Dark Era: The Awakening [Now with Lum as my plot advisor! : D]

[serrated_colon]

I don't like this new overlay of yours. Isn't he supposed to be outside? The sun light would not come from CERTAIN PARTS OF THE SKY unless the clouds were really messed up or something. It needs to have more of a realistic feeling, even if it is a fantasy RPG, there needs to be EXPLANATION if you are gonna pull off this overlay.

Uhh.. you never witnessed the magic of 'sunbeams'?
It occurs when it's cloudy, and sunny.
At places where the sun breaks through the clouds, dense 'beams' of sunlight form.
You can clearly see those.

Oh, by the way, ChaosMaxima, this is a decent looking project, I didn't read the story and such, I just felt I had to comment on this post above.
I like the screenshots. Especially the one with the jail-like bars in the middle of the forest..
However, the sunbeams could be more.. real-ish.
There's a good tutorial for them here: http://www.rpgrevolution.com/forums/?showtopic=7919
(You gotta have photoshop though)

they look so unrealistic in this image though, it's like one of those parts in a TV show where the protagonist SEES THE LIGHT or something

 

[ChaosMaxima]

I don't like this new overlay of yours. Isn't he supposed to be outside? The sun light would not come from CERTAIN PARTS OF THE SKY unless the clouds were really messed up or something. It needs to have more of a realistic feeling, even if it is a fantasy RPG, there needs to be EXPLANATION if you are gonna pull off this overlay.

Okay, now you've gone and pissed me off. First off, it's a GAME. And I don't exactly need an "explanation" for "pulling sunlight off". In games, things are made to look good to the eye. If we were to be so realistic, then I'd start making bare maps. Especially bare caves? Why? Because elaborately well mapped caves aren't realistic! Get my point? Also, in reality, grasslands are pretty bare, with a few trees. So should I start making all my maps like this?:

Spoiler: Ugh

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w73/krypton-knight/ugh.png[/img]

No, I shouldn't. Because it has to look good to the eye. Like I've stated on many occasions, there's a fair line of difference between something that is realistic, and something that is believable. This, my dear friend, is believable. It doesn't have to be completely realistic, as that's not the way games are supposed to be. Also, the criticism that you're giving is barely constructive. I mean, look at Samot and Miss Matcha. If they don't like something, at least they give alternatives instead of attacking the creator.

Even on the earlier occasion, you started bitching about why they should go to the source of where a scream originates from. Well, to be completely honest, if they didn't, it would be completely unbelievable, unless they don't have emotions at all. Think about it.

Oh, and you're going to continue like this, I'm going to start ignoring your posts. I don't intend to start flame war in this topic, but you're just like one of those pesky little people who like to LOOK for faults and start ranting away about something barely sensible.

That new screenshot (with the sunbeams) looks really pretty.  I actually thought your story sounded fairly interesting; the interaction between the 2 races, the jealously that grew out of the technological competition, and the events leading up to the wingers' hatred of the humans.  I imagine that you could piece together a very compelling cut scene explaining this backstory. 

I do agree with Reives though that in order for it to be really excellent, you're going to need to make sure a few plot elements are sealed up in-game.  For example, if humans have become so inferior as to warrant jealously and hatred, how is it that they have a mage who is so powerful, he can shut down an entire civilization?  I might throw in something explaining who these ultra-powerful mages are, and why (given their ultimate superiority over both races) the jealously thing would even affect them.  Obviously they aren't inferior to the wingers.  Why would they care? 

Perhaps they were once weak, but they were of a chosen few who possessed great potential, and they spent their life honing their skills so as to one day shut down the floating island... I'd also make sure to explain why in the world there was a scroll inside the forest with the capability of releasing the wingers... I'm sure you could come up with a viable explanation.

Anyways, I think you have a great start.  Based on what you have so far, I'd play your demo when it's released.

Who said that the mages were humans? :tongue: They're a completely different race, and they did the sealing bit for a reason. For a "reward" given by the humans. All that will be explained in-game. Also, about the scroll, I don't want to spoil that bit. But I can give you this much, it's only visible to Alex, and it wasn't there for 5000 years. That's all; play the game to find out.

Oh, by the way, ChaosMaxima, this is a decent looking project, I didn't read the story and such, I just felt I had to comment on this post above.
I like the screenshots. Especially the one with the jail-like bars in the middle of the forest..
However, the sunbeams could be more.. real-ish.
There's a good tutorial for them here: http://www.rpgrevolution.com/forums/?showtopic=7919
(You gotta have photoshop though)

Yep, I've got Photoshop CS2. I'm trying to get this right, but my shapes are all... bleh. I'll keep trying, but if I'm unable to succeed, I'll use the one made by Ccoa.

===========================================

I've updated the screenshots in the first post. Basically changed the overlay, the windowskin, and the faces around. Check it out.

 

[Aepriz]

WOW  :shades:
Looks good .

I'm inetres in the money parts and all (realistic based .. sound AWSOME !)
Also those aura's sound cool .

Oh well , only one thing to say :
GET THE DEMO READY !

Greetings ,
Achantion.

 

[serrated_colon]

Jesus christ, do you really need to get pissed off over a bit of c&c on your overlay? I'm sorry but even if it's EYE CANDY it needs to have some sort of REALISTIC POINT to having this eye-candy. And that pic I was criticising was not a grassland, it was more of a town or something. IT'S ONLY A GAME DOES NOT NEED A DEGREE OF REALISM is not a good excuse for putting in random overlays.

I was only giving you C&C jesus do you really need to get all pissy.

