An Open Window: Project Launch Day -14
As this profile was authed officially yesterday, my open development schedule starts today. This would be officially Project Launch Day +1 but for the complete picture of the development I would like to take you back 14 days, to PLD -14.
First off, for new readers, these news posts are experimental. Instead of keeping everything shrouded in secrecy, I want to post as much of what I do as often as I can. Most projects keep everything indoors and release a few awesome screenshots or videos and then do not get back to the community for months and sometimes years. I'd prefer not to do this. Plus, these posts will give some insights for new developers about my way of handling this project. If you enjoy these posts, let me know in the comment section below and don't hesitate to ask questions or post suggestions!
What to create?
In the first 7 days I thought about what I wanted to make. Since 1997 I've been making maps for Doom, Half-Life and Half-Life 2 for various projects but they had all one thing in common: they were all shooters. While I can't deny this is by far my favourite game genre, I also enjoyed more engaging genres like RTSs and RPGs. Over the years shooters became more and more meaningless to me. Even though some had a good story and character development, the maps I made never included much of that.
I took a while to think of games that actually made an impact on me, games I felt a connection to other than nostalgia or a community forums. Shockingly, off all the 100s of games I played, this list only included a few titles. My list of movies I hold dear is far longer. Is gaming really just a way to waste time? If movies can speak to people so much, why do most games lack this ability?
On top of my list you'll find a game I have played numerous and still doesn't cease to amaze me: Planescape Torment. This game took character development and environment to a new level. The story runs deep, the characters have interesting backgrounds and your character actually develops itself while you pass through the game. The music was brilliantly composed for each individual character. This is the only game I know where Intelligence and Wisdom will give you the best rewards. Even though I'm not a D&D player, this game sucked me in. The sentence "What can change the nature of a man?" has become a mantra to me and if you google it you will find people who think like-wise.
Now I could not possibly hope to create something that epic with my meagre skill in art and music composing. But I could on a smaller scale in a different setting. The ultimate goal is not eye candy but the attempt to capture an experience inside a game. For that I needed a story, a gameplay concept and lots and lots of ideas. And I'll tell you more about that in the next update.
To spark your own thoughts and ideas I want to close my posts with the Question of the Day, which is related to the subject I've been ranting about. You can leave your comments below!
Question of the Day:
Did you ever feel connected to a game? Which game and in what way did it speak to you?
Zelda: Ocarina of time.
Everything about that game amazed me as a kid, and I haven't enjoyed any zelda game more.
and portal was kind of just really genius and I had so much fun playing that for the first time.
Abe's Oddysee for Playstation. Gorgeous artwork, intuitive gameplay, mad laughs and immensely fun. For the first time I didn't feel like I was playing a flat/linear time trial platformer. I'd played alex the kid, mario, sonic and they were fun but afterwards i felt nothing. As Abe I was leading a rebellion, inspiring my people, helping them. I had a goal, a purpose. And I just read that a HD release for PC is being worked on!
So glad you've started this project. It's a great idea
Same here with billyboob, Oddworld Abe´s Oddysee and Abe´s Exoddus were such great games. I was fascinated from them.
Grandia, that game was ******* brilliant.
Braid. It's like conversation. Close private conversation about life and time... and with some life experience it can make you cry yourself to sleep. and it's a simple mario-style platformer. amazing.
agree. Braid is awesome.
Amnesia. It builds a story and an atmosphere around you that give ou the feeling of beeing inside the story yourself and it realy is... you now... it eats your soul while you play it xD
I'm going to say Beyond Good and Evil. Although it had some frustrating moments and a few clichés I still think that game was fantastic in every way: gameplay, characters, environment, music... I hope Ubisoft finally gets the time and money to finish the sequel, and it better be as good as the first.
Also I really loved Psychonauts (that one needs a sequel too, it ended with a sort-of cliffhanger) and the Monkey Island series.
Well... Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. That game is really great, I just love the storyline and the gameplay, the cutscenes are epic and everything makes you feel like the real character. I don't know if i'm the only who thinks this, but really, it is really immersive.
There's another, Star Wars Republic Commando. The ending made me an emotional person, i've never felt something so bad when a character in a game died. I was like "OH NO! THIS CAN'T BE! HE WAS MY FAVE GUY! NOOO!" and then I ragequitted the game and never played it again. Bad memories.
Too many games to list! Nice read, Hez. Looking forward to what you'll cook up!