Image Updates

Hey peeps I'll need to keep it short because my internet is flickering on and off so I'll upload the image of the tiles, which were already on DeviantArt (Look up Trilaterus) but I'll put them here so there can be another copy of them somewhere.

I used MS Paint for this one so mind the white background, I kind of like it because of it's simplicity. Anyways I wrote these notes on a notepad while analyzing some levels so I hope they  make some sense:

There are 3 sets of tiles used in the floors of the levels:

1. The generic obviously repeated floor (the ones I mimicked for my cave floors)

2. The tiles that cover the invisible tiles
   There are a set of tiles (just think of the tileset that built up the path in AdvanceMap, you needed up, down, left, right, the corners and the inside corners.
   Same with this except there are two variants of each tile/most tiles and an invisible tile behind that, which can be used to accurately make maps.

3. Using the 'tiled background' feature in Construct there is a layer full of random square block images tiled in the empty space between paths/ceilings and the edges of the screen


This combination should create the look of an art style platformer while maintaining the accuracy of a tile based platformer.

So yeah I did do a sheet labeling which tile is which but I would need to export that to show you and that's kind of long :O

So yeah now my plan is to get a grip on Construct slightly and start doing the boring technical part of measuring everything up, I'll need to choose a display size that is effective and I'll need to see if I can put on a lock/clip/guideline that'll make placing the tiles more easier.

Hopefully this saves and publishes, so peeps I'll see you next level! :)

Problications

Hey peeps, this will be a really short post because I'm doing it on my phone! What? Why would he need to do it on his phone? Why does it have to be so short?  Well I've had a tough time putting hours into project Eternality because I've had cousins staying over... Younger than me. So I hope you can imagine the amount of torturous playing on the PS3 I had to do. I calculated (for once) the amount of hours I put in today and it was 1. Yup, 1. On the bright side I got a ton of work done, I've finished the cave floor tiles and have started deconstructing the art style overlay. Yeah this isn't going to be interesting because I can't show you sprites because... Yeah you should know. 

Sorry peeps but this level has been very dry. At least with the app I can blog even if I don't do anything noteworthy. It'll makes feel guilty for the next day. So on that note, I will see you next level. 

Inspritations

Hey peeps, sorry I've not blogged in like a few days. If I don't it's because I'm busy or because I haven't done anything noteworthy to share. I'd still like to write what happened in my day but most of the time I don't get a chance because I leave my blogging till the end of the day, then I'm too tired to want to write and everyone else in the house is sleeping and I feel bad tip tapping along.

But enough with apologies and baloney let's get to some work I've actually done!

I can't stress enough how much "The Iconoclasts" has inspired me, I've downloaded both alphas and I'm forcing myself to pace my way through the old version (that means no, I haven't played to the end of the 2011 alpha, just the freezing end of the 2012 one). It is a majorly awesome game and is literally my exact aim to be like that. As in an entirely one man band making an awesome game, and by awesome game I mean a game that fully complies with Raph Kosters theory of fun (another major inspiration of mine!). It has a gripping plot, intuitive gameplay and to top it all off some outstanding graphical design. So I'm admitting now, if my game resembles Iconoclasts, then it is because it is a huge motivator for me right now and if it wasn't for that game, I might not have made more progress for weeks.

So onto what I did today, I'm sure my writing is all over the place but, yeah who cares about that. I did say that I need to change the Old Man character so I did attempt to do that, I'm still not pleased with the version I have now but I can't improve it at the moment so I decided to move onto the next task which was creating the cave floor tiles. If you actually read the story synopsis (I think I might have mentioned it :S) but the player starts in a cave, so I thought I should work on the tileset for the cave. I'm running out of time just writing this blog so I'll keep it short and explain it tomorrow, I'll keep it so short that I'll upload the sprites that I've done and say goodbye!

And yup before you ask the first line of mud like tile things are from Iconoclasts :P

Well I can't exactly remember how I ended it last time but I'll just wing it I guess,

See you peeps next level :D

New Adult and Child Sprite!

Hello guys it's me again! Just a quick list of things I think I should mention that I didn't in the first post:
1. This game simply put is a 2D Adventure Platformer with some puzzle elements
2. My parents are not evil as I may have made them out to be, they are supportive and kind. Although if/when they find out I'm most probably going to fail then the demons from within them will rise and crush me
C. I know the entirety of the blog looks kind of bleak, I really want to make it epic so people look at it and go "Wow, I should really actually read some of these HUGE blocks of text!"
D. I should get around to writing out a proper brief of the game, I'll set a word limit and do research into other peoples game intros and stuff and put it somewhere
E. I should number/letter my lists appropriately

I know I said that I don't go through my posts but that was the first one so I was a bit nervous that I had left stuff out. And of course I did.

Ok before I spoil you with sprites and images of stuff I guess I should tell you that I'm on DeviantArt! "Yay" say "It's not that big of a deal!" I say. I guess it's for people who don't necessarily read this and skip to the art. Do people do that? Meh if you do than watch me on dA! [Trilaterus on deviantART]

Now what did I do today in regards to Eternality? Well my plan was to get the three sprites (that is child, adult and old characters) all done ready for criticism on various forums or just straight up animating. Although I'd probably start working on my cave tiles and backgrounds before animating anything. But yeah that kind of happened, I worked on the adult and child and got them complete with relative ease (the hand drawn design really helped) but I need to do the old version again because, well... he isn't facing the right way. I know it's a silly mistake but I've done it now let's just sort it out... weeeeell maybe tomorrow. Here are the two sprites and their respective large versions (I work on them in their original size then enlarge them so you can see them kind of better so if there are a few pixels off in the enlarged version then whoops!):

Now the reason why the adult version is rocking a chain one of the versions is because I was thinking that there had to be some key factor that made sure the player easily recognizes that these are all the same person. So what came to mind were things like: similar hair, similar clothes or a unique accessory. If this was any other games I could have given him a unique and wicked looking weapon of some form but he doesn't really use weapons. Well unless you count the walking stick in the old version. So if you have any ideas then feel free to comment :)

Now I would give more information about the game but I don't want to end up having nothing to write... I guess I should work hard enough everyday so I do have something to write!

