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AGS Games => AGS Games in Production => Topic started by: Thanyx on 29 Sep 2017, 20:12

Title: Metaphobia
Post by: Thanyx on 29 Sep 2017, 20:12: METAPHOBIA

A mysterious case of Richard Elmstat

STORY

A painter, Richard Elmstat, was born into a family which was known for many generations as one of the highest political families in the country. His father, Carl Elmstat, was recently elected as mayor of the city, when he fairly defeated his rival Edward Raban in the elections.

Even though Richard was raised to follow his father and have the highest political career, he had already chosen his dream job - painting. But Richard and his father never had a close relationship due to Richard’s bohemian lifestyle and lack of respect for political authority. Because of this, they lived separate lives without seeing or speaking to one another.

Carl always tried to uphold his political beliefs with for-people reforms and laws. People adored him and he became a hero of the city.

Three months after the elections, Carl Elmstat is killed by a thief who was later caught, convicted and sent to jail - case closed.

Though Richard didn’t have a good relationship with his father, he couldn’t bare the fact that he was murdered; let alone by an ordinary thief in the politician’s mansion . Worsened by guilt that he was a bad son, Richard decided to investigate the murder on his own. His prime suspect? Edward Raban - his father’s nemesis.

During the time of the investigation, Richard finds out that the truth behind the murder is hidden much deeper under the ground than he expected…

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VIDEO TEASER HERE:

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UPDATE: 1.0 - 31.10.2017

Release date:
The game is in the middle of the production and is planned to be released in the Q1/Q2 2018.
This game is going to be a FREEWARE

What to be excited for:
All animation sprites were recorded on a greenscreen.
Original music and SFX.
Classic old school “90’s-like” graphics.
Thrilling story with a mysterious plot and a dark mood.
Over 30 locations and 20 characters.
Interesting puzzles and dialogues.

Story: Tolga Öcek, David Broček
Dialogs: David Broček
Art and Animations: Tolga Öcek
Scripting: Vincent Cortese
Music: Daniel H. Kobylarz (Composer for Kathy Rain - (http://www.dankoby.com)www.dankoby.com)

PROGRESS
- Graphics 90%
- Story 100%
- Puzzles 100%
- Scripting 30%
- Music/sound 20%

(https://i.imgur.com/W1XCv50.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/faZ6xFT.png)
Title: Re: Metaphobia
Post by: CyberUncleCat on 29 Sep 2017, 21:24: Guy - Mads Mikkelsen
Woman - i have her name at the edge of my tounge but cant spell it:)

Pure pixel art. I like that.
Waiting for demo:).
Title: Re: Metaphobia
Post by: Cassiebsg on 29 Sep 2017, 21:53: Spoiler: Show Hide

Kathryn Morris as Lilly Rush (Cold Case)

I would change the portraits more, they're just too recognizable.

Otherwise, games sounds interesting, good luck with the project. (nod)
Title: Re: Metaphobia
Post by: Blondbraid on 29 Sep 2017, 23:03: I agree with Cassiebsg, I didn't see the character when I looked at the portrait, I just saw Mads Mikkelsen. Plus there is always a risk with copy-right issues and such when using real people as references.

Otherwise, it's a good-looking game that sounds like it could be a nice murder-mystery.
Title: Re: Metaphobia
Post by: eri0o on 30 Sep 2017, 00:47: I like the graphics, although I would tone down the dithering a little bit on supposed smooth walls (dither for me makes sense in wood but looks heavy in large areas). The game premises though reminds of a good crime novel.

About the drawing references, there was an old lovecraftian game, Shadow of the Comet, that simply stole every portrait from famous actors and gotta away with it. I don't know how well this would work today.
Title: Re: Metaphobia
Post by: Mandle on 30 Sep 2017, 10:55: Quote from: eri0o on 30 Sep 2017, 00:47
About the drawing references, there was an old lovecraftian game, Shadow of the Comet, that simply stole every portrait from famous actors and gotta away with it.

Hehehe Jack Nicholson was especially jarring...

And yeah, back then there was no internet and computer games were not widely played by Hollywood people I would imagine so they indeed got away with it...

These days, not so much...
Title: Re: Metaphobia
Post by: CyberUncleCat on 30 Sep 2017, 19:25: Personaly i dont think anyone would do copyright strike aganist this game since its going to be a freeware. It simply do not calculate when there are no money involved.

I also do not consider using real life actors as a failed concept. Actualy it may be GREAT if you put them in the roles of characters that match them. And if you find people with silimar voices then thats a win.

