8/25/08

Brand new game soon!

I will attempt to post some details of my first project soon. I am going to update this page with stuff about my company, my team, and the games I make. Feel free to check back every so often to understand who we are and what we do!

Now on to the exciting stuff…
My first game!

Project Egg (working title)
PE is going to be an open world 2D platforming adventure filled with choice. The story centers around you the player, a mute, anonymous character who owes a large sum of money to a large corporation. This company has threatened to blow up your home if you do not pay your debts within three days time. The game is how you attempt to pay off that debt in the time alloted!

Speaking of Choice::

It seems as if every game being made these days flouts some type of choice or good/ evil system. Frankly I’m sick of this (Yes, I am aware that making a game with a choice system doesn’t quite express a fair level of disgust for there being too many games with choice). The difference with PE, is twofold:

1. The choices will be more of a real life variety, as in shades of gray. When faced with a decision in life; the choices are not color coded to provide an easy answer. If this were the case, the gravity of choosing would be nil. Such is the case with PE; there will be no one to hold your hand. Only the choice to make, and your eventual decision.

2. The choices will (at least) seem more arbitrary. Not every decision you are subjected to in life has a glowing sign above it screaming, “IMPORTANT CHOICE BELOW.” PE will follow suit; many choices will seem commonplace, even when altering the game world dramatically.

This might seem a bold statement from a group whom have not yet released any games; and perhaps it is. But rest assured these ideals have been present in the design of PE since it’s conception. I’m not looking to change the world of games; only to provide an interesting and refreshing game experience.

There are a few more large details of the game I will be keeping secret until it’s release, but I’ll do my best to provide a steady stream of information on it. I will also put up some screen shots once it hits the late beta stage. While much of the solid game work is completed, there is much in the way of graphical tweaking remaining.

Current Release Date: October 2008

Look at that.  October 2008.  Hilarious.  We worked really hard on it, it grew and grew in size until some time early 2009 when funding fell through, and due to engine issues the project collapsed under it’s own weight.  This is my baby.  A project I’ve always wanted to do.  So i’m going to do it now.  Peter molyneux can take his concept of choice and moral ambiguity and shove it right up his overly excitable ass.  I’m going to create something with choice, but more importantly, with fun.

Expected Release Date: December 2010

Speaking of what I’m working on – here is a list for anyone wondering….

The roguelike is a sub-genre of role-playing video games, characterized by randomization for replayability, permanent death, and turn-based movement. Many early roguelikes featured ASCII graphics. Games are typically dungeon crawls, with many monsters, items, and environmental features. Computer roguelikes usually employ the majority of the keyboard to facilitate interaction with items and the environment. The name of the genre comes from the 1980 game Rogue.

I have slightly different viewpoint here.  The wikifinition is well and good, but lacks a crucial element I feel all in the roguelike category share.  What you have there is the cold definition – but what’s most important is the sense of adventure they convey.  Typically the mechanics are dated, the graphics are quite trash, and the sense of atmosphere (or environment) is non-present – but the feeling of adventure is total.  You never know what might be around the next corner.

See what I did there? Hell, you may not even know where the next corner is.  Conventionally, you’ll have no idea what you are fighting, what that potion does, or why you would equip a stick – but I’ll be damned if each choice isn’t terrifying exciting.  Just knowing each choice might be your last only adds weight to an already decisive move.

In short – these games are Awesome.

I know many people who won’t play because of the non-plot, lack of visual polish, or tired settings but I implore readers here to go out and try one.  Give it a chance.  Learn the controls.  Play the damn thing.  And if you’ve then not had any fun, well – there’s nothing I can do about that.  I won’t fault you for trying.

Oh yeah, and I’m making one.  It’s called Natural (working title).  More info on that soon.

Click to gain focus.   [Edit]: Hold down, then press ‘C’ to dig, Woops!

Thanks for playing…

Have a good morning, all.

WTF, indeed.

In some way – working on May Project has created this… this… I…

I’m sorry, world.

If anyone in the internet-o-sphere knows about this mysterious process (specifically copyrighting a name for a game, personally, not for a company) please inform me here or at Thr33li@gmail.com.  Thanks.

UPDATE: I took the four seconds to dig through the U.S. Copyright office site – and discovered exactly what I was looking for.  I should’ve done that before asking such a silly question.

Misery: A small flash story.

I witnessed some small animals being mauled yesterday.  This was sadly the inspiration for a small flash game/story: Misery

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