RMMV [Mystery Horror Puzzle] House of Rules (DEMO AVAILABLE)

[chiithecat]

English demo available! FINALLY!!
Korean demo will be released soon, too!
Please leave us comments and feedback, here or on itch.io.

 

[chiithecat]

English demo available! FINALLY!!
Korean demo will be released soon, too!
Please leave us comments and feedback, here or on itch.io.

Hey guyz!
I thought I took care of most of the bugs, but I discovered some more and fixed them!
Since I haven't had much sleep for days, I'm going to bed after uploading another version of the demo. Enjoy and PLEASE leave comments if you see more bugs.. I'll take care of it right away!

 

[Hongdangmu]

I just tried your demo... and I think there are some little mistakes to be fixed.
There were some map parts with nothing placed though I can't walk through, but when I interact with them I see a description such as 'A plant'.
Also when I tried to save my game and retry, the save file randomly disappears.

I didn't get so far because of those minor errors, but I think your game has very unique horror vibe! There was no brutality nor blood. Although everything seemed normal, I sensed some awkwardness. I didn't know what I'm suppose to look out for... yet I was pretty scared the whole time!

It was very fun 30~40 minutes and I definitely want more!
I would like to try again and leave you feedback after you fix those errors!

 

[chiithecat]

I just tried your demo... and I think there are some little mistakes to be fixed.
There were some map parts with nothing placed though I can't walk through, but when I interact with them I see a description such as 'A plant'.
Also when I tried to save my game and retry, the save file randomly disappears.

I didn't get so far because of those minor errors, but I think your game has very unique horror vibe! There was no brutality nor blood. Although everything seemed normal, I sensed some awkwardness. I didn't know what I'm suppose to look out for... yet I was pretty scared the whole time!

It was very fun 30~40 minutes and I definitely want more!
I would like to try again and leave you feedback after you fix those errors!

Yes I just woke up and found out about the silly bugs..... I think the objects being invisible was a problem with the overlay plug-in. And sorry for the savefiles... I fixed that too. You can see that I've uploaded version 0.0.3(now it's 0.0.4) on itch.io! Please download it and play again.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts about the game! I'd like to know more about what you think about the general gameplay after you've played the whole demo. I hope you enjoy it more without the bugs!

 

[ShadowDragon]

some suggestion, not entirely sure what to do but maybe I try later
to figure that out.

cannot figure out how to get the screwdriver while I get caught, as well
if this is for much later concern.

Suggestions:
there aren't any direct direction what to do on the paper (as for pressing arrows)
to search for work! (first scene)


ItemBook Menu:

3 Color lints
Pink for Items
Yellow for Diary (when open, it shows a blue lint)
Blue for Quit (you should say, exit book) but it closes the game!)
so it's better if it says Quit Game for visibility

Work Rules, nice if the % is updated, but more dynamic if the piece of papers
tht are found is also added to the book.

When checking Alexi's room (locked) the blood dissapear after changing maps,
and again after (unless intentional)

Lastly, a typo on the rules 2-(2) with heave sigh instead of "have"?
I can be wrong on this part.

as for the side part.
I'm in no way fam of horror games, but the story is intresting, specially, it
is also in some way very familair with the stealbars in one of a movie.

not sure if you name the title to the movie or if it has a different name.
not everything is clear instantly of giving direction, unless you search around,
but I still seem to be missing something somewhere.

but it is also really nicely done.

 

[chiithecat]

some suggestion, not entirely sure what to do but maybe I try later
to figure that out.

cannot figure out how to get the screwdriver while I get caught, as well
if this is for much later concern.

Suggestions:
there aren't any direct direction what to do on the paper (as for pressing arrows)
to search for work! (first scene)


ItemBook Menu:

3 Color lints
Pink for Items
Yellow for Diary (when open, it shows a blue lint)
Blue for Quit (you should say, exit book) but it closes the game!)
so it's better if it says Quit Game for visibility

Work Rules, nice if the % is updated, but more dynamic if the piece of papers
tht are found is also added to the book.