 

[Despain]

Your grass tile is very bright and has lots of high contrast within it, and it really seems busy to the eyes and distracts from the player. If you toned down the grass, you might not feel the need to go as heavy on the overlays.

 

[miss matcha]

Who said that the mages were humans?  They're a completely different race, and they did the sealing bit for a reason. For a "reward" given by the humans. All that will be explained in-game. Also, about the scroll, I don't want to spoil that bit. But I can give you this much, it's only visible to Alex, and it wasn't there for 5000 years. That's all; play the game to find out.

Cool, that's just what I wanted to hear   Looking forward to your demo.

 

[ChaosMaxima]

Jesus christ, do you really need to get pissed off over a bit of c&c on your overlay? I'm sorry but even if it's EYE CANDY it needs to have some sort of REALISTIC POINT to having this eye-candy. And that pic I was criticising was not a grassland, it was more of a town or something. IT'S ONLY A GAME DOES NOT NEED A DEGREE OF REALISM is not a good excuse for putting in random overlays.

I was only giving you C&C jesus do you really need to get all pissy.

Actually, yes. By that logic, please tell me the REALISTIC point in having a well-mapped game. That's not realistic at all, in fact. So tell me the realistic point then, please do. And I didn't say that a game doesn't need a degree of realism. But things in games have to look good the eye, not be completely realistic. By the logic that you're implying, I should start making bare maps, just like the one that showed in the above post. Why? Because there's no "realistic point" in having well-mapped games. But thanks for making me seem like a person who gets pissed for absolutely nothing.

WOW  :shades:
Looks good .

I'm inetres in the money parts and all (realistic based .. sound AWSOME !)
Also those aura's sound cool .

Oh well , only one thing to say :
GET THE DEMO READY !

Greetings ,
Achantion.

Hehe. Thanks. I'm trying my best to get the demo ready; although Lum says it's awful. XD

Your grass tile is very bright and has lots of high contrast within it, and it really seems busy to the eyes and distracts from the player. If you toned down the grass, you might not feel the need to go as heavy on the overlays.

So shall I reduce the saturation or the brightness? I think the brightness makes it look busy, but you're an artist, so it'd be better if you answered that.  :tongue:

 

[Toams]

In your screenshots, would you please remove the overlay in the 'this is really shiny' screen, and in the 'blind the guard' screen?
You can't have sunbeams in dark area's.

 

[serrated_colon]

Jesus christ, do you really need to get pissed off over a bit of c&c on your overlay? I'm sorry but even if it's EYE CANDY it needs to have some sort of REALISTIC POINT to having this eye-candy. And that pic I was criticising was not a grassland, it was more of a town or something. IT'S ONLY A GAME DOES NOT NEED A DEGREE OF REALISM is not a good excuse for putting in random overlays.

I was only giving you C&C jesus do you really need to get all pissy.

Actually, yes. By that logic, please tell me the REALISTIC point in having a well-mapped game. That's not realistic at all, in fact. So tell me the realistic point then, please do. And I didn't say that a game doesn't need a degree of realism. But things in games have to look good the eye, not be completely realistic. By the logic that you're implying, I should start making bare maps, just like the one that showed in the above post. Why? Because there's no "realistic point" in having well-mapped games. But thanks for making me seem like a person who gets pissed for absolutely nothing.

WOW  :shades:
Looks good .

I'm inetres in the money parts and all (realistic based .. sound AWSOME !)
Also those aura's sound cool .

Oh well , only one thing to say :
GET THE DEMO READY !

Greetings ,
Achantion.

Hehe. Thanks. I'm trying my best to get the demo ready; although Lum says it's awful. XD

Your grass tile is very bright and has lots of high contrast within it, and it really seems busy to the eyes and distracts from the player. If you toned down the grass, you might not feel the need to go as heavy on the overlays.

So shall I reduce the saturation or the brightness? I think the brightness makes it look busy, but you're an artist, so it'd be better if you answered that.  :tongue:

ugh what the hell

Dude, I'm not saying it has to be 100% realistic and correlate with THIS WORLD IN A FANTASY GAME. But it has to be believable in terms of the LOGIC THAT A GAME HAS(yes games have logic, not as the SCIENCE BEHIND SPELLS but more like not RANDOM SUNBEAMS OHOHOHOH AM I CLEVER). Please, try to understand my point, and stop thinking I am attacking your game, I was trying to give constructive crits.

 

[Aida]

I don't have a problem with the sunbeams (except that you should probably take them out of the screens where you're actually inside a house).  Other than that, i don't see why there wouldn't be sunbeams in a forest... the light shines through the trees.  Besides, it gives the game a great atmosphere.  If someone doesn't like them that much, they don't have to play the game.  There's plenty of us who actually DO want to play the game.  Do you have any screenshots or sketches of the winged people? 

I think your story sounds nice whether or not you get additional help.  After reading your plot summary, I'm really curious to find out more.  I wonder if there will be any winged people who become friends and try to help the humans out; and I also wonder if the mage will come back and help later!  The game looks very promising, so I hope to see a demo soon.

 

[Extraho]

Exactly  :thumb:!!! The sun should shine though the trees and sunlight looks pretty natural.

As far as being inside the house is concerned why don't you enable the sun shine only near the window. The suns light should fall  near the window and if you stand next to it the effect does come.

Well I feel that this game has good potential like compare the latest logo for Dark Era with it previous one. Arch is improving his skills......
though I do feel that the production of the game is going quite slow(Not to mention that because of people like me  :blush:!.