Put Your Game Art and Music Here

Gizmo · Post by **Gizmo** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 4:52 am

Trump wrote:Yuu, are you certain you need another program? I mean yeah RH's computer crashed when it ran it, but you don't know if it is the computer's fault or the program's.

When I ran the installer, I noticed it copying a bunch of DLLs. It looks like the gamdev kit uses VB Scripting (also known as Visual Basic-), hense the various DLLs that are installed. (In older/non-updated Microsoft OSs, some of these DLLs are old versions that don't have the latest functions/features, or just arn't there, so the common practice for programs that use VB/Visual Basic is to include the working/recent version of the DLLs it needs as part of the installation package. If a DLL is being used by a program or the OS during run-time, the only time you can update/copy it in place is when you reboot. More sophisticated installation programs (see MSI) use special function calls that are in the OS itself, but even then, you have to be patched and up to date in order for these functions to be available. It looks like the installation pacakged generated by gamedev hasn't been updated to use MSI.

There are advantages and disadvantages to using gamedev. The advantage in this case is that its relatively easy to get a simple game up and going. A disadvange is how the required VBS DLLs are managed in this particular case. Its not that its bad or anything, but gamedev is a 'free' gamedev kit, so you're getting what you're paying for. (It also seems to be still in development, and the most recent update is half a year old.)

There are other packages out there, some good, some bad, some easy to work with, some leaving you scratching your head while trying to grok what the developer is trying to do. Some start off with a 'template', much like this one, giving you some basic classes and functions. The 'professional' kits are less convenient to use, less using a scripting language, and more writing a program in code closer to what the machine uses (see SDL or DirectX). It takes longer to write out and perfect, but it runs faster.

Trump wrote:Basically put, I would suggest just looking around the internet in regards to the program you have, to see if there were similiar reports as to what happened to RH. If there isn't it was probably a one-in-a-million fluke that unfortunately RH just happened to be the lucky "winner" of. It would be a shame for this project to get undermined because of such a fluke, but still you are the one who is doing it, so I guess your call on what to do.

The gamedev forums have (unfortunatly) been down the past few weeks, only recently back up.

If you're interested in game programming here are some links to check out:
Game Programming Wiki
Pygame Using python and SDL to make games.
SDL A cross platform library providing Video/Audio/Keyboard/Mouse functions.
NeHe.gamedev.net An introduction to 3D/OpenGL/DirectX programming

-gizmo

Cuerden · Post by **Cuerden** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 6:44 am

Well, yes, but what are the bosses? What towns and major areas? Waht characters, besides Quentyn, are important? Any scripted scenes that need to be done in time to music? can the programmer read music, if I gave him sheet music with cues on it for a scene?

Yuoofox wrote:
Could do music for it, but it'd be useful to know the major game areas and any particularly dramatic points in the plot.
Well, most RPG games like Zelda or Final Fantasy have a general set of songs that fit the following events:

Cuerden · Post by **Cuerden** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 6:45 am

For that matter, RPG or action game? It makes a big difference to type of music.

Yuoofox · Post by **Yuoofox** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 7:14 am

Well, yes, but what are the bosses? What towns and major areas? Waht characters, besides Quentyn, are important? Any scripted scenes that need to be done in time to music? can the programmer read music, if I gave him sheet music with cues on it for a scene?

Well, we don't know that yet because we're still deciding what game engine to use. At this point, I think an action game would be best, where Quentyn walks around and hits random enemies with his sword (like the original Zelda game). But yes, all of those things you mentioned would be really cool for a later game!

But, I think we should take small steps for right now.

Yes, I can read music. **Caution: bragging fox approaching.

:roll:** I like to sing choir, play the piano, play the recorder, play the trombone, I like to mess around with MIDI notation software, and I've taken a non-majors music theory class.
In my opinion, don't worry about timed music just yet. Just one or two basic themes would be just fine.

Cuerden · Post by **Cuerden** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 8:42 am

Well, we don't know that yet because we're still deciding what game engine to use. At this point, I think an action game would be best, where Quentyn walks around and hits random enemies with his sword (like the original Zelda game). But yes, all of those things you mentioned would be really cool for a later game! But, I think we should take small steps for right now.

