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Post by Plant Feathers on May 3, 2013 14:51:10 GMT -5
Aaah, those ideas are so cute! X3 I'm cracking up over the idea of Milly putting a tracking device on Wolfwood's bike. That's actually a REALLY good idea, since his motorcycles have a reputation for breaking down, but I can't help imagining Milly saying, "I put a tracking device on the boy I think is cute!" :3 Meryl, "That's called stalking, Milly." <_< (Also, Meryl and Milly rescuing Vash and Wolfwood, but they've lost some of their clothes? I'm picturing the girls bursting in to find Vash and Wolfwood in their underwear, and everyone just stops and stares at each other a minute like, "Well!... This is awkward!")
Anyway, here's my idea: Vash and co. are traveling together and meet a man asking for help. He's wealthy, and his daughter has been kidnapped and is being held ransom. The problem is that, due to a recent bad business deal, he's just lost all his money and can't afford the ransom. The ransom note claims that the kidnappers live in a remote area and their plant has broken. They can't afford the parts needed, and are demanding a list of parts as the ransom. Vash, of course, is simpathetic to the father, kidnapped daughter, and those without power, and insist that the gang find the plant parts needed. Each part is located in a different environment with different challenges, for example one might have to be salvaged from an old SEEDS ship (We both had "Murder Machine" on our minds, didn't we. XD) or one might be given to the group only after completing a quest for scrap yard owner who has it. We can choose how many parts Vash and co. have to collect depending on how long or short we want the game to be. In the end, when Vash hands the parts over, it's revealed that the kidnappers are actually a gang (or single villain, whichever) who had lied about the broken plant and want the technology for their own selfish purposes. Vash and co. battle and defeat the gang for the climax. Alt 1: For an added cool factor, the villain(s) wants the tech to complete some kind of secret weapon, and then uses the weapon during the climax. Alt 2: For added intrigue, Vash and co. pick up clues along the way hinting at the kidnapper's true identity or motives. Alt 3: For added Insurance Girl screentime, it's Meryl and Milly who are held ransom. While Vash and Wolfwood go after the plant parts, the plot jumps back to the girls occasionally, and you get to play as them while trying to escape.
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Thought-Ripples
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Your ticket to the future is always blank.
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Post by Thought-Ripples on May 3, 2013 18:23:39 GMT -5
Hey, I like the kidnapped-child idea! There would have to be something to prevent Vash and co. from going and rescuing the child outright (maybe they have to deliver the parts before they can find out where she is?). I can imagine some pretty awesome snarky dialogue going on as the characters collect the pieces. It also seems like this game would lend itself well to an RPG, since there are clear goals and stuff to gather. It'd also be easy to work in sidequests for extra snippets of story or what have you. Rather than having the insurance girls get kidnapped, why not have them split up? They can go get a piece and Vash and Wolfwood can get another, and the story can flip between the two. Anyone else have a story plot they'd like to add? I don't know much about programming or game development - does what we've suggested sound feasible?
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Post by BlueWindOfDeath on May 3, 2013 21:50:22 GMT -5
I don't know about rpg maker feasible, but I don't see why not. As for coding from scratch the dialogue would just be printing text to the screen or playing audio clips at the right times. Controls are easy to program, just a matter of telling the computer what to do with various user inputs. The rest at the most basic level is writing out the logic to trigger specific events when conditions are met, like taking damage when colliding with a bullet. Since we're going with rpg maker some of this may already be coded and just needs to be implemented and tweaked to fit our purpose.
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theredgunslinger
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This world is made of love and peace! ^_^ (Vash RPer and general fangirl)
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Post by theredgunslinger on May 3, 2013 22:03:06 GMT -5
Yeah, I dont think it would be impossible to code any of this. ^_^ Also, I like the story too~ Though I side with the idea that a kid was kidnapped, and the insurance girls split up. Thouuuugh, i'm sure if we went with the daughter angle and it was a woman Vash liked, that could be used for some comedic relief. XD
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Thought-Ripples
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Your ticket to the future is always blank.
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Post by Thought-Ripples on May 4, 2013 15:11:03 GMT -5
Well, it seems like Plant Feathers' plot is carrying the day - awesome! How do we want to do this?
Plant Feathers, do you want to write up a more detailed plot and dialogue on your own and get feedback, or would you like to have a Skype or Googlechat blitz where we all brainstorm together? It might be nice if we could do a brainstorm session with both typechat or voicechat and a whiteboard-type group-drawing program, so we could sketch out ideas and elements so everyone could see. What kind of creative process do you think would work best for you?
What are the other steps we need to take to make this happen? I know that the art will be a significant portion of this, as will laying out the different portions of the game... What does that look like?