When checking Alexi's room (locked) the blood dissapear after changing maps,
and again after (unless intentional)

Lastly, a typo on the rules 2-(2) with heave sigh instead of "have"?
I can be wrong on this part.

as for the side part.
I'm in no way fam of horror games, but the story is intresting, specially, it
is also in some way very familair with the stealbars in one of a movie.

not sure if you name the title to the movie or if it has a different name.
not everything is clear instantly of giving direction, unless you search around,
but I still seem to be missing something somewhere.

but it is also really nicely done.

Oh my!! Thanks for the advice!!!
They are so helpful - some of the errors we wouldn't have noticed and the suggestions are so thoughtful!
We will definitely change some details considering your advice.

There is a way to get the screwdriver without getting noticed: you should pay attention to the last work rule you've found.
...and I just found out that we've made a mistake: the 'gallow' in the work rule is supposed to be a 'guillotine'.
I'll leave the solution below so that you won't get stuck there.

Spoiler: How to get the screwdriver

You should cut the doll's head by using the doll on the window in your bathroom, which you can access by the door in your room.
The window has a sharp end like a knife so it can work as a guillotine.

We don't know about the movie you've mentioned, sadly.
And I thought heave means 'to make a sound as if you are suffering'...?
I wanted the riddles to rhyme so I used some unfamiliar words, and I'm not sure about this either. (I'll work on that!)

It's a relief that you've enjoyed playing it.
There's much more to the story from the part where the demo ends, and I'll be happy if you try playing the full version when it is released.
Thanks again for the suggestions!

 

[ShadowDragon]

if heave "might" be wrong and want to rhyme, it's okey, if the gallow should
be guillotine, than I didn't quite understand that.

as for the paper, use icon or arrow which direction to push or make this clear.
but I continue later and go to the room.

the save scene on the other hand, which I think you use icons for the name,
is reallly nicely done.

as for 1 downside in the library I think, you use pictures with chineese/korean
language.

if you choose english, images should be english too (unless global).

but thank for the clarification on the direction I need to take.
but try to match the lint on the item scene so its more dynmic and fitting,
else it doesn't really make sense, like the lint is some kind of magic

but I love the scene, something I didn't thought about. cudos for that one

lets see what more suprises you add to the game, but this is probably
also pure parallax maps while the doors arent opening by default.
but it's creepy for sure at some points

 

[chiithecat]

if heave "might" be wrong and want to rhyme, it's okey, if the gallow should
be guillotine, than I didn't quite understand that.

as for the paper, use icon or arrow which direction to push or make this clear.
but I continue later and go to the room.

the save scene on the other hand, which I think you use icons for the name,
is reallly nicely done.

as for 1 downside in the library I think, you use pictures with chineese/korean
language.

if you choose english, images should be english too (unless global).

but thank for the clarification on the direction I need to take.
but try to match the lint on the item scene so its more dynmic and fitting,
else it doesn't really make sense, like the lint is some kind of magic

but I love the scene, something I didn't thought about. cudos for that one

lets see what more suprises you add to the game, but this is probably
also pure parallax maps while the doors arent opening by default.
but it's creepy for sure at some points

I'm already working on the errors!
I really couldn't have realized the lint color... The rules were supposed to be with the blue lint but the menu screen changed a lot on the way of development.. I must have missed it.
I changed it in the last version I just uploaded.

And now that you mentioned it again, can I ask you about your suggestions once more?
As you know, English isn't my first language, and I don't understand what you were trying to say in the words below:

there aren't any direct direction what to do on the paper (as for pressing arrows)
to search for work! (first scene)

not everything is clear instantly of giving direction, unless you search around,
but I still seem to be missing something somewhere.

as for the paper, use icon or arrow which direction to push or make this clear.
but I continue later and go to the room.

but I love the scene, something I didn't thought about. cudos for that one


I'd really like to improve the game so could you elaborate more if you don't mind..?
Oh and for the last sentence, what 'scene' are you talking about?

