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[typhvs]

I like the blue-green with magenta outlines the best. But thats just aesthetic and doesnt account for the emotion you want to convey.

As for this

And then we can study the psychological impact of being trapped in a candy colored labyrinth, haha...

I am sure there is plenty of information you can find on the psychological impacts of various colors.  I know that "Drunk tank pink" is a color they have used in drunk tanks and even some Football locker rooms (for the opposing team) to help subdue them and make them less aggressive.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baker-Miller_Pink

Wow that's pretty fascinating.  I stared at the Baker-Miller pink for a while, and I did feel calmer.   

[SolarLune]

This looks and sounds like an interesting game. I'll throw my +1 into the ring and say I like that render as well. Really clean and simple. I think two of the things in addition to the structure of the hallway / doorway that makes is that the room is relatively dark, with the light being rather bright (with the reflection), and the additional noise and AO of Cycles.

[typhvs]

This looks and sounds like an interesting game. I'll throw my +1 into the ring and say I like that render as well. Really clean and simple. I think two of the things in addition to the structure of the hallway / doorway that makes is that the room is relatively dark, with the light being rather bright (with the reflection), and the additional noise and AO of Cycles.

Thanks SolarLune! it looks like that render is winning. 

[typhvs]

Feedback we're often hearing is to add narrative to Echoplex - this is something we're now working on.

We're still keeping the level design feature, just with a simpler social system than the BADGES! RANKING! GLORY! we had planned.

So above is the beginnings of our new design for the level editor - one that is simpler and more intuitive. 

This is our first step towards a grid system that will allow designers to do all tasks in one screen. 

This also makes it easier for us to design levels for story mode.   

[typhvs]

Our second test using portal rendering on the doors of the Echoplex.  

Portals allow us to form "impossible" architecture - doors will lead to different rooms depending which way you go through them.

The portal is in the center of the doorframe, so right now it is causing some pretty funky color combinations - we're sorting this out.

This is the asset we're using, which seems to be very well supported: https://www.assetstore.unity3d.com/en/#!/content/45383

[typhvs]

Our friend Tony Manfredonia has created an awesome dark soundscape for Echoplex, you can listen here:

https://archive.org/details/ManfredoniaCybertronicSoundscape

Tony has kindly released the track on Creative Commons - for the level builder side of Echoplex, we will rely on CC submissions so that users can add music to their levels.

Check out Tony's portfolio here, he also does some beautiful neo-classical stuff:

http://www.manfredoniamusic.com/

[typhvs]

Streamlining our level editor.  

Cool problem to solve: Let the user create a corridor of any shape without allowing the corridor to be more than one module wide..  

[typhvs]

Drake dad-dancing in the Echoplex...

[typhvs]

Space Invaders? Nope, its the newest feature of our level editor.  We can now add corridors of different colors to the Echoplex.

[Zorg]

Looks very intersting, but you used much color in the last videos, imho.
The colors cannot shine if everything is shiny.

[typhvs]

Looks very intersting, but you used much color in the last videos, imho.
The colors cannot shine if everything is shiny.

Yeah, Henk and I were actually saying the exact same thing yesterday.  Our aesthetic has gotten a little out of control with the strong colours. 

We're going to try keep the corridors white and introduce color only through lighting - we'll post something soon...

[typhvs]

Our level editor needed a little algorithm to prevent designers from deleting a module that would break the grid system - this is a (slowed down) visualization showing the "flood" system that Henk developed to solve the problem. Purdy.   

[typhvs]

Developing our level editor - any doors can now be connected, even if they are in the same corridor.

It looks like the level editor will only be for us at this stage.  All feedback we're hearing says the same thing: we should focus our time and resources on building an introductory "story mode" - user-designed levels are for later on once people have an emotional connection to the game.   

[TonyManfredonia]

A story mode...?!?!?!

Intrigued even more! :O

[Connor]

how would a story mode fit into a game like this? dont get me wrong, im exceptionally interested, ill be following this, but i dunno how much story you can put into a minimalist game such as this.

[typhvs]

Thanks guys, we're pretty intrigued too. 

The main criticism of the prototype is that there is no introduction into the game mechanics, so intially the "story mode" will be more of an onboarding experience.

But it's been pretty interesting to imagine how to extend the concept into a narrative.

We will, of course, keep you posted...

[typhvs]

In the Echoplex, you're followed by an "echo" of yourself, who you must outwit to win.

This is our first concept art for the Echo character.  I want the Echo to be almost anonymous (as he/she is supposed to be the player). 

I like the full body coverage, and the outfit suits the experimental environment.  Having done this visualization, I think we may leave the eyes in shadow...

What do you think?

[io3 creations]

My first impression is that if you want the Echo character to remain anonymous then it might be better to show it at a distance.  Having it really close indicates a certain "friendly" familiarity with the character and it doesn't look menacing.  Also, if I was seeing only that image, without any other context, I might assume that I am actually that person.  If you darken the eyes, then that strange and unsettling character might be better at indicating that the character is not the player and the player would need to get away from it.  In either case, maybe explicit showing somehow that someone/something (e.g. a blurry/shadowy character) is chasing another character would make it more obvious that it's not you.

Speaking of "echo", just saw another game's trailer, titled "ECHO" with a similarish theme: 

[typhvs]

My first impression is that if you want the Echo character to remain anonymous then it might be better to show it at a distance.  Having it really close indicates a certain "friendly" familiarity with the character and it doesn't look menacing.  Also, if I was seeing only that image, without any other context, I might assume that I am actually that person.  If you darken the eyes, then that strange and unsettling character might be better at indicating that the character is not the player and the player would need to get away from it.  In either case, maybe explicit showing somehow that someone/something (e.g. a blurry/shadowy character) is chasing another character would make it more obvious that it's not you.

Speaking of "echo", just saw another game's trailer, titled "ECHO" with a similarish theme: 

Hey io3, thanks for the feedback! Yea, our NPC probably looks too friendly still - we will darken the eyes I think.

There may also be a blurry/video-liney treatment we can give the character to make it clear that it's a duplicate of you, and not you.

Wow, that Echo game looks cool - there are some interesting similarities.  I think our gameplay and aesthetic are completely different though, and as Echoplex is more of a psychological/puzzle/altgame, I imagine it appeals to quite a different audience too.  Fortunately the internet is big enough for everyone. 

[Zorg]

You should create an echo character which is made of soundwaves.

Maybe in this direction: