John Sinclair- Voodoo in London(NEW DEMO!)

[Digital Mosaic Games]

Maybe some of you know my Adventure-Project "John Sinclair- Voodoo in London".
I worked on it circa 1 year and it is still in Production.

Screenshots:


Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAOI33hhaNg

Demo: http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/games.php?action=detail&id=1258
(PLEASE RATE!!!)

The original which is in production will have a little more intro, where John gets a vision of an angel in his dreams and after a couple of riddles he became a Geisterjäger.
Than it goes on like the demo.

I would like to know what you think about the game.

[cosmicr]

looks like your pic source doesnt allow hotlinking...

[Digital Mosaic Games]

I´m sorry but what is "hotlinking"?

[cosmicr]

they wont allow the thumbs to be shown on any pages other than their own (ie the thumbnails are broken)

very nice graphics though!

[sthomannch]

Very good demo. Nice graphics and riddles. Congratulations.
I'm looking forward to the finished game.

[Snake]

I have yet to play the demo, but I'm loving the graphics

[Takyon]

Looks great, quite similar to GK1.

[edmundito]

I see the Gabriel Knight references, but where did you get the idea for the black jacket, the brown pants, and that greatly rotoscope running animation?

[Goldfish]

This is listed in completed games on the AGS website?

Is it not complete then?

[Digital Mosaic Games]

This is listed in completed games on the AGS website?

Is it not complete then?

No, it isn´t. I must change that.

Looks great, quite similar to GK1.

Yes, I know. I was on a "GK-trip" when I started the game.

I see the Gabriel Knight references, but where did you get the idea for the black jacket, the brown pants, and that greatly rotoscope running animation?

If you look nearer at John you can see it´s Ben Jordan only with other colours
This is my only ripped and changed sprite. I hop Grundislav can excuse me. I would have changed it but I´ve made so many John-animations which have this as basic position The Ben Jordan-Graphics fascinated me when I saw it the first time..

[david]

I have downloaded and started to play, but it is only in German  :o

Oh well, I have to wait for the English translation

Keep up the good looking work

[Igor Hardy]

Is the full game going to be freeware? I've seen both mentions that it is and it isn't on different sites.

[Digital Mosaic Games]

The whole game will be Freeware ! I´ve made a mistake when I uploaded the demo and forget to deactivate the "Commercial-box". I´ve changed that as you can see now.

Maybe, when the game is finished there can be an english version.

[DrWhite]

Looks and feels great. Though, with the pronounciation of "r" I feel like in a bavarian crime-movie.

[markbilly]

I was about to say the sprites look like Ben Jordan...

I don't speak German so I didn't really know what was going on but it looks promising... If the character sprites are the only things that are ripped you are clearly capable of drawing your own. So why not try it?

[Digital Mosaic Games]

Trying to make my "own" John Sinclair-Walking sprites?
Well, Than would have to change really much animations because the Walking-sprites are the "basic-positions" of every move that John makes. And of course the ripping and changing was work too

[markbilly]

Trying to make my "own" John Sinclair-Walking sprites?
Well, Than would have to change really much animations because the Walking-sprites are the "basic-positions" of every move that John makes. And of course the ripping and changing was work too

Making games is a lot of work! I was just saying you looked more than capable of doing the sprites yourself.

Good luck with it all, anyway!

[Igor Hardy]

Good voice-work. Where did you find the voice talent?

[Digital Mosaic Games]

Trying to make my "own" John Sinclair-Walking sprites?
Well, Than would have to change really much animations because the Walking-sprites are the "basic-positions" of every move that John makes. And of course the ripping and changing was work too

Making games is a lot of work! I was just saying you looked more than capable of doing the sprites yourself.

Good luck with it all, anyway!

Thank you!

Good voice-work. Where did you find the voice talent?

Well, John Sinclair has my voice.
I´ve also spoken some other characters like the two guards from King Grenada and the Policeman.
The other characters are spoken by my brother and friends.
Suko has spoken a good friend of mine.
My brother has spoken King Grenada(black voodoo-guy at beginning)
But some voiceactings I don´t like and I want to change.
This means I need Voiceactors!
If there are some here, who is good at voiceacting and can speak german than look at this:
http://www.adventure-treff.de/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5=373&start=360
There are some characters that need a voice or must be spoken again(the page is in german).

[neon]

Try this:

http://fanspeakers.net/forum/

It's a forum of people with good equipment and nice and variable voices, who speak for free, as long as the project is non-commercial. Just register in the forum and ask if someone is interested in the project.