Ah! Action RPG. Right-o. mind, I'd say those might be even harder to do than a standard RPG: Have to give the enemies reasonably good AI, and varied types - have a look at, say, Link to the Past's enemies, particularly the bosses and minibosses.

Might start with a theme appropriate to Quentyn's dream at the start of the comic. Would be a good opening theme, and be reusable later (in variation) when Quentyn begins to live up to his dreams. Sound good?

Madmoonie · Post by **Madmoonie** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 10:47 am

I think the best kind of game for TOTQ would be a zelda SNES or version, the top down kind. Plus, you have all those sprites and landscape tiles that we could reuse from the earlier posts in the forums. Maybe not the villians but the trees, pots and buildings certainly. Anyway, I took a crack at redoing one of the Quentyn sprites. Tell me what you think. I think it is 32x32. I hope.

Ignore the second. It has some defects in it. I can't get rid of it on the post however.

Cuerden · Post by **Cuerden** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 12:53 pm

What d'ye think of this as a "Questor" theme?

Cuerden · Post by **Cuerden** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 1:06 pm

Madmoonie wrote:I think the best kind of game for TOTQ would be a zelda SNES or version, the top down kind. Plus, you have all those sprites and landscape tiles that we could reuse from the earlier posts in the forums. Maybe not the villians but the trees, pots and buildings certainly. Anyway, I took a crack at redoing one of the Quentyn sprites. Tell me what you think. I think it is 32x32. I hope.

Best not borrow sprites from a pre-existing game. Could end up with us in trouble. The Quentyn sprite s fairly good, but it's a little stiff-looking, and a bit blocky - probably the fauult of the image size, though. It might be best to go up to 64x64 (or even 64x128, though the top 64x64'd probably end up only containing the hat) with it to get better detail in.

Yuoofox · Post by **Yuoofox** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 3:15 pm

What d'ye think of this as a "Questor" theme?

**Yuoo listens to Cuerden's midi composition, and it brings forth mental images of a flag waving on a hilltop or an view of Quentyn's village from afar.**

Very nice! That is a good, regal theme.

Madmoonie · Post by **Madmoonie** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 4:26 pm

Yup, I like it to. Needs to be it longer...I don't know, maybe upbeat section...or at least a possible loop anyway. For a menu. The sprites I mentioned were the ones that posted at the beginning of this thread. The tag at the bottom of the window said they were reusable, as long as due credit was given.

Cuerden · Post by **Cuerden** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 5:52 pm

Aye, I know it's short, but I'll be coming up with longer compositions to fit int into. (And probably expanding it out a bit) But at this length or a bit longer, it'd fit into, say, the dream that starts off the comic, the Choosing ceremony, just after Quentyn's near-death to the Rat King (in a long statement), etc. Bit more work that way, of course, but TotQ deserves it.

Will the plot be changing at all, by the way? Might be best to hold back on some of the items (probably the boots and bow) Quentyn bought when drunk to give it a more LoZ-style accumulation of powers. (Also, might have to nerf the bow a bit for a game.)

Hmm. But I idly spectulate.

Can't see any sets of tiles besides the Super Mario Brothes and Legend of Zelda ones, which are most decidedly in copyright. (Well, and that Quentyn set.) - the Quentyn set as originally provided - unassembled tiles - is probably better than the new, assembled one, which is just too short for its width, and compressed downwards. Don't feel that he has to fit into a square - it's perfectly alright to use 32x64. (Or so I presume) Really like the sample Assembled Quentyn in that one.might be an idea to go in and make it a "true" 32-pixel tile - smooth out the lines, add a little extra detail, but it's good. The attempts to make it fit a square... not quite so good.

Actually, I have a bit of music I wrote a while ago that never actually found the use I intended it for. Wrote it for a group of friends, who said they liked it, but were going to commission music from some Video game composer as a theme song for their group instead. Doubt it's usable, though. They were a Sci fi group. Ach, weel. Shows what I'm capable of.

