Awakening of the Sphinx DEMO v1.2 (Updated 29 June 04)

Started by SSH, Tue 30/09/2003 22:04:58

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SSH

LATEST: (29 June 2004)

Finally getting some work done on this since the demo. Have been consulting with various people on the story (thanks to you guys, you knwo who you are!) and now got some work on our hero's love interest progressing:

I think the story for the whole game is now complete, so here's some of what's on my todo list:

Characters: Akhenaten, Smenkhare, Tutankhamun, Boat Captain, Quarry workers, VIllage women, Priestly scholar, etc. etc.
Backgrounds: Quarry, Nile dock, Nileside village, Temple of Amun, Place at Amarna, Overview map, Desert landscape, etc. etc.
Dialogues: Millions of these to do!

LATEST: (29 April 04 5.30pm BST)

Bunch of bugs fixed in v1.2 (check about box... no version number means v1.0)... download link is the same.

(28 April 04):

Yes, the DEMO IS HERE! The moment that you've all been waiting for!

You can download it as 4.1M Zip or 3.7M RAR

or check out the blurb on the website website

Here's a screenshot to whet your appetite:



OLD UPDATES:

(27 April 04):

Well, the demo is very nearly ready. I've got a few descriptions left to add for some hotspots, which are already written but not typed in yet (and I left that bit of paper somewhere else ::)  )  but we have music, SFX, savegames with screenshots and lots more all ready.

so, hopefully... DEMO release tomorrow (Tuesday!)... its only 2 months later than I told Vel in the ezine!



27 Jan 04:

Well, now I've finished with the FOREGOs, I'll give you an update on the game progress.

Firstly, Vel has spoken to me about a preview in the AGS ezine. Hopefulyl that can be appearing soon. I have given him some exclusive screenshots, but I won't steal his thunder by posting them here.

Hopefully I can have a demo out by the end of February, although I don't promise. So far I've got the GUI nearly completed (just save/load boxes to do, but I'll leave them fro when I've got bored writing dialogues) and all the backgrounds for the demo are loaded into AGS. I think all the sprites are loaded too, but there always turns out to be two or three more that you need when you come to implement these things.

Most of the remaining work is going to be writing dialogs, I think. The way the icon-based dialog system works means that tehre will be a heck of a lot of dialog. I doubt that I'll have time to do a voice pack before end of February, or to finesse the music but there will be some music in there and hopefully some sound FX.

Also, Farlander has said that hes going to try and help me out with some cutscene GFX which is great. However, if anyone with 3D skills wants to PM me, I've got an awesome custscene that would look great in 3D. Also would liek to hewar from potential  voice actors for Ay (Old Grand Vizier), Maya (Helpful adjutant) and the Sphinx (booming deep voice)...

PREVIOUS:

Woot! At last I've got a walkcycle for Horemheb done. Thanks to PureGhost for the improvements to the character.


So, now that my wife has agreed to let me work on a serious game rather than a Princess Marian game, here's what there is so far:

PLOT:
The 18th Dynasty of Egypt is one of the most eventful. Tuthmoses IV had a dream as a boy that if he uncovered the Sphinx he would become Pharoah. Later in the dynasty, Akhenaten rejected the traditional polytheistic religion of Egypt and turned to workship Aten. He built a new capital at Amarna and the period of him and his two successors is known as "The Amarna period". Many, however, were angry at this blasphemy against the old gods and seceretly fought against it.

The game starts as our character, General Horemheb, a lowly born man who has worked his way up through the army, talks with Ay, Lord Vizier to the Pharoah, but secretly against his new religion. Horemheb also has covert feelings against "Aten" as the religion was involved in the death of his first wife. They discuss their feelings
and Ay mentions that if the Pharoah was got rid of, he would become regent of the heir, Tutankhaten (Tutankhamun's name at the time) and could make Horemheb more powerful and grant him nobility if he helped him. Horemheb also wants this as he is in love with Mutnojdmet, Ay's daughter, but out-of-reach to him as she is a member of the aristocracy.