[Digital Mosaic Games]

Thank you neon! This could be helpful

[splat44]

Well, I hope I am not digging old post.

Anyways, I've found the following:

Spoiler

Each time I look at medalion that museum curator is wearing, it seems points keep in increasing

[close]

Should that happens?

Yes, an english version will be helpful, of course, I am speaking dialog and text in general.

Great game and it certainly remind of Gabriel Knight.

[Digital Mosaic Games]

Thank you!
That´s something I must change.

[splat44]

Thank NEON-GAMES!

Inside house (entering bed room):

Spoiler

I know we can use open icon on curtain to enter room, however, I found we can exit bed room by simply clicking on curtain without icons showing up).
Therefore, why not enter bed room same way as we exit?

[close]

Spoiler

while left-clicking to bring up icons, character is moving or walking a bit

[close]

Warnings file create while playing game:

Spoiler

(in room 20): Warning: ChangeCharacterView was used while the view was fixed - call ReleaseCharView first
(in room 20): Warning: ChangeCharacterView was used while the view was fixed - call ReleaseCharView first
(in room 4): Warning: ChangeCharacterView was used while the view was fixed - call ReleaseCharView first
(in room 4): Warning: ChangeCharacterView was used while the view was fixed - call ReleaseCharView first
(in room 4): Warning: ChangeCharacterView was used while the view was fixed - call ReleaseCharView first
(in room 6): Warning: ChangeCharacterView was used while the view was fixed - call ReleaseCharView first
(in room 6): Warning: ChangeCharacterView was used while the view was fixed - call ReleaseCharView first
(in room 6): Warning: ChangeCharacterView was used while the view was fixed - call ReleaseCharView first

[close]

Can you make since of this?

Question:

Spoiler

Is building(bar) next to museum being use in demo? I see an exit cursor there but cannot enter it.
Is there an end to this demo, so far I've done all possible thing. it will help to get some hints though!

[close]

[Digital Mosaic Games]

Thank NEON-GAMES!

Inside house (entering bed room):

Spoiler

I know we can use open icon on curtain to enter room, however, I found we can exit bed room by simply clicking on curtain without icons showing up).
Therefore, why not enter bed room same way as we exit?

[close]

Spoiler

while left-clicking to bring up icons, character is moving or walking a bit

[close]

Warnings file create while playing game:

Spoiler

(in room 20): Warning: ChangeCharacterView was used while the view was fixed - call ReleaseCharView first
(in room 20): Warning: ChangeCharacterView was used while the view was fixed - call ReleaseCharView first
(in room 4): Warning: ChangeCharacterView was used while the view was fixed - call ReleaseCharView first
(in room 4): Warning: ChangeCharacterView was used while the view was fixed - call ReleaseCharView first
(in room 4): Warning: ChangeCharacterView was used while the view was fixed - call ReleaseCharView first
(in room 6): Warning: ChangeCharacterView was used while the view was fixed - call ReleaseCharView first
(in room 6): Warning: ChangeCharacterView was used while the view was fixed - call ReleaseCharView first
(in room 6): Warning: ChangeCharacterView was used while the view was fixed - call ReleaseCharView first

[close]

Can you make since of this?

Question:

Spoiler

Is building(bar) next to museum being use in demo? I see an exit cursor there but cannot enter it.
Is there an end to this demo, so far I've done all possible thing. it will help to get some hints though!

[close]

Thanks for the hints. I could make the Bedroom-Exit thing but unforunately I don´t know how to fix this little walking from John when the Verbcoin(Iconbar) is going to be shown .

The entrance in the Museum isn´t walkable but it will.
Imagine that there is a door or a wall in front of it.

By the way the playable intro-story is still in production.
There will be some features:
-of course the extra playable intro-story
-Screenshot-Saving
-first Puzzle-Game!(maybe I´ll publish a template of it )
-New music(only if the music is complete made)

If the intro story is finished I´ll make a demo from it but this can take a view time.

[Digital Mosaic Games]

Hi there!

The Intro-Play is still in production. Here is a little foretaste:

[Grim]

Beautiful graphics! My favourite is the zombie face coming out of the dark... Call me a weirdo but I really like this sort of stuff. Keep up the good work!

[Digital Mosaic Games]

Beautiful graphics! My favourite is the zombie face coming out of the dark... Call me a weirdo but I really like this sort of stuff. Keep up the good work!

