The Crimson Rune

[Firestalker5]

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/6070/gametitlely4.png[/IMG]

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/5992 ... ionuz0.png[/IMG]

Let me start this off by talking a little about myself. My name is Firestalker. How did you get a stupid name like Firestalker? Well it's a nickname, one I got when I was younger. A story I won't bore you with the details of. I will tell you that I love fire, a fact that got me into some trouble when I was younger.

I have loved RPG's since before I knew what an RPG was. I have also written a few stories and books [nothing that got published]. I found this program about a year ago and have been refining my story since then. I started working on this game about 5 months ago and have just recently gotten it to a point that I feel it's ready to be released in demo format.

This has been a labor of love and I know you all are going to love it.


http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/6696/storyzc0.png[/IMG]

Spoiler: Story

Hundreds of years ago the world worshipped one Goddess. Over the years the Goddess grew overwhelmed and decided to create helpers by giving humans some of her power. As the world started worshipping the new Gods over her, she started to fade and soon disappeared completely.

Not long after the Gods started to fight amongst themselves until only two remained. They fought each other to a standstill. In a final explosion the two disappeared. The evil God was bound in a cave, imprisoned by a strange force.

500 years after that battle, the monsterous of the two is now strong enough to be removed from his prison by his followers.

The world not be the same.

What is the force that imprisoned him?
How can he be stopped?
How do you kill a God?[/FONT]

http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/8306/characterscl6.png[/IMG]

Spoiler: Characters

Phire Rune
http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/157/f01bwp5.png[/IMG]
Age: 15
Phire was born a prince, but despises all nobility. He finds them all too stuck-up. Finally gets to go out of the castle after being unable to do so for the first 15 years of life. It'll be some outing.

Surge Ascent
http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/2043/f03ms0.png[/IMG]
Age: 16
Phire's childhood friend and the kingdom's best swordsman. The King found him in the woods on a trip and gave him shelter. The King has always thought of the boy as a second son.

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/1984 ... otsnb0.png[/IMG]

Spoiler: Screenshots

Spoiler: Nargeth Ruins

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/9694/nargethruinscs6.png[/IMG]

Spoiler: World Map

http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/6971/worldmap1uf7.png[/IMG]

Spoiler: Intro 1

http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/3661/intro1sq7.png[/IMG]

Spoiler: Intro 2

http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/1058/intro2tr5.png[/IMG]

Spoiler: Nargethia

http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/5139/nargethia1gh6.png[/IMG]

Spoiler: Title Screen

http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/2305/gametitlescreenbackgroundne7.png[/IMG]

http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/1834/demowm0.png[/IMG]
Here's the demo:
The Crimson Rune Demo Ver. 1.75 - Megaupload

The game automatically installs the fonts needed to play the game. Enjoy and let me know the feedback, I love feedback. If you have a problem with starting the game it might be the Auto font installer. Just manually install the fonts in the "FONTS" folder and that should fix the problem.

If you copy and paste your saved game in the game folder for this version you should be able to continue playing your game in the new version.

Bugs:
I believe I have fixed all the bugs so far. The same version as before is posted, but with the bugs fixed. I downloaded my own game and used that project to correct the mistakes. So the game above is the same thing only without those annoying bugs [hopefully].

Let me know if you find any.

http://img111.imageshack.us/img111/8305/featureswj3.png[/IMG]

1. FMV Summons
2. Multihit Skills
3. Scan
4. Indepth Story
5. Overdrives
6. Very Challenging Gameplay
7. Over an hour of play time
8. Automatic Font Installs
9. Battle Memory by SandGolem

Credits:

This section will be a list of all the people I forgot to credit in my demo. I have been compiling resources and scripts for some time now and have forgotten and/or misplaced who and where I found certain resources.

Do not castrate me, just politely tell me that you found a resource [or spotted a script] that I had not creditted in the game and I'll list them here.

All names listed here will be listed in the final version of the game.

1. Main Characters Battlers/Facesets: Naramura/Sozai? [Not sure which one it is, I can't read Japanese]
2. Script[Battle Memory]: SandGolem
3. Fire effects by MilitantMilo

Conclusion:

I'm sorry for the game not working for some people. I don't know what's happening with your copies, the game works perfectly for me on my computer.

The bandwidth problem is fixed. I hope it didn't ruin your enjoyment of the game.

The Demo is the prologue of the main game. It's about an hour and a half if you know what you're doing [like if you made the game and know what's coming ]. I know you'll enjoy it, but let me know either way. I only get better through your comments.

Enjoy!

 

[Nakama]

The pictures look excellent but I'm surprised that you actually used 'Arshes' as your main protagonist that's a first...but anyways I love the Ranmaru pics, I planned to use them ages ago but never did in the end. The maps look good and seem RPG~ish. I was shocked to see "FMV summons" I really want to see them now.