I cannot deny that I am excited that this is going on! XD
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Post by Plant Feathers on May 4, 2013 15:43:01 GMT -5
I'd love to brainstorm alongside you guys. There are people on this thread who've done a lot more gaming than I have (I'm just a casual gamer) so I really want their input as early and often as possible, since they know a lot more material to draw inspiration from. I've never done any kind of online group brainstorming, so if anyone prefers a certain program or method, I'll go with whatever.
This afternoon, I'll take a look at RPG maker and start making out a roadmap of sorts. I've started playing around with the program, and I'm under the impression that work is kinda divided into three groups: graphics, writing, and programming (aka, working in RPG maker). The writing would have to be done first to work out the details, but could be passed off to everyone else a section of the story at a time so that other people can work while the writers keep going if we wanted to do it that way. Then the writers and/or artists could draw up a sketch for each "map" of the game showing what the environment looks like and what happens where. Then the programmers could take those sketches and start building the game. The graphics themselves could have a looser time frame. If anyone wanted to, they could start work on graphics for the main characters right now, or, if graphics are late being made, the programmers could put in some of RPG Maker's freebie graphics as placeholders and swap them out later.
But like I said, I can go through and start writing out info like, "Graphics needed are: this, this, and this, and here's the dimensions and blah, blah, blah. Writers need to work out details like: this, this, and this, so that the programmers will know what to do. Etc, etc."
P.S. For a group chat, I'm free all weekend, except Sunday morning until about 11am (Central time) because I'll be at church.
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theredgunslinger
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This world is made of love and peace! ^_^ (Vash RPer and general fangirl)
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Post by theredgunslinger on May 4, 2013 21:24:52 GMT -5
I'm mostly free on the weekends too! Well, except for right about now, where I might be working, but I'd still be available to chat while I work on finals... T_T I personally vote for Saturday. Seems like the best day where most people would be free. Anyone else have any suggestions though?
What should we use? Google hangouts? Skype? A chat program of some sort? We could even use livestream or something if nothing else will work. ^^; I personally think Skype would be best, but for all I know, google could be better. I've never used a google hangout.
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Thought-Ripples
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Your ticket to the future is always blank.
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Post by Thought-Ripples on May 4, 2013 22:29:57 GMT -5
Great! As far as scheduling goes, my Sundays are usually booked, but Saturdays will work. In a pinch, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings could also happen. I'd probably prefer Skype myself as well; we could possibly use a drawing site like sketchia.com simultaneously if we wanted to sketch out what's on our minds.
I think an outline is a fantastic idea! That way we can talk about what's there and what's not, and how to make this game awesome.
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theredgunslinger
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This world is made of love and peace! ^_^ (Vash RPer and general fangirl)
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Post by theredgunslinger on May 4, 2013 23:44:46 GMT -5
Great! As far as scheduling goes, my Sundays are usually booked, but Saturdays will work. In a pinch, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings could also happen. I'd probably prefer Skype myself as well; we could possibly use a drawing site like sketchia.com simultaneously if we wanted to sketch out what's on our minds. I think an outline is a fantastic idea! That way we can talk about what's there and what's not, and how to make this game awesome. Actually, I don't think we have to use Sketchia for that. Skype lets you send images straight from your desktop to other users, so it's easy for us to sketch what's on our minds and just send it. ^_^ Sounds like we're going for skype then! Should we make a thread for say, a master skype list or something? Yes, an outline would be pretty much essential! ;D I definitely second that.
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Post by Plant Feathers on May 5, 2013 15:14:03 GMT -5
I just made a skype account and I'm totally new to it, so you guys might have to be patient with me when the time comes. XD
Also, I made this. (Warning, it's long.) It's kind of a master list of everything I could think of for the game. You guys can copy it off for your own reference if you want, and it'll also give us things to talk about.
WRITERS:
Plot outline: -Dialogue, cut scenes, etc. -Any plot is doable in RPG Maker. It's the piddly little details of the game that might prove to be a challenge. In working out details of challenges/puzzles, consult with programmers to see if ideas are feasable, may need tweaking, or if programmer has suggestions on a better/easier way to carry out the idea. -Sketch out maps of different areas, showing what happens where. (An Artist can do this if they want, or the Artist and Writers can work together to create a map.)
RPG Battle System: RPG Maker provides for a turn-based battle system. This system is optional, if game makers decide to use other methods. If the battle system is used in our game, we need to know: -Do characters level up? -If characters level up, levels of characters and opponents must be decided on throughout the game. -Are there random monster encounters? What are the monsters? -Are there items? Is there a shop set up somewhere? What items are available? -Are there places within the game where the characters can be fully healed?
