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Topics - jwalt

#1
The Rumpus Room / Target: Ponch's Avatar
Mon 21/10/2024 13:31:58
In the long ago, I started a thread on the forums after I took the notion to model Ponch's Avatar. It drew a bit of interest, seemed to me, but has now faded into the mists of time. I've also lost that model when my computer went belly up. That was several computers ago. It wasn't all that good of a model, anyway. I seem to recall that the thread prompted RetroWolf to make one on his own, and it looked much better. At any rate, I think I wanna do it again:

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I had a falling out with PhotoBucket, so searching through my posts won't reveal any of the stuff I made back then. It wouldn't be worth the effort to check them out, anyway.

I'll be taking some artistic liberties with my Ponch model; those stubby limbs would be hard to work with. So far, I've just got the face. Yeah, I agree. I don't see the resemblance either. I have a notion, if I can complete the model, of posing the cow next to a yet to be made model of the Tardis. Why, you ask? Why Dr. Moo, of course.

Edit:

Time Lords like Dr Moo have to make all the difficult choices:

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Edit2:

Attempted a walk cycle, which accounts for Dr. Moo's loss of body mass. Also reduced the size of his feet, er, hooves.

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I often wonder if I'll ever make a really good walk cycle.

Edit3:

One more:

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Edit4:

Decided the PortaPotty needed more love:

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Could probably get the Tardis doors to open, but difficult to model the insides of something that's bigger on the inside than it is on the outside.
#2
An early Lands of Lore game, followed by Myst drew me into gaming. Played a few of the King's Quest games but got frustrated with paying more on the Sierra Hint Line than for the games. Along the way I encountered Gilbert's Blackwell series, which drew me in, and also introduced me to AGS. I lurk around the forum and from time to time make an attempt at creating a game.

It seems like Dave Gilbert could have continued the Blackwell games well into the future. So, I'm curious as to how/why he decided the series needed to end? For a time I was following the Wadjet Eye site, not so much anymore, and I hope this isn't something Dave Gilbert addressed either there, or here, on this forum. Just a matter of personal curiosity.
#3
Critics' Lounge / Photos as background
Mon 17/06/2024 14:02:21
The on again/off again "current" Background Blitz sent me out on the web looking for inspiration. Found an interesting photo that seemed, to me, workable as a background. I'm thinking about modeling the scene or trying to pixel paint over the scene. Also thought it was worth dropping the resized photo into a game, to see what it might look like. Results:



Is there a general consensus regarding the mixing of pixel art and shrunken photography?

I'd likely get in trouble using the image, since I don't own it in any way, but it often surprises me how well some of the photos shrink down to something game sized. Any insights about why some photos work so well, and others are a waste of effort?

The photo resides here:

https://remezcla.com/culture/disneyland-mexican-restaurants-featured-south-park-files-bankruptcy/

And, in passing, Casa Bonita isn't dead. The South Park creators bought the place. They'll be reopening it following a long period of renovations. Went to the old iteration a few times, and it was a magical place. :)
#4
General Discussion / MS Paint and TT Art
Wed 12/06/2024 05:24:14
I mainly use MS Paint for what I try to do. Went looking for MS Paint tutorials on YouTube, and came across this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=130qUUM7TQ4

Apparently, the artist committed to using MS Paint for a year, and he did some amazing stuff with it. There are a number of his "speed paintings" on the channel. He does go pretty in depth on one of them involving a tree; it's an actual tutorial. Worth a look. Appears he's moved on to other programs, but I was impressed.
#5
I've now uploaded two RON asset-based MAGS games (Nov and Dec 2023). If you want any of the stuff I've made for your RON asset packages, let me know. I'll gladly share them. I'm working on something for Jan's 2024 MAGS which also involves RON assets. I'm outside the RON canon, but within the periphery... perhaps?
#6
Critics' Lounge / Cut scene for evaluation
Sat 02/12/2023 00:22:28
Been working on something. Open for comments. Decided to link to a video instead of trying to post it as a gif. MediaFire link, so be warned.

https://www.mediafire.com/file/4c5pd7ppevhka1p/mine001_2023-12-01_11-51-46.mp4/file

I'm not sure if the pot motion is really all that objectionable. Currently the plant is a character, but I'm debating taking it over to objects.
#7
Reality-on-the-Norm / Enjoyed the paint-over
Wed 01/11/2023 01:41:27
I've been AWOL for a while. I had an idea for a RON game and downloaded the RON files. The old computer I had them on went belly up, so I had to find them once again. I was pleased to see that a couple of my 3D backgrounds made it into the folders.  :grin:  Whoever painted over them did a wonderful job, and I fully understand why the paint overs were necessary. My background for Scid's on the beach was the pits to try to do the walk behinds, and it looks like the 2D art paint over would be every bit as difficult. If I continue making progress with my idea, I'll post something about it.
#8
Downloaded 3.6.0 the other day and playing with it. Had been working as expected, until trying to delete some objects. Couldn't get the properties window to list objects and clicking on the object failed to bring it up. Tried uninstalling/reinstalling. No real change, but thanks for keeping what I'd been playing with! Tried a new game, and much the same. Right clicking doesn't even show the sprite marking the default object.

