Strike Back

[Link12345]

OK, so I'm working on a new game called Strike Back. I really started it about a year ago. And almost finished it too. But when I got to making the last level, I decided to test play the game from the beginning. But it had so many glitches in it that I deleted it. I tried to remake it several times, but was never really successful. Until now. In this game, I'm using only graphics made 100% by me. As in from scratch. I got a couple of things done in it so far. But no more than 8 minutes of game play...if you play slowly. But on the up side, there are multiple things that you can do in it. Just not all in one go. And it's got this really sweet intro thing I made. I'm planning on making it better, but not right now. I'll post some screen shots here in a while, but I have to take them first. And one more thing. I don't know how to post a demo. Like put up a a download link so other people can test play it. If anyone can help me out, please do.

[HackersTotalMassLaser]

use a file sharing service. Rapidshare, 4share and mediafire are good ones.

[Link12345]

Thanks, I'll look into it. But here are the pictures I promised.

http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/1910/85279183.png
http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/8918/91742680.png
http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/8918/91742680.png
http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/3101/45807791.png
http://img695.imageshack.us/img695/9098/39709188.png

Now for the game. Is this how I post it?
http://rapidshare.com/files/386684822/RPG_RT.exe.html

[A Forgotten Legend]

You need to upload the entire folder your game is in.

Just zip it up to a .zip or .rar file and upload THE ENTIRE FOLDER.  (Sorry caps lock, but interesting where it started...)

[Link12345]

Well, sorry then. I guess I can't post it. Those file things have to be downloaded. And I can't download anything. My parents don't want any viruses on the computer. I have like 5 different protection programs but still. And I know your going to reply "Oh, there's no viruses in the download, I tried it myself and it's fine." Well, I wish it was that easy, but maybe you do have a virus on your computer and just haven't found it yet. Or you could be one of the people who helped make the virus. There's no way I can tell. But I guess I can just stick to screen shots and maybe a video every now and then. Sorry, but that's how it's got to work. I'll post the story map here in a few days. It's not done, but it will show all of the possible changes of the storyline in the game. For example, when pirates attack the village, if you run to get help, you are drafted as a soldier by the king to fight back, but if you try to stay and fight them without getting help, you are defeated and are captured as a slave. I thought this might be a cool twist to the game. So one can play the game a hundred times, and always have a different outcome. Even if you choose to do the same thing every time, the randomness feature ensures that there arn't any repeats.

[A Forgotten Legend]

?  What are you downloading?  You are just taking your game folder, right clicking it, send to compressed (zipped) folder and then uploading.

[HackersTotalMassLaser]

Well, sorry then. I guess I can't post it. Those file things have to be downloaded. And I can't download anything.

What are you talking about? Your parents are paranoic; soon or later, no matter what, your computer will get infected, even if it's by a small adware bug. That's not to say to not take precaution, but being so uptight of... whatever you're talking about seems irrational. And I assure you, AFL; not a virus maker.

[HobomasterXXX]

You can get viruses just by browsing web pages. If you're that uptight and paranoid, you may as well just pull out your ethernet cord now.

[Bluhman]

This entire website is a virus. Leave now for your own good.

[HackersTotalMassLaser]

Too late.

[Link12345]

OK. well that's why I have all the anti-virus software. Well anyway. I just thought there was more to uploading a game. I apparently already have the program needed.  So is this right? Well it says only 10 people can download it. And there is on way I'm planning on buying that program. So, the early bird gets the worm I guess. He is the "new" edit to my game. And added a little. There is still a few glitches in it. But it's still a work in progress, and still playable. Just please post any glitches you find so I can attend to them ASAP.

http://rapidshare.com/files/386871536/Strike_Back_Folder.zip.html

[drenrin2120]

You zipped up the shortcut to your game folder... XD

You need to zip the ACTUAL game folder. The one containing all your map documents (.lmu files) graphic folders (charasets, pictures, panoramas, etc.) and most importantly, the .exe file. Find that folder, and zip everything in it.

As to your game, you may want to consider editing the first post of this thread with more detail. Include things such as: Character bios, Storyline details, screenshots, special features, graphical style being implemented, musical style being implemented... those kinds of things. Yuu have to sell your game to us in the first post, catch people's attention. You can do that by exploiting special features in your game, blah blah... but that's marketing and such.

I wouldn't bother uploading anything until you have atleast a good solid demo. For now, work on revising and improving what you already have.

Now some critique: I like the old-school NES style you're using, but there are some things that bother me.

1.) all the guys look the same except they have different colored hair. I know it's all 8-bit style, but try a little more variation. So yeah, just try and make some more variation in your characters, including your NPCs.

2.) the trees are not good. Look up games like the original Dragon Warrior and Final Fantasy 1 to get an idea how to make simple, but appropriate looking graphics.

3.) The title has got to go. This will probably be the hardest one for you. A titlescreen should have two things, the title of the game and some sort of graphical design (whether that be scenery with characters in it, an elaborate border, or just a single picture placed somewhere to the side). Subtitle text, such as "revenge is a dish best served cold", just don't really work. They make the player feel awkward. you don't want to impose much more on the player in the title screen than the game title and maybe an idea what the following game entails.


