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[oyog]

Man, your visuals are beautiful.

I know the character design isn't really in question here, but still, I gotta say I'm really pleased with the bulky environmental suit as opposed to something along the lines of Samus's power suit.  It makes me think it's chock full of life support and information gathering devices.  I think it'd also give the feeling of being somewhat vulnerable in a hostile environment.

I mean, just imagine exploring in one of these.  Man, that'd be intense.


Which brings up something I was curious about.  What were you imagining the movement speed would be?  From the animation it looks appropriately slow and clunky.  That could get frustrating, though, if there's a lot of traveling long distances.

[Scut Fabulous]

...the bulky environmental suit as opposed to something along the lines of Samus's power suit.  It makes me think it's chock full of life support and information gathering devices.  I think it'd also give the feeling of being somewhat vulnerable in a hostile environment.

Which brings up something I was curious about.  What were you imagining the movement speed would be?  From the animation it looks appropriately slow and clunky.  That could get frustrating, though, if there's a lot of traveling long distances.

You hit on exactly one of the feelings I'm trying to get across.  If even this massive lump of armour can't guarantee your safety then it makes things feel really tense.

As for speed, I want to have some sort of repulsor unit built into the suit.  Basically anti-gravity that lets you bob up to the surface.  I was trying some sprites a long time ago but didn't get something I liked.  I'll need to finish that pretty soon I guess.

[Scut Fabulous]

http://scutanddestroy.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/salvage-message-mockup-001.png

My game now has its very own font, wooteroo!

I'm thinking the game will have some sort of data-feed to keep you informed about major events going on.  Maybe you'll be able to type in text queries to get specific reports.  That would feel cool as long as it was timely and simple.

[Carrie Nation]

Just a little bit... totally impossible to read.

Also Deteckted = Detected

And why is Samurai Jack telling me all of this?

[Scut Fabulous]

Just a little bit... totally impossible to read.

Also Deteckted = Detected

And why is Samurai Jack telling me all of this?

I'm perfectly aware of the spelling, it's on purpose, thanks.

[Carrie Nation]

Just a little bit... totally impossible to read.

Also Deteckted = Detected

And why is Samurai Jack telling me all of this?

I'm perfectly aware of the spelling, it's on purpose, thanks.

I forgot that is how Samurai Jack spells Detected.

My apologies.

[PsySal]

I like the font. I'm one of the crazy people who thinks games should have their own font. Everybody always criticizes my own fonts for being illegible, too, however =)

[Carrie Nation]

I like the font. I'm one of the crazy people who thinks games should have their own font. Everybody always criticizes my own fonts for being illegible, too, however =)

Agree with this, I just found it a bit unreadable.

[Dozer]

I think the font is perfectly legible... I looked it over twice and found it easy to read. Only problem I see with it is that there is no filler color. Maybe you could add a semi transparent white to fill it in. I think that would probably help with any readability other people seem to be having.

[ink.inc]

My concern is that you're doing all this great artwork without having anyone to do your programming for you. It would be a damn shame to see this project get dropped/forgotten.

So find your coder friend, jkd or whoever, pull him from whatever he's currently working on, and force him to work on this project, because there's no way whatever he's doing is cooler than what you have here.

[Scut Fabulous]

My concern is that you're doing all this great artwork without having anyone to do your programming for you. It would be a damn shame to see this project get dropped/forgotten.

So find your coder friend, jkd or whoever, pull him from whatever he's currently working on, and force him to work on this project, because there's no way whatever he's doing is cooler than what you have here.

Haha, I'll send him your quote to try and light a fire under him.  He's got a job for a pretty big software company which keeps him busy, and I'm sure the idea of coding all day, only to come home to code more is not his current life-dream.  He's was also getting heavier into making music around the time I started mockups for The Salvage.
I keep him updated on the progress, and he gives me regular feedback and feasibility assessments, so I'm sure when he feels ready to code he'll be on point.

[Scut Fabulous]

http://scutanddestroy.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/pixel-portraits-001.png

I've been thinking about having simple little portraits for characters.  These are mostly a test.  I might use a couple of them, but I think I need to do more before I'm happy.  Human figures are pretty tough for me, so even simple stuff like this can be a grind for me.

[ink.inc]

Not as good as the rest of the concept art; however, looking at the screenshot, it doesn't clash terribly. 

It would be cool if, while their faces were on the display, it would flicker and have some distortion, like a radio message trying to get through.

[oyog]

Yeah.  I'm totally the middle guy in the top row.  He's definitely got my eyes.

[Scut Fabulous]

Compressed images are just ripped from my blog's automatic shrinkamajigger, make sure to click the URL below images to get proper pixel joy.


http://scutanddestroy.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/digger-001.png



http://scutanddestroy.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/digger-002.png



http://scutanddestroy.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/digger-003.png



http://scutanddestroy.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/digger-004.png



http://scutanddestroy.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/digger-005.png

My 'Digger' device, for boring tunnels into the planet.  This is an automated tool that the player will be able to set up then walk away from while it digs a nice clean passage.  It will be a workhorse tool.  Useful because I want the player's built-in digging tool to be pretty much just for emergency and improvised usage.  This tool will be able to bore angled and vertical holes as well.

As a general note, I've got a bunch of sketches I'm pecking away at, some of which will likely get posted this week.

Note to self:  mockup abrasive storms.

[Scut Fabulous]

http://scutanddestroy.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/dust-storm-001.png



http://scutanddestroy.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/dust-storm-002.png



http://scutanddestroy.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/dust-storm-003.png


Trans-continental dust storms that deliver a withering barrage of tiny abrasive particles and debris whipping across the surface.  You'll need to take shelter against these, as they can peel back your armour.  They can also damage equipment, which makes them another reason to dig revetments for your precious tools!

[VomitOnLino]

Just chiming in to say that I think that your artwork so far has been utterly fantastic.

I also like the setting quite a lot. I hope that you manage to implement all of your ideas because emergent-gameplay ideas like digging etc. would set your game very far apart from a lot of the other metroid-esque-"clones".

One question though which doesn't seem clear to me, and I apologize if it has been asked before, is this "just" artwork - or are there actual game screenshots running on your engine?

[Scut Fabulous]

One question though which doesn't seem clear to me, and I apologize if it has been asked before, is this "just" artwork - or are there actual game screenshots running on your engine?

What you're seeing so far consists only of mockups I've made.  This devlog began as just a couple mockups I had posted in the art forum.  They got good responses, and I kept improving the concept, and then I decided this project was worth pushing all the way to completion if possible.

  A basic engine does exist, it's analogous to Worms or Lemmings, but it's currently tucked away while my partner is busy with other things.  The engine was for a game that never fully got off the ground.  It had destructible terrain, and some basic fluid and fire dynamics as I recall.

What I'm doing now with the devlog is to build as many of the assets as I can, as well as figure out the game design.  Once jkd can get onto the programming he'll have a huge visual catalog of how the game works.  We don't live in the same cities, so instead of me trying to describe how something should look or work in the game, if I can just show him 'here it should look like this:' it saves a lot of time.

[Scut Fabulous]

I had forgotten to make numerals for my font.  There are now numerals.  Huzzahs all around!

[Geti]

Huzzah! Though, that 7 is bloody hard to read.