 

[ShadowDragon]

the openings scene:


there is no direction for pressing Arrow (this one was either UP or RIGHT.
further if you go left, it's previous while up is diagonally right a bit.

it's best to do this part, automatically without arrow input.

later, when you reach the kitchen, it Greta say, did you talk to the others already?

when you leave, there is no direction where they are at all, unless you search the house.
so a it's oke though while it's a horror game, but it should give some little clue
where to go.

I hope this part makes it a bit more clear?

 

[chiithecat]

the openings scene:
View attachment 181576

there is no direction for pressing Arrow (this one was either UP or RIGHT.
further if you go left, it's previous while up is diagonally right a bit.

it's best to do this part, automatically without arrow input.

later, when you reach the kitchen, it Greta say, did you talk to the others already?

when you leave, there is no direction where they are at all, unless you search the house.
so a it's oke though while it's a horror game, but it should give some little clue
where to go.

I hope this part makes it a bit more clear?

Oh you were talking about that scene! Sorry I didn't get it earlier.
We thought it would be better to have the instructions for the keys when starting that scene, and now that you pointed it out, we definitely should
I think automatically moving the focus instead of key input will kind of... bore the players?
..because I'm the one who gets bored easily when a scene or a dialogue continues even only for a while.
With your advice, I'll try to make that scene more clear and easy.
And add some directions for the location of other workers in the mansion!

Thanks a lot for your kind explanation!
I really appreciate it. It'll be a great help for improving our project!!

 

[ShadowDragon]

I also forgot to mention the scene BEFORE that, to adjust, I have no idea
what buttons to press, right, left, up, down, other buttons? no slider to
adjust, seems something like skip title, because you could go to the
save scene when no save exist (you want this to be avoided) unless
you have a save to do so.

but I hope to play around a more on the current version, because it's not
game breaking anyway

 

[chiithecat]

Hey guys!
We've got precious feedback and made some changes to the demo.

-Newspaper scene now has arrows to which direction you could choose to go.
-You can skip the newspaper scene if you want after watching it the first time.
-Key configuration is added at the start of the game.
-The game is saved during the tutorial.
-And some minor bugs are fixed.

More improvements are going to be made soon!
Thanks again for playing our game.

 

[ShadowDragon]

while playing 0.0.6 version, I notice some issues.

1) while you have the screwdriver, it had the same text on the steelbar
without it (make a check here when it "has the screwdriver" so it says:
"let's try out the screwdriver" or similair.

2) on the song you learn, you can do it without getting all 4 lyrics pieces,
make sure to get them all before you can sing it?

3) in the living room, the NPC resets to the old spot after saving the game,
which should retain (make sure the NPC X and Y are saved) so it is on the
same spot.

there seems to be other issues around with similair parts, but nicely done
further, I try to beat the demo, but it's alot of searching.

however, when going to the foutain, in the center or behind, it shows the same picture.
while behind it, you should see nothing unless it can see behind the pilar?

I try to beat the game on this version.

Edit:
Serveral Time of ALexis, the light doesn't follow her sometimes, only when she walks
away and it jumps, sometimes it doesn't.

I finally got around with the fish part, but Greta is brutal

some scary moments though.

Edit 2:
Once I get the meal, I want to go upstairs to the library, but that stopped me
because of the end of the demo, the statue one was creepy, but nicely done.

 

[chiithecat]

while playing 0.0.6 version, I notice some issues.

1) while you have the screwdriver, it had the same text on the steelbar
without it (make a check here when it "has the screwdriver" so it says:
"let's try out the screwdriver" or similair.

2) on the song you learn, you can do it without getting all 4 lyrics pieces,
make sure to get them all before you can sing it?

