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Laying out the groundwork, and getting a feel for the follow up. I'll be posting sketches of progress when I can. This one's Nikee in her new and improved situation. Depending on where we're headed, this could get really dark...

I'm reposting the original topic here, as I was rightfully reminded the ability to read greatly improves one's online experience. Here goes hoping this is the right place:

Hi guys! I've been out of it for quite a while after releasing Ponderabilia (something with building a house, having 3 kids, starting a business and whatnot), and I'm seriously considering about starting work on Ponderabilia II. I've recently played Fran Bow (which has an eerily similar setting), and it rekindled my old interest, almost to the point where I'm willing to invest an insane amount of unpaid work into a project of love.

Now, as some of you may know, the original Ponderabilia had some room for improvement. The puzzles were hard, and made not too much sense to some people, there was some pixel hunting and the scenario made complete sense only to its creator. In Ponderabilia II, I'd like to correct these issues, so it made sense to ask for some help from the lot of you. I can't stress enough how amazing the things you did for Ponderabilia were. The music you made was wonderful, and the play testing and guide writing was a joy to be a part of. For Ponderabilia II, I wonder if any of you would be willing to lend a hand, and if so, what would be something you could help out on.

What I'm looking for specifically:
*Someone who can flesh out a sketch in photoshop to a full blown image within a color palette
*Someone who's an amazing animator (Nikee in Ponderabilia I had all the mobility of a corkscrew), willing to start from an original image
*Someone who has great ideas for puzzles and gameplay
*Someone with feeling for character development(Once again, Nikee was about as emotionally mature as a five year old)
*A coder with a more or less reasonable physical hygiene. I'd like to create Ponderabilia II in such a way it will hold up on different platforms.
*Someone dating AGS staff. Seriously, who do you have to schmooze up to get an award around here?

Let me know what you guys think, and we'll see where this leads.

All the best,

EDIT I:
I think I've got the main plot outlined. You can follow the script along if you wish. Here is the current and most recent version of the script.. All help is more than welcome.

EDIT II:
Primary sketch for one of the new main characters, Elisa.

EDIT III:



A first sketch of Nikee's new situation...

Hi guys! I've been out of it for quite a while after releasing Ponderabilia (something with building a house, having 3 kids, starting a business and whatnot), and I'm seriously considering about starting work on Ponderabilia II. I've recently played Fran Bow (which has an eerily similar setting), and it rekindled my old interest, almost to the point where I'm willing to invest an insane amount of unpaid work into a project of love.

Now, as some of you may know, the original Ponderabilia had some room for improvement. The puzzles were hard, and made not too much sense to some people, there was some pixel hunting and the scenario made complete sense only to its creator. In Ponderabilia II, I'd like to correct these issues, so it made sense to ask for some help from the lot of you. I can't stress enough how amazing the things you did for Ponderabilia were. The music you made was wonderful, and the play testing and guide writing was a joy to be a part of. For Ponderabilia II, I wonder if any of you would be willing to lend a hand, and if so, what would be something you could help out on.

What I'm looking for specifically:
*Someone who can flesh out a sketch in photoshop to a full blown image within a color palette
*Someone who's an amazing animator (Nikee in Ponderabilia I had all the mobility of a corkscrew), willing to start from an original image
*Someone who has great ideas for puzzles and gameplay
*Someone with feeling for character development(Once again, Nikee was about as emotionally mature as a five year old)
*A coder with a more or less reasonable physical hygiene. I'd like to create Ponderabilia II in such a way it will hold up on different platforms.
*Someone dating AGS staff. Seriously, who do you have to schmooze up to get an award around here?

Let me know what you guys think, and we'll see where this leads.

All the best,

Hi guys,

I tried uploading a video to the Games Page of Ponderabilia over the YouTube ID field, but for some reason it keeps cutting the URL to https://www. and nothing more. Full URL is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6S--9_DvtE . Could it be that the double dash initiates the cutting and it isn't saving for that reason?

Thanks in advance,

The game I'm finishing up (Ponderabilia) plays music fine on compile, and when I execute the .exe file, but all music disappears as soon as I upload to the web and redownload. Any idea as to what may be causing this?

I recently launched a first version of Ponderabilia in the freeware section, and at this point in time it is completely soundless. The original soundartist I had recruited did not come through, and I still think it would be a major asset to the game to have decent sounds running. I have a list of sounds required, and am currently looking for someone that is willing to create the music and effects in exchange for their name in the credits. All help is very welcome. Thank you. (Should you wish to check Ponderabilia out to have an idea, it's listed in the Games directory and currently has several threads running in the forum)

So, you've decided to play Ponderabilia. Good for you! As the first players are grinding their way to make it to the finish first, I thought I'd provide everyone with some background. Feel free to browse this section for specific questions and answers to puzzles. I will complete it when the first player has completed it, so as not to spoil the race. Feel free to PM me with your own particular entanglements!

*Who am I?

