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Feedback => DevLogs => Topic started by: Thomas Finch on June 22, 2014, 01:22:04 AM



Title: Text-Based ACTION Adventure (w/ Creation Tools)
Post by: Thomas Finch on June 22, 2014, 01:22:04 AM
As a side project, I've been working on an idea I had for an Action text adventure. The thought is that it's a text-based game with choices to make and bodies of text to read with interesting story, but elements of action make it a more unique experience. I haven't come up with everything I'm going to do with this yet, but some ideas:

1. Screen Shake when intense things happen.
2. If health is low for some reason, there could be a heartbeat effect.
3. The choices are going to be displayed in similar format to Heavy Rain where they float around dramatically as if they're thoughts of the player character.
4. There will be a timer attached to choices with the time limit reflecting the situation. If the player is examining a crime scene maybe it'll be a longer timer, but if they're in the middle of an intense gunfight you might only have a second or two to make a choice.
5. When bodies of text are being written they could type faster if its a more intense scene.

If you have any ideas for action elements, let me know. The more cliche (to video games) the better.

Started development today on the Creation Tools first, as I'll be using them myself to make the game. The Creation Tools will feature being able to make completely custom stories with custom text and choices and even custom stats and items. Each choice can have an effect attached to it alongside its obvious progression to another part of the story.

Checklist for Creation Tools:
Navigating and Editing Pages
Editing Amount of Choices and Text for each Choice
Adding and Editing Custom Stats
Adding and Editing Custom Items
Editing the Body Text for a Page
Customizing Timers for Pages
Editing Effects of Choices
Adding "Spacebar to Continue" choice in lack of choices
Allow for changing default and effects text color
Editing Prerequisites for making specific choices
...More


Title: Re: Text-Based ACTION Adventure (w/ Creation Tools)
Post by: triplevisiongames on June 23, 2014, 10:13:46 AM
Interesting idea! Looking forward to seeing how it plays  :)


Title: Re: Text-Based ACTION Adventure (w/ Creation Tools)
Post by: Thomas Finch on June 23, 2014, 11:19:52 PM
Thanks! Haven't updated the editor yet as I'm focusing on my main game (Ethereal). I have, however, been thinking about this project a lot.

The main focus here at the moment is a versatile editor and reliable engine. That way, anyone can use it to make their own interesting stories. Just for kicks though I've been thinking about what my story might be about. The idea I have is to set it in a post-apocalyptic wasteland where you play an investigator of sorts. I'd have the game play out in episodes. There will probably be one episode that sets up the story and character, then you gain access to the other episodes which can be played in any order.

The game and editor are being built in a way that there will be an extreme amount of choice. Other creators don't necessarily have to make the choices matter, but I plan to. I want there to be dozens of endings to every episode I make.

The only other thing I really have to say is that as soon as I have the editor and game finished enough that they are working well together, I'll definitely need help testing it. I'll most likely be uploading them both here and I'll have some way to you to easily upload your custom games.