The Chao Tales (A Chao based RPG)

[LaDestitute]

Updated on 01/27/11 5:12 PM

Base Info
Engine: RPG Maker XP
Series: Sonic the Hedgehog/Chao
Demo: Yes
Full-Game: No

Downloads
The Chao Tales Open Beta *NEW LINK
*New link for Remix Soundtrack coming soon.

Story
The storyline will be split into four chapters, each one after chapter one released as an expansion to the main game. Each chapter will feature it's own major sub-plot and end-boss. Of course, any stat changes, items, progress, quests and such will be transferred to the next expansion if a save file from the last chapter is present. (Chapter I: Station Square, Chapter II: Mystic Ruins, Chapter III: Oilutopia, Chapter IV: Outer Space, and Space Colony Ark)

Features
*The class system is based off of the Chao evolution aspect, and there are five alignments (neutral, hero, dark, rose, and chaotix) and five attributes (none, run, power, fly, swim) total, not counting attributes. Growth of the main character is controlled by a grid like system akin to FFX's Sphere Grid or FFXII's License Grid, called the Chao Evolution Grid. It's not the only way the main character can grow, there are other methods such accessories akin to Pokemon's EV held items and stat boosting items.
*The cast of the game is the main character (default name is Chaoin) and a select group of characters based off of my friends and acquaintances. Also making appearances in the game are special NPCs you can recruit (mainly the gold, silver, and black Chao) and character chao versions of all the major characters in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. I am however, thinking of bringing back the original clan like idea.
*The game has a simple random weather system, it's merely for display and to add a little charm. The types of weather are normal weather (normal light, no effects), intense sunlight (brighter, lens glare effect), rain (darker, rain, duh), storm (much darker, heavier rain with thunder flashes), and snow (just darker, and snow). However, certain areas have special weather that nullifies the system such as rainbows or sandstorms.
*The game will feature a item/device that has a special function; the game uses the original sound pieces for each location and then there's a specially selected remix. The device called the Music Swap App will allow players to either: switch the current map's original composition or it's remixed version, or the entire soundtrack.
*Other features in the game include a Pokemon style tree growing system, skins (accessories that change the base color of Chaoin akin to special color Chao from the Black Market), themes (different windowskins, based off of SA2/B's themes system), and netplay multiplayer.

Locations
Station Square
Junkyard (The remains of Eggman's ship, the Egg Carrier. Scrapped parts and robots is mostly what is here but some item boxes and the black Chao egg is found here as well.)
Oilutopia (Eggman's new base, which is also a mobile base too. Situated on a large lake of oil, the base had metallic pillars that dig into the oil lake's bed for support. Oilutopia is seperated into different sections and requires use of puzzles to get to other sections and activate machines in the base.)
Mystic Ruins*
Angel Island*
South Island
Outer Space***
Space Colony ARK
Little Planet
Green Hill Zone**
*Mystic Ruins and Angel Island are technically part of South Island.
**Secret area. 2D, and Sonic 1 style graphics, and gameplay.
***Includes the mini planets visited in SA2/B.

Progress (just a estimate)
Overall: 15%
Script: 75%
Mapping: 7%
Story: 90%
Events: 80%
Graphics: 50%
Demo: 100%

Development Team
Creator: LaDestitute/Spike/Miles Castea
Head Developer: LaDestitute/Spike/Miles Castea
Spriters: Ryu (three positions available) [NEEDED]
Scripters: GubiD (three positions available) [NEEDED]
Composers: None (four positions available)
Mappers: None (four positions available)
Game Testers: None (four positions available, and game testers get the next stable public release early)
Special Thanks: None so far

Characters

The main character in the game, the one you play as. S/he is not very important at the beginning but their actions will seal their fate. The game will ask you some questions at the beginning and give you an opportunity to name your character. If the player does not like the name they picked, they can use a item later on to change the name of the main character, called a "Rename Card".

A suspicious looking Neutral/Power Chao who lives in the sewers of Station Square and his name is Charles "Kabewm" Megaton. He sells the player pyrotechnic/explosives supplies, allowing them to make their own pyrotechnics and explosives. Charles looks around randomly often like he's freaked out because truth is...the feds are after him for selling the stuff without a license.

Chaoley is his name and competition is his game. He is a carrot orange/slightly greenish brown two-tone Chao who never hatched out of his egg completely. He is the primary rival of the main character in the game, and personality wise; Chaoley is quite rude, bratty, and verrry competitive. He's also a homage to Jr Troopa.
What makes him unique is that he can be fought in multiple places during certain points in the storyline, and this decides his alignment, attributes, and weaponry/tactics as you progress.

Notes
*The game is currently in alpha version. While the majority of mechanics are in place and functioning, I am taking a bit of time to polish them and make a custom menu and such before I move on.

Current Progress Point
Currently, I am working on polishing the mechanics and adding last minute things originally planned.

Support Bars & Banners
This section is for support bars and banners, and my friend Zchin made a nice userbar for you all to use (below is the code, just remove the spaces):

[u rl=http://www.arpgmaker.com/threads/69696][im g]http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/8090/choauserbar.png[/i mg][/ur l]

Screenies
Title Screen
Battle System (In Action)
Current Battle System
Testing Map
Storm
Shop Window
Save Ring (credit goes to Derek for the sprites)
Chat with the Chao Principal
Character Database Snippet
Wild Book/Chaopedia
Chao Evolution Grid
Cliffs
Chao Stadium Cave 1
Chao Stadium Cave 2
Cyber-Net Inc Progress Machine
New Title Screen

Credits
Sonic & all related settings, characters, and trademarks: SEGA/SonicTeam
Chao Sprites: Dragon Goddess and Gamerguy
Title Screen Words/Title: Jbrist
Battle/Mini-Boss/Boss Theme: Nexus007
Titlescreen Theme: Sega & SonicTeam (Sonic Chronicles)
Play the open beta for the rest of the credits.