So, with this in mind, he returns to the army cmap near the Sphinx and goes to sleep. In his dream, he has a vision of getting up and the Sphinx talking to him, just as happened with Tuthmosis before him. The Sphinx tells him that the power of the Great Pharoah Khafre, a great magician and builder of the second pyramid of Giza, will be his to command if he does as the Sphinx says. The Sphinx says that it is angry at the blasphemy of the Pharoahg and wishes to destroy him. It tells of a secret chamber in the second pyramid, never found by any thief who long since stripped the main chamber bare. So the adventure begins as Horemheb sets off to find the secret chamber and the secrets of power that lie within..

EDIT: cut out big bgs

Related threads:
Plot (this was when the player character was different, but now changed to Horemheb, but the story is pretty much the same)
http://www.agsforums.com/yabb/index.php?board=3;action=display;threadid=5530
Character C+C:
http://www.agsforums.com/yabb/index.php?board=4;action=display;threadid=6988

12

Kweepa

So the Princess Marian games were just a bribe?
Good idea!

I'm looking forward to this game.
I'm curious to see how a game set in ancient times plays out, since I'm working on something like that myself (not Egypt though)...

That main character has character! Did you consider drawing everyone side on, Middle Kingdom stylee?

Steve
Still waiting for Purity of the Surf II

Nacho

You know that I love your games... Please make me know how does the project advance.  :)
Are you guys ready? Let' s roll!

Mats Berglinn

#3
Good to hear that you for once don't make a "cute-simple-game-to-just-make-your-wife-happy" game (take it easy, I meant no offense) and it's seems promising too  ;D. The main-character looks pretty cool, it somehow reminds me of a cartoon.

I don't think those pics are crap, they're good but they can become better with some improvements. I liked the sand effect. In the tomb the crack that is between the roof and the wall of heiroglophics looks a bit strange.

Interessting plot.

SSH

Mats:
Sorry that I didn't put anything of plot yesterday: I was in a hurry! Anyway, I've updated the top post with plot now.

Steve:
The games were not a bribe: I did the first one before I ever had this idea (although I have had some inklings of this plot since I went to Egypt in 2000, but as a film... then I discovered AGS earlier this year and did the games for Marian then realised the possibilities for a game of my plot...)

I hope to produce a really good demo and then get some help from people to do some of the more complex animation and stuff that is needed later on. There is going to be a cutscene about 2/3 way through that will blow you away, if it is done right!
12

jason

Sounds great, SSH. Ancient Egypt is one of the eras that interests me the most. You should try to include some intrigue and mystery.

Mats Berglinn

When will this game come out? Or at least a demo?

Kweepa

I want mystery and intrigue too.
And sand.
Still waiting for Purity of the Surf II

SSH

Trying to overthrow the Pharoah isn't enough intrigue for you? If you want a taste for the intrigue and mystery that awaits:

What lies hidden in the secret chamber within the pyramid?
What exactly IS the power that the Sphinx is promising?
What does Ay get out of all this?
Who is the mysterious co-regent Smenkhare?
Where does the Pharoah's young son, Tutankhaten (aka Tutankhamun) fit in to all this?
12

Mats Berglinn

SSH: When will this game be finished or at least when the demo is going to be realesed? How is the process? We want to know more about your game.

SSH

The game will be finished in 2004 between January and December, probably  ;)

Haven't been able to do much recently, but update on top page now.

My problem is drawing takes me ages, so if anyone want to help animate, I'd very much appreciate it!
12

PureGhostGR

Is there a demo we can test? It sounds really good.

Sockmonkey

Great idea for a game.

