Diamonds in the Rough - AWARD

[gypsysnail]

the Sierra interface more often than not really doesn't fit its games. In most games, there's only one way of interacting with 99 % or more of all characters/objects/hotspots/etcetera in the game: You talk to people, interact with large items, pick up small items, open drawers, and so on. So what I'm wondering is: Is your game one of the games where I have to scroll through many different mouse cursors just to avoid getting messages like "I don't want to talk to the doormat"  or "I think that woman would slap me if I touched her there" where a simple one-click interface would have worked a lot better, or do you have all the available interactions there for a reason, e.g. that it in several cases can be useful to try all different interactions on an object?

Hi Olafmoriarty, you posed some really good points, especially one above that has helped me determine how I should have the GUI/point click icons as, for my games. I want to ask you a question - is the sort of point click on objects without having to "right click" to scroll/change icon types, a bit like the one in the game "Runaway - a Road Adventure"? (assuming u have played it - if you havent, maybe others here have?). I am interested in just having 1 or 2 icon changes for particular things.. like for example I point on a box of bottles and the icon is "Go To box of bottles" and then if its meant to be looked at then right click and it changes to "Look at box of bottles" and if its not meant to be taken, then there wont be an option to change to get it, but if there is, then the icon can be changed to that in one click. And for another object... say a door, roll mouse over it and it says "Go To door" then there is the option of "Open Door" and no other option. Is this what you meant? It makes things a lot simpler I agree, having specific mouse over on objects that are meant to be interacted with. So that the only things on a GUI might be the inventory bag and the save/load/quit buttons.

Also I am a little confused by "another inventory screen", what do you mean by this? I'm asking this as I am not familiar with the wording, so something new for me to learn in understanding how to develop games and avoid killer pitfalls that prevent people wanting to play my games.

Alkis, I am looking forward to purchasing your game when I am able to afford it - the price I am afraid is in Euros, which will make it WAY too expensive in Australian dollars. There should be thoughts on currencies but it is your choice. Other than that, I think its a game worth playing and supporting you in your endeavours. I am very glad to see another AGS member embark on a commercial venture with AGS games .

[Serth]

-For the gamers who like to have the option to download games, the digital version of Diamonds in the Rough can now be purchased at an even lower price from The Adventure Shop (
http://adventureshop.gamesplanet.com ).

Great News!!! You have now given me the two things I was looking for: (a) affordable price for my income level and (b) convenient delivery method. Hence, I am downloading right now, I'll post my impressions as gameplay progresses, but if you were able to wrap 1/4 of the fun of "Other Worlds" I'll be satisfied...

Edit: downloaded in roughly 30 min and installed and activated like a charm. So far, so good....

[alkis21]

Hey guys. I will try to answer your questions:

First: The thought system. Is it intuitive and easy-to-use? While I immediately love the thought of having full control of the character's thoughts, I don't really like the idea of having a second inventory screen unless it's done really, really well.

A related question: is there an easy way to scroll through the different thoughts, or do I have to go back to the post-it board every time I want to change which thought I present to people?

I believe that the Thoughts Panel takes a few minutes to get used to but it becomes quite intuitive after a while. You will only need to open the Panel if you want to examine individual Thoughts or use one Thought or another. During the game, while you are holding the special "post-it" inventory item you can scroll through the available Thoughts using the mouse wheel.

And if your game is anything like that, the last thing I want is "another inventory screen", adding more options to the big and meaningless mix.

My belief is that puzzles should go along with the game's theme. The puzzle you just described wouldn't bother me if it was part of a humorous and totally wacky game. Diamonds in the Rough on the other hand has a very "serious" theme so its puzzles are more down to earth. In my humble opinion, every puzzle in DITR can be solved using deductive logic and a little bit of imagination. The Thoughts Panel just makes the "use everything on everything" method (which IMO is a lousy way of trying to solve a puzzle anyway) rather impossible.

Second: From the reviews I've read, I get the impression that the interface is Sierra-inspired (they mention that you use the right button to cycle through the various kinds of interactions). If this is correct: have you picked that interface because you think it's the best available interface for this game, or for other reasons (e.g. nostalgia)? As Vince Twelve recently wrote an excellent article on, the Sierra interface more often than not really doesn't fit its games. In most games, there's only one way of interacting with 99 % or more of all characters/objects/hotspots/etcetera in the game: You talk to people, interact with large items, pick up small items, open drawers, and so on. So what I'm wondering is: Is your game one of the games where I have to scroll through many different mouse cursors just to avoid getting messages like "I don't want to talk to the doormat"  or "I think that woman would slap me if I touched her there" where a simple one-click interface would have worked a lot better, or do you have all the available interactions there for a reason, e.g. that it in several cases can be useful to try all different interactions on an object?