John Sinclair is a series of horror-novels. So the game will be a horror-adventure(I try to keep it creepy).
But it will not be splatter-game because I think the most adventuregamers don´t like too bloody stuff.
The zombie face will be used as a "shocker-face" in a dream-sequence.(There are more as one shocker-faces.)

[Dualnames]

Beautiful graphics! My favourite is the zombie face coming out of the dark... Call me a weirdo but I really like this sort of stuff. Keep up the good work!

You're a weirdo, but that's not the proof.

On-topic, seconded, The game looks definitely interesting! You've put some great work on it!

[Grim]

Beautiful graphics! My favourite is the zombie face coming out of the dark... Call me a weirdo but I really like this sort of stuff. Keep up the good work!

John Sinclair is a series of horror-novels. So the game will be a horror-adventure(I try to keep it creepy).
But it will not be splatter-game because I think the most adventuregamers don´t like too bloody stuff.
The zombie face will be used as a "shocker-face" in a dream-sequence.(There are more as one shocker-faces.)

I find it's an awful shame actually... Not that there's anything wrong with pirate/detective themed adventure games 'cos we all know and love them, but I really don't think this sort of correctness when it comes to gore and violence must always take place.... I suppose the main reason for that is that people who play adventure games are often older and more mature and they've grown out of getting excited seeing pointless bloodshed on their screens...but when the violence is there to prove a point in the story then that should be ok, shouldn't it?

Another reason, as I have recently discovered, is that there are a lot of women playing adventure games. They seem to avoid this kind of stuff. Well, most of them, anyway.

But, my point is, please don't cut on the gore just because you think people won't like it. Just do it the way you think will be best and be true to yourself!

[SarahLiz]

I'm a woman, bring on the gore & guts!!!   

[Dualnames]

Is there going to be at least a translation for the demo? I'd love to try it out and actually understand something.

[Digital Mosaic Games]

I'm a woman, bring on the gore & guts!!!  

At the end of the "Introplay" there will be a bloody ceremony.
I try to keep it creepy.

Is there going to be at least a translation for the demo? I'd love to try it out and actually understand something.

When the whole game is completed I want to have english subtitles for the game but at first it´ll be in german language.
For the upcoming BETA-Demo english subtitles are possible but I haven´t a translation yet.

PS: Where´s my Zombie-Screenshot? Am I the only one who can´t see it?
     

[arj0n]

No zombie screenshot indeed...

[Grim]

Zombie is gone!  :o

I miss him already....

[Frodo]

I'm also a woman, and I want the guts and gore  

[Digital Mosaic Games]

Look! The Zombie is there again!

[Grim]

I'm also a woman, and I want the guts and gore  

Frodo...you're a woman?...
Also, I'm still missing the zombie...EDIT: Creeped back in when I wasn't looking... That's cheeky!

Two strange sentences I thought I'd never use in one post, yet they are on topic!

[Frodo]

Frodo...you're a woman?...

Hehe, yep.  Well, last time I checked, anyway.  

[discordance]

I'm also a woman,

the whole Sam thing finally makes sense

[Grim]

I'm also a woman,

the whole Sam thing finally makes sense

That's exactly what I thought!!!!!!

Anyway, female gamers are great. I only wish there was more of you:)

[Digital Mosaic Games]

The central plot from the demo, which is also the 1st Chapter from the game is complete. Now the Music, Soundeffects and Speech is missing. At the moment I´m on "bug-hunt" and probably I´ll very often test the game and let the game test.

Here´s a little bit "Making of-Stuff":

In many old Sierra Adventures Backgrounds, Characterportraits etc. were painted with the hand, scanned and intergrated in the game. I´ve tried this method now the first time on myself for the title screen of my project.

So, at first I drew it with pencil on paper:


Than I scanned the Drawing and printed it again a little bit more transparent because I don´t wanted any contures in the painting.
After a long time precise work the painting was finished(I used special comic-pens):


Than I´ve scanned the pic edited it added a background(Towerbrigde of London) and the Game title:


Finally I added Buttons and put everything in the game:


Do you think all the work is it worth for a 320x640-Screen?
I am quite content about the endproduct. The selfpainted Background has somehow a little bit more character. What do you think?

[markbilly]

Most certainly worth the effort! Looks great

[NsMn]

I'd say limit the colours a bit to get a more Sierra-esque look. (256 colours)

[Captain Ricco]

it looks awesome, very good

though, maybe you could make his face lines less dark/deep, like you did in the pencil one

he looks like he is a couple of hundred years old qhen colored

[Puddleglum]

This looks so great! I just played Gabriel Knight for the first time so I can't wait for this to come out  Love the graphics and the story .. I'm also on a Gabriel kick right now
Keep us posted! 

