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Somebody posted an article a little while ago about the future of adventure games and what they need to do to 'evolve'.

It really got me thinking ...

I completely reworked the dynamics of a game I'm working on because of it.Ã,  I have decided to make the game completely non-linear.Ã,  You can go anywhere you want (almost) at any time (almost).Ã,  There are, obviously, some limitations (you can't go somewhere at the beginning of the game that you don't yet know about IE, if you are playing the game a second time you can't type in the coordinates to the 'secret' place even if you know them from playing before (because they change each time you play!!))

I am also scripting in much more in-depth character interactions.Ã,  How you treat NPCs throughout the game will effect a) the ending of the game and b) how they'll help/hurt you throughout the game.Ã,  Say, for instance, you are rude to 'John Doe' character towards the beginning of the game, then when you meet him again later on you continue being rude, at some point in the game if you need his help he'll tell you to bugger off.Ã,  But if you had been nicer to him earlier in the game, he would have helped you out!Ã, 

And always being nice isn't the answer either because some characters will take offense if you 'coddle' them ... so it's going to be quite interesting to see how this plays out.

What does this have to do with this topic?

Well, I feel that that's basically what RPGs have done to remain so strong in 'market' place.Ã,  People are still playing RPGs because they have 'evolved' where (most) adventure games have not.Ã,  And all of us here at AGS (or rather a vast majority) prove that point daily.Ã,  We still use 320x200 graphics!!Ã,  While I love the retro ... it's not moving forward and is why, I think, the genre has dropped off the scene.

Don't get me wrong ... if Adventures never get back to prominance, and the AGS community stays on as it has I'd be more than happy.Ã,  I rather like being 'underground' and 'retro' as it were.Ã,  But at the same time, I'd really like to see an Adventure game rock the world again!

I think the next step that would be cool, would be to make a true, 3D, adventure game.Ã,  I've fiddled about with the Half-Life level editor (a few years ago) and with the programming aspect you could really make a kick ass FPAG (First Person Adventure Game) ... or with Max Payne 2's level editor and scripting engine you could make a kick ass TPAG (Third person adventure game) which I think is the better option.

It's not focused on runnin'n'gunnin' ... you must solve puzzles, find clues, hide, stealth, travel, etc.Ã,  And then occasionally you might have to use a gun (or a bat, bow & arrow, staff, club, etc.)Ã,  Basically it's just an adventure game, but with a lush, 3D environment.

I know that's probably not too popular a thing to say ... but if done right, it could be REALLY cool.

Just some of my (scattered) thoughts ...

Nice entries by the way Darth, you know I'm leaning towards picking you as a winner

Thanks!!

You know ... normally I'd never say something like this, but I truely believe that mine really is the best entry so far.

Now this looks pretty darn good!

I do remember the crashed plane scene from awhile back in the CL!

I'm not sure I understand the plot ... but the graphics certainly look interesting enough.

Good luck wrappin' this one up!

Yes, the new details (curtains, city-scape) are really good!

Throw in the corrected perspective and this background has much potential!!

Keep it up!

You're off to a great start there!Ã,  I just added in some details/shading.



All the ground effects were achieved using a large brush on dissolve mode and just laying down some colors (not sure if you use photoshop).

The sky's color seems too ... off (even though it's for a fantasy setting) I made it more sky-ish ... so you may have wanted it more teal as you had it.Ã,  The clouds were just lines of pixels and then gausian blurred.

That's all I did, hope it helps!

I'm in a terrible rush ... so without much explanation:



Hope it helps.

Well, before adding shadows and hi-lights, I think it's more important to get the perspective correct.Ã,  And, as you have it now, it's quite off.

Here's a quick paint-over to show you what I mean:



I have added in (in varying colors) the outlines in a single vanishing point perspective.Ã,  I created the vp (vanishing point) centered and about 100 or so pixels above the top of the image (I added the extra space into photoshop then cropped out for this version).

Adding this simple vp and making the image follow it will improve your bg quite a bit.Ã,  Always remember that when you're creating a room bg like this, chances are, you're in a room like this.Ã,  Take a look around and see how things look.Ã,  What can you see through the door?Ã,  What parts of the desk are hidden from sight?Ã,  Can you see the window's ledge?Ã,  etc.

I would suggest reworking the image using better perspective, then re-post an update and then worry about shading!

Good luck and I hope this is helpful!

[Oz]

- Different colour eyes for each one.
- Try to make facial hair on one of them.
- Maybe one with bigger eye brows?

