Quintessence - The Blighted Venom

[Reives]

No worries, anything for a comrade. :smile:
---
@Lary:
Aye, taking off the plain texts was long overdue. There's still a lot to improve about the battle system, but I think this is a deserved change to start for the displays.


Edit: Content moved here.
~~~~~~~
I have finished my last day at work, and now I have 2 weeks of non-interrupted time. From now until before the next release, I will try not to spend much time on the forums here and on the home forum, and hopefully will be able to get the new release done fast.

I'll drop by a screenshot and a sample song here for now.

Here's a WIP of a new song. Composed with EWQL soundfont, feels a little like cheating:
http://www.quintessence-tbv.com/Dawn_at_the_TempleWIP_-_KReivG.mp3

And here is a screenshot of the new "display style" of the battle system:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v385/ ... /ss-12.jpg[/img]

~
For now, excuse the inactiveness. When the next release comes by, I promise it will be worth it.

 

[Neverplayd]

I like the addition of new buttons to the battle system. I'll definitely try it once it comes out.

 

[Despain]

it's misleading. the position that you have the S, Q and W buttons on your screen dosn't match the standard qwerty keyboard layout. personally i think that putting the locations of the buttons on the screen in a way that matches the keyboard would be a lot more intuitive

 

[Reives]

^Yeah, I agree. Need to fix that sometimes; I think I'll just switch the Q and W to the upper place and S to the bottom. It has been like that for a while though, so in order to do that I'll need to go through quite a few places. I'll try to get it done.

Although, the only thing is that "S" pops up and away at times, so it might be a bit harder to notice when it's down there.

Edit: On second thought, I think I'll end up keeping that due to the pop-up reason - However, I'll try to accommodate it by having something beforehand to get the player to be familiar with the setup. Hopefully it'll enough.

 

[HarryE]

Words cannot express how awesome that palace is looking, Reives. I'm really looking forward to playing that. =D

 

[Reives]

Thanks. It's the first time I've attempted to focus on game-play, even if for a short while, so hopefully it didn't turn out too messy.

The new release is now under beta stage. While it still may take a while from there, it's certainly on a good course now.

http://quintessence-tbv.com/images/CSSept2008.jpg[/img]

It will include the new intro+chapter 1, totaling about an hour. And, of course, chapter 9, which is around 50 minutes. Sadly, chapter 2 did not get the amount of attention it deserved, getting just one mini-game inserted - but if I get some time, I might try to rush another one in there.
----------------------

And that being said, some songs will also receive revamps. And some new songs inserted as well, of course.

The following is a new addition I wrote a few days ago that is to be added. It uses my new soundfont, hence the quality is much better than the past tracks (which I will try to re-record with the new things if I get the time):

http://quintessence-tbv.com/One_Moonles ... anRGao.mp3
[Composed by Kan [Reives] Gao
(c) Quintessence - The Blighted Venom OST]

It's the first time I've tried to simulate a real performance, even putting in some fake breathing and guitar frets in there.  :smile: In the end, you might be able to hear a familiar phrase as a signature.

Anyhow, that's it for now - my apologies for the inactiveness, as I've been trying to focus on the release's completion. As always, I'll be awake at the project's home forum in case anyone needs me and can't find me elsewhere.

 

[Neverplayd]

Hmm... there is a lot more things going on in that piece that make it seem serene; more so than your earlier pieces that is. I'm still waiting to hear the more energetic/hectic songs, though :smile:. I'm glad to see your still progressing through Chpt. 9 smoothly.

 

[Reives]

The first BGM in the game now (intro) is a new energetic-ish song, but I'll keep it in-game only. c:

 

[miss matcha]

The new and improved Reives... now in sepia!!  Hehe   Looking forward to checking out the revamped versions of those earlier chapters, I'm sure they're going to be great! 

 

[Reives]

It's pretty much just chapter 1/intro that's receiving a relatively full revamp, and chapter 2 getting two mini-games inserted (which isn't enough, but time's out).  :smile:
~~~

http://quintessence-tbv.com/images/NRP.jpg[/img]
[Image above]

My apologies for the long, long wait; but the new release is a few steps away from release!
The current expected release date is this Saturday, September 27, 2008.

What will be included:

• *A new, much improved intro and chapter 1.