I would style the characters more like this:


Egyptian art styles would create a really unique look for the game. With those big, weird eyes and both feet pointing the same way all the time. (it would also be easier to animate this way I would think)

http://www.sockmonkeygame.com

"Never hold discussions with the monkey when the organ grinder is in the room." -Sir Winston Churchill

SSH

Sockmonkey (and Steve): good idea to do the game in that style, but I'm afraid that it won't be like that:

a) I've planned many aspects of the puzzles that rely on the traditional perspective view of backgrounds etc.
b) I have enough trouble drawing characters in the style they are already. I'm no great artist, so doing that style is beyond me

Maybe if the game leads me to collaborate with a great artist who could do it, I might consider it, but until someone offers....

PureGhost: I do plan to do a demo, but I'm not sure how long it should be. The game story fits in to three parts, really, based on who is Pharoah. But the first part is pretty long, so if I do that as the demo, then it will be a long time before I release it. I suppose that I could do a first demo, second demo, etc. as I go along.

However, there are still at least 2 more backgrounds and 1 more character to draw befoer I can even start the first demo. Not to mention animating the existing characters.
12

SSH

bump: update on main page (Horemheb walkcycle)
12

sergiocornaga



sergiocornaga


AGA


Darth Mandarb

What a nice walkcycle!!

The (small) crits I would make are these:
- the toes are always in the up position.  I would make them press down on the sandals as the feet go into the back position.
- there's some small (what looks to be) pixel doubling in the shoulders at some points.


like I said ... only small crits!  

This screams of style and character!  Well done!

])]v[

sergiocornaga

So, any intersting progress on the game so far?

After

The character art is good, and suggestive of cultural distance.

The walk anim moves nicely, but the far arm needs to be lifted on the forward swing like the other.

Oh yeah, and great plot themes, both the glamorous and the academic.
And what a character to play in such a drama! :o :D

SSH

Thanks for the comments. I have added the north walkcycle, but I realise that I'm no good at drawing backs! (like I'm good at any other bit...)
12

After

Just putting a ^ in the middle below the shoulder blades should be enough. Darken it on the side where the arm moves back for added depth.

You may even want to try variable shadows/highlights on the trunk to reflect arm movement and body twist, just to make it more fluid. Depends on how far you want to go with it. :)

SSH

Quote from: SSH on Tue 30/09/2003 22:04:58
Well, now I've finished with the FOREGOs, I'll give you an update on the game progress.

Firstly, Vel has spoken to me about a preview in the AGS ezine. Hopefulyl that can be appearing soon. I have given him some exclusive screenshots, but I won't steal his thunder by posting them here.

Hopefully I can have a demo out by the end of February, although I don't promise. So far I've got the GUI nearly completed (just save/load boxes to do, but I'll leave them fro when I've got bored writing dialogues) and all the backgrounds for the demo are loaded into AGS. I think all the sprites are loaded too, but there always turns out to be two or three more that you need when you come to implement these things.

Most of the remaining work is going to be writing dialogs, I think. The way the icon-based dialog system works means that tehre will be a heck of a lot of dialog. I doubt that I'll have time to do a voice pack before end of February, or to finesse the music but there will be some music in there and hopefully some sound FX.

Also, Farlander has said that hes going to try and help me out with some cutscene GFX which is great. However, if anyone with 3D skills wants to PM me, I've got an awesome custscene that would look great in 3D. Also would liek to hewar from potential  voice actors for Ay (Old Grand Vizier), Maya (Helpful adjutant) and the Sphinx (booming deep voice)...
12

SSH

Well, the demo is very nearly ready. I've got a few descriptions left to add for some hotspots, which are already written but not typed in yet (and I left that bit of paper somewhere else ::)  )  but we have music, SFX, savegames with screenshots and lots more all ready.

so, hopefully... DEMO release tomorrow (Tuesday!)... its only 2 months later than I told Vel in the ezine!

just hoping that I can build some anticipation here with a bump...
12

Nacho

Hey! Which is the problem? I told Vel MI1.5 would be released in Xmas 2003...  ;D

I am looking forward to see this demo!
Are you guys ready? Let' s roll!

SSH

#27
Bump, and also to say that all any any constructive crits are welcome. Not just bugs, but any gameplay, gfx, sound, etc. things that bug you. I can't promise to do anyhting about all of them, but I will read and consider them all.

