I could really use some feedback

FortressCaulfield · Wed 17/07/2024 01:00:17

EDIT: Thanks for the initial feedback all! I'll be moving this to its own game in development thread now that it's further along

On well... everything. I've been toiling away for about 2 solid months and this is what I have to show for it. The music and sound effects are from free online sources (which I will credit properly before a demo release) but otherwise everything here is me, writing, animation, background art and scripting.

My friends have been helping with playtesting but, being my friends, are unlikely to tell me if the whole thing just looks like dingo's kidneys.

Accrual Twist of Fate alpha

lorenzo · Fri 19/07/2024 19:31:50

I can't seem to able to download the file from that link

heltenjon · Sat 20/07/2024 12:59:52

Quote from: lorenzo on Fri 19/07/2024 19:31:50I can't seem to able to download the file from that link

Strange...it worked fine for me.

@FortressCaulfield
I played the first segment yesterday, the museum part. And it does certainly not look like the dingo's kidneys!

In fact, the graphics and animation look nice, but more importantly, it's funny and playable. I now understand what you meant by not using Roger Wilco directly, too. I think you're free to keep doing what you're doing.

On the title screen, I'd disable the top bar (and remove the "hotspot1") to avoid it being possible to check my inventory and examine items before the game has started. And the save/restore/quit guis need resizing, but I guess you already know that.

eri0o · Sat 20/07/2024 20:24:07

Accessing the link I get a message that the file has been deleted.

FortressCaulfield · Sun 21/07/2024 22:25:29

Quote from: eri0o on Sat 20/07/2024 20:24:07Accessing the link I get a message that the file has been deleted.

Quote from: lorenzo on Fri 19/07/2024 19:31:50I can't seem to able to download the file from that link

I'm so sorry! I moved it to a folder and didn't think to update the link:

Accrual Twist of Fate alpha

This version includes several updates to animation, sound, additional dialog, some bug fixes, and I finally finished the save/restore guis.

lorenzo · Fri 26/07/2024 13:38:05

Hey! I haven't had a chance to play it in its entirety, but here are my impressions after a first look.

I don't know if you're looking for feedback in specific areas of the game (graphics, design, dialogues, etc) or just in general.

For me, it looks really promising already!
The cinematic style of the cutscenes is very cool, I love the opening of the game.

The graphics are good. Sometimes I feel that there's a bit too much gray in the background and GUIs, plus some of the backgrounds lack consistency and feel a bit empty. But because of the work-in-progress nature of the game, I assume you want to add details later.
Other than that, the graphics are very clear and you can easily see what's interactable and what isn't, where the exits are and so on, which is very important for gameplay.

I really like the character design and the protagonist is quite nice and recognisable. Plus, all the extra small animations really help making the characters feel alive. Great work!

I found the text a bit hard to read. I don't know if it's the font size or colour. You could try making the outline thicker, perhaps? There's an option for that in AGS.

Speaking of hard-to-see things (what a smooth transition

), I feel the inventory item cursor could be a bit bigger.

Gameplay-wise, I admittedly didn't get very far. But I used the skip button in the main menu, because I'm a big ol' cheater, to see what was next. I'll retry when my head is less groggy.

All in all, to me the game looks super promising and something I would happily play. Best of luck with development!

Creamy · Tue 06/05/2025 00:17:14

Quote from: FortressCaulfield on Mon 05/05/2025 02:02:34
Quote from: Creamy on Sun 04/05/2025 21:01:26Good job, it looks smoother than the animations from the demo.

Oh, you played that first thing I uploaded? It's come a decent ways since then. I really should put it in the development thread now I guess

I had seen your prototype back then but didn't take the time to download it.
Your last animation inspired me to try it.

It's longer and harder than I expected.

Some things took me a while to figure out:

Spoiler

To give the gelly head to the janitor.

[close]

Spoiler

To show the photo of Rogelio to the skimmer driver

[close]

Actually, I'm still stuck at the fish level:

Spoiler

Ova is waving the mask in front of the scanner, to no avail.