 

[zchin]

This seems interesting, but I would like to know more about, The mapping seems a bit blank though from the battlesystem because it looks like an ABS, also, I think you should add a storyline to it, that would make it a lot more interesting, anything would do, like, the chao lost his friend in a cave and has to save him, something simple that isn't hard to come up with. I hope you can actually finish the game because if you keep this up I'll definately play it.

Thank you and have a nice day!

 

[LaDestitute]

More about it in general? This concept has been in my head actually since 2003 or 2004, but I never got the chance to do it.
The mapping for the battle screenshot? It's a battleback.
Well, even since it's infancy, I didn't have much of a plot...so I figured non-linear sandbox style gameplay might work well.

 

[WeebamNa]

Well I'm personally a fan of non-linear games and especially being able to train your character whatever way you want, so I really like that aspect of it. The random allies joining sounds pretty cool too, like FF Tactics I guess. Um, I'm not sure of the whole world of Sonic thing, but I've never played any Sonic games, maybe it'll work.

Yes, you definitely need to add some sort of a basic story, even if it's something as simple as your character is told to explore and find out more about the world around him/her.

I think the title screen could use some work. I really don't like the simple white banner with that papyrus font in the middle. The white just stands out too much and the font doesn't fit with the rest of the graphics. Also everything could use some smoother edges.

And for the battle screens I don't think there should be a tree in the middle of the battle field, perhaps trees around and the battle takes place in a clearing.

I have a few questions, though; is this RMXP? and what does ZP stand for?

Keep it up!

 

[LaDestitute]

Trying to build a basic story...maybe something to do with Eggman or GUN.
Title screen is a WIP, I'll replace it later...I rather be concerned about getting the game's core mechanics down.
RMXP, and ZP stands for Zeal Points, a statistic derived from Chao Karate in SA2B.

 

[moog]

Your battle screen is broken ;o

 

[LaDestitute]

What are you talking about? I don't see any problems.

 

[Daxis]

The battle system(in action) screenie can't be loaded or whatever. the link's broken.

 

[LaDestitute]

Fixed, try it now.

 

[LaDestitute]

Cleaned up thread, and added a wealth of new info.

 

[Diagothan]

Looks pretty sweet. I'm not into Sonic stuff (never was) but might play it eventually.
Sorry again for not helping with the logo, but it seems you did a brilliant job on it anyways.

 

[zchin]

Ummm, Is this going to be a necropost? Sorry if it is, but I just think that it shouldn't be because This is a day before a month from the last post so...

Well anyways, Miles. Are you still working on this project, and also are you going to update this thread? Anyways, I got bored and because I"m part of the team I decided to make a userbar.


Here is the code just take out the "Chao" word in red and it should work:
[URLChao=http://www.arpgmaker.com/threads/69696&hilit/]

[/URL]

I think that there should be a story to this... It might be boring without it.
Any updates would be nice.

Thank you and have a nice day!

 

[LaDestitute]

Yes I am, I've been slacking alot lately or so. Both because I'm being lazy, and the heat of the summer over here is really getting to me! Seriously! It was 102*F yesterday...ouch. But I'm going to pick up the project tomorrow and finish up on the pre-game stuff before I go back to polishing/adding in game mechanics. I'll update it in the morning or so and add in your userbar.

Also, this may sound a bit too ambitious, but I've decided on making TCT into a triology of games. Second will be more fantasy style, and third will be less RPG-ish and much more platformer-ish since I've always looked up to the good 2D platformers like the old Sonic and Mario.

 

[Agckuu Coceg]

Three major problems of the demo:
(The most terrible) 1*Vehicle System based on Event. Unfortunately, this system is not very stable, resulting in a character is an extra step and can be trivial to get stuck in some piece of tile. What, alas, leads the player into a rage.
(Not so awful) 2*It is not too sufficient balance in the game. But though this is a beta, so everything is normal.
(It's not terrible) 3*A huge amount of audio in the game. Below you quality bitrate to at least 112 kbps, and could get rid of unnecessary megabytes. What makes the game more accessible.

 

[LaDestitute]

Sorry for the delay...been really busy or merely just procrastinating so I haven't opened TCT in like five weeks.

AC:
1. It's part of the demo, I'm going to make sure when I integrate into the actual game that's it glitch free.
2. I know.
3. My mistake. I was using .wavs, which are horrible in size. The new version will use .ogg, which is MMMMMUUUUCCCCHHHH better. :D

 

[LaDestitute]

For anybody who thinks this project is dead:
It's not.
I merely haven't been able to get some work done on it since late August-early September (doesn't help either when I don't have much sprites to work with) and I'll be like that for a few weeks, maybe even a month or two. I'm trying to get back to this, now just isn't a good time.

I have a new computer (one I've built myself) and things lately have been up and down for me. Besides; the reason why I cant' work on TCT is because a few unexpected problems have popped up that need bigger priority than my game. My graphics card is overheating, and I need a second bigger SSD. Sorry guys.

 

[LaDestitute]

Cleaned up thread a bit, and got rid of most of the outdated info.