[Digital Mosaic Games]

it looks awesome, very good

though, maybe you could make his face lines less dark/deep, like you did in the pencil one

he looks like he is a couple of hundred years old qhen colored

You´re right. He looked a bit like a chain-smoker.
I changed the picture:

I'd say limit the colours a bit to get a more Sierra-esque look. (256 colours)

Can you tell me how I can change the colors to 256?(with Photoshop or Game Maker-Sprite Editor or another program)?

[Chicky]

Image-mode-indexed colour-perceptual.

In PS Your game looks great btw!

[splat44]

Nice Graphics!

I've replayed demo and found another thing:

Spoiler

When sitting down on banch (police station) and while in inventory we see main character standing when reading news paper (right-click) instead of sitting down

[close]

I know this maybe hard to fix and hopefully others can provide feedback.

Were there other works done on demo since 2nd past post?

[Digital Mosaic Games]

Nice Graphics!

I've replayed demo and found another thing:

Spoiler

When sitting down on banch (police station) and while in inventory we see main character standing when reading news paper (right-click) instead of sitting down

[close]

I know this maybe hard to fix and hopefully others can provide feedback.

Were there other works done on demo since 2nd past post?

Thank you I know where the problem is.
Other works? Of course!
I´ve made a lot for the new Demo. It´s not the same story. And so there are many other graphics and animations for the new Demo. I think the ones who played the first (unofficial) Demo will notice all the diffrences.

[Digital Mosaic Games]

He looked a bit too red I thought. So I changed his skin a bit:


Do you think it was better before?

[Captain Ricco]

Oh!
I was just gonna suggest that. it looks a lot better now!

[Frodo]

I didn't think anything was wrong with his skin before.
But now that you changed it, I do think it looks a lot better.

[Kweepa]

I think it's all a bit flat.
Here's a rough lighting pass:

[splat44]

Nice Graphics!

I've replayed demo and found another thing:

Spoiler

When sitting down on banch (police station) and while in inventory we see main character standing when reading news paper (right-click) instead of sitting down

[close]

I know this maybe hard to fix and hopefully others can provide feedback.

Were there other works done on demo since 2nd past post?

Thank you I know where the problem is.
Other works? Of course!
I´ve made a lot for the new Demo. It´s not the same story. And so there are many other graphics and animations for the new Demo. I think the ones who played the first (unofficial) Demo will notice all the diffrences.

Super! I am looking forward to the new demo and I'm glad you figured out the problem.

[Digital Mosaic Games]

I think it's all a bit flat.
Here's a rough lighting pass:

Thank you! I was about to change this. I´ve made the shadow on his skin:

[Snarky]

You've done lots of good art for this game (which looks really promising), but this one has some problems, I think.

Now it looks like you've given him a shiner (black eye) on his right eye (i.e. our left).   :'(

The other thing that stands out is that the pupils are very uneven. His right eye has a larger pupil (particularly because it looks like you can only see about half of it, while only the top sliver is hidden by his left eyelash), and it has a touch of red to it (why? is he bleeding?).

I would also question the anatomy of that fleshy fold that curves down from the left side of his nose, over his cheek and under his lips.

The basic form is good, the pose is good and dramatic, and you have a nice technique, but your shading doesn't really seem to show grasp of the facial geometry. You'd be better served by following Steve's example more closely, and by focusing less on small wrinkles than on areas of light and shade.

Similarly, there's something really strange going on with that wrist, and the emphasis on deep, harsh wrinkles makes it look wizened and ugly.

(I realize this isn't the critics lounge, but it looks like we've got into a critique of this image and that it's welcome, so I thought I'd add my two cents.)

[Darth Mandarb]

Okay, yeah ... please take the critics/paint-overs/etc into the Critics Lounge.  This has gotten a bit out of hand in here.

[Sslaxx]

Okay, yeah ... please take the critics/paint-overs/etc into the Critics Lounge.  This has gotten a bit out of hand in here.

Doesn't the forum software support topic splitting?

[Darth Mandarb]

Yup, but that has bad results in cases like this because some posts have on-topic comments and off-topic (critics) so removing some, and not others (leaving some critics in for image(s) that no longer exist in the thread), leads to confusion which then leads to more off-topic posts asking about the confusion.  So the simple solution, stop critiquing in here and take it into the Critics Lounge where it belongs

now ... back on topic folks.