In the past, I've always brushed off game-play with whichever filler I could whip up fast just to have some interactivity to fill, to suit my priority in the story-oriented progression of the project's WIP form efficiently. However, as time went on, it has become apparent that as the project's recognition rises, skepticism concerning the actual game-play (and lack there of for the earlier chapters) is highly disqualifying to some. So while the priority of new contents being made is still heavily story-oriented, I have remade the intro and chapter 1 in an attempt to showcase some potential for the actual game-play that is to be inserted after the project is completed story-wise.

• *Some game-play inserted into chapter 2.

This one is actually a little shaky. Chapter 2 was easily the worst chapter of the game (and still is even with the insertions here), yet it's so early in the game. In this release, I inserted a puzzle and a mini-game into its duration. However, there was a lot more that I should've done, but ran out of time - it is still in need of much tuning, that of which I will work on in the future.

• *Chapter 9 release.

Of course; what's a release without a new chapter? Chapter 9 is around 45min-1hr long; heavily story-oriented as it stands now. A save file to the end of chapter 8 will be provided at the release, for those to continue from where they are left off.

• *Improved Music.

I now possess the EWQL sound libraries; much much better quality-sounding playback soundfonts than the GPO I've been using. I have revamped a few existing songs, but more are expected to be improved as time goes on. There has also been a few new songs added to the soundtrack, such as "Pursuing Ancients" and "A Time Long Past", recorded with the new sound library.

• *Others.

Little improvements can be found here and there. The battle system now has a new GUI that is long overdue (I think it's on one of the screenshots above), you can now use items in battle (as well as find certain pickable things in the wild). The lighting for the earlier interiors have been vastly improved and now looks a hella more natural. Etc. etc.

There are still a lot of things that need to be improved in the earlier chapter, but I won't get anywhere if I don't slip through them gradually for new progress. c:



Thanks to the beta testers:
-Pathbinder
-Abigailian
-Legacyblade
-Arwym Starlight
-Sablones

 

[HarryE]

*collapses with a smile*

Ep........


...ic. This is looking amazing.

 

[seven]

It's Saturday, Reives.  I want my Quintessence nao!

...heh heh.  In any case, those screenshots look, as Bruno said, epic.

*waits for download*

 

[Reives]

Uploading in a bit. Although I'd probably have to make a forum post for places like here, but I'll put the plain DL link up on the home forum right after it's up.

 

[Zammy]

Wow, I haven't checked here in a while.
Im excited for the new chapter and updates. The screenshots look amazing, as usual.

 

[La Muchacha con Vida]

*screams*

I've been waiting since like April!!!! I'm so ready 4 this!

 

[Reives]

Thanks for the enthusiasm guys. It is currently being uploaded, but will take about an hour or so. 101.4MB for the chapter 1-9 package, but I am planning to make a C1-only package in the future for those who are unsure whether to try due to file size.

Speaking of which, keep in mind that a big part of the new content is actually the new intro and chapter 1 [both of which I do believe are immensely improved], in addition to Chapter 9. The intro is pretty much all new with some different events, and chapter 1 having some new contents/game-play and improvement, but the pivotal events are still on the same line. Chapter 2 also has two little game-play parts inserted, if you want to try it.

Anyway, by that I just mean to be sure to start from the beginning and play through at least chapter 1 again, rather than jump straight to chapter 9 to continue (and don't use your own save file, it'll break at parts - I'll provide continuing save files). Because somethings have changed that might affect your understanding. I'd recommend to play through the whole thing again if you are able to, since it's been a long, long time (there are minor improvements here and there throughout as well).

Thanks for waiting.  :smile:

20% on upload atm. Hope it doesn't crash.

 

[Reives]

http://quintessence-tbv.com/images/Release.jpg[/img]

Now available.

Spoiler

http://quintessence-tbv.com/images/NRP2.jpg[/img]

 

[seven]

YES.

*Downloads*

 

[Reives]

Just make sure to start from the beginning to go through the new intro and chapter 1, or through if you want. c: I will provide the continuation save files in a bit; don't use the old ones.

 

[seven]

Okay I'm stuck already. >_<

Spoiler

The first puzzle in the game, where you turn the moons, I've tried everything I could think of.  What do I do?