Star Serum - Sci Fi Game Dev Log (Beefy_Clyro)
beefy_clyro
Member Posts: 5,394
Hello 
Im seeing light at the end of a very long tunnel ... This is how I'm feeling right now, so much so that i believe now is the right time to do this thread.
Basically, over a year ago (could probably find the stat if i looked it up), i embarked on a big Sci Fi game. I wanted several core elements and the whole thing to be wrapped in a story. I need to stress this now, it wasn't a year of continuous work, i kept going back and forth, it seemed a huge task and i kept struggling with motivation. All motivation was seemingly wiped out once i did a GS update and found my whole project (well, the one and only element i had worked on) got screwed up! I had emailed GS and they told me i had to go back through and manually recreate all the images that had been messed up, to me, that seemed mega. I shelved the game for a long time until the guy who done some of the music emailed for an update on my progress, it made me look back and made me actually determined to sort it. Once i dug into the project, it didn't take very long to fix at all really, i just built it up in my head it was going to be a massive task on already a BIG project. So, yeh, cheers for the push Ryan
Wrapping up the workflow here as to not to bore you, i fixed the above mentioned part and have since got another 2 parts completed. So i have 3 areas done, need 2 more main gameplay areas, some more story and all the internal menu screens, at that point, its testing, testing, testing!
Theme - The story of the game will be told by comic book style images. Once the action starts its a 3d look and feel.
Story - QS has helped with the 1st part of the story so i'd like to thank him for his contribution there, i will be using his services again as i add more story and will definitely be getting him to do my apps description. He smells a little funny, especially after a vindaloo but man, he has a way with words
So i dont want to give too much away so I'm just going to shut my mouth anytime soon. When i think about it more or you have questions, i'll give out a little more. For now, i'll give you some tasters;
Heres a little trailer I have put together, the final trailer will show more action and I think i will do away with most of the text except the obvious;
All comments/feedback etc are welcomed
Im seeing light at the end of a very long tunnel ... This is how I'm feeling right now, so much so that i believe now is the right time to do this thread.
Basically, over a year ago (could probably find the stat if i looked it up), i embarked on a big Sci Fi game. I wanted several core elements and the whole thing to be wrapped in a story. I need to stress this now, it wasn't a year of continuous work, i kept going back and forth, it seemed a huge task and i kept struggling with motivation. All motivation was seemingly wiped out once i did a GS update and found my whole project (well, the one and only element i had worked on) got screwed up! I had emailed GS and they told me i had to go back through and manually recreate all the images that had been messed up, to me, that seemed mega. I shelved the game for a long time until the guy who done some of the music emailed for an update on my progress, it made me look back and made me actually determined to sort it. Once i dug into the project, it didn't take very long to fix at all really, i just built it up in my head it was going to be a massive task on already a BIG project. So, yeh, cheers for the push Ryan
Wrapping up the workflow here as to not to bore you, i fixed the above mentioned part and have since got another 2 parts completed. So i have 3 areas done, need 2 more main gameplay areas, some more story and all the internal menu screens, at that point, its testing, testing, testing!
Theme - The story of the game will be told by comic book style images. Once the action starts its a 3d look and feel.
Story - QS has helped with the 1st part of the story so i'd like to thank him for his contribution there, i will be using his services again as i add more story and will definitely be getting him to do my apps description. He smells a little funny, especially after a vindaloo but man, he has a way with words
So i dont want to give too much away so I'm just going to shut my mouth anytime soon. When i think about it more or you have questions, i'll give out a little more. For now, i'll give you some tasters;
Heres a little trailer I have put together, the final trailer will show more action and I think i will do away with most of the text except the obvious;
All comments/feedback etc are welcomed
Comments
Now thats a trailer!
The art work is amazing
I for one am going to keep an eye on your progress with much interest. :-)
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http://davidgriffinapps.co.uk/
""You are in a maze of twisty passages, all alike." - Zork temp domain http://spidergriffin.wix.com/alphaghostapps
May the force be with you!
Lump Apps and My Assets
The force certainly is with me
Just interested, that's all.
1 - I had trouble reading the text. It goes by too fast.
2 - Arrogant hand movements... I think the video would have been better without the beginning and ending gestures.
3 - The timing on the transitions could be smoother.
4 - The video effects outshines the game itself.
Another concern... can people just put light sabers in their game?
Overall, it seems like an interesting idea... a sci-fi adventure game. I think the problem there is maintaining a consistent look throughout the project. It's an ambitious project. I can totally understand the feeling to give up. Heh, but that cool background music should help to keep you motivated.
I think this game has potential, but don't forget to polish the game. That last 5% can make a big difference. It could mean the difference between a good game and a great game.
1. Yup, the text simply does not work, thats why in the 1st post i mentioned i wasn't sure on it and that this will come out. A picture should paint a 1000 words so a series of pictures and videos should show all.
2. Meh, maybe, i'll think about it, as it is, I'm more or less happy with it.
3. Now your just being picky
4. As does 99% of game trailers on the PS3, thats what makes me purchase those games though. Im not entirely sure if the whole 'lightsaber' thing will cause problems. As mentioned 'Project Saber' is just its WIP name, it is never in game referenced as a lightsaber and was a custom design. I could argue how can a lot of similar things be used in games and films etc after ones use but we'll see what happens.
It certainly is an ambitious project as you stated but come the end of it, regardless of what happens, i'll be proud to have it in my portfolio. I've put a lot of time, money and effort into it so I want it to be something I'm proud of. That background music is actually the music you'll hear in game on the menu, providing it all fits once the menu's done, i have a temp one at the moment and it works well enough so should be cool.
Completely understand what you are saying about polish and I'm certainly trying to reach a decent level of polish, however, a lot of polish can be achieved with effects etc and on everything done so far its running dangerously close to its limits on RAM and FPS.
are u from london uk?
The only issue with the trailer is the text is hard to read, and I can't really see the screenshots too well, but it looks outstanding otherwise! Look forward to this!
@liquid - oh yes
@butterbean - thank you, the text is definitely going. I tried to add it so you guys would get a better sense of what was going on. It will be removed on final trailer which will also reveal some more gameplay from the other bits im yet to work on!
So, how does it end? Oh.
OH!
Er... give me a mo'... er...
Ok... how's this?
It ends in fire!
And/or the butler did it!
Phew!
QS
Dr. Sam Beckett never returned home...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Quantum_Sheep
Web: https://quantumsheep.itch.io
im from Dartford in Kent about an hour to get to London by train. Was interested in doing a London meet up. but don't think many people here are from the UK
@veira - yeh darren has organised a few, keep an eye out
So i've been working on part 5 of the game, the final mission! Im pleased the majority of the mechanics are now setup.
Without revealing too much, the final mission is a dual stick, top down shooter. Im not massively a fan of dual sticks normally but it does work and is what i wanted for the final mission.
All the enemies are doing what i want and when i want, all the controls are setup, life system is in place and i have now began work on the power ups. Im not sure exactly how many power ups i plan to include yet, i have done the code for two so far, i have four planned i definitely want, but overall, i think i probably want a good six.
The final mission is fun, it gets fast, frantic and certainly tense. I haven't made my mind up on how it will end yet, i know roughly what i want but currently toying with ideas and thinking about the best way to implement it.
Even though people said they couldn't read the text, I liked the "3D" depth effect of it :0)
Sounds like you are on the right track with steering away from actual Lightsaber confusion, name wise. If you really wanted to cover your butt, you could make the handle more sword like and the blade more sword shaped but that's your call of course. There's a small risk Lucasfilm might state because it looks like a Lightsaber it could confuse the public and therefore infringe on their property.
Not sure though but it might be worth researching that more before you go too far down that road (it's okay, I don't work for Lucasfilm anymore, lol).
Looking forward to seeing more about your game. Thanks for sharing and good luck with it all!
Mike
Dr. Sam Beckett never returned home...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Quantum_Sheep
Web: https://quantumsheep.itch.io
~t
As for the whole lightsaber thing, i am definitely taking it into consideration. Maybe i'll leave it as is and if i get any hassle from Lucas, i'll have a plan to remove it and update with an idea similar to what you suggested immediately. Personally, I don't think it is infringing as its custom work, it isn't referenced as a Lightsaber etc, but then again, I'm not a lawyer either so i don't know how much of a hold they could have on this. Life is a trap my friend, like a sheep being penned in by a border collie doing its job
Thanks for the encouraging words, it certainly feels like its getting there, realistically theres still lots to do but i can see that light ... Its not a race though, its been on and off for a long time now so I'm happy to just keep chipping away and it'll be done when its ready.
Darren.
Just something to be weary of. Otherwise it all looks great.
Dr. Sam Beckett never returned home...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Quantum_Sheep
Web: https://quantumsheep.itch.io
I'm shocked I even have to type that... :O
QS
Dr. Sam Beckett never returned home...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Quantum_Sheep
Web: https://quantumsheep.itch.io