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When I was working on my game last night, it occurred to me that I've been creating my game for just over a year now. It's taken me quite a long time to know what to do, and I've made some changes so that I CAN do what I want to do. I still can't tell you the name of it, as I want to register the trademark, and I can't do that until I have a complete game.
Besides learning Coldstone, much of my time has been creating graphics, and still will be for a while. I'm using many of the graphics that come with Coldstone, but I've changed some of it. I've also added my own graphics and have merged them with the existing graphics. For instance, I have desert ground that merges with the grass. I also have graphics that will allow the ground to have levels, so the Player climbs a hill or mountain, all merged with the existing ground stamps. This way, too, I have a town that's on high cliffs and the Player crosses via bridges. I just recently found a way to make interiors -- of taverns, inns, dungeons, castles, etc. so I'm pretty excited about that. So the Player enters an inn and finds characters and things there as well as a bed -- Zelda style.
I have a meter graphic that pops up with a keydown. Like a health meter bar. I have 20 levels in my game, which means that the meter bar is determined level by level. It also pops up with a dialogue when a certain event is run - all determined by different numbers of points in different levels.
The Player has to sleep once in a while. Otherwise, he starts to lose stamina points. Thanks to Stray's timer!! Same thing with eating. And different foods satisfy in different degrees. So you're hungery in less time when you eat an apple than if you ate a full meal. I have apple trees that dump apples, but due to globals, not every time you enter the map. Nearly everything is good for selling and making money, including apples.
I have 52 "world" maps, all linked with boundaries. I still need to finish them. I have a system that, once the Player reaches level 4, he can transport across maps. I've also made road signs -- a must for this game. I have 20 towns.
The story is coming along. There's four main branches of the main story quest before the final quest. I carry around index cards and work on whatever branch I want, especially when I'm stuck somewhere. Then there's the missions that's separate from the story lines. The Player can have fun making money and interacting with characters that way. And, finally, the Player can develop as many skills as the game carries. What I mean, here, is that the Player can learn how to make a bow, and the more skilled he is at it, the more money he'll get when he sells it. Arrows, armor, medicine - lots of things. I have classes, so the Player finds it easier to make something according to his class. The Player can even buy his own shop when he has enough money.
The game is more strategy than action, if you call action killing everything. There's lots of discovery. For instance, once he finds a particular book, then pages from the book become available for him to read, and he finds the pages around the world. But there's TWO books!
There's people here who want to beta test it.
I figure another year.
------------------ -- Debra Danillitphil Productions (url="http://"http://www.danillitphil.com/graphics/index.html")www.danillitphil.com(/url)
That is just great, Debra. I'm so glad you posted that because it shows others that creating a quality product takes time, lots of it! I can only claim a plugin so far but that took seven months to do. Your innovations sound intriguing. There are many who will appreciate a game that is not all "shoot 'em down" but discovery and adventure with an end purpose.
You've whetted the appetites, now take a sabbatical to finish it off so we all can play the game and make you rich. ~RD
------------------ My Doctor said I was having too much wine, women, and song - so I gave up singing because 2 out of 3 is not so bad. The (url="http://"http://www.evula.org/rduck/")Kingdom of Garendall(/url) sectional map is easily printed from gif format pages. (url="http://"http://www.ambrosiasw.com/cgi-bin/vftp/dl-redirect.pl/damsels.sit?path=pog/addons&file;=damselsV1.1.sit")Damsels in Distress(/url) - A plugin for PoG.
Debra,
Woohoo! I can't hardly wait! I've seen some of your graphics and they are very ggood! I have money for your game no problem! Keep up the progress!
Apollo16
------------------
Hey, thanks, guys! Yeah, I thought I'd be able to work on it last summer, but turned out I couldn't. I'm doing a lot of the global events now, but because I learned Coldstone by making the opening scene/map, I corrupted the game (not Coldstone's fault, mine). So as of last night, I'm rebuilding the game (not the maps), and cleaning up quite a lot of how events are put together to make it work better and be more stable. I found the corruption last night right away.
I'll beta test it twice before releasing it. The first time will be with people from here (not the board, but here where I live). Then I hope that I can get some people from this board to beta test it again. They'll get it for free, of course.
Not everyone will like this game, but what game does? A friend visited me and started playing the game. He commented that he didn't want to quit it, and that's just in the beginning! What's cool, though, is that he's never played games before.
I figure that I'll place a lot of my graphics for sale - the kind that you can build on that's not merged with Coldstone's graphics - once I've released my game. The one's I've merged with the Coldstone graphics, I'll place on the addon page, unless Ambrosia doesn't want me to. But not until I've released my game.
Seven months for a plugin sounds about right. Congrats on that again, RD!
Since I really don't know how to secure my game, I don't plan to make it available for download, except for a demo. They'll get a CD. I'm all set up for that.
Meanwhile, I'm also making a Players Manual to go along with it. Lots of pictures in it!
Thanks again, guys!
Well, assuming that I'm still around in a year (which I should be, unless there's a coup, or something ) I'd be more than happy to test your game, Debra. Sounds like it'd be a lot of fun to play... and perhaps even more fun to play with the source.
Good luck with the game!
-Andiyar
------------------ "Any good that I may do here, let me do now, for I may not pass this way again"
FInally there is some proof that coldstone works with making games! Yes beenox did make garendall, but they fiddled with Coldstone to make it. Plugins are great, but it sure is a booster knowing that people are serious about the Game side of coldstone.
------------------ Whose cruel idea was it to put an 'S' in lisp? (url="http://"http://genesisp.netfirms.com")Genesis Productions(/url)
Half way done Huh? Good for you. And I hope that everything goes very well as you put it together. And I wish you the best.