Quote from: SSH on Tue 30/09/2003 22:04:58
LATEST (28 April 04):

Yes, the DEMO IS HERE! The moment that you've all been waiting for!

You can download it as 4.1M Zip or 3.7M RAR

or check out the blurb on the website website

Here's a screenshot to whet your appetite:


12

Pet Terry

Yay demo, just downloaded it and will try it later!
<SSH> heavy pettering
Screen 7

Kweepa

#29
Very nice!

I tried it first in 320x200 but it was definitely not designed for that :)
You should include a .cfg file in the zip that is set on 640x400.

The interface is very well done, but you probably don't need me to tell you that. The only problem I had was when looking at the pyramids in the map screen, when the character changes to the full size talk view.

I'd also make the floating text fade in much quicker. It's a bit frustrating having to wait two seconds to see the description.

Are there just five locations in the demo? And is there nothing to do except talk to people and look at stuff?

Looking good!
I loved the characters ducking to get into the tent, and the "amazed" animation of the main character. Interesting script - seems nicely paced, with not too much exposition. The only confusion I had was Aten and Amun are quite similar, as are Khafre and Khefren. I guess there's not much you can do about that! Except maybe to explicitly link Akhenaten and Aten in the same sentence somehow.

Oh, I also noticed the Sphinx says "msy" and not "may" at one point.

[EDIT] I see you want comments on graphics, sound etc too... Well, the graphics seem a bit murky, and the characters don't exactly go together. I appreciate that's not too constructive. The only sound effect I noticed was the footsteps going down the steps into the pyramid, and they seemed out of sync with the animation - way too late.

Sorry if that was a bit freeform.

On my must play list!
Steve
Still waiting for Purity of the Surf II

SSH

#30
Well, with Steve's comments, and also showing the game to my wife yesterday night I found a bunch of bugs... so this new 1.1 version has those fixed and less spelling mistakes too.

Quote from: SteveMcCrea on Wed 28/04/2004 21:28:53
The interface is very well done, but you probably don't need me to tell you that. The only problem I had was when looking at the pyramids in the map screen, when the character changes to the full size talk view.
Ooops. I already made the idle view change for that screen, but forgot the speech view...

Quote
I'd also make the floating text fade in much quicker. It's a bit frustrating having to wait two seconds to see the description.
Well, a right click can describe it if you're impatient

Quote
Are there just five locations in the demo? And is there nothing to do except talk to people and look at stuff?

No, there are more. It is possible to discover the secret chamber that the Sphinx describes in the intro, although that's as far as it goes for now. This is about 5% of the game story...

Quote
Looking good!
I loved the characters ducking to get into the tent, and the "amazed" animation of the main character. Interesting script - seems nicely paced, with not too much exposition.

Thanks. There are probably a few more places I could do some extra animations, but graphics aren't my strong point and I wanted to get this out as it's been hanging around at 95% done since early February. I moved some of the huge intro expostition into the dialog choices, and I think the balance is OK.... but please ANYONE let me know if soemthing doesn't make sense or it looks like I've missed something out of the story in the game. Its sometimes difficult to remember if everything in your head or notebook is in there!

Quote
Oh, I also noticed the Sphinx says "msy" and not "may" at one point.
I also spelled Pharaoh wrong every time, had "destory" instead or "destroy" and various others which are fixed now. I dumped out a translation file and spellchecked it.

Quote
[EDIT]  The only sound effect I noticed was the footsteps going down the steps into the pyramid, and they seemed out of sync with the animation - way too late.

I noticed that too... there ARE other SFX but a lot of them were too quiet to hear (especially if the music is on). There was also one broken sound. So now I've fixed the length and volue of the SFX so it should be better now. I may also add some general footstep sounds later on.