Using the Bass template. I'm also seeing some kind of odd padlock mouse cursor, from time to time. Have I accidentally locked myself out?
#9
Not sure this is where my issue belongs, but it can be moved if the Moderator so chooses.

When Photobucket decided to ransom third party hosting, they took the wind out of my sails. I became pretty inactive for a while, but returned, using Imgur. Got a nastygram from Photobucket, today, saying that they had detected I was still using third party hosting. I'd deleted all the images I had on Photobucket, so the only linking is being done by Photobucket to their "nag screen." I made an attempt to remove all the Photobucket links, but promptly ran into issues where forum members had copied my links , and, it appears, I can't delete linked links. Same thing may apply to quotes from posts I've made, since I can't seem to delete some of them, either. I'm guessing at this, but it seems logical.

Any easy way to do this?

I did not move my images from Photobucket to Imgur, so they are gone. My problem is not unique, I'm guessing, based on what I'm seeing on old forum posts.
#10
Didn't really give Blur very long to claim his rightful position, but I had a thought about elevators, so here it is:

Make a Background image involving elevators. Some examples:





And for those AGSers in Nebraska, or Kansas, who have never seen a "lift," here's another possibility, a grain elevator:

\

Judging criteria as normal:

Concept - Does it match the subject matter?
Play ability - Are there things in the image that make your mouse finger twitch?
Artistic merit - Is it "pretty?"

Current plan is to take entries until April 20. Followed by five days, or so, to vote.

#11
Got the original Mount and Blade game from Steam. It was on sale, at that time, for less than five bucks, US, and I've been spending a ungodly amount of time playing it. Any M&B fans around here? I've tried to get cassieBSG to try the game, but she's been busy entering MAGS, or knitting socks for Tabata's Coloring Ball. Like to hear your thoughts on the game?
#12
I've decided to tackle another RoN game.

Templeton Tjin will be the predominant player character. He is taking a tour of RoN's defunct Cairo Disco with Maria Scotterson, of Cloudy Day Realty. Meanwhile, back at Tjin's museum... Stay tuned.

Here are two screen shots:



Game will be a combination of RoN 2D assets and my 3D Anim8or models. Although I've gotten some good Critic's Lounge suggestions about making them look better together, I'm not sure I'll make many changes to what I currently have.

Progress is hard to judge. RoN assets mean a lot of the character art is ready made, and I have most of the current background under control. So maybe:

- graphics 60%
- puzzles 10%
- scripting 10%
- music/sound 10%

Edit: Have a Demo of one portion available.

https://www.mediafire.com/?35esb7d4h6h8amc

Ignore the Inventory section of the menu bar, for now. It will handle that on its own. Also, I'm not sure it's isn't breakable, but it has seem well behaved on my attempts at playing it. Not very happy with the Disco Globe at the moment. Have to fix it, one way or another.

There is another section of the game, yet to be made. It covers the stuff happening outside The Cairo Disco.

Edit: Decided to cobble together another Spoons Music Video. Bit bloated, size wise, and Nick Linders is able to be in two places at the same time. Really just wanted to see how a couple of things looked "in game."

http://www.mediafire.com/file/hku1yxjo16qiood/walkRoNgyptian.zip



#13
Some screen shots related to a possible RoN game:


Elandra may not be in the game, but I had her walkcycle handy, so stuck her in the scenes.

These are a mix of 2D characters and my 3D modeled environments (modeled with Anim8or, and rendered in Bryce). Not sure how grating this is. Open to comments.

#14
Critics' Lounge / Walker (and mask on)
Fri 10/02/2017 02:18:33
Had a thought about another possible RoN game. Might need a Museum Guard. Based on Mr. Pickles, in a different suit/uniform. Five frames.



I realize the two sides views are going to be harder, since it's nonsymmetrical. Just goofing around, but open to comments. I know the hands usually grasp the sides of the walkers, but this was easier. Anyone familiar enough with the RoN Museum to know if they already have a guard?
#15
Completed Game Announcements / Spoons III
Mon 06/02/2017 20:13:07
CassieBSG is still beta testing for me, but this may have reached the point of either releasing the game, or pitching it into the trash. I'm risking releasing it.



