Messages

Hey, thanks for your replies.

James Kay: hmm, Pyromania I will probably have to change the explosion anyway since I'm not too happy with it. Rastering seems like way to go, thanks. This game will be ported to various devices with different screen size so I'm keeping it simple and I want as much GFX to be reusable as possible.

blackman890: The vehicle is that big due to aforementioned planned ports, the same will be used for series 60 phones with 176x208 resolution. The design will be probably changed a bit since only when I was designing the splash screen I got the grip on how it should look like.

Mr. Colossal, Gilbot: some darkening of background is in order as well as lightening the ground a bit so that the contrast is a bit tad higher, it's necessary for gameplay.

New splash: (shading on the alien is off but it just looked better this way... maybe I'll keep it)

Well, some update, I would like to hear some CnC:

Emamples of explosions:



Nev vehicle design plus some enemies:



Splash screen (still very much work in progress)



What do you think? Be harsh as customers will be for sure...

It is worth playing, very atmospheric. I recommend it.

As for resolution, 128 x 128 happens to be resolution of Nokia Series 40 cellphones which are most common colour screen mobile handsets. These phones work with 4096 colours. The game will be probably ported to other phones as well (Siemens, Motorola) which have different display size so some tweaks are in order. Some devices work with 256 colour palette only thus I'm trying to keep number of colours down. Most mobile java games are up to 100kB due to limitations of certain handsets so I am also restricted to 40kB limit for all the GFX. As for animations there will be some minor background ones (flag wawing etc.) but not much. The vehicle and aliens will be fully animated as in Moon Patrol. No paralax scrolling tho, it would be too a tough job for mobile java so far.

Blackman: there is a mobile adventure game on the market already, don't know the exact name but it's based on X-Files .

It's going to be a mobile java (J2ME) game. This probably requires quite a profound knowledge of coding but hey, I am just graphics artist. It will probably take some time untill someone makes AGS like tool for mobile phones users.

Hi,

I should be working on MIA now, I know... and I am (don't worry, Foz) and I hope to bring you something MIA-related soon.

But for now, let me show you something different. It's not adventure related but still I would appreciate your feedback.

I was asked to do graphics for a mobile phone game (Moon Patrol remake)and I accepted. Yes, it's paid.

Now, I have no experience in pixel art but I gave it a try:

Original size



2x



It is not yet finished, sky could use some shading, the vehicle too and there are no enemies yet but what do you think? Would you like to play a game looking like this on your phone? Is there anything wrong with the picture?

Tear it apart, please, it' s going to be (hopefuly) a commercial product.

jaz


EDIT: New splash on the second page.

EDIT EDIT: more updates on second page

Where did you hear about that, Farl? I can't find any info on this. I hope it's not true.

I have some alluminum 19??s from ww2 with swastikas on them, really dont know where they are tho, any guesses of their value

Not much more than value of the alloy, keep it as a curiosity. If you have a load of them, you can maybe sell it for a couple of bucks overseas only tho, tho since these are plentiful in Europe. Check this for reference:

http://www.epier.com/biddingform.asp?1017982

I have some Third Reich coins too and even big silver 1934 5 Reichmarks is not worth more than $7.

I used to collect pre WWII inflation German banknotes to use them as wall decorations. Heh, 10.000.000.000 Reichmarks anyone?

Yes, this game is still in production and it will be released sooner or later. The fact is that speed of development dropped, especially after Coup de Cup. Also we both, foz and me are working people with not much free time on our hands and personally I've been pretty bussy as of late and so is foz I suppose. I expect to have more free time come October so there will be hopefully some work done and progress to show

Let me assure you that there is so much already done that it could be released within week or two, but we don't want to disappoint your expectations.

But let me stress this once more: IT WILL BE RELEASED!

This is Indian Head Penny, worth about $3 - $5 ($5 in VF condition) unless it has something extra, like double die (slightly doubled lines, imperfection caused during minting), then these can be worth up to $ 50. This photo is not detailed enough to say but it seems like it' s an ordinary piece so $ 5 max. Still 500 times more than it's nominal value though...

In general it's safe to say you'll be best off with soap, water, towel, toothbrush and lots of patience.

For some tips look for example here:

http://mikewd.fws1.com/cleaning.html

Techniques vary depending on materials used, which means silver coins need to be cleaned in different way than for example copper ones.

