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Karma Flow - The Prototype

Karma Flow - The Prototype [ENG WIP]

As English is not my primary language, I apologize in advance for any wrong sentences that you may encounter from here on out.^^'
I've decided to put this in the "Games in Development" section even though is a full game because the English version is still WIP, but since I began working on it, I thought to start sharing the project's info with you.
 
AfroSoft presents...

 
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Italian Version Free Download:


Official Trailer (ITA):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jin5CcB5Anc
 

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Karma Flow - the Prototype is an atypical 2D Noir Stealth Game created for the RPG2s community's second Short Game Contest. Just as the subtitle implies, this is a prototype for the real Karma Flow. Think of this as a "first chapter" game.
By controlling the lethal assassin Florien Kealborn, the player has to kill given targets or carry out specific mission objectives during the game's whole five episodes.

All of this must be done without alerting the Karma, a new and strange phenomenon which acts according to the principle "eye for an eye". He who kills, dies the same way. The player has the freedom to decide when to kill his target, where to do it and how. It's crucial to complete a specific mission without the Karma noticing anything, or else Florien may die! So, it is required for the player to find alternative methods to dispose of the target.
 
Karma Flow offers players the freedom to act as they see fit, there's not only one way to complete the mission. Equipped with an in-game map, binoculars, wristwatch, and all of the available game's weaponry, the player has to study the best approach in order to assassinate the target without anyone or the Karma noticing. How to kill the target, where and when to do it is up to the player.

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After a devastating war, the country of Hardnam, who has been defeated, began to face a major economical and financial crisis, having been "confined" by the countries who won the conflict.
This all changed after the crime families began to take control of Hardnam. 
Soon, criminal activities became the main source of profit and the one thing that made the country survive the crisis. 
 
However, a new and strange phenomenon started to spread across all of Hardnam after having made its first manifestation in the capital of Rolsara. No one knows exactly what it is. 
The only things that is known is that it responds to the principle "eye for an eye". 
Killing means being killed, stealing means being steal at, etcetera, etcetera.
 
This "anomaly" has been called Karma.
 
Florien Kealborn is one of the best Rolsara's hired hit, currently without money and a job because of the Karma.
Since it's nearly impossible for her to find a honest job due to Hardnam's current condition, Flo decides to just risk it: 
the only way is to trick the Karma and get back to business.
 
 
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Florien Kealborn
Age: 24
Occupation: Former member of the Old Major Organization
Description: Considered to be, by herself mostly, one of the most lethal assassins Rolsara has ever saw. She began working as a hired hit for the Eathan family when she was only thirteen, for unknown reasons. Daughter of Kenneth Kealborn, last boss of the Kealborn family, who ceased to exist after his death, and sister of Marien and Klerika Kealborn. Even though she is an extremely good-looking and sensual female, she's a bit of a "tomboy". She is tough, egocentric, sarcastic and can be really cold and ruthless on the job. However she is friendly and caring towards her closest friends, which aren't a lot, mostly her former colleagues.  She's a heavy smoker and she usually drinks a lot when she hangs out in the bar Red Whale at Crow Reach. She is extremely agile and athletic and can perform very high jumps.
 
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Chris Kaleido
Age: 26
Occupation: Former member of the Old Major Organization
Description: Chris was a brilliant Project Engineer and worked at a very important company before it had to be closed due to what the conflict caused. He ended up without a job and without any money as he had to spend most of his fortune to help her mother overcome severe illness. She eventually died. Chris decided to use his very last foundings to create a small criminal activity and began his career as a hacker, hacking banks' accounts and security devices mostly. He eventually draw Don Borkus' attention, which offered him a job in his crime family. Soon after, he left the family and joined the Old Major Organization instead. He was the "mind" behind the Organization, helping Florien and the other hired hits with their preparations before a murder. Chris is a very intelligent and composed individual and always manages to make rational decisions in no time. He, however, lacks the "ruthlessness" and all the other "qualities" that are standard among hired hits, so he never does any "field works" and always stays behind the scenes. He has a really deep friendly relationship with Flo, and respects Old Major a lot. He's a smoker, just like Flo, although not as a heavy smoker as her.
 
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Old Major
Age: 63
Occupation: Former leader of the Old Major Organization
Description: A lot can be said about Old Major, from his many successes in the underworld business to the many allies he made among the other crime families. But there is little to none explanation about his personal info and his past. He was the leader of the well-known Old Major Organization. Most of the time he is silent and speaks only if is absolutely necessary. Florien and Chris always have a hard time remember the last time he smiled or showed any kind of emotion. He appreciates Chris' professionalism a lot but despises Florien's careless and unrespectful behaviour although he simply tries to let it slide. He dreams of expanding his organization and make it the most wanted service for criminals in need.
 