Thanks for the great feedback Steve. If you are still stuck having been to all the starting 5 locations, ask me and I may be able to throw some light on things  ;)

Don't forget that you can talk about any item in the background during dialogs


12

Kweepa

#31
Quote from: SSH on Thu 29/04/2004 10:17:38
Quote
I'd also make the floating text fade in much quicker. It's a bit frustrating having to wait two seconds to see the description.
Well, a right click can describe it if you're impatient
But I want to see it now! >:(

Quote
Thanks for the great feedback Steve. If you are still stuck having been to all the starting 5 locations, ask me and I may be able to throw some light on things  ;)
Subtle! I guessed it was something to do with that, but I didn't realise that:

Quote
Don't forget that you can talk about any item in the background during dialogs
Really? That's a great idea! I wish I'd thought of that!
(I guess I should have read the manual better. Can you also ask about any inventory item then?)
Still waiting for Purity of the Surf II

SSH

Quote from: SteveMcCrea on Thu 29/04/2004 11:40:08
Quote from: SSH on Thu 29/04/2004 10:17:38
Quote
I'd also make the floating text fade in much quicker. It's a bit frustrating having to wait two seconds to see the description.
Well, a right click can describe it if you're impatient
But I want to see it now! >:(

Well, I'll consider it (it used to be even slower)... or maybe make an options GUI that lets you fiddle with volume, speeds, etc. but that'll be in the full game.

Quote
Quote
Don't forget that you can talk about any item in the background during dialogs
Really? That's a great idea! I wish I'd thought of that!
(I guess I should have read the manual better. Can you also ask about any inventory item then?)

Yes. The Help dialog also reminds you of this, but in version 1.1 of the game, you can actually READ the text as it is no longer yellow on a yellowy background! I changed the font from an outline one and forgot to change the colour.... *sigh*

I've submitted a walkthrough for the demo to the walkthrough database on AGA's site, but I dunno how long it takes for those to get approved.
12

Ashen

Nice demo, but I think I found a bug...

After I've opened the secret door, if I leave the secret chamber, Horemheb enters by the stairs at the top of the screen, not through the door

Also, I need help. Is there a way to get past the first secret room in the demo?

SSH

Quote from: Ashen on Thu 29/04/2004 13:54:55
Nice demo, but I think I found a bug...

After I've opened the secret door, if I leave the secret chamber, Horemheb enters by the stairs at the top of the screen, not through the door

Ooops. Thanks for spotting that one. I've fixed it already on my PC and I'll try and upload v1.2 soon.

Quote
Also, I need help. Is there a way to get past the first secret room in the demo?

Spoiler

Each hex tile always has the same effect: for each column, it either toggles its state or always makes it come up or always makes it go down. It might help to make a map fo the tiles and then you can work out a path through them that leaves all four columns up. I had one myself, but I lost it and  I generally just wander randomly around the rightmost three rows until the columns are all up!

My map had things like "--X-" (third column toggled) and "1101" (all columns up excpet 3rd which goes down). So if you did the  second then the first, all four columns would be up.

If you get really stuck there, I'll see if I can work out a safe route (which will require careful clicking!)
[close]
12

SSH

v1.2 is now uploaded, with Ashen's bug fixed.

Spoiler

Also, the hex puzzle is now easier to walk around on.
Here's one solution to the hex puzzle, there are probably more:

Start on middle of first row. Go SE, N, NE, SW, SE, S, NE, NE.
[close]
12

Kweepa

The hex puzzle is the hardest puzzle ever!
Occasionally (rarely), he'll walk the long way around to get to a tile, which doesn't help.
Spoiler

I think it's too hard to work backwards to a solution that works - it would be easier if each column toggled or did nothing.
I started trying to work it out, but eventually I just wandered randomly.
Of course, maybe I'm just stupid...
Rather cooler than the Fate of Atlantis hex puzzle!
[close]

There's a full stop missing in the intro, after "ruined".
Still waiting for Purity of the Surf II

SSH

Steve, have you got v1.2... I made the walkable areas a bit bigger to avoid the "long way around" problem. However, if you still get it, I'd appreciate knowing which tiles it occurs between, as maybe I can sort it out.