3) in the living room, the NPC resets to the old spot after saving the game,
which should retain (make sure the NPC X and Y are saved) so it is on the
same spot.

there seems to be other issues around with similair parts, but nicely done
further, I try to beat the demo, but it's alot of searching.

however, when going to the foutain, in the center or behind, it shows the same picture.
while behind it, you should see nothing unless it can see behind the pilar?

I try to beat the game on this version.

Edit:
Serveral Time of ALexis, the light doesn't follow her sometimes, only when she walks
away and it jumps, sometimes it doesn't.

I finally got around with the fish part, but Greta is brutal

some scary moments though.

Edit 2:
Once I get the meal, I want to go upstairs to the library, but that stopped me
because of the end of the demo, the statue one was creepy, but nicely done.

Thanks for playing the rest of the demo! And also the additional feedback! Yeah!
I made some more changes and just uploaded the 9th version of the demo.
I played the demo hundreds of times and I can't believe I didn't notice the bugs.

Do you have suggestions for the light not following?
I'm using Terrax's lighting plugin and have no idea why the light doesn't follow often...
It's like Alexis is not taking the light with her, which is silly. I want to fix it.

 

[ShadowDragon]

as for fixng the light, no clue to be honest, terrax has some issues,
most use either Khas (stable) or community lightning.

while community lighting IS based on terrax lightining, all commands
are remainexcept it has "CL_" or "CL:" at start, which can be removed,
and also include various bugs that terrax has out of the way.

so try that one if it works (do not delete terrax lightning directly out of
the project, just turn it OFF and community lightning ON.

Khas and Ocram_Lightning can be alternive, ocram is very effect
and works wonderfull, free for non-commercial, but commercial
require a license and is exspensive.

 

[chiithecat]

as for fixng the light, no clue to be honest, terrax has some issues,
most use either Khas (stable) or community lightning.

while community lighting IS based on terrax lightining, all commands
are remainexcept it has "CL_" or "CL:" at start, which can be removed,
and also include various bugs that terrax has out of the way.

so try that one if it works (do not delete terrax lightning directly out of
the project, just turn it OFF and community lightning ON.

Khas and Ocram_Lightning can be alternive, ocram is very effect
and works wonderfull, free for non-commercial, but commercial
require a license and is exspensive.

I've tried the community lighting plugin and it worked perfectly for Alexis.
But the problem is, it took away the title screen background as if I put nothing there - like a black screen with only the characters.
I'll figure this one out after I get back from work.
It's good to know that another plugin moves Alexis with her light as intended!

 

[ShadowDragon]

I didn't took a good look to your title screen entirely, but if it has a light, use
a parallax map on screenresulotion size and noone will notice

a sidenote, dont start in full screen (no fan of it) because I keep other stuff in sight
while I play, this way, also note some bugs, suggestions etc if I want to pass
some through so i wont forget.

the wire part of the lamp (which is nicely done) has also 1 downside, even though
it is nicely constructed. (might figure out how you did that), but this is what I think
on the wire puzzle.

+ nicely done, take some little time to get it done though, but really smooth.

- the wire is path for path made, so also a bit easier to follow.
What I mean by path by path is that 1 wire is made, and another wire on top of it
on all 5, so the illusion that it is messed up is a bit lower and not fully dynamic!

- the wire is only 1 by 1 to connect, not to mention if you click on the far left, the wire
also move as for the arrows up and down.

this works smoothly, but more dynamic for this part would be different and harder.
for example:
show all wires at once, than click 1 which one you want to move.
because the last one that shows up goes into the last slot automatically!

+ the puzzles so far is nicely done, really smooth, and things I didn't though off.

- the combination lock in the library cannot put the code in! It does say,
it's impossible to guess it without code, but fun part as well is "let them guess"

like: It's impossible to guess this lock, better find some clues "show choices"
"Look for clues" (nothing happend) (first choice and cancel out when X is pressed)
"Guess anyway" (let them guess) but once failed, something kills her OR Alexis
caught her to fire her instantly! or something else which can be fitting to your likes.

but that is totally up to you.