Anyway! I'm a wee bit drunk and babbling. Will try and do a full-length Freeman Downs theme later. The little theme I did now can wait until after the plot work reaches a later stage, and I know where it needs to go (and can adapt length and surrounding music as needed, and/or work it into longer bits for any cut scenes. (I really hope we get a few. Those're really fun to compose for)

One hint about plots for RPGs: there was an attempt to make an RPG for... well, I'll leave out the comic name so I can speak freely about what went wrong. (There was a rant here, but I thought better of it) Basica advice: try and get something done as early as possible, even if it's only, say, the tavern in Freeman Downs and a fight with...whassisname... the bully that picks on Quentyn... Rahan?) IT'll force you to work on what's needed instead of what's fun, and make sure you have something to show for all your work. As a bonus, sprites are fairly reusable, so you'll have a big head start on your next project, say, expanding out to all of Freeman downs. (You can use that window... and that floor.... And maybe that table....)

Madmoonie · Post by **Madmoonie** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 8:10 pm

Hey I don't want to imply that you doing something wrong...You are already doing tons (even more than that) than I could EVER do.

StrangeWulf13 · Post by **StrangeWulf13** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 11:05 pm

I don't know if it could be used in a game, but I actually did a little voicework for Squidge the other day, on a lark. I was home alone, and I felt like doing something creative, so I did.

Haven't exported it into anything yet (i.e. made it compatible with any audio program), but I do intend to. Any preferences on the format?

Maybe I'll just do all three and let you guys decide...

Madmoonie · Post by **Madmoonie** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 11:55 pm

I would like to hear it.

StrangeWulf13 · Post by **StrangeWulf13** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 12:13 am

Hmm... seems I can't post it here on the forums. Wav files aren't allowed as attachments.

Unless someone knows a place I can put it for free, I may just have to ask you guys to PM me with your email addresses. I promise I won't give 'em out to any spam bots.

It's much more fun to test Solidus' weapons grade computer viruses instead...

SolidusRaccoon · Post by **SolidusRaccoon** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 12:21 pm

StrangeWulf13 wrote:Hmm... seems I can't post it here on the forums. Wav files aren't allowed as attachments.

Unless someone knows a place I can put it for free, I may just have to ask you guys to PM me with your email addresses. I promise I won't give 'em out to any spam bots.

It's much more fun to test Solidus' weapons grade computer viruses instead...

How do you know about the GW system? Oh well, here is a mind twister for you. What if I told you I was just a computer AI system. A complex AI system has written all of my posts, and has "talked" on the phone with some of you. Solidus is a 100% fake, a system created to monitor and glean information from all of you. None of you have met me in real life, so how do you know I am real?

UncleMonty · Post by **UncleMonty** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 1:23 pm

I've been told, by the director of Production at the TV station where I work, that I have a flexible voice... I turned down his request to use me in a commercial voice-over though, because I fear (near phobia in fact) speaking in public. This game thing feels much less threatening, so if the position hasn't been taken I'll buy a microphone and try out for Squidge.
I've already got Audacity software, and can edit and convert audio files.

StrangeWulf13 · Post by **StrangeWulf13** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 2:36 pm

UncleMonty, I did the same thing.

Picked up Audacity from this forum and tried out Squidge. Now, if only I could find a place to host the file...

Any suggestions?

Cuerden · Post by **Cuerden** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 2:42 pm

I've done a bit of playing around. All very creative, and, I must admit, in complete violation of that dictum "Do what needs done first, not what's fun" I mentioned a few posts back. Ach weel! Anyway!

Expanded "Heroic" Theme

Quentyn's Theme (needs a playful accompaniment)

Both at once

Yuoofox · Post by **Yuoofox** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 3:08 pm

Expanded "Heroic" Theme

Quentyn's Theme (needs a playful accompaniment)

Both at once

Ooh! Very very nice. Well, I don't quite care for the third one (both at once), but the first two sound good. I like the sound of the clarinet / oboe. Thank you for doing this.

Also, a Squidge voice would be cool. I tried it myself, but he ended up sounding like Alvin and the Chipmunks.