Wheels and the Leg Girl!

[C-C-C-Cashmere (old)]

On the other hand, I'm a big fan of no battles <3 combatless games ftw!

 

[??????]

But, how are you supposed to 'win' when there aint nothing to beat?

 

[Simon D. Aelsi]

But, how are you supposed to 'win' when there aint nothing to beat?

You use your wits, your brains, and sometimes, your guts. (A little flexflex once in a while never hurt anyone either... right, Bonkers? )  That's how!

 

[C-C-C-Cashmere (old)]

There are other forms of gameplay Exactly what those are we'll have to wait for release! I admit, it requires some skill to make a game fun that eschews regular combat for other styles of gameplay. It's a risk I love to see people take.

 

[??????]

It will certainly have to find alternative fun ways of challenging the players at the very least

 

[Simon D. Aelsi]

I too love combatless games. It makes the developer have to think more, and it makes us players have to think more. It's a win-win!

 

[Bonkers]

But, how are you supposed to 'win' when there aint nothing to beat?

A VERY good question.  This is something I had to plan out in advance for days with the thought that if there is no real danger, interactivity, or challenge, it's just a book.

Oh but there is something to beat; the system, the puzzles, the villains, and most of all the mysteries.

 

Let's go over it a little since I didn't say it directly.

 

Warning:  Major spoilers.  Do not read if you want to be surprised.


In court there is a reputation meter that credits the witnesses Jayce and Stacy.  Based on their testimony and knowledge it can go up and down.  When the meter is empty the court finds the defendant not guilty, and the kids loose.

This may not seem bad- but Slag'tite kills you when you cannot find the verdict guilty.

He's a royal pain, and any of his subordinates that fail to allow him to prosecute successfully suffer.

This is part of the reason why Gallus is so willing to deputize Jayce and Stacy, to save his own scaly hide.

Slag'tite has a 100% prosecution rate.  Only the most insane people in the galaxy are defense attorneys who wish

to go up against him at the hope they will make a name for themselves even going as far to take the sides

of killers and drug lords.  Your goal is to save yourself and gain reputation to get the court on your side.

The children fight for their lives in court.  That means you can lie, with the hope if you can't prove it you can

fake it.

 

Stacy catches the eye of Metalla, a powerful star mage.  Metalla is after the kids because they have

something on their immediate persons she wants destroyed or banished.  She controls the puzzles.

She can even corrupt them and put Jayce and Stacy into immediate peril by inserting them inside of a puzzle 

they've already solved and alter it to make it harder.

 

*BIG SPOILER*

 

There are some puzzles with no solutions she can intentionally throw at you.

I know you are a good thinkers too, and a puzzle with no solution doesn't stop a person from

satisfying the conditions.



 

Just because there are no battles doesn't mean Jayce and Stacy won't

engage in violence.  They will fight when the times comes.

 

[Bonkers]

Some updates:

The title screen is working thanks to Nio's help getting the mouse to function in scene with the custom script, and I managed to get everything redone properly outside of the first script used into the second.  Here is the layout:

I'll get a settings in yellow button done next and add it to the script like with ST.

I've gotten profiles working and completely rewrote the script from scratch to accommodate the needs of the project.  Improving on the way the methods were called, and having it preform more efficiently.  Mundy was a big help getting that together. 

Currently though the format and layout will not work graphically and needs a re-desgin.  There is too much information present:

Spoiler

Next up will be the Case Files and Galatica once profiles is done.

This will be where the bulk of the info is like home worlds, and current case instructions.  

Here are the custom tracks of music for the project in one playlist:




Scythuz and Miss Little Fish made an excellent combo, and pretty soon I will have unique MEs and SEs.  These will be used for character actions and court room

effects.

This week will be extremely busy as I am finishing up a restaff submission and play testing "April was a Fool", Makio and Yato's new project.  Definitely go check it out on RMN.

Once that is settled I'll get back to Makio and resume work on the characters/portraits/title.

Puzzle resources will need to pick up in the following week, as we only have 1 final puzzle resource done with another nearly on the way.  That leaves 5 more for out of court and 3 more in court as visual aids with markers for explanations needed.  

 

[Matseb2611]

Damn. Stacy is a pretty tall 14-year old. What did her parents feed her? XD

 

[Makio-Kuta]

Totally working on the title screen and did not just brand Stacy's gun with Gucci Gun. Nope. Not at all.

Also, to Littlefish and Scythuz I have LOVED every song I've heard come out of this project so far!! <3

 

[Bonkers]

Sorry about the slow updates.  We're really crawling along here

with the IGMC looming over us and resources being made.

 

I'll begin with the puzzle updates that are occuring:

 

Clip art is being replaced.

 

I also have selection overlays if it comes down to it, but I prefer the event label method atm.  We'll see if you agree with the demo is up.