It's absolutely gorgeous (as always) I can't wait for RotHS to come out. I like concept art maybe even more than finished pictures. What surprises me is that so few people post their reactions... every n00b posting eye-bleedingly coloured empty box as his first BG gets way more replies... Strange.

As far as I know this is so called "Seated Liberty" silver dime. This piece is of less than perfect quality but still well preserved.

There were three varieties of these coins 1843, 1843 1843/1843 and 1843O
Depending on quality prices are as follows:

Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  GÃ,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  VGÃ,  Ã,  Ã, FÃ,  Ã,  Ã,  VFÃ,  Ã,  EFÃ,  Ã,  Ã, AUÃ,  Ã,  MS60Ã,  Ã, MS65Ã,  Ã,  Prf.

1843Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  $8.77Ã,  $9.37Ã,  $10Ã,  $17Ã,  $45Ã,  $175Ã,  $260Ã,  $2,550Ã,  Ã, 
1843 1843/1843Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  $9Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã, $12Ã,  Ã,  Ã, $18Ã,  $30Ã,  $75Ã,  $200Ã,  $295Ã,  Ã, 
1843OÃ,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  $35Ã,  Ã,  Ã, $65Ã,  Ã,  $125 $250$700$2,000Ã,  Ã, 

The letters stand for Good, Very Good, Fine, Very Fine, Extra Fine, About Uncirculated, Proof

You can find grade guide here:

http://www.littletoncoin.com/grading_guide.htm

From my nonexpert opinion it seems like your coin is somewhere between Very Fine and Extra Fine thus depending on type it's worth anywhere between $17 and $ 75. If you are lucky in this case (which is unlikely but not impossible) it can be 1843O and then you could cash as much as $700. (I'm not sure about these dents on the rim, may turn it to Fine coin only)

Anyway, it has some price but ask an expert before you decide to sell it.

As for worldwide known celebrities I met, there were only few.

I met Marriah Carrey at JFK
I had a smalll talk with UK's first lady Mrs. Cherrie Blair while she visited our office. (Of coure she said Tonny is about the loveliest man in the world )
I have visited several live performances of various known artists but never got in touch vith these guys.

But there is one more story that is worth telling:

Almost ten years ago me and my friends formed a team and we started to make an adventure game. At this time there was nothing like real game industry in our country (Czech republic) and virtually no games in Czech, only foreign titles. We saw an ad in computer games magazine â€" it was something like: Are you working on a game? Do you want to earn shitloads of money?? Check with us!!! So we did as suggested. We hopped on the bus with our concept and some promo stuff and arrived to the company's headquarters which turned out to be two small  rooms at the first floor of a small suburban house. In first room was a guy looking like gigolo fiercely playing NHL hockey  on his PC. He gestured to us to sit down and when the third period was over he finally turned his attention to us. „Whaddaya have, guys?“ he said. It turned out he was the owner of the company. We showed him our stuff and he was excited. (Remember, local commercial games at this time looked like an average AGS game today so what we brought in ROCKED!  ) We signed a contract the very same day! A commercial game contract! After we made a deal, we just played games for hours and hours and had a fucking good time. When we were leaving he gave us about ten boxes with newest games (like Full Throttle!!!) for „reference“.

This guy called to my home about twice a week how the things were going and I was keeping him updated, we visited him a couple more times and met guys from other teams…Fun times.

Sadly we realised that a full length game was too much for us and the team broke up.

Who was this guy, you might want to know. Well I will tell you. It was no one else than………… PETR VOCHOZKA!!! Yes that was him!!! ………….. Wait…. you don't know who he is? Hmmm….

Well a few years after he founded a company you might know, he is a founder and CEO of Illusion Softworks, authors of Mafia, Hidden and Dangerous and other AAA titles, one of the other teams we met there made Vietkong. …

I sometimes feel like I have missed a chance .

EDIT:

thanks for the invite.

Apprentice II: The Knight's Move – a wonderful adventure

Interesting , thrilling and in all respects elaborated story, detailed 2D hand drawn graphics. Is this what you consider to be a perfect adventure game? If so you will find pleasure in Apprentice II since it has it all.

