I like it, really! The pain-bench should go, the walls are a bit empty and the right side could use some props, but overall it feels good. A door would be interesting as well, but since that is so 'detailed' I haven't looked into that yet - I've literally only been doing basic areas like the outside-City area (from the 2 screenshots Maity posted before the new Starcentre) and the lay-out of stuff like Route 1 and 'the Forest zone'. Any suggestions are welcome, though! Jack, feel free to post your showcase map so I can take a look.
Sorry I didn't deliver yet, but I'll post you some route 1 screenies asap: got kind of caught up fixing some stuff and doing some other shit and didn't get around to it yesterday. Maybe today.
Good actually! Route 1 is 75% done, just needs prettifying. Did 10% of the 'lake' zone next to it and already have plans for the Forest zone. Not behind my pc right now, but expect a screenie or two of finalized route 1 tomorrow.
Edit: I'd really like a 'wooden fence' style model, though... Maity said you might be working on one?
That makes perfect sense, but I'm wondering where you got the idea. It sounds like something that's already been done in various games but I've never seen this exact incarnation which, imo, is a fucking gem in the field of game design.
This is true, and it was also one of the more annoying aspects of Pokémon. It's especially horrible for all Pokémon that evolve through the use of a stone (thunder stone, fire stone, etc): they ONLY learn moves in their unevolved form, meaning you have to either get specific TM's for them or delay evolution until a high level, even if you already have access to the stone by level 15 or so.
Makes perfect sense, I agree completely. I just found the setting funny.
"Hey guys, we're making a pokemon map, this is one of the pokemon in there!"
"Cool, what's it based on?"
"Oh it's just this story I made up about a creepy ghost of a dead young girl that would commit unspeakable acts of horror and inflict terrible torment upon everybody who encountered her."
The original idea I had was the spirit of a little girl that never left the world and over time took on the form of a doll. She'd live in a forest, and people passing through it would occasionally hear out of place sounds: Maybe a child laughing, or crying, calling for help, or the crackling of a campfire - Anything to draw their attention. Then they'd spot a little girl, but only see her from the back. When they got close, the girl would turn around, look at them with a drawn on eye and stitched on smile, and then horrible things would happen. Sometimes, some would escape, their minds damaged beyond repair, all they could was to ramble about the horrifying little doll-girl and what she did...
As for this Starmon, I liked the visual image I had of that ghost so I decided to reuse it. She's supposed to look like a cute, yet very creepy doll. I'm not sure whether to make her Ghost type or Dark+Psychic (I'm leaning more towards the latter). I can't wait to see what Zolden will be able to make :)
Beware of type combinations, specially if they haven't appeared yet in pokemon games. I haven't played newer versions but I don't remember a dark+psychic pokemon. Some combinations aren't used on purpose, because they could be OP, or because it's hard to imagine a pokemon that fits the combination.
I think the lore/style is the main reason for some type combinations to not exist, tbh. Especially in the newer Pokémons a shitload of pokémon exist with 1 or even 0 weaknesses, and there aren't a lot of moves that synergize of eachother to begin with (let alone moves of types that would be OP when synergized).
I can honestly see where Zelda is coming from... if I were a coding nut I'd probably also consider the idea of spawning doodads where I want them, when I want them. It might be that because I'm a terrainer that I came up with a completely different solution, mostly 'cause it'll be impossibly hard to spawn doodads on the fly and get a good-looking terrain. Our terrain needn't be all that laggy, we're talking maybe 10X15 doodads for all specific types of battle terrain, I think.
Could just be that Zelda had the same idea but ran into difficulties though, I guess.
Yeah, that's our pretty much un-doodaded debugging arena :P For those who don't know, Terraining those is especially difficult because they aren't "really" terrained. The arenas are all totally empty upon loading, and the doodads, textures, and walls (if any) are all created on-the-fly. This is so that we can make the theme of the arena match the zone you're fighting in.
Isn't it easier to fill up the arena with a shitload of doodads and hide them all, using triggers to show the ones applicable to the current battle zone?
I'm not totally sure, we haven't done tons of concept work on the starmon. That's more of Maity's territory....and his internet's down again >.> I know that we were struggling to find 5 different evolution models for Evee, but the ones we have now are from WoW so sc2 parts wouldn't fit so well. The "mew-like" legendary already has the basic concept art done(which we'll release here once it's polished up more), and Zolden is handling that one. We actually use most of our custom models for moves because it's so important to keep them unique and fancy. Once Maity's back I'll ask him. Thanks for the offer :D
Last time I discussed the terrain with Maity we discussed some interesting objects there that could use new models. Starmon PC's, Starmon-centre healers, fences to jump over and perhaps generic vendor-related stuff. Take your pick :)
I know :D I've actually had ideas for something like (and don't worry, we're not doing this, it's just a fun idea for a "real" Nintendo game) a pokemon game with a permadeath mechanic with heavy rougelike randomization. Your pokemon die, they're gone for good. And it's gritty, gory, and very serious/dramatic.