Im really looking forward for this game to see what it will become. Uncle C. approves so far:).
Title: Re: Metaphobia
Post by: AnasAbdin on 01 Oct 2017, 12:12: Love your pixel art and style!
Story is interesting too, good luck!
Hope to play this soon ;-D
Title: Re: Metaphobia
Post by: Thanyx on 03 Oct 2017, 11:20: So we modified Richard's face, and I think, our artist made a huge difference now. What do you think? :)

BEFORE
(https://i.imgur.com/iuoY5DT.png)

AFTER
(https://i.imgur.com/LnjRxTk.png)
Title: Re: Metaphobia
Post by: SilverSpook on 05 Oct 2017, 10:56: Definitely looks very different from the actor now!
Title: Re: Metaphobia
Post by: Thanyx on 31 Oct 2017, 18:16: NEWEST UPDATE: UPDATE: 1.0 - 31.10.2017

We are now team of 5 people (Artist, writer, composer, programmer and sound SFX creator).
New people on the team:
Dan Kobylarz (Koby), a talented guy who made music for Kathy Rain.
Vincent Cortese, a highly skilled programmer with years of AGS experience.

Video teaser will be released in few weeks.

STAY TUNED! :)
Title: Re: Metaphobia
Post by: Cassiebsg on 31 Oct 2017, 20:01: Oh, just noticed the new portrait.
Yes, looks better while not looking like the actor that inspired it. (nod)
Title: Re: Metaphobia
Post by: eri0o on 31 Oct 2017, 21:18: I love the apartment design. It's amazing! It has everything. Really incredible. (nod)
Title: Re: Metaphobia
Post by: Durq on 31 Oct 2017, 22:29: The art looks great!
Title: Re: Metaphobia
Post by: KyriakosCH on 03 Nov 2017, 23:31: Looks very stylish indeed (nod)
Title: Re: Metaphobia
Post by: Thanyx on 07 Nov 2017, 11:47: Hello everyone!

Here is the video teaser for the game:

Let us know what you think :)
Title: Re: Metaphobia
Post by: Chicky on 07 Nov 2017, 12:38: I love those backgrounds! The animation is also some of the best pixel rotoscoping I've seen, looking reeeally nice. That music too!

Best of luck with the project :)
Title: Re: Metaphobia
Post by: Mandle on 07 Nov 2017, 14:29: WOW! Yeah, the rotoscoping is simply jaw-dropping!!!

I think though that the first opening line of the trailer has a grammar issue which might turn some people off:

"When innocent die"

Should be either:

"When innocents die"

or

"When the innocent die"

(The second option is better in my opinion)
Title: Re: Metaphobia
Post by: Rocchinator on 23 Nov 2017, 14:07: I have no words for this, It´s Perfect, I´m huge fan of Gabriel Knight 1, and this game give me that good vibe, that gut feeling, just amazing. Stunning job here. Cant´t wait to play it.
Title: Re: Metaphobia
Post by: KyriakosCH on 23 Nov 2017, 16:31: I agree, the animation is really top-class!!!

And i also hear the protagonist speak his lines as Mads Mikelsen (laugh)

I hope your game does GREAT!
Title: Re: Metaphobia
Post by: agentbauer on 23 Nov 2017, 16:33: Looks great, the protagonist also looks like Mads Mikkelsen.
And didn't Tolga also do the wonderful John Sinclair adventure?
If you need a beta tester, I'd volunteer :)
Title: Re: Metaphobia
Post by: CyberUncleCat on 24 Nov 2017, 02:09: I know it will be freeware but... this game is Sierra-vibe heavy, have good music, great rotoscoped animation and intriguing story synopsis. If it also had voice acting i think few people could spare few bucks for it.
Title: Re: Metaphobia
Post by: Thanyx on 24 Nov 2017, 13:13: Thank you all for your feedback we appreciate it very much:-)

@CyberUncleCat
I know what you mean. But... The thing is that we are not "afraid" of not being commercially successful, but we want our game to be free purposly. I know it's a good thing to make some money, but if we wanted to do that we would have thought about this in the very beginning. And since we have wanted it to be free game from the beginning, we stuck to that form.

About voices: we would love to implement this feature in the future, as a "Deluxe version" but this is whole another project.
Title: Re: Metaphobia
Post by: KyriakosCH on 24 Nov 2017, 14:31: Quote from: Thanyx on 24 Nov 2017, 13:13
Thank you all for your feedback we appreciate it very much:-)

@CyberUncleCat
I know what you mean. But... The thing is that we are not "afraid" of not being commercially successful, but we want our game to be free purposly. I know it's a good thing to make some money, but if we wanted to do that we would have thought about this in the very beginning. And since we have wanted it to be free game from the beginning, we stuck to that form.

About voices: we would love to implement this feature in the future, as a "Deluxe version" but this is whole another project.

I will certainly be looking forward to playing your game (nod)
Title: Re: Metaphobia
Post by: CyberUncleCat on 25 Nov 2017, 06:18: I respect your approach, Thanyx. I really do. Thus i will continue to watch your progress on this and future projects. So far you are doing really great :).