Game is progressing along well enough, but I'm kinda at the 'boring' part - I'm drawing backgrounds. Now, I rather like this part, as this is also when I code the movement between all the different rooms. So when I'm done, I've suddenly gone from a blank canvas to a world where I can walk around. For lack of a better term, the game becomes an actual game. But this part doesn't make for great blog material, as it doesn't generate any news. There's no new programming tricks I need to try & learn, and the art isn't so hot to be worth really showing off either. It's just part of the game making process that ya have to get through.
In fairness, there is actually A LOT to learn just about drawing backgrounds. It just isn't nearly as interesting as drawing boobs. ;)
So rather than talk about backgrounds, let me mention something else that's been on my mind:
(As always, ignore the pink boxes & most of the text. Just there for testing)
There's a lot more gear available now. So you'll be able to pick the weapon class you want to swing & which armor you want to wear. But this creates a new problem. None of the items were drawn with the intention of being mixed & matched.... so the characters can end up looking just ridiculous. Amoung my friends we'd say the character has been warcrafted, as this happens all the time in WoW. In the picture above the collar & the gloves are both black, so it's not terrible, but you can imagine how bad this looks with a bright blue hat. Not sexy at all.
Then again, a mop isn't exactly sexy either, so it's not like I can preach too much here. But I'm seeing some really terrible visual combinations on items players could use together. In an MMO, you just shrug & move on. In a sex game, it strikes me as a much bigger problem.
That's all for now
DirtyC101
Do pieces of armor come in sets (e.g., bright blue hat being paired with bright blue gloves and bright blue pants)? I ask because the gloves and choker in the screenshot look like they go together.
ReplyDeleteIf so, then I think it would be acceptable for items within their own set to match, while mixing sets would end up matching poorly. It would feel like an authentic RPG experience to me--you can either have "consistent" clothing at the cost of not having all the armor benefits you want, or you can have an armor setup that makes you practically invincible at the cost of making you look downright ridiculous. Yes it's a sex game, but it's also a pseudo-Action/RPG, and I don't think it'd hurt to embrace that.
Incidentally, if clothes -don't- come in sets: if you're worried about some of the more "out there" item colors being a little too... well, "out there", you could always tone it down a little. Bright Blue Hat becoming Slightly Less Bright Blue Hat, as it were.
And if all else fails, just go the Dragon Quest 8 route and make the best armor in the game a sexy bikini.
Maybe you could add some social stat (as Charisma). If clothes doesn't mix right, she could have penalties to this stat.
ReplyDeleteAnother option is designing a "best armour set" per act. When the main character has the full set, she looks great, but not so when she is mixing parts of this set with the previous one.
What programme(s) are you using to draw the backgrounds?
ReplyDeletean option to hide the accessories would probably fix the problem. definitely try to set it up so the accessories and weapons at least match with something. the held weapons like swords and stuff wont look as bad with anything
ReplyDeletewhy not an armor color changer tool? also, can you please add some kind of sandbox play? you know, where we choose the enemies and wich of the 4 parts of the grapple just for the views ;)
ReplyDeleteAlso, i'm not that worried with the ridiculous look, if you've played LOK with the custom armors, you can stand anything.
why dont you focus on drawing all you need for first act, then go to next, and then the final one
ReplyDeletethis way, later you will be able to see your progress
An idea I had was perhaps a color sampling tool that changes the main colors of any accessories to match the worn main clothing by sampling the color of the texture of the armor and copying it to the accessory. Not sure how dificult that would be to program in to your game, but it would ensure matching outfits for the Heroens.
ReplyDelete@Bonzai
ReplyDeleteI don't know about DirtyC101, but for me Flash colour filters are a pain in the ass. xD
Another option is giving players the choice of 2 or 3 different versions of the same armour part -just changing some colours- each time they complete a quest. So they decide the best look for the main character.
Release a new beta so we can "comment" about it!
ReplyDeletehaha
Yeah, a color changer, perhaps grey-toned 'base' sets that the player can put an overlay onto controlled by a shader. Or say, 4 colors for each clothing set. Click small button to cycle which item has what color. It'd have to be easier than a shader if you have the original art's file. Just palette swaps.
ReplyDeleteThere should be one playable male character just so this game can reach all kinds of people instead of just straight and bi ones, in the male specter anyways. Its just something to consider, plus all the ones against the idea will still have girl characters to play as
ReplyDeleteCan you include a INF health code into the game please?
ReplyDeleteBeing able to change item colors was something I wanted back when I was first starting. But I removed it early from the game in order to try & keep the scope manageable for me. So for this, I think I'm going to fall back on the old standby where the items match fine so long as you keep the sets together. Not ideal, perhaps something I'll come back & revisit after the game is 'done'.
ReplyDelete@Dikey
What program am I using to draw? Just Flash. With the exception of a spraycan tool, it seems to have every tool I need.
@Whisper
Little late to be adding characters, especially since a male character would require new sex animations for every monster. I've been seeing a number of requests for males, dickgirls, & girls with strap-ons though, and the animations between all three would be pretty similar. Something I'll keep in mind for later games.
DirtyC101
Aw that really sucks big time, i was really hoping to see a good porno game with a male playable character, you really dont ever see that. But maybe in the future ether you or another great game maker will incorporate a playable male character in their game.
ReplyDeleteAnyways your game looks likes its going to be great, good luck!
Hello, I loved playing your games but the french evil doer I am find they lack penetration a bit.
ReplyDeleteIndeed there is penetration but it always happend when your about to loose.
I don't want to interfere in your creating process, but according to me it would be better if beating the crap out of your adversaries wasn't the only way of winning, or you're just going to make a normal beat'em all with a sexual twist, and the less you get fucked the better it is.
So there is my suggestion. During grapple the more YOU'RE fucked the more, both you and your opponent, loose life (after all they're taking their pleasure). In opposition, when you fuck them (penetrating/sucking dominant pose :D ?) they loose life slower, but you too (and even regain it). After all machist space pirates might not be into femdom.
Speaking about something else, there is people who think I can do something with a pencil, GIMP and Inkscape, would you like me to spend some of my spare time to do graphical elements for you (doors, crates, tables, clothes) ?
P.S: English is not my mothertongue, my appologies for errors and misused expressions.
Backgrounds are....time consuming. Especially parallax backgrounds...*shudders*
ReplyDeleteAs for clothing, perhaps you could choose colors based on what stats certain items increase. If I'm a warrior and I focus on power and defense, then I'd probably be using items that increase those stats. So, you could make all the items that focus on power and defense compliment each other, and choose colors based on what items players would naturally wear together.
Anyhow, looking forward to playing the next demo, or the full game. Keep up the great work.
So for the sets i would give bonuses to players who are wearing two or more pieces in a set or armor. This would give you the chance to put rare armor at the start of the game (like one in the entire game) and reward the player for using to a later part of the game. It would also mean players are more likely to use the same set.
ReplyDelete