These are some very good ideas ...

subtle changes in the eyebrows could make a big difference.

Couldn't have said it better myself ...

hmmm ...

Anyway;

Oz - I decided to do a quick paint-over of Joshua as he seemed the most interesting of the bunch (to me):



- I removed the black outlines (as Evil mentioned) around the chin and (inside) hair
- added eye coloration
- altered the eyebrows
- changed the hair just a 'little'
- altered the shading on the neck
- added more of a high-light to the cheek bones (as Albert mentioned)
- altered the nose/mouth area a bit too
- took 1 pixel of height off the head
- added ears

Reminds me of the old game for the NES called 'Bionic Commando' ... and that's a good thing!

These are just suggestions!Ã,  You're off to a great start and, as I've mentioned before, for just starting out they are really excellent!

Hope it helps!

[FORUM RULES]

Ummmm ... yeah.

Please read the FORUM RULES first.

Also, there are several here (on these forums) that could probably translate for you, but this board is strictly in English.

Try altering eye color, eye brows, etc.Ã,  Maybe add some facial hair to one of them.Ã,  Stuff like that would help to differentiate one from the others.

I really like your style.Ã,  I remember your city-scape image from awhile back and these fit in nicely with it.Ã,  Excellent!

Keep it up and keep us posted!

This has nothing to do with this thread either, but Boyd:

this has nothing to do with the thread either, but you might want to know that there are to Ms in "symmetrical", for that little post thingie of yours.

The number 2 is spelled 'two'

This is fun!!!Ã,  Now somebody pick me apart

And yes, now that you mention it, they do resemble snow flakes rather than stars.

[mid-2004]

I didn't read everything on the site ... but I did read an interesting part of the FAQ that said:

"Current hopes are that FoA2 could be completed in mid-2004. Please don't take this as a definite estimate, there are too many uncertainties that prevent us from ..."Ã,  I mean, it's past that dead line but they must be relatively close to completion if they thought they'd be done this year.Ã, 

On a [cool little] side note if you scroll down and check their 'other teams' list, there's a familiar game listed in there ...

If you have the ability to capture video on your computer I would suggest doing it this way:

Capture video of the actor on a treadmill and then import it into the computer.Ã,  Break it down frame by frame and just delete all the unnecessary frames (if you capture at 30p you'll have about 50 or so frames that you can safely crop out).

If you can get a blue/green screen backdrop it'll save you sooo much time too (cropping out the backgrounds)

Other than that you'll have to just snap a lot of photos and tweak them to get them to properly line up ... which is a major hassle.Ã,  (I had a project once where I needed just this type of thing and I took lots of photos before coming up with the camera idea!)

Good luck with it!

Oh and your English is fine, and welcome the AGS forums.

The snow actually looks alright to me.  Since it's daytime in the scene I might suggest adding a little light blue to the snow, but other than that I could definately tell that it was snow.

The cloud howerver ... unless there's something 'special' about it and it's supposed to look like that, I would suggest working on that a little ... just feathering the edges might be enough, but it sure doesn't look 'billowy' to me.

Other than that, I like the scene.

Updating your old post, since the two pieces are so related, is suggested.Ã,  However, if it's a totally unrelated art subject, starting a new thread is okay.Ã,  You probably should have added this to the mix of the other thread, but don't worry about it now

I actually don't mind the ammount of stars.Ã,  It's that they're all the same color that bugs me.Ã,  I would suggest darking the sky color and altering the stars.Ã,  Make some brighter, some dimmer, etc.

If that's a drop-off (on the bottom of the image) I would suggest putting in some type of railing (for safety's sake!)

The portholes look off perspective.

I would also suggest adding some details to the grey walls.Ã,  Rivets, scratches, dirt, panel lines, etc.

Off to a good start and a big improvement from just a few weeks ago!Ã,  Keep it up!

No worries!

I was just confused.

Please add in two screenshots and all will be well

I'm going to download a little later and give a whirl!Ã,  I'll get back to you then.

~ d

[YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY!!!!]

I would just like to say ...

YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY!!!! oh and YAY!!!!!

I'm a little confused ...

Why did you start a new topic?

Is this a different remake of King's Quest III+?

Why did you double post?

Calgon ... take me away!

I have locked the old topic.

Ummmm ... welcome back?

Can't say I really remember you, but welcome back just the same.

Now make a game!

I nominate me for the UN-sexy-ist AGS goobber.Ã,  I hve no luck meeting girls and then trying to explain to then that killing people for a living is a growth industry...


C.

Do you get dental with that?