I know of Vince's opinion, we have agreed to disagree on this one. I simply chose the Sierra interface because it's my favorite one, and I hate magic all-purpose cursors. I personally like to play with my left hand on the keyboard to chose the appropriate icon, I realize that some people don't like doing that but even so I don't think cycling through the icons becomes too annoying. Someone said to me that he liked to examine everything first on a screen, then try to use the other icons. That is perhaps another convenient way.

I'll check out "Other Worlds" to get an impression of your takes on story and gameplay (yeah, the graphics look great, but personally I don't care whether the graphics are made in Poser or MSPaint as long as the story sucks me in and the gameplay isn't too annoying), and most likely I will chip in with a couple of more questions here before I buy the game. Not because I don't really want to buy your game -- I really do. I just want to know exactly what it is that I'm buying before I buy it.

Other Worlds is a very different game but by all means try it out.

Also I am a little confused by "another inventory screen", what do you mean by this? I'm asking this as I am not familiar with the wording, so something new for me to learn in understanding how to develop games and avoid killer pitfalls that prevent people wanting to play my games.

You can read my description of the Thoughts Panel here.

Alkis, I am looking forward to purchasing your game when I am able to afford it - the price I am afraid is in Euros, which will make it WAY too expensive in Australian dollars. There should be thoughts on currencies but it is your choice. Other than that, I think its a game worth playing and supporting you in your endeavours. I am very glad to see another AGS member embark on a commercial venture with AGS games .

The game is sold by The Adventure Shop in multiple currencies (and prices) depending on where you live, I'm not sure but I think in your case it will be in USD.

[loontje]

I played this game a while ago. The voice acting and the story are definitely the strong points of this game. The ending is very unexpected and surprising. Good job and keep 'em coming Alkis. 

[futility]

Hi guys, I have a technical problem with the game. Not sure if this is the correct place to ask for help, apologies if it is not so.

I just purchased a copy of DITR from the adventure shop. When i try to run the game, all i see is a black screen. I'm able to hear the background music, and also able to independently run the opening video clip named "Atropos". But I can't see anything when I run the game.

I am running Windows Vista home premium on a laptop, my graphics card is titled "Mobile Intel(R) 965 Express Chipset Family".  It supports DirectX 9,  resolution is 1280x800 (32bit) (60 Hz).  Is my graphics card too poor to run the game? I'll feel like an idiot if yes...since i doubt it'll be refundable...pls help!

[Ultra Magnus]

I just purchased a copy of DITR from the adventure shop. When i try to run the game, all i see is a black screen. I'm able to hear the background music, and also able to independently run the opening video clip named "Atropos". But I can't see anything when I run the game.

Do this.

[alkis21]

Good tips in that thread. The video is not encoded so you don't even need the XviD codecs but there have been some issues with some computers, especially those who have mass codecs packs such as K-Lite installed.

Try overwriting Atropos.avi with this file. If it still doesn't work, simply move it to another directory.

Let me know if it works.

[futility]

Thanks to Ultra Magnus and Alkis!  What i did was to simply remove the intro movie file.  I got an error message at the beginning, but after that everything was fine.  I even went on to complete this excellent game.  Looking forward to your next production, Alkis!

[itsme]

Hey
I have reached I think the end of the game and I recorded this "animation" with my cell and am trying to show it to this person but I keep getting the message that this is hardly what he wants now.. I even checked some official walkthrough and tried all the steps it suggested but to no avail. I know that person can help me get the gun from the other room but what am I missing. I even have the animation but cant show it...

[itsme]

Nevermind... good ending btw  :o
Will there be a sequel

[gamingkrib]

Nice Job!








www.gamingkrib.com

[alkis21]

It looks like DITR is attracting new people to the AGS community. Welcome and stick around; there are plenty of gems in this site and almost all of them do not cost a dime. Sequel! I doubt it.

[Kara Jo Kalinowski]

I just finished this today. This is one of the best games made by AGS that I've played, if not the best. I look forward to your next game, hopefully it will be as good as this one.

[alkis21]

Not exactly fresh news, but I wasn't really active online when it happened so I never posted it before: My game won the 2008 Best Independent Commercial Adventure award by Adventure Gamers, and it was the public's vote not a committee's decision!

With all due respect to award committees, the public's vote means so much more to us.

[Dualnames]

woot, congrats Alkis!!

[jdash]

 What does these numbers: 4 8 15 16 23 42 and John 8:15 stand for

[Dualnames]

What does these numbers: 4 8 15 16 23 42 and John 8:15 stand for

The first are from Lost

[cosmicr]

john 8:15
"Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man."

I'm not christian or anything stupid like that.

[wpowell]

Excuse me but being a Christian is not stupid so since you just disrespected me and the entire Christian community I take offense. And by the way an interesting commercial game that I like in images while the posts leave much to be desired. 

[cosmicr]

Excuse me but being a Christian is not stupid so since you just disrespected me and the entire Christian community I take offense.

LOL okay!  :