That's my look on things, hopefully this helps guide you in the right direction. This seems like your first game, so hopefully you take my critiques with a grain of salt. The whole thing is a learning experience, but as long as you enjoy what you're doing, then you're not really doing anything "wrong".

[A Forgotten Legend]

And I assure you, AFL; not a virus maker.

>.>

No, I wouldn't know the first thing about it haha.




...*faceplam*  drenrin is completely correct in his post.

[Link12345]

OK, this is not the first game I ever made. Just the best out of all of them. You see, I have a very very low attention span. So I get board with things really easily. I've actually been forcing myself to work on the game. I'm just really lazy. That's why all the characters look so much alike. Plus I don't know how to make things look different, while also going along with the 8-bit style. (Also the only type of art I can draw well.) And I must admit. I really suck at drawing. I really do. But a thought came to me. If I draw everything myself, I can add anything I want, without messing up the color, or shapes and stuff like that. And thank you for telling me about the tittle. But I really don't know what else to make for the tittle screen. I don't want to change the name, but yeah, the tittle screen could use a bit of work.  And I'll make the character bios and items list and things. But I do have one idea. Unless I draw all the graphics, and someone else makes them better. But they would have to redraw all of the graphics to make them fit, and I really don't think they would want to do that. So I'm not even go to ask. Well if anyone can make a new tittle screen, I'll edit it into 8-bit mode, and I'll use it. There is more things that I have in my game but just didn't put them in the screen shots. I will soon though. And again, I'm really sorry for messing up the download once again. But hey, this is the first time I ever made a public game forum thing like this.

Characters:
1) Zack is the main character of the game. The player has almost complete control of all his actions. You can even choose his class and name right at the beginning. I'm also working on another part where you can choose what he looks like. I just have to draw all of the possible posses. His personality is that of the players choice. So you can choose his fate.

Well, that's all the playable characters so far. I'll post more as I make more.

The storyline is not set. As I have said before, your actions, and the computers AI both are joined together to choose your fate. Now here is the story graph currently. The red lines mean the main storyline. Like play that path to get an "A" ending. But you don't have to do those things. Green lines have a name next to them. Those mean spots where you get a new character. (Or several) Black lines are just regular paths. Grey lines around the path show what I currently have finished. Letters mean the choice label, while the numbers represent the path number. Now here is the choice key:

Choice: A (1-3)

•   Zack is at the docks when he sees a slave ship off in the distance. If the player chooses to stay and fight, the pirates will beat him, and he is captured as a slave on the slave ship, as well as everyone else in town.

•   Zack sees the slave ship and the player chooses to panic and run. By doing this, he starts climbing up a ladder into town, when a flaming arrow is shot and hits the ladder. It burns, and Zack falls off. He is also captured.

•   Zack sees the slave ship and the player chooses to go and get help. So Zack runs up the ladder without stopping to panic and draw attention to him, and is able to escape to the castle. He tells the kind and then the King drafts him as a soldier to fight back.

Choice: B (4-5)

•   Zack has just become a soldier to fight back against the pirates, when another knight bursts into the room. The knight says that the town of Varter is also under attack, but taking no slaves. Zack then chooses to protect his village. The pirates are defeated very easily by you and your team of knights. But Varter is destroyed and from fear that they will be attacked again, the town’s people pack up as much as they can carry, and leave town. The party travels with them to protect the people.

•   When Zack hears that Varter has just been attacked, the player chooses to go and protect the bigger town, and save them. They are saved, but Garth is defeated and all those people are captured and taken as slaves. But no one dies.

Choice: C (6-7)

•   Zack is on board the slave ship, if Zack has helped out Garter before they are taken, Garter helps untie you. Then Zack unties him.

•   If Zack did not help out the traveler, then he is not helped. When the ship arrives at land, Zack is sold as a slave.

Choice: D (8-9)

•   After Garter frees Zack, Zack asks him to come along and hijack the ship before they are caught.

•   Zack tells Garter to stay and free the others while he sneaks around the ship.

Choice: E (10-11)

•   Zack has just finished killing all the attacking enemy’s, when one of the King’s servants rides up on a horse. He says that the King is ordering them to report back to him at once. But Zack is tired, and chooses to stay at the Inn for the night, and go back in the morning. But in the middle of the night, he wakes up to find the village once again under attack.

•   When Zack hears the King’s orders, he races back to the castle along with everyone else. And the King orders them to gather up all of the supplies, weapons, knights, and everything else. So they leave the castle with the king and head over to the safety structure to protect the King in case of another attack.

There. Now here is the story map to go along with it.
http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/928/strikebackstorymap.png

Done. Well if you think that I should have a good solid demo ready, then I'll wait a few more days before I post it.

[Link12345]

OK. I have finished a demo. Now your able to play all way to where your character is captured by the pirates, or starts to talk to the King about the invading pirates. But I haven't made the slave ship yet, or the King's room. You can now play for about 12 minutes of game time. Still, there is lots of things to do, and it is kinda cool to watch Zack run around like a moron when the pirates start to attack. Still haven't fixed the graphics up to well. But it's still a work in progress. If anyone finds any glitches, please tell me so I can fix them, But I haven't found any so far. Now here's the download link.

http://rapidshare.com/files/387454440/Strike_Back.zip.html

Now I think that should be right. I did everything that was said I had to do. I'll try to keep everyone informed about what is happening.