[close]

I have suggestions, some of which may be obsolete since the prototype is old:
- to show the name of the hotspots at the bottom (or following the cursor) and not at the top. Since all the action is at the bottom, it's a bit tedious to keep looking up and down.
- to use bigger hotspots for the small objects.
- more variety in the feedback.

Spoiler

For instance, I was deterred from showing my items to the skimmer driver because he keeps telling me that it's rude to do so.

[close]

Other than that, it's a joy to play: funny situations and well-animated characters, inventive and varied puzzles.

Good luck!

FortressCaulfield · Wed 07/05/2025 01:06:08

Thanks so much! I can't help but wonder what version was even up there! Ironically I don't think it has the new animations yet. Soon! Hope you won't feel unduly pressured if I ping you when the next version is up. I'm dying for more input on the next planet!

>Ova is waving the...

That's definitely a bug. I can't recall if it's one I addressed. Be curious to see if it still happens in the next version. She was doing the little jig back and forth and the text in the corner wasn't updating?

>to use bigger hotspots for the small objects.

I've actually already done this for a lot of them. Were there any that stood out?

Creamy · Thu 08/05/2025 22:27:56

QuoteHope you won't feel unduly pressured if I ping you when the next version is up. I'm dying for more input on the next planet!

No problem.

Quote>Ova is waving the...

That's definitely a bug. I can't recall if it's one I addressed. Be curious to see if it still happens in the next version. She was doing the little jig back and forth and the text in the corner wasn't updating?

Yes. The text always reads "Judgeytron 4000 - scanning".

Quote>to use bigger hotspots for the small objects.

I've actually already done this for a lot of them. Were there any that stood out?

The keycards mostly, especially when you try to use an object on them.

Barn Owl · Sun 11/05/2025 06:20:54

Very nice work. This is a lot to show for two months of effort.

After about a half hour of testing, I would say this is a fun, good looking game.

The interact cursor hotspot in the center feels a little off to me, I would prefer the finger tips be the active spot of the hand icon.

There are some walkable areas that could be touched up, such as next to the empty podium and trying to enter the gift shop using keyboard movements.

I don't think it's necessary to display a message "keyboard movement switched to arrows/wasd" when the other is used.

Overall, this feels like a great game with healthy portions of originality and homage to the past.

Unless dingo's kidneys look great, this does not look like that. I'd say full steam ahead!

FortressCaulfield · Tue 13/05/2025 18:30:21

Quote from: Creamy on Thu 08/05/2025 22:27:56Yes. The text always reads "Judgeytron 4000 - scanning".

Can't reproduce. May have already fixed it and just don't remember. Tidied up the code in that room anyway.

Added some hotspot hitboxes to the keycards.

If you would like, please let me know how you'd like to be listed in the credits

[/quote]

Quote from: Barn Owl on Sun 11/05/2025 06:20:54Very nice work. This is a lot to show for two months of effort.

After about a half hour of testing, I would say this is a fun, good looking game.

The interact cursor hotspot in the center feels a little off to me, I would prefer the finger tips be the active spot of the hand icon.

There are some walkable areas that could be touched up, such as next to the empty podium and trying to enter the gift shop using keyboard movements.

I don't think it's necessary to display a message "keyboard movement switched to arrows/wasd" when the other is used.

Overall, this feels like a great game with healthy portions of originality and homage to the past.

Unless dingo's kidneys look great, this does not look like that. I'd say full steam ahead!

Thank you! I guess I should update that first post though, because what you're seeing here is about 7 months work, and when I post the latest in a week or so, just over a year!

I guess you're right about the kb message.

There was a reason I made the hand icon the way I did. I think it felt a little off scrolling between them since the hotspot for the others is in the lower middle. I'll play around with it.

I think I addressed both of those walkable areas since that version, especially the gift shop

If you'd like to continue testing I can ping you when I drop the next update and list you in the credits if you like.

Thanks again all!