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Marty Rivers
Age: 31
Occupation: Former Machinegun Kingdom's testimonial
Description: Everyone knows Marty Rivers! And everyone knows Machinegun Kingdom, the number one weapons and other kind of equipment supplier in all of Rolsara. Marty served as Machinegun Kingdom's testimonial and always appeared in all of its commercials along with his girls who he refers to as his "Sexorgeous Chicks". With the manifestation of the Karma, most criminal activities ceased to exist aswell as Machinegun Kingdom, resulting in Marty Rivers losing his job. Marty's a very annoying and irritating kind of guy, always going nuts when surrounded by women. He was very popular among Machinegun Kingdom's followers because of his ridicolous and funny gags, even though he's convinced that his charm made him popular. He has a lot of connections among criminals and suppliers.

 
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Karma Flow is a Stealth Game. The player needs to carry out his objectives without the enemy noticing. The game consists of three different phases: the HQ, the preparations phase and the actual mission.
 
Headquarter:
 
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Before starting a mission, it is possible to interact with the various options given by the Old Major HQ. In the upper-right corner of the screen, the player can view the Karma Score in his possession. They are Karma Flow's currency. In the bottom-left corner of the screen, the completion rate is shown.
Reaching 100% means fully completing the game.
 
Select Episode: From here, the player can select one of the game's episode that he wish to play.
Machinegun Kingdom: From here, the player can put itself in touch with Marty Rivers' suppliers and buy weapons and items using his Karma Score.
Team Reunion: This option allows Flo to talk with the other team members in order to gain more info.
Save game: Karma Flow performs regular autosaves during the course of the mission, however it is possible to save whenever the player wants from within the HQ.
Quit Game: Allows the player to quit Karma Flow. (Who would've thought that, huh?)
 
Preparations Phase:
 
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Sometimes, the player can prepare himself before the beginning of a mission.
 
Start Mission: Allow to start the selected mission. If it has been already played once, the game's let the player decide if he wants to skip the briefing phase\beginning cutscenes or not.
Buy Informants: This option allows the player to use his Karma Score to buy useful information like the targets movements and behaviour or informations regarding the mission itself. Some infos can be acquired on the field by paying close attention.
Choose starting time: From here, the player can choose when to begin the mission. Keep in mind that the target's movements and the visibility changes depending on the time of day.
Check map and target's photo (screenshot to the right): Allows the player to look at a map of the mission area and a photo of the target. Useful items are marked aswell. Pressing '1' allows the player to review the infos that he bought from the game's informants.
 
The mission
 
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After the Preparations Phase is complete, the mission begins.
 
1 - This is where the available Karma Points are displayed. They represents Flo's health. They can be lost if Flo gets hurt or if the Karma notices you (for example: killing someone directly will detract a Karma Point from you, as the Karma will respond to a direct kill). When the player runs out of KP, Flo dies and it's Game Over.
2 - This icon represents the target's status, by indicating if he's still or on the move. It turns red if the target is on Alert Mode. Keep in mind that his behaviour changes if he notices you.
3 - The two icons represents, respectively, the equipped Primary Weapon and the equipped Subweapon\Support Item. One can be used with the 'Z' key, the other with the 'X' key.
4 - It represents Flo's wristwatch. It indicates the current time.
 
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By pressing the 'SHIFT' key, it is possible to look at the map already seen in the Preparations Phase. However, there are two differences. From here, the player can change his equipment by pressing the 'Z' key, if he wants to change his primary weapon, or the 'X' key, if he wants to change his Subweapon. Also, the '0' key allows the player to abort the mission and get back to HQ.
 
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When the mission is completed, the results are displayed. The player will be given a score depending on how he played. Not being able to avoid Karma or alerts and losing Karma Points are all things that affect the final score negatively.
 
Enemies:
 
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Torments
 
The Torments are ghostly manifestations generated by Florien Kealborn's subconscious. They infest her dreams and make her struggle with her sanity.
They usually represents people that Flo killed and which she can't remember their faces.
Since they are abstract manifestations, they can be "killed" without the Karma noticing. However, they return back to life after 8 "in-game" minutes.
 
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Karma Patrol
 
They are Duke Eathan's men. No one knows anything about them, except for the fact that they can kill whoever they want without repercussions. They usually kill anyone who tries to trick the Karma.
If the Karma Patrol are killed directly, the Karma will notice the player.
However, they can't return back to life after they are killed.
 
Mob\Criminals
 
Standard type of criminals. Due to the Karma, they won't dare trying to kill Flo and will simply flee from her.
However, if they notice the player they will alert all the nearby Karma Patrols.
 
