Lunar Landing

KodiakBehr · Fri 07/09/2012 01:28:36

No matter which you pursue, I'll pick it up because I love the thematic. But if you're describing your game as a simulator, I'm going in with the assumption that accuracy took priority over other factors. If you're calling it an adventure game, then priority should go towards storytelling, puzzle design and entertainment value.

FrankT · Fri 07/09/2012 15:31:12

Mm. I was hoping to wedge in a few little plotlines as well. Just a smidge.

FrankT · Sat 08/09/2012 11:58:29

~~Ugh, I don't think I can deal with drawing in all those little details There's got to be an easier way!~~ Hold that thought! I think I've got an idea....

lo_res_man · Thu 20/09/2012 18:14:13

This should hopefully be of some assistance, assuming you don't already have it.

FrankT · Thu 20/09/2012 19:47:15

Thanks, but I already have those diagrams.

FrankT · Wed 03/10/2012 19:59:21

A little experimentation in progress. Perhaps the craft could now be piloted through a completely simplified and computerized interface - should make it great for playing the game on a touchscreen!

[imgzoom]http://www.majhost.com/gallery/EvilGuy/TWotW/newcomp1.png[/imgzoom]

The layout derives from Apollo 18: The Moon Missions, but I gave it a sort of Space Shuttle computer feel.

FrankT · Fri 05/10/2012 15:18:51

Alright, this one may be the final concept for the CSM panel set.

[imgzoom]http://www.majhost.com/gallery/EvilGuy/SfSaM/copy_of_csm_panel.png[/imgzoom]

I aimed for a sort of cross between Apollo 18 and the Space Shuttle panels in the original Orbiter (below).

Technocrat · Fri 05/10/2012 16:06:34

Bilmey, that's a lot of buttons!

FrankT · Fri 05/10/2012 18:36:35

But substantially less to work with than before.

selmiak · Fri 05/10/2012 18:59:07

this looks overburdening (especially for players new to the game). You should probably include some elaborate mouseover help texts within the game that can also be turned off once the player knows what he is doing.
Or maybe groups this and have some nice dropdown menus. And think of an easy excuse to do so, like science or so

FrankT · Sat 06/10/2012 19:49:07

I can add those in, but I'll need to know how first.

KodiakBehr · Sat 06/10/2012 21:45:29

Your attention to detail is WONDERFUL, and you've brought back highly dated memories of playing with Orbiter on a Macintosh Plus at a kid. I'm dying to know how you intend to get the physics working here.

If you want this to be an accessible game, rather than a simulator, I second the comment that you'll need mouseovers on all those buttons so people can understand what they're doing.

FrankT · Mon 08/10/2012 21:54:34

So here we have a primitive version of the Johnson Space Center. Has a sort of early vector-graphics feel.

[imgzoom]http://www.majhost.com/gallery/EvilGuy/SfSaM/jsc5b.png[/imgzoom]

I don't suppose I'm better off using photos, am I?

FrankT · Tue 09/10/2012 18:07:18

The same shot, but with added shadow, and the grass gets a nice little noise touch.

[imgzoom]http://www.majhost.com/gallery/EvilGuy/SfSaM/jsc5d.png[/imgzoom]

selmiak · Tue 09/10/2012 19:03:55

maybe you should handpaint the shadows and not just move the building objects by a few pixels and fill with black and overlay it. Just look at the pin like statue in the upper middle.
And when the darkest side of the buildungs faces to the right the shadows should also drop into that direction with the light coming from the left.
I like the overall feel of the image except that the black lines are too dark, too much contrast and the already mentioned things with the shadows.

CaptainD · Tue 09/10/2012 19:10:24

Wow that looks like it could have been a screenshot from Elite 2: Frontier on the 16-bits! Awesome!

FrankT · Tue 09/10/2012 21:52:50

Quote from: selmiak on Tue 09/10/2012 19:03:55
maybe you should handpaint the shadows and not just move the building objects by a few pixels and fill with black and overlay it. Just look at the pin like statue in the upper middle.

Well, we've already established that I'm no good at painting shadows, but... yeah.

FrankT · Thu 11/10/2012 20:22:28

And since we're making this accessible, there's room for a little humour too!

[imgzoom]http://www.majhost.com/gallery/EvilGuy/SfSaM/00b.png[/imgzoom]

I'm not sure, did they use that cover design in 1975...?

FrankT · Tue 23/10/2012 20:54:14

Bit of a problem... the CSM panel (above) has too many buttons to fit on one screen, and I'm not quite sure how to adequately split the panels up... bear with me!

FrankT · Wed 24/10/2012 14:36:20

Alright, I'm taking this one step further... transferring the controls onto the keyboard! What would you say to these keyboard layouts?

CSM Controls

LM Controls.

Kind of had "Space Shuttle" for the Atari consoles in mind here.