RoN game, that derives from Irishrichy's game: The Spoons, and Brentimous' game Rock - A True Story. RoN's rock group, The Spoons, figures prominently in both games. I tried to bridge the gap between the two games, and offer clues to what happened in "the lost game," Spoons II.

At one point in time, this was fully unauthorized, but Irishrichy responded, unexpectedly, to a PM. So it, kind of, sort of, is authorized. Irishrichy even provided a sprite he'd made, which I have included in my game.

Link to game:

http://www.mediafire.com/file/ukiyasaj9pjd1k3/SpoonsIII.zip

I suggest you play this one in a window, since it is mostly cut scenes. The escape routes available to you in full screen mode are pretty limited. I've also had issues with the midi pieces I used being about as pleasant as fingernails on a chalk board, but not consistent enough to figure out why they go so out of tune. In windowed mode, you have the ability to shut off the speakers and save your sanity.

Screen shots, above, are from the Demo game, but are still part of this release. The Demo game became the intro to the full game. I've also included The Spoons Music Video, here, as well.

Edit: After the fact, I thought some additional links might be in order, here:

The Spoons

https://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/site/games/game/353/
http://www.realityonthenorm.info/game.php?id=153
Created By: Richy
Date Released: Thursday 13th November 2003

Looks like Rock may have disappeared from the AGS site, but Renegade Implementor has it at the RoN site:

Rock - A True Story

http://www.realityonthenorm.info/game.php?id=173
Created By: Brentimous
Date Released: Tuesday 12th February 2008
#16
General Discussion / When is it done?
Fri 27/01/2017 11:24:58
I undertook Spoons III some time ago. I worked on it and posted a beta in the GIP thread. Little interest in the beta, and I lost interest in the project. It sat untouched for about eight months, until a PM from Renegade Implementor drew me back into the game. I thought the beta was playable, but after letting it sit for so long, I instantly found a number of game ending bugs. Went back to work on it, and have another beta nearly ready to release. Still a number of cosmetic things I'd like to do, but I think I'm at a point of diminishing returns, in that what's left for me to do isn't going to make it a better game. I'm concerned, now, that if I can't break this beta, today, it might be about as good as I'm currently able to make it. I'm also concerned that anything I do to "clean up" my code might create more problems for me to fix. My coding skills are limited.

My specific question is how to know when to release one of these things? Seems like a number of GIPs have been going on for years, with slow, steady progress. I don't seem to have that kind of patience. I have no illusions about my game being sold on Steam, or nominated for a Forum Award. Unless, of course, the Forum creates a new category: Best Movie made with AGS. I'd be a shoe-in for that award. Despite some effort on my part, Spoons III still plays more like an interactive movie than a game.

PS If anyone might be inclined to try the beta in the GIP thread, please hold off a bit. I might have a new, improved beta to take for a spin, soonish.
#17
I've been working on Spoons III, and I keep having issues with moving characters between differnt rooms as needed. I've had scale issues and transparency issues, because they were scaled differently or left transparent in whatever room they last occupied. I hate to start setting a bunch of stuff, on room load, for each character "just in case." But, that might save time in the long run by cutting back on time spent debugging. Is there any "best practice" for handling character movement between rooms?
#18
Critics' Lounge / Keep, or toss?
Thu 19/01/2017 02:20:28
I've been working on a RoN game, Spoons III. Had a game killing bug that prompted me to get restrictive about who the player talked to first. Thought I might have fun with the next NPC the player had to talk with, by creating a few joke things in NPC's room, when the player hasn't talked with the other NPC. Problem is, I don't know if this is as tasteless as it seems to me to be.

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The robot doesn't look all that good, but is probably okay for a joke. Guido and the lamb... Well, this isn't an OSD game, after all. What yer think? And, incidentally, if I can code it properly, these two, Guido/lamb and robot characters won't be in the scene at the same time. Lamb and robot are animated, in game.

Should add that the characters are RoN assets, except for the robot, which looks a lot better in CassieBSG's Unexpected at the Rising Star game. I've been beta testing Cassie's game, and you folks are in for a treat when she releases it.
#19
The Rumpus Room / Trump visits Area 51
Fri 11/11/2016 19:10:56
Bush: So, Donald... Uh... Mr. President, tell me about your recent visit to Area 51?

Trump: When you're POTUS, they let you do anything. I got to touch all six of the Alien's boobs.

Trump: It isn't surprising that they developed FTL drives. You should see her bra.
#20
Hints & Tips / Club of Evil
Sat 01/10/2016 11:13:35
This Mags game seems to have me stumped.

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I can't seem to find a way past the Big Guy after he becomes a Vampire. I also can't seem to find a way to unblock the chimney, if that is an issue later? Any help would be appreciated, including outright spoiler(s).

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