PS - anymore questions about this can be directed to me via PM to prevent further cluttering up this thread!  thanks

[Digital Mosaic Games]

I thought we should continue with the Title-Screen-Stuff in the Critics Lounge:
http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=40640.0

Opinions to the game or anything else can still be postet here!!!

[Digital Mosaic Games]

Hey guy,

The new Demo is almost finished!
Only the voice of a little role and acutenesses are absent.
Here is a little foretaste(Trailer):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0oSQN0Dp5w&feature=related

btw: the Soundtrack you hear in the Trailer is also the MainTheme of this game.

question: Can I create an other thread for the new Demo?

[Digital Mosaic Games]

after hours, days, months...
proudly presents...

THE NEW DEMO!

Please post constructive Feedback, wishes and your oppinion to the game!
I tried to keep the Story of it more like in the Horror-Novels(JS is a Horrornovel-Series). The style is still "GK-y". Additionally we´ve tried to use moody, orchestral Music like in Broken Sword. Now you can test the result. Have Fun!

Screenshots:




Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15L13f7jEEg


Download-Link: CLICK HERE!

[Sslaxx]

Is there an English translation for this? I'd like to play it, but right now my connection is pretty crappy, and I don't want to download a game I'd not know the language for.

[Digital Mosaic Games]

Sorry...not yet. But if the game is completed there will be english subtitles, sure(maybe english Voiceacting). I don´t think the puzzles are too difficult. Maybe you solve them. But at least you must know it
But I can´t wait to hear what you think about it.

[agentbauer]

Cool demo, reminds me of Gabriel Knight 1(Interface and graphics) and I loved that game.

My feedback so far:
Pros:
Really great old school adventure, very close to the good old Sierra Adventures(did I mention before that I love these games??)
A very nice story flow( but I'm not so far) I'll update when I'm through the demo.
The graphics are very good drawn, if you did all of them yourself you are very talented!
The interface is good, but to keep the open/close and the use icon, you might think about dropping the open/close and only have the use icon.
But thats only my personal opinion, if you like the open/close then keep it!
The GK Style questioning system is great, I like that very much, I hope that you implement some dialogue puzzles.

Cons:
The sound and the music is not so great, the voice acting is very unclear and I think the music could use some polish.
(if you want, I can help you with the music, you can pm me in german)
In some screens I have a green dot in the left upper corner, not always, but in the Select screen f.e.
What I also do not like is the Ben Jordan sprite for John Sinclair, I think it would have been better to either redraw him completely or use the GK1 Sprite and modify it(I think the GK sprite was the best possible VGA Sprite ever drawn)


And I need your help, I'm already stuck in the kirche:-)
How can I distract the pfarrer and get rid of the beggar?

If you want some more details I can send that via pm.
Keep up the good work.

[splat44]

Sorry...not yet. But if the game is completed there will be english subtitles, sure(maybe english Voiceacting). I don´t think the puzzles are too difficult. Maybe you solve them. But at least you must know it
But I can´t wait to hear what you think about it.

Yes, I am download new demo using new link that you provided above and will comment

I know the original post was updated in saying new demo is available, however, download link from original post leads to old demo.
I recommend you update download link so old file be removed by uploading compile.rar
It will make easier to all.

Regards

Edited on Aug 2, 2010
Woa! Well done and it great you enable autosave and I did finish demo without any hints!

However, I did found a scrip error while pressing "Laden" button without selecting actual game's file:

Spoiler

Here the error:

in "GlobalScrip.asc", line 2337

Error: ListBox.SaveGameSlot: index out of range

[close]

We can bypass this error by selecting actual file to be loaded and everyhing is working.

Recommedation:
When user press "laden" button without selecting a file, include a message!

Edited on Aug 9, 2010

In addtions to above bug I've found, I caught another bug but this a logical one (see below)

Spoiler

Underground from church, while using all batteries on flash light before solving slide puzzle, the exit point doesn't shows until I look on ground again!

[close]

I've replayed this area but this time by solving slide puzzle, the exit point shows right after using those items mentioned above on flash light.

Recommendation:

Spoiler

While using batties on flash light before solving slide puzzle, I recommend have exit point show up after solving this puzzle at this point

[close]

Again, what an improvement in story and especially those graphics and I certainly looking forward to game completetion!

Thanks

[fischkopf]

maybe you should not call the first chapter "der anfang" cause its obvious that it is the beginning. xD

[Digital Mosaic Games]

maybe you should not call the first chapter "der anfang" cause its obvious that it is the beginning. xD

The first novel of the horror-series was "Der Anfang" so I thought why not.