------------------ -Albadar- - - - - - - - - - - Just trying...
Hi Debra. Way to go. It soulnds like you have way more done on your game then I do. I passed the year mark last June, and since we are so close to November I'm going to have to start working a bit harder on getting things done.
Debra--that sounds really awesome, and I'm getting excited. The only thing I'm worried about is how complicated is it going to be--Can the player jump right in without having to read the player's manual? Then again, that's more the sort of thing for beta testing..
Quote
Originally posted by Rubber Ducky: **That is just great, Debra. I'm so glad you posted that because it shows others that creating a quality product takes time, lots of it! I can only claim a plugin so far but that took seven months to do. Your innovations sound intriguing. **
Don't sell yourself short! DiD isn't just 'only' a plugin! It's an excellently made Pillars of Garendall Expansion. The enemies are too hard (especially if you look at how much XP they give you), but it's excellent nontheless.
Sorry that my post isn't as helpful as it is "Wow, this looks amazing", but it does :)!
------------------ They say that if you play a Windows Install CD backwords, you hear satanic messages. That's nothing; play it forward and it installs Windows. --thanks to TBobMac
Originally posted by macmaxbh: **The only thing I'm worried about is how complicated is it going to be--Can the player jump right in without having to read the player's manual? **
Nope, I'm writing my game for people who don't know anything. One of the complaints I hear is that you have to have the book in order to have fun with a game. I'm trying to not have to do that.
Congrats! It sounds like a lot of fun! Seems very diverse and even has some MMORPG aspects (I've recently become addicted to them ). Not to mention the huge world... 20 towns? Wow. Anyway, to your issue on someone stealing your game/name, etc.
Originally posted by Debra: **Since I really don't know how to secure my game, I don't plan to make it available for download, except for a demo. **
Once you have the version of the game you plan to put up for download, burn it to a CD and put it in a sealed package/envelope. Write a note of explanation of what the game is, who originally had the idea (you!) and what names, etc. you have copyrighted/trademarked. Under US law you get the trademark for free, however, you have to pay to be able to use it (i.e. you can't sell the game with a trademark unless it is registered). Mail it to yourself and stash it in a vault. The postmark will prove that the contents originated on the date the post office received it and you will have a rockhard defence against trademark thefts
By the way, this may interest you: (url="http://"http://www.uspto.gov/main/trademarks.htm")http://www.uspto.gov.../trademarks.htm(/url)
Again, congrats on the progress with your game, and good luck getting the trademark!
EDIT: One more thing, I believe you can get your registered trademarks now if you say that you will use them on products, etc. in the next few years (unfortunately there is a fine if you don't)... Check the info at the above link. It should be in there somewhere...
------------------ CI-I@()s (url="http://"http://www.evula.org/world-of-cha0s/")The Homepage of Cha0s(/url)
(This message has been edited by CI-Ia0s (edited 10-30-2003).)
Thanks. I didn't communicate well enough though. I meant that I did not know how to keep people from downloading a game and then have to enter a code in order for it to work. And that's why (besides it being rather large) I don't plan to have it available for download. I know that people have posted about that, but the suggestions just aren't good enough for me to trust it. And the articles are too vague for me to understand. I know that people will be able to copy the game and give it to friends, but that's a lot less damaging than just taking it off of the internet.
It grieves and deeply concerns me, though, that people in our society tend to think that if you can do something, you have the right to do it. It lacks honorable character. But that's another topic.
Double Trouble...grrrr... The second one is better.
(This message has been edited by CI-Ia0s (edited 10-31-2003).)
I am currently developing an app that would require a registration code to be entered before the installer would run and that would also create a hidden textfile with a code. The name and date registered when coupled with the code would have to produce a certain output when ran through a few mathematical operations (now talk about high security ). This information would have to be present in the hidden textfile for the game to run. Of course the people could just give the game to each other as you said, but it would deal with the simple "download and play" issue. Now to get it to work...
NOTE: Actually, because of OS X I could also stash the code deep in the library so you would actually have to install to play. Two problems: It would limit portability (platform compatibility) and if a pirater found the code file, he/she could just copy it to his/her friends' computers (or just give them code).
Anyway, some stuff to think about and be aware of... It may be useful... if I can get it to work, grr...
BlackLite claims: **Yes beenox did make garendall, but they fiddled with Coldstone to make it. **
What are you talking about, got any evidence, or just blurting out random false statements out of frustration?
(url="http://"http://www.ellrx.com/index.html")eLL' Rx...Last Updated 09.02.03(/url)
(url="http://"http://www.ellrx.com/articles/vault/index.html")CGE Vault(/url)
... bwahhaaaaahaaaaaugh fooooolish sammurai.
Originally posted by CI-Ia0s: **I am currently developing an app that would require a registration code to be entered before the installer would run and that would also create a hidden textfile with a code. (snip) **
Sounds interesting!
I haven't been here in a while, and I'm very pleased to see that your game is coming along nicely. Since I initially heard about it, I've looked forward to it.
drools :-b........
------------------ The bake sale to raise money for the car wash has been canceled due to confusion.
Thanks, and welcome back!!
Your game sounds interesting. I was begining to wonder wether there was anyone else that was even close to completeing their game.
------------------ Thanks, GrahamVH graham@warcraftcentral.com Coldstone Developer (url="http://"http://www.warcraftcentral.net/legends/main.html")http://www.warcraftc...gends/main.html(/url)
Originally posted by GrahamVH: **Your game sounds interesting. I was begining to wonder wether there was anyone else that was even close to completeing their game.
**
That's why I left for a while. That's also why I haven't gotten into Coldstone yet. I'd like to see what results others can turn out before I throw my hat in.