Now you just reminded me of . YOU WERE THE ONE WHO WAS ALL... 'OOH, I GOTTA DO AN ATTACK!'. YOU COULD'VE JUST WALKED AWAY.
So when we say "not quite as child friendly" we mean that we'd like the story to be a little more serious, and not that we want tons of violence, excessive language, or anything like that. Starcraft 2 is rated Teen, after all :)
Come to think of it, how awesome would this be? Effing epic, dramatic game where pokémon die after a battle and it's all out survival of the fittest. Only playable without crying and feeling depressed in Samuel-L-Jackson-mode.
I like it, really! The pain-bench should go, the walls are a bit empty and the right side could use some props, but overall it feels good. A door would be interesting as well, but since that is so 'detailed' I haven't looked into that yet - I've literally only been doing basic areas like the outside-City area (from the 2 screenshots Maity posted before the new Starcentre) and the lay-out of stuff like Route 1 and 'the Forest zone'. Any suggestions are welcome, though! Jack, feel free to post your showcase map so I can take a look.
Sorry I didn't deliver yet, but I'll post you some route 1 screenies asap: got kind of caught up fixing some stuff and doing some other shit and didn't get around to it yesterday. Maybe today.
@SoulFilcher: Go
Good actually! Route 1 is 75% done, just needs prettifying. Did 10% of the 'lake' zone next to it and already have plans for the Forest zone. Not behind my pc right now, but expect a screenie or two of finalized route 1 tomorrow.
Edit: I'd really like a 'wooden fence' style model, though... Maity said you might be working on one?
@TheAlmaity: Go
That makes perfect sense, but I'm wondering where you got the idea. It sounds like something that's already been done in various games but I've never seen this exact incarnation which, imo, is a fucking gem in the field of game design.
@zeldarules28: Go
Where did you get the mentor idea?
@SoulFilcher: Go
This is true, and it was also one of the more annoying aspects of Pokémon. It's especially horrible for all Pokémon that evolve through the use of a stone (thunder stone, fire stone, etc): they ONLY learn moves in their unevolved form, meaning you have to either get specific TM's for them or delay evolution until a high level, even if you already have access to the stone by level 15 or so.
@SoulFilcher: Go
Ohshi-
"Valley Dew Energy Drink - Be the very best, like no one ever was!"
"Starmon Trading Cards - Flippo's ain't got nuthin'!"
DO ET. DO ET NAOW.
@TheAlmaity: Go
Makes perfect sense, I agree completely. I just found the setting funny.
"Hey guys, we're making a pokemon map, this is one of the pokemon in there!"
"Cool, what's it based on?"
"Oh it's just this story I made up about a creepy ghost of a dead young girl that would commit unspeakable acts of horror and inflict terrible torment upon everybody who encountered her."
Shit dude O_O
Are you ok?
I think the lore/style is the main reason for some type combinations to not exist, tbh. Especially in the newer Pokémons a shitload of pokémon exist with 1 or even 0 weaknesses, and there aren't a lot of moves that synergize of eachother to begin with (let alone moves of types that would be OP when synergized).
@TheAlmaity: Go
I still don't get the Tvtropes fad. I have that with Cracked, but I've never had it with that site.
@Taintedwisp: Go
I can honestly see where Zelda is coming from... if I were a coding nut I'd probably also consider the idea of spawning doodads where I want them, when I want them. It might be that because I'm a terrainer that I came up with a completely different solution, mostly 'cause it'll be impossibly hard to spawn doodads on the fly and get a good-looking terrain. Our terrain needn't be all that laggy, we're talking maybe 10X15 doodads for all specific types of battle terrain, I think.
Could just be that Zelda had the same idea but ran into difficulties though, I guess.
Isn't it easier to fill up the arena with a shitload of doodads and hide them all, using triggers to show the ones applicable to the current battle zone?
I like how the right team's ditto has morphed to imitate the left team's trainer.
Note to self: those arenas need a payload of work.
Last time I discussed the terrain with Maity we discussed some interesting objects there that could use new models. Starmon PC's, Starmon-centre healers, fences to jump over and perhaps generic vendor-related stuff. Take your pick :)
Now you just reminded me of . YOU WERE THE ONE WHO WAS ALL... 'OOH, I GOTTA DO AN ATTACK!'. YOU COULD'VE JUST WALKED AWAY.
Come to think of it, how awesome would this be? Effing epic, dramatic game where pokémon die after a battle and it's all out survival of the fittest. Only playable without crying and feeling depressed in Samuel-L-Jackson-mode.
@zeldarules28: Go
This made my day. Poor Zelda!