Side Quests and Mini Games: Obviously, this is an optional addition to our game. If we decide to include any, we need to know: -What games might be included and where would they be found. -If there is a money system in the game, do they cost to play? -Is there a reward for winning the game?
ARTISTS:
Concept art: -New characters in game -Ideas for the feel and atmosphere of different environments -Layouts (or “maps”) for the environments that the programmers can use. Artists may need to consult with programmers, if certain layouts or terrains make navagation too difficult within the game.
Sprites: -Main and supporting cast -Various NPC “extras” in towns -Animals if environments/plot call for it
Background tiles: -Include ground, walls, buildings, land forms, etc. -Objects on transparent background such as furniture, signs, etc. that can be reused in various locations.
Battle System graphics: Only needed if battle system is used. -Battle sprites -Opponent sprites -special effects for attacks -backdrops
Face Graphics: Used in dialogue boxes to show who's speaking. Artist and Writers may wish to consult with each other to ensure dialogue plays out well. It might be best if the same artist created all of the face graphics, to ensure they all have the same style.
General Look and Feel of Game: -Full screen images, such as title screen and game over screen -Color and style of menus, dialogue boxes, etc.
Additional Note: If an artist wanted to get involved in working in RPG Maker, actually laying out the environments is VERY simple to do. I haven't looked into uploading custom graphics yet, so I don't know how that works, but if an artist is working on background tiles, or laying out an area's “map” they could upload their stuff into RPG Maker, create their environment, and then save it off and send it to a programmer to work with. Anyone working on the game menus and such should definitely work within RPG Maker to see their handiwork better.
SOUNDS
-Background music -Sound effects
PROGRAMMERS
File Sharing: I think it would be a good idea to create an account on a site such as mediafire, where files can be uploaded and downloaded by different people. The Artists will also need to use the site to get their graphics to the Programmers.
Dividing the Work Load: My impression is that all the programming is packaged in with the maps, so different people could be working on different maps, and then import all of those maps into a master game file.
And that's everything that I could think of.
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karaii
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:)
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Post by karaii on May 5, 2013 17:52:32 GMT -5
Hey yo! I'm willing to do the faces since I already have experience with those. The only problem is that I'm afraid of the work load, since there will likely be a lot of side characters and the like... but I will do my best!
I'm also willing to do character sprites if no one else steps up, but I know there are at least two other highly experienced pixel artists on this board who will likely do 100% better job than I ever could 8DD
As for backgrounds and the like... I've never worked with them but, uh, I suppose I could give it a shot if no one else steps up?
TL;DR: I'm willing to be the last-resort go-to artist for just about any position.
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Alnee
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Post by Alnee on May 5, 2013 22:16:02 GMT -5
Hi I'd like to help the writers with the sketching of the maps, and maybe also with the sprites (but not the battle ones.. I'm not sure I'd do a good job at it ^^"). I'm also ready to help out with anything artist related (like the backgrounds and the maps or even concept art if necessary). I don't have much experience in pixel art though ^^" Here are some sprite stuff I did : Sonic OCs And an in progress transformation of a RPG maker existing sprite into England from Hetalia for a fantasy AU game I never got around to actually doing ^^"
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Jeredu
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Breaking hearts with lovely arts
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Post by Jeredu on May 5, 2013 22:24:11 GMT -5
Also volunteering to help with the art side of things, and maybe some writing. I have never used the software before, but I can certainly help create assets and whatnot once we start talking specifics.
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theredgunslinger
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This world is made of love and peace! ^_^ (Vash RPer and general fangirl)
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Post by theredgunslinger on May 6, 2013 13:52:31 GMT -5
I'm more than wiling to help with writing, concept sketches, faces, anything you need really! ^_^ I'm not very experienced with coding or pixel art, but I can easily do simple art for character faces, designs, concepts, etc. Just let me know what you want me to do and I'll do it, provided that I actually know how.
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Post by Plant Feathers on May 6, 2013 15:28:55 GMT -5
(OMG, look at the widdle England! He's so cuuute!)
Sounds great, guys! ^_^ I think it would be great if anyone and everyone joined the writers' shindig on Saturday. Even if they don't consider themselves much of a writer, they can still say, "That part sounds cool," or "That part sounds lame," or whatever.
During the week, I'll start putting together stuff for the artists, listing out dimensions for stuff, giving the freebies that RPG Maker comes with to use as references/templates, stuff like that. I'll probably post it onto my personal blog, and then people can use it as a reference. I might also see if there's simple stuff people can do in RPG Maker if they want to help with that but don't want to learn the whole program, and give some little tutorials or something. I'll try to have some stuff ready by Saturday, so I can give you guys the web address when we meet.
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