Development Plan Update 5 (31/10/17)

Development Plan Update

Other Industry Research

Other than the work on my RPG, I have also been working with some of my peers to start conceptualising a VR game to make in Unreal Engine 4. Using Google Drive and Discord to communicate ideas, we have been able to make some concepts and ideas to games we could make and how we could make them.

One of the ideas was a virtual reality PC building game using inspiration from the PC Building Simulator that already exists and improving on it, possibly by using a hidden database that holds each part's specifications to correlate with a database with game specifications so that users can build a PC in VR and then see how well the PC will run games on certain settings.

Another idea was to have a VR giant game, where you play as a giant destroying a city or something (Not unlike Godzilla) with the scenery being destructible and having goals to have to complete each level, we even considered implementing a horde mode where you have to survive for as long as possible whilst being under siege by the military.

Development Plan Update 4 (31/10/17)

Development Plan Update

Industry Research

This week, I have been doing quite a bit of research into what makes good games and when to use certain elements in certain genres. To fit my current project, "The Curse of Aetheris", I did most of my research about old styled JRPGs as my game is based around that traditional style. For story and narrative, I looked towards games such as Final Fantasy, Earthbound and Chrono Trigger. However, I also looked towards popular animes (Japanese Animations) for elements of story-arcs and character-arcs. I mainly looked towards animes such as Fullmetal Alchemist, Soul Eater and Attack on Titan. These animes were crucial in me deciding on story as it gave me a perspective on how characters change over time when something happens and how some things that happen being unavoidable.

From all of my research, I have been able to develop a basic plot idea. My current idea is having an ancient evil being reawaken and the main character being set a mission to stop the ancient evil by assembling chosen warriors and sealing the evil away for good. However I also plan for there t be a twist towards the end to make the characters and the players believe there to be something more going on than just 'Bad guy is bad and evil because that's what we've been told' and to have a sequel be about revealing the truth behind the smoke and shadows.

Development Plan Update 3 (09/10/17)

Development Plan Update

Game Development

To become a game developer and to develop large RPGs, I will need to be comfortable with industry standard software and know the physics behind RPGs. Thankfully, I was able to get RPGMaker VX Ace from the Humble Bundle website for extremely cheap (£0.76) This means that I can now start developing RPG styled games far more easily than with software like Clickteam Fusion 2.5 or GameMaker. Playing with the software for several hours, I have been able to develop a prototype game called "The Curse of Aetheris".

I intend for the game to be a traditional RPG (I.e. Turn-based combat, party of four, upgrading equipment, etc.) and I have already developed a town and a concept for the heroes justification for their journey. I have also worked on backstories for the protagonists.

I hope to get further into the development of this project and I intend for this to be my first published game as I have several good ideas for the future of the game.

Development Plan Update 2 (02/10/2017)

Development Plan Update

Spritesheets

This week I have been working on using some software that I own to work on 32bit sprites for an RPG styled game. The software that I have been using is Spriter Pro with the RPG Heroes Pack expansion. Using this, I have been able to create several sprite animations using a template. from the software. If I were to also use software such as Gamemaker, RPGMaker or Clickteam Fusion (The latter I already own), it could be possible to make a simple, top angle RPG similar to games such as the original 'The Legend of Zelda' game. For reference, here are a few spritesheet maps for every animation I have done.

Downwards Walking

Rightwards Walking

Upwards Walking

I feel that this will help me achieve one of my goals to become a game designer as doing work on sprites and games now may help me understand how to do more complex projects, possibly even with 3D models as I will have an understanding on aesthetic and character movement.