Spoiler

As I said, I used to just wander about randomly to get it. I only worked out that solution just yesterday.
[close]

I'd really like to hear from anyone who worked out the puzzle for themselves!

I don't think I'll do a v1.3 just for a full stop, though!

Thanks for all your feedback, though, Steve.
12

INDY

I just played the game and i must say that it looks quite proffesional not counting the graphics(they are good but for amatour game).It somehow reminds me of a German adventure named Lost On Island or something.It has  the same style.Keep up the good work!
I just played the game and i must say that it looks quite proffesional not counting the graphics(they are good but for amatour game).It somehow reminds me of a German adventure named Lost On Island or something.It has  the same style.Keep up the good work!

Migs

SSH, you have made one sweet game.  Your interface is quite original, and the graphics have a nice charm.  I've been waiting to see a demo for this for awhile, and I can say the wait was well worth it.
This signature intentionally left blank.

Queen Kara

#40
The menu looks much better now with making the font smaller.
It's easier to click what I want to click now too.
The way you did the conversation choices
and having a scroll for the menu...awesome.
Overall , it looks great and I can't wait to play the final version!
Klaatu Verata Niktu?

SSH

Thanks all for your nice comments.

Quote from: Queen Kara on Mon 03/05/2004 12:23:56
The menu looks much better now with making the font smaller.

What do you mean? Which menu? Compared to what? I'm a little confused!
12

Kweepa

If you run it at 320x200 (which *was* the default), the fonts are twice the size.
Still waiting for Purity of the Surf II

Queen Kara

I don't know if it was because it was an older version or what , but the first demo I played , the scroll ( that's what I mean by menu ) thing ....on that...things were a pain to find and click ....it was like the words were too close together and too big.
So it was a pixel hunt to find and click what I wanted to click.
Now it isn't. I'm not sure why.  :-[
Klaatu Verata Niktu?

SSH

Well, nobody has posted about this, but I wondered if anyone had tried translating some of the heiroglyhpics in the game. It's quite easy to find a heiroglyphics alphabet on the web. The game is serious, but some of the heiroglyphics are not. And some give hints...

For example, in the opening, when Tuthmosis falls asleep by the Sphinx, the hieroglyphics say "Zzzz" and when he is amazed by the SPhinx talking,  it says.... well, I'll leave that up to you to discover.

Who said there's no replayability?  ;D
12

SSH trying to stay leet

OMG! 11!!!!!11!!

My post count has reached "leeT" levels and I will never post again, just to keep it there!

SSH

Finally getting some work done on this since the demo. Have been consulting with various people on the story (thanks to you guys, you knwo who you are!) and now got some work on our hero's love interest progressing:

I think the story for the whole game is now complete, so here's some of what's on my todo list:

Characters: Akhenaten, Smenkhare, Tutankhamun, Boat Captain, Quarry workers, VIllage women, Priestly scholar, etc. etc.
Backgrounds: Quarry, Nile dock, Nileside village, Temple of Amun, Place at Amarna, Overview map, Desert landscape, etc. etc.
Dialogues: Millions of these to do!
12

piperhcombs

Sorry for bring up an old(er) topic, But I was just playing this demo I found what I think is another bug in the hex room. When you are walking on the hexes, you how the single row at the end will have hexes that drop or rise depending on which hex you stand on? Well, if you manage to click on the first moving hex right before it drops, your character will walk onto thin air, where the hex should be. After that, you cannot move back off the "invisible hex", although your cursor is still mobile and you can still look at things.
:cheers: + :claps:

Temperance&Booth  Sydney&Vaughn  Nadia&Weiss

SSH

Thanks for the bug report. If I ever get around to doign the full game, I'll fix it.  :=
12

Darth Mandarb

Good sweet lord in heaven!!

This thread was last posted in over a year ago!!

piperhcombs - take some advice, read the sticky threads (and the forum rules) in ALL the boards, thoroughly before posting again.

** sigh **

SSH - if you ever decide to continue, let me know and I'll unlock this thread.

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