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Feedback => DevLogs => Topic started by: Ben H on November 15, 2013, 07:47:41 AM



Title: Castles - Ghibli-inspired 3D FTL-like
Post by: Ben H on November 15, 2013, 07:47:41 AM
I've been making a game, temporarily called Castles, in my spare time for the last few months.

(http://benhumphreys.co.uk/castles/images/castles01.gif)

Summary!
  • FTL-like gameplay in a Ghibli-inspired world - control a walking castle and its crew as they fight sky pirates, trade with towns and unearth ancient artifacts.
  • 3D lowpoly art - Animal Crossing proportion models, but with softer Ghibli textures.
  • Real-time world and combat - your castle is being chased, every second you stop to fix your engine or help others is a risk you must weigh.
  • Build your castle how you want - drag out rooms to create your unique castle. Plan your defense through your castle design.
  • Permadeath and randomly generated paths - every time you play the overworld map is different. Each level has randomly generated encounters.

Current state has temporary skelly models from the Asset Store.

(http://benhumphreys.co.uk/castles/images/castles-in.jpg)

(http://benhumphreys.co.uk/castles/images/castles-out.jpg)


The Long Story

I started Castles because I wanted to capture the adventure and excitement of Ghibli films.
The sense of danger and comraderie in Nausicäa, the out-of-control antics of sky pirates in Laputa, the ancient artifacts in Laputa, the feel of a living city in Kiki's Delivery Service.
The game started out as a strategy game focussing on a single city, sending out mobile castles to explore and gather resources.  I quickly realised I wanted to make something with more humanity, just with a small number of people. Instead of building multiple castles, the player would control a single one.

I'm making the game in Unity and all the current assets are ones I've made myself, with the exception of some temporary skeletons I bought from the asset store. I'm aiming to show an alpha around February next year.


Looking for a 3D artist

I'm looking for a 3D artist who is interested in a rev-share collaboration, and wants to help create a Ghibli-inspired low-poly world.
I've uploaded some images from other games/anime to this Imgur gallery for an example of what I imagine: http://imgur.com/a/NO3pA (http://imgur.com/a/NO3pA)
If you're interested email me at [email protected]


Title: Re: Castles - Ghibli-inspired 3D FTL-like
Post by: DanDecarlo on November 15, 2013, 08:00:39 AM
The monotonous ground below the castle looks unnatural, otherwise a good idea and graphics. On what platforms will it be released?


Title: Re: Castles - Ghibli-inspired 3D FTL-like
Post by: Ben H on November 15, 2013, 02:31:42 PM
The monotonous ground below the castle looks unnatural, otherwise a good idea and graphics. On what platforms will it be released?
You're right, the ground is just a placeholder for now. I've been working on the castle, I'll be starting on the world/background in a few weeks.

I'm aiming for desktop at first, then touch devices later.


Title: Re: Castles - Ghibli-inspired 3D FTL-like
Post by: Christian on November 15, 2013, 02:44:14 PM
Very cool premise and art style

Will we be able to board enemy castles or build catapults, battering rams, etc.?


Title: Re: Castles - Ghibli-inspired 3D FTL-like
Post by: Ben H on November 16, 2013, 05:48:16 AM
Thanks for the kind words!

So far it's mostly about combat within your castle and castle-to-other combat (airships, raiders), but boarding other castles might work.