Spoiler

Your name is Nikee, you're a colored girl of unknown age, and for some reason your body feels...awkward and new to you. Amazingly, you can put your finger right through your hand without blood or pain.

[close]

*Where am I?

Spoiler

That's up to you to find out.

[close]

*What's the point of Ponderabilia?

Spoiler

Finding out where you are, who you are and what the frak you're supposed to do.

[close]

*Who's Steve?

Spoiler

Steve is very important to you, and holds the answer to every question. If you manage to talk to Steve, you win the game. Only the Shaman can arrange the two of you meeting.

[close]

*What do I do with an oscillator?

Spoiler

It vibrates. That may come in handy once you need to build a pleasure device. Of course, it's pretty barebones without a shaft of some sort…

[close]

*What does the “P” above the door stand for?

Spoiler

Perceptions. This part of the locale is devoted entirely to perceived sensory impulses.

[close]

*What does the “LE” above the door stand for?

Spoiler

Locality exploration. It's what you need to find your way around.

[close]

*How do I talk to the brainbros?

Spoiler

You noticed how something's lacking in the head department. Maybe you ought to find a replacement.

[close]

*I'd like to talk to the robot, but I can't. What am I missing?

Spoiler

The robot is just an empty computer. You need to find some personality to put in. There's probably some personality lying around stored on a harddrive or something.

[close]

*I found my way to the house, but I'm stuck now.

Spoiler

Did you give looking at the couch a shot?

[close]

*Who is Ankou?

Spoiler

In Celtic mythology, Ankou is a figure who drives around a cart full of stones. Each stone represents a dead person he visited. The Ankou you meet in Ponderabilia has evolved, and only carries pebbles.

[close]

*Seriously, I can't fix that drink Ankou keeps talking about!

Spoiler

Have you tried the Bartender's Black book? It's full of interesting recipes. Steve kept it over near the brainbros.

[close]

*How the fridge do I get to the attic

Spoiler

I'm not telling you. That's the easiest puzzle in the game.

[close]

*OK, I found the attic (no thanks to you) and I'm stuck at Steve's self-defense mechanism. Now what?

Spoiler

All mechanicals have a control panel. Some even have a remote.

[close]

*Why can't I take the weapons in the weapon room?

Spoiler

Because I didn't feel like animating each and every one of them. You may want to use the remote again for a big surprise, tho.

[close]

*I found my way to Syph, but he tells me I'm missing the skills

Spoiler

I'm sure the brainbros could help you out. One of them is quite skilled indeed.

[close]

*I found my way to Syph, but I'm unprotected

Spoiler

Think about protected sex. Then think about unprotected sex with the vilest, most disgusting creature.

[close]

*I found my way to Syph, but I'm missing the tool

Spoiler

Maybe you ought to make one yourself? There ought to be some stuff in Tesla's lab you could use.

[close]

*I'm trying to convince Syph, but he keeps kicking me out of bed.

Spoiler

That's because you're not listening to what your Master told you. Remember: One Sole Job, the Australian Queen, the Sister Anna and finally the Floating Sieve.

[close]

*What is One Sole Job?

Spoiler

A sexual technique with pedal excitation.

[close]

*What is the Australian Queen?

Spoiler

Much like a regular Queen, but upside down.

[close]

*What is the Sister Anna?

Spoiler

Remember Bluebeard? Sister Anna was the one keeping watch from the tower.

[close]

*What is the Floating Sieve?

Spoiler

Why does a sieve sink? Because it's full of holes. Now multiply by the airspeed velocity of an unladen African swallow.

[close]

These are the first hints. More to show up soon. Feel free to ask me your own questions!

You wake up in a dark room, and you have no idea where you are or what is happening. If you liked Space Quest, Larry, King's Quest or Hero Quest, this is a game for you (and, man, you're pretty old...)! I created Ponderabilia from scratch and it took me about 14 years. So if you're in for an adventure, dive right in!

This is a link to the .exe file. Keep in mind that this is an executable created with Adventure Game Studio, and not every platform handles these files... gracefully.

Anyway, hope this works for you guys, and enjoy!

Ponderabilia 2.0 version notes:
*Sound! Gorgeous music by the amazing Handsfree, Sean A. McCabe, and Clément Reviriego, AGS-ers all.
*Two (That's right! 2!) alternate endings.
*More nudity, more cursing, more stupidity.
*A possible high score of 406
*Fixed the De Sade bug
*Fixed the cocktail mixing weirdness
*Fixed the "I'm stuck in a room and I don't know where the door is" problem by adding more doors.
*Fixed the "Where the hell is the electrical closet" by making it so wide it's nearly impossible not to fall in.
*Added easter eggs (so hidden I'll have to look up myself where I put 'm in the first place. I'm much like a squirrel that way...)
*Added extra hints to help you advance through the game
*Countless little nits and fixes
*Added Herobrine

This image contains pixel nudity. Viewer's discretion advised.

Spoiler

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