all out! Who wants a part?
Title: Re: It's back...
Post by: FrankT on Tue 08/01/2013 22:13:56
Out of interest: which would you prefer? A panelled frame of cutscenes a la Gabriel Knight? Or should I shoot for full animation? If it's the latter, I think I might need a little help...