 

Court Proceedings are being worked on to make the story telling a bit more immersive.  It's one thing to be in the lawyer's seat during a trial, but the witness stand

means you are under assault from both sides.  While you can control the addition and subtraction of evidence to the record, you cannot present it.

 

Cross examination means your lies will have a chance to be exposed with what evidence is present.  If the right evidence to support you is there, but not to

convict the suspect you will loose.

 

Telling the truth would get around this, but these are two 14 year old children we are talking about.  Let's not make this a fantasy game.

 

Slag's opengameart.org base is getting crystals added in.  

 I'm trying not to overload him.

 

The Ursa, Theodore Deavaoux Bonker's race

, have had children added.  Here is a base:

 

A couple of aliens:

I fixed the ugly yellow highlighter base and the green stripes with a nicer dark red

Flying\Jumping template will be added to the restaff que

 

Some screen shots in the OP have been updated to reflect the changes made.

 

WIP of the Title Screen: UPDATE:  Seems all together now.

I love how this is coming along.  

 

EDIT: It's done!  So very satisfying to see it finished.  The title screen is absolutely wonderful.  

 

[Makio-Kuta]

I agree! It's satisfying to see it all together~ The purple shading and green highlights were a gamble against a white background :> But they work well with the elements when it's all together!

(pssst everyone make sure you check out the new banner on the first post ;D )

 

[nio kasgami]

it's super awesome haha ...maki art and your talent in design make the game so awesome pall!

 

[Bonkers]

Heyos all, more new material for you to preview.  This time I am getting the court room backgrounds together along with some visual aids for explanations.

Spoiler

I have around 10 angles and views, but no need to clutter up the thread too much for a preview.  Happy to share more if you ask.

Do the busts seem too big for the window?  Would you prefer them at a smaller size?  I can re size them however you like.  

Witnesses lie all the time, every witness is a liar.  Now it's your turn to lie!  One lie begets another, and if you aren't careful you will get tangled and exposed during cross examination.

Would you like the same font made custom?  I am currently using a deviant artist's stock, but can switch if you feel it is too similar.  I designed the template with an overlay and can do any phrase using a simple stencil.

Testimony visual aids are being worked on from stock.  Do you have a preference on size or icons?

I am currently working on getting some video together for the court scenes.  These backgrounds and a few other additions will make it look a bit nicer.

What would you like to see?  I am getting some pixel art soon of Jayce and Stacy as chibis, just to try it out.  Would you like chibis in the puzzles or to decorate menus?  Does it fit the style of the game you have seen so far?

 

[Matseb2611]

In regard to the busts, is there anything going to be happening on the background that player would need to be aware of? If not, then I think the current bust size is fine enough. It actually looks like you're face-to-face talking to the character. Though I guess if you'd need to have 2 busts on screen at any point, then this might cause problems.

What are the icons for? Is that for selecting options during the trial?

 

[Bonkers]

In regard to the busts, is there anything going to be happening on the background that player would need to be aware of? If not, then I think the current bust size is fine enough. It actually looks like you're face-to-face talking to the character. Though I guess if you'd need to have 2 busts on screen at any point, then this might cause problems.

What are the icons for? Is that for selecting options during the trial?

No, the backgrounds for RM will be static for court.  For other places they may be interact-able, but not in the demo.  I am happy to resize them whenever it is feels necessary.  Having Shaz's mouse script means I am restricted to use the default window size unfortunately to make the script not offset events.   

They are for visual aids, here let me get you an example: (Warning spoilers to first court case)

Spoiler

WIP of course, I didn't label the fire doors here.  The icons will move like sprites when the character talks and explains the evidence.

 

[Matseb2611]

Oh right I see. So they show locations of point of interest on the map? Nice one. I do like how you've done them. Curious to see how all this looks in action.

 

[Makio-Kuta]

Those backgrounds look slick~ I wonder if in that first shot of the judge's seat and such not if some texturing to the wood would help make that more visually interesting. Right now it is easy to lose the details in the sea of one colour on that one.

For the chibis in menus and stuff - well it'll depend on how the menu's look. Menus are best not being too distracting though, personally. I like the use of characters in Prof. Layton puzzles though and they use character art in the trunk menu of that game too. I guess it depends how it all ties together visually. Bust size seems fine to me, but I mean - my ego means I like staring at my own art ;D I might not be the best judge.

What are the little markers for? Going on maps or something? I like the look of them, but it's hard to judge their size without context.

THis is what I get for half typing my reply and coming back to it an hour later haha Their size seems fine there.

 

[Bonkers]

Those backgrounds look slick~ I wonder if in that first shot of the judge's seat and such not if some texturing to the wood would help make that more visually interesting. Right now it is easy to lose the details in the sea of one colour on that one.

Mundy redid the backgrounds and added in more colors to help offset that once he saw your feedback.  Thank you =3

Hope this looks a bit better.

 

[Makio-Kuta]

oooo! Yes that looks wonderful with some textures added! Pass him a high five for me!