Enemy's behaviour, movements and field of vision change depending on the Alert Status. The Alert Mode makes the enemy more aggressive and makes their field of vision much bigger. The Caution Mode makes them patrol with much more attention. The Normal Mode decreases their field of vision.
 

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Karma Flow - Promo Art 3:
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Direct link: http://i67.tinypic.com/ab154g.png

Karma Flow - Anabelle's Torments:
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Direct link: http://orig09.deviantart.net/cded/f/201 ... 9krz6b.png

Florien - First and Veeeery old Concept Art:
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Direct link: http://i62.tinypic.com/208zfc3.jpg
 
Karma Flow - First and Veeeery old Concept Art:
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Direct link: http://i59.tinypic.com/auty7n.jpg
 
Karma Flow - Promo Art 1:
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Direct link: http://i59.tinypic.com/ruu39c.jpg
 
Karma Flow - Promo Art 2:
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Direct link: http://i58.tinypic.com/255hylv.png
 
Karma Flow - 1th Episode Concept Art:
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Direct link: http://i60.tinypic.com/zloy8l.jpg
 
Florien - First Concept Art:
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Direct link: http://i57.tinypic.com/n2ld9f.jpg
 
Florien - Third Concept Art:
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Direct link: http://i62.tinypic.com/s1t007.jpg
 
Florien - Fourth Concept Art:
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Direct link: http://i59.tinypic.com/jq50s9.png
 
Florien - Fifth Concept Art:
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Direct link:
http://i59.tinypic.com/ixttfb.png
 
Marien - First Concept Art:
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Direct link: http://i61.tinypic.com/116v0uh.jpg
 
Anabelle - First and Veeeery old Concept Art::
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Direct link: http://i59.tinypic.com/2ewcvnm.jpg
 

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English translation is currently at a 20% completion ratio. If you want to help with the translation just lemme know! Not necessarily translate it for me (although, well, it would help like A LOT xD) but at least review the english version once it has been completed, betatest it, and help me make it as good as it needs to be!


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A game by:
OldPat
Created for the:
RPG2s' Short Game Contest #2
Starter Graphic Package:
VAL
Chara KF/Artworks by:
OldPat
Music by/from:
Bows
Bob James
Nekomata Master
Metal Gear Solid 2
Phantasy Star Online 2
Apollo Justice
Persona 3
L.A. Noire
Studio Apartment
Whiplash
Timecop1983
Betatested by:
KopKun
Afro Soft Fanfare by:
Sacred Virgo (TotO - Victory Theme)
Karma Flow's Official Site (coming soon) by:
KopKun
Very special thanks goes to:
- All of the SGC#2 partecipants which inspired me and gave the community a lot of good games!
- The SGC#2 judges which really gave very thoughtful critiques and advices to each of our games.
- All the RPG2S Community
- Family and friends. Especially friends which haven't see me in a long time since development start until it ended. xD
 
- And all of you who will be interested and will eventually play the complete English version of the game!
THANK YOU!^^
 
You've got me sold on the consistent, high quality art style. I'll give this a go when the english version is complete for sure!
Nice work! :thumb:
 
Thank you! Glad you like the game's art style!^^
Hope it won't be too long until the translation is complete. And I seriously hope I can provide you with a really good one, too. :S
 
Figured I could start sharing some gameplay with you!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miLjnxW7lCE

(It's in italian, though. Old gameplay video. ;|)

I'll explain it a bit:

This is the first episode of the game. It doesn't offer the same amount of freedom as the other missions do, but does provide the player with more than one way to reach the objective.
It's a bit of a "playground". A "not so invasive" tutorial, which just lets the player experiment with the control and the game's mechanics. Although a lot of them will be featured from episode 2 onward.

In this mission, Flo has to eliminate the target before 5 a.m.
The player has to find the best way to infiltrate Hotel Parisio, where the target is stationed, without being discovered by the Torments. And this has to be done with just the bare essential in terms of equipment (tactical knife and binoculars).

This gameplay video shows one of the possible ways to complete the mission, along with what is necessary to gain a S rank (by doing the mission's subquests aswell).
Might contain minor spoilers for those of you who want to carry this out in the future without any help.

From episode 2 onward, the game will be much more open. Targets will have their own schedule according to the time of day, Flo will have more than one weapon to use and the game's maps will be bigger. It will also be more difficult as the player will have to scout for the target and study his movements, gain information (by listening to enemy patrols for instance) and also confront the enemy with the Karma on the loose.
And there will be many, MANY more ways to complete your objectives.
 
Hi, everyone! Everything okay?

Just here to say that the english translation is finally complete! I'm now in the "checking, reviewing" phase and it's safe to say that the english version will be available somewhere around this month. So stay tuned!
 

Thank you for viewing

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