If you think that a quality freeware title can be made only by fair and square programming, this well crafted adventure game will completely undeceive you

The ever spreading Adventure Game Studio was used as a development tool. AGS was used for making of many titles including Czech Bill de Bill or Chmelnica.

Perfect intro will introduce you into the story. A stoned hobo tells you how miserable things in the village are these days,. You can see for yourself that most buildings are scorched and just few remaining nonplussed inhabitants evil Lord Ironcrow didn't manage to catch so far are running around

As a last resort the hobo turns to wise sorcerer who is living in the tower on the top of the hill. Before he manages to explain everything he drops unconscious due to heavy alcohol intoxication…

Conversation between sorcerer and his apprentice is then disturbed by arrival of  arch enemy – Lord Ironcrow. His goal is to recruit Pib for his army, something his master and teacher can't allow. The bad guy leaves but promises to be back . After this unpleasant incident both, apprentice and sorcerer return to their beds to get some more good sleep.

When the first rays of sunlight appear, young apprentice wakes up and you take control over him. You hesitate at first as if the events of last night were just a dream but your master confirms that, sadly,  it all was true. Your only chance is to become a real sorcerer which of course won't be easy. To reach the goal you will have to fulfil three quandary tasks. You take everything you need from your bedroom and set off to nearby village.

Apart from village you can visit a couple of other locations by choosing from the map. Because Apprentice II is a classic point and click adventure, virtually,all your actions will be executed by mouse buttons. Right mouse button cycles between pick up, use and look at commands.

As for technical side of the game – there is almost nothing to complain about. Apprentice II is 2D adventure game but the backgrounds are superb and sound is top notch.

But main asset of this game is story that will suck you into the game and wont let your attention wander away. The story unfolds continually through lenghty conversations. Sometimes a grain of humour appears in dialogues but even though the story is quite serious it always fits the situation perfectly.

All in all this project is quite successful which every freeware fan shouldn't miss. It's worth trying even though the download is huge.

Ben Jordan 2 – A case of lost treasure galleon

Second instalment of adventure series featuring paranormal investigator Ben Jordan brings player to desert lake which, according to the old tale, holds a galleon with treasure. Will Ben find the ship and save lost George Robertson?

Most people meet paranormal phenomena only in TV series or mystery dedicated magazines. But then there are people  who are more lucky – and we are not talking weirdos, mediums or guys with supernatural powers (acquired mostly due to mutation). For Ben Jordan - a cool American guy strange phenomena, living myths and various hazardous situations are his daily bread. Ben Jordan is P.I. but in this case the abbreviation doesn't stand for Private Investigator but for Paranormal Investigator. And a pretty busy one. Not that long ago he had to deal with stinking ape murdering people in Everglades and now the fortune leads him to the desert lake Salton Sea.

Small town of Dunesberg, CA lays at the very edge of  large and hostile desert. The town itself is a sleepy hollow nobody would care about if there wasn't something special about it which draws tourists to this place. An old legend is told in the town  that Spanish galleon with huge treasure sailed the Salton Sea – and found it's doom in  lake's salty waters

Many explorers and adventurers searched for the galleon but with no success. Even local folk don't believe it actually exists. Except few. George Robertson set off to search for the ship – and disappeared. His loved significant other didn't waste any time and called the most respected capacity. Ben Jordan is back in action.

Ben Jordan: Paranormal Investigator Case 2: The Lost Galleon of the Salton Sea is (except from being hot favourite of longest adventure game title contest) again a perfect series title.

X- File influence is apparent. Story of lost galleon is about twice as long as the first game and will keep you  entertained for an hour, maybe a bit longer.

Plot is clever ansd suspense, even puzzles are not that  primitive and straightforward as in Stinking Ape. The story is a bit more serious which is good

There are no problems with controls and it seems like Ben Jordan 2 took all what was good from the first part, only now the game is longer and more challenging.

As for graphics, it's very good at some places, but it looks like bigger number of locations caused that many are just average and not very visually appealing. Those really good ones – like the room at the very beginning, pharmacy or bar are lost in average of the rest. I must also complain about the character sprite again – it doesn't have face and also his animation could use some tweaking. On the other hand the music is qite good, mysterious and fits the mood of the locations well

Overaly Ben Jordan 2 is indeed a bit better than the first part but there is certainly place for improvement for next instalments. But it doesn't change anything on fact that we are looking forward to see them

Walkthrough is available.