So since we are talking about all three characters as one person as the main function of the game the player can choose what age the character is at. Now as to when he can change and where he can change and to what age he can change to is a different thought process that is still being, well processed. But what is clear is that each age has a few abilities that the other ages cannot do or cannot do as well, for example:

In oldest age the character had learnt the ability to use levitation, use this ability to solve various puzzles or potentially knock enemies out cold!

At adult age the character is most strong, having the most health (if a health system is in place and if it is it'll have to be in percentage so it scales equally between ages) and jumping and running the fastest. His main perk will most probably be to climb climbable walls and such

At child age the player will be able to crawl. Yup that's all I can think of at the moment but it's a good ability! As he is young and small he can fit into places grown men can't reach. Making his age excellent for sneaking around to a good hiding place to change again into adult age and beating someone up!

So yeah, there are some sprites and some mechanics. A quick shoutout to anyone reading this who knows me as AdvanceMapFreak (see this website [Advance Map FREAKS!] to see what I  mean if you don't) I don't do Pokemon ROMs and stuff anymore, my YouTube channel (shoutout and promo number 2! [http://www.youtube.com/user/AdvancedMapFreak] I know it looks a bit sketchy at the moment but can you blame me? I'm working on Eternality!) is going to be a bit stale for a while. Until I get my new computer (Woo!) and some better kit like microphones and maybe a webcam, then I'll start uploading videos of crazy games with killer concepts.

So thanks for reading this guys... girls... peoples? Gah I need a new interwebs name for you peeps too?... Aah!

So peeps, see you next level! :D

Hello World!

"Write a blog" they said, "It'll be fun" they said.

Well actually sitting here typing my thoughts is kind of nice. A time to myself where I can just relax and pour my thoughts onto the screen.

I don't mean to sound like a grumpy pile of... grump, but if your still reading I'll let you in on why I'm starting this blog; it's my development and documentation of my first game! "Woohoo!" you say, "I know!" I say. I have started with things like concept ideas and stuff a couple of weeks before this blog even existed but hey, now that I've got some sprites on a screen that don't look half bad this great game might become a reality! "Woah what? Sprites? Lemme see lemme see now!" Hold your horses either me from the past reminiscing about the game that made me millions... or readers, I want to talk about why I'm making this game and what it's about :)

Wow where to start, a bit about myself? Nah I'll drop that in as I go along. I should tell you my style of blogging is just writing what comes in my mind, I try not to go back and delete stuff and make it make sense so make like an animal and 'bear' with me! (Oh warning: lame puns may occasionally be dropped :P) So about this game (Que the epic back story music):

This game is set in Medieval times. The story follows one man who had lived alone in the forest for most of his years, he had stumbled across a cave he had never come across before. He explored deep into its depth, when he found a fragment/huge crystal. He thought he was rich, he could have it all, this gem or whatever it was so rare the King would bow to him! He picked it up/touched it and a surge of energy passed through him. (Notices how long this intro is) After recovering he realizes he has become younger, back to his adult self! Also at will he could change between. But a curse had come with this blessing, fate was so kind to him that he could never die, not by age, not by man. Soon he had become so tired of the world he ventured forth to find a way to end his curse, of eternal life, immortality, eternality! (Dum dum duuuum)

So yeah read that if you dare! It is a very serious game (really... no sarcasm here) and I hope to portray the themes explored in this game in an eye opening way. The reason I'm making this game kind of falls into two categories: one; I want to be a game designer professionally and to do that I need to make/be part of games right now, two; my A Level results are coming in about a bit more than a month and (don't tell anyone) but I'm pretty sure I'm not getting into University. It's not that I'm a slacker/is dumb, it's just... the nerves got the better of me :/ So by making this game I can prove to myself and my family that I am still dedicated to my dream job (game design, keep up guys! :P) and hopefully I can charge for it (not too much because it's not too long) but this will show people (more specifically my parents) that I can make some money (moola, dosh, squid whatever fits your bill :D)

Enough of my life story! This is my like first blog ever yakno :O So yeah without further adue here are some of the sheets that I have written about the concept of the game Hmm, I'll keep those to myself. What you can have a look at is some character designs!

Oops, I forgot to make a larger size example of Old Man Sprite... Meh, the small version is what everyone will see. I do notice the legs are a little off and he doesn't look quite finished, I'm just having trouble refining him further than that. I might put him on a forum but most ask for a whole showcase so I'm going to carry on working on the adult/middle aged man, keep in mind they are the same person (spoiler! :P) so I'm trying to mimic that by keeping hair styles and clothes kind of similar.

Well that's all I can think to include, I'll try to do daily updates but knowing me it'll end up being a few long ranty ones :P If you like that, great! If you like the sound of this, great! If you can give some tips and advice, I don't mind! If you don't like it, well sorry! Maybe my next game will appeal to you :)

I guess I should end with a catchphrase of some kind too, yaknow kind of make my image/mark on the interwebs...

See you next level B-) (please say no one uses this already :O)