(methode 1)
the reason behind this, is so you can skip it if you got the combination before, so you
can skip a part of it (unless you want to avoid it) another way, personally is to duplicate
the same image with different combination (around 8) in case they want to cheat it.
they will fail at least 8 times (OR methode 2)

(methode 2)
place 2 variable (place holders), and put them on -1 (I can give the code to combine this)
so when a variable is -1, they cannot open it in any way (always failed) even if it's correct,
so you MUST find the clues in order to get this code (stored in variable).

so they always die or always get caught, so they cannot cheat as well

 

[chiithecat]

I didn't took a good look to your title screen entirely, but if it has a light, use
a parallax map on screenresulotion size and noone will notice

a sidenote, dont start in full screen (no fan of it) because I keep other stuff in sight
while I play, this way, also note some bugs, suggestions etc if I want to pass
some through so i wont forget.

the wire part of the lamp (which is nicely done) has also 1 downside, even though
it is nicely constructed. (might figure out how you did that), but this is what I think
on the wire puzzle.

+ nicely done, take some little time to get it done though, but really smooth.

- the wire is path for path made, so also a bit easier to follow.
What I mean by path by path is that 1 wire is made, and another wire on top of it
on all 5, so the illusion that it is messed up is a bit lower and not fully dynamic!

- the wire is only 1 by 1 to connect, not to mention if you click on the far left, the wire
also move as for the arrows up and down.

this works smoothly, but more dynamic for this part would be different and harder.
for example:
show all wires at once, than click 1 which one you want to move.
because the last one that shows up goes into the last slot automatically!

+ the puzzles so far is nicely done, really smooth, and things I didn't though off.

- the combination lock in the library cannot put the code in! It does say,
it's impossible to guess it without code, but fun part as well is "let them guess"

like: It's impossible to guess this lock, better find some clues "show choices"
"Look for clues" (nothing happend) (first choice and cancel out when X is pressed)
"Guess anyway" (let them guess) but once failed, something kills her OR Alexis
caught her to fire her instantly! or something else which can be fitting to your likes.

but that is totally up to you.

(methode 1)
the reason behind this, is so you can skip it if you got the combination before, so you
can skip a part of it (unless you want to avoid it) another way, personally is to duplicate
the same image with different combination (around 8) in case they want to cheat it.
they will fail at least 8 times (OR methode 2)

(methode 2)
place 2 variable (place holders), and put them on -1 (I can give the code to combine this)
so when a variable is -1, they cannot open it in any way (always failed) even if it's correct,
so you MUST find the clues in order to get this code (stored in variable).

so they always die or always get caught, so they cannot cheat as well

Thanks for more suggestions!
I needed some time to read them through and decide what to do with the things you mentioned.
As for the lighting plugin, I tried the community plugin once again and it just worked.
I don't know why this kind of thing happens all the time - even though I didn't make any changes to the game.

And as for the screen mode, I'd better add it to the option menu.
I'm a big fan of full screen mode and I don't want to give that up, but my teammate and you and probably other players aren't enjoying it that much. Haha
So I'm planning to let them decide which screen mode they want to choose, having the window mode as a default.

Despite your kind and thorough suggestions about the combination, I think I should maintain the puzzle as it is now.
It has several reasons I can't tell - related to the core system of the game regarding the work rules - but to sum up, allowing the players to guess can end up skipping rooms to enter, and the story reveals and neat puzzles in the rooms will also be skipped.
But thanks for the advice! It always means a lot to our team that you spend so much of your quality time to give us feedback.

 

[ShadowDragon]

than try the combi and let them always fails (2 variables at -1).
so you always maintain the puzzles mechanic and the rules.

but can be a twist "do NOT touch other peoples belonging" so guessing it = touching ^^
but I also see your side of of view on those for not skipping, if parts are required.

full screen for most can be good, if they play games alot, but I got other things
I want to keep an eye on if I help other peoples with some things, so for pc,
I choose window mode above full screen.

but I look forward to the next version.