Ben Jordan: Paranormal Investigator – A Case of  Stinking Ape

First instalment of excellent X-Files and mystery magazines inspired adventure series brings us complicated case of serial murder  and also a myth of Stinking Ape, starring private eye, Ben Jordan. Will he find out what really happened?

Private detective Ben Jordan is a brand new hero of freeware adventure scene. This distinct character should be a link between series of shorter adventure games. In each game Ben will face one mysterious case. Ben is not an ordinary detective – he specialises in mysteries and paranormal phenomena. The author Francisco Gonzales didn't hesitate to confess that he was heavily inspired by Fox Mulder, Dana Scully and whole X –Files series. Even though Ben doesn't resemble Fox much he is equally brave, sceptic and willing to fight. Burt enough about Ben, let's take a look at his very first adventure.

The case is intricate and obscure. The title In the Search of the Skunk-Ape foreshadows that Ben will have to deal with some quite stinking monkey. The odour of aforementioned ape is not what bothers Everglades National Park folks. It's more likely it's habit of murdering people. Nobody who saw it in the forest survived. Disgustingly mutilated corpses of two national park employees were already found – just about time to call Ben Jordan. He sets off for Everglades to find that the situation is quite serious. The man who called him is dead as well already and Florida Everglades headquarters is seized with fear. Everybody is aware of one thing. To go to the jungle is hazardous plying with life.

Ben Jordan: Paranormal Investigator Case 1: In Search of the Skunk-Ape is a perfect part of the series. It's a bit shorter bud well thought out game which doesn't put much obstacles in the player's  way through, but thanks to interesting and mysterious story it keeps the attention of player to the very end. Most puzzles require logical thinking (maybe except shark tooth puzzle) and the author successfully avoided adventure clichés. Controls are of AGS standard, which means not the top of the line interface but convenient  Sierra remakes – like changing cursor (Larry VGA or KQ VGA) Inventory and save/load work properly.

Graphics wise Ben Jordan is a slightly over the average of freeware adventure games. Some backgrounds are very well coloured but the main character lacks detail (his in game sprite  practically doesn't have face) and some locations seem a bit rushed and empty. What deserves attention though are dialogue windows which bring detail view of NPC. This gives the game a lot more character.
 
The conclusion: Ben Jordan: Paranormal Investigator Case 1: In Search of the Skunk-Ape (quite lengthy title, huh?) is really nice shorter adventure game that offers suspense, entertainment and makes you want to see the sequel.

The walkthrough is also available

Is it? Really??? Woohoo!!!


Downloading now!

Once you have a good reason why not to build a boat a makeshift aircraft seems like cool idea but there is a couple of weak points (provided you want your game to be at least a bit realistic).

Firstly, it's not by any means easy to build a real flying machine, not to mention it would have to be done practically without tools (but there could be some basic ones in crashed copter's toolkit). So the character should have some aviation knowledge (preferably an aircraft constructor )   

As for aircraft itself, there are two options: a propelled aircraft or a glider.

If you go for a propelled aircraft, you obviously need some sort of propulsion. An engine is unlikely to be found on deserted island, except maybe the one from crashed copter (but this one is waaay too big for the purpose). Hmmmm… how about a human propelled aircraft then?  Well, it is possible but this had been a dream of many generations and it took a long scientific research and high-end materials were used before the first HPA took off in as late as 1961. Now, it wouldn't be much plausible to build one singlehandedly  from palm leaves and bamboo shots, would it?

Should you go for a glider, it would make things more plausible. It's not a cutting edge machine and with good knowledge of aviation it could be possible to build a makeshift one. Also only things you need to take off and fly is a suitable slope and two legs.  Hang gliders are normally constructed of rip-stop nylon or mylar over an aluminum frame but some “modifications” should be acceptable. Frame can be wooden or made from some parts of helicopter. Then you need some suitable fabric, which can be found in copter cargo (a parachute, a load of Chinese silk or stuff like that :-)

You may think that a glider is not suitable for longer range flights, but hang glider distance record is now over 700 km and even recreation pilots can fly a couple of hundreds staying in air for more than three hours, enough to get off almost anywhere.

The mystique of ancient civilisations would be lost but hey… he can find ANOTHER artefact to even build next story around.

Kinda lenghty but I hope it helps.

jaz