~Awaiting the demo

~RoaringSasuke

 

[Firestalker5]

I chose Arshes becuase I thought he fit the character better than the other RTP Characters. He's a child first and for most during the prologue, Arshes looks more like a kid [that isn't actually one] than any of the other characters. Since I'm still no good at spriting I have to rely on the RTP for now.

I have done a few RTP edits in my game, but their few and far between. I've been practicing some and I plan to incorporate those when I get to releasing the final product.

There is actually only one summon at the moment, but when I finish the game all the summons [about 6 all together] will be FMV. But don't expect Hollywood, Square-Enix quality I'm still teaching myself how use the programs. I think it turned out pretty good .

Thanks for the comment. I should have the demo up tomorrow sometime. I'll post when I upload it.

 

[Nakama]

Yay a demo! It's good that you at least changed the picture, also if you want an original one you can request one or recruit a spriter. The game seems far along but it's never too late.

~RoaringSasuke

 

[Firestalker5]

Thanks for the enthusiasm RoaringSasuke. I have uploaded the Demo and a list of known bugs I would like you all to look for for me. I think I fixed them, but they could have gotten unfixed somehow.

Let me know if there are any bugs you see/find.

 

[KuidonNZ]

This looks really good. Screenshots, characters, story, it all looks real good. I to am surprised that you used Arshes but I agree with you saying he would fit the character. In my mind the screenshots are sort of colliding with the story and confusing me but other than that its looks great.

I'll be looking at this one again. :P

 

[Firestalker5]

Does anyone know where I got those battlers? I can't remember and I can't seem to find them again.

Please help.

Thank you in advance,
Firestalker

 

[Shifter]

Badnwidth exceeded, can't see pics or the download now

 

[kaze950]

I downloaded, but it didn't work. RMXP froze up 5 seconds into the game. I also tried playing the movie file, but it didn't work. I just wanted to see what it looked like

 

[Firestalker5]

I uploaded a new version with some more bug fixes that I explained in the "Bugs" section. I also corrected the bandwidth problem.

I hope it didn't ruin your enjoyment of the game.

@Kaze950: I don;t know why the game froze 5 sec into it. was it after the title and after you started a new game? or was it before the title?
It might be the Auto-Font installer. Try installing the fonts manually and then starting the game. That should work.
About the movie not playing. Thats something I don't know about. The movie plays fine on my computer. You might need a codec for it.

@Shifter: The bandwidth for the picture was exceeded, but as far I know the download is working fine. Regardless I have transferred the download to my uploader choice. I have also uploaded an updated version.You might want to try that one.



Please enjoy the game. I'll be checking back regualerly to get updates on bugs and/or credits I missed. I know I missed alot [Credits and Bugs]. Please keep me informed.

Thank you,
Firestalker

 

[Firestalker5]

So has anyone gotten around to playing the game?

If you're still having problems let me know and I'll see what I can do about fixing them.

I love feedback.

 

[Kairo]

I have played a bit of the demo, I found the monsters a little bit to hard, how about lowring their stats a bit.

Also, I couldn't equip the king sword on the main char (forgot his name..I called him Kairo). Anyway, g2g sleep, I'll update tomorrow after school

~Winged

EDIT:

Ok, I opened up the game and I saw that you didn't have a tick for the rogue class (Phire).

Anyway, I love the summoning, how on earth did you make that 3D animation!? Its awsome, I can't wait to see other summons!

I'll be giving a full report once I finished playing all these demos I gotta review, until then, keep up the good work!

~Winged

 

[Firestalker5]

You couldn't equip the King's Rapier to the main character? Are you sure it was the main character and not Surge [the purple one]? Surge isn't able to equip that sword. If that's not it then I have no idea why you can't equip the sword, I can equip it fine.

I worked extra hard on making the monsters challenging. I find them rather easy, but still challenging. I have since added Sephirothspawn's Monster Adaption and Difficulty script to my game so you should be able to choose how hard the monsters can be. Testing is is being done on this feature.

I'll be adding a new version soon. This will have some new animations, new skills, more story, some more characters, a few more maps, and a difficulty setting as mentioned above.

I love feedback. Let me know what you think about the game.

 

[Saikoden]

only just recently downloaded it and already ive found somethings you could change, not sayign should because it is totally up to you but yeh, it was annoying me a bit lol.

The pictures of the king/queen in the text boxes arre very pixelated and blurry compared to the one of surge and the main character.

Also, im not sure if you already mention this or not but, to me personally playing a game with arshes as the main character is sort of annoying, but, again up to you .

last thing, i was just wondering why the name is phire(something), if phire is his orginal name that you gave him shouldnt it disappear and just be the name we put in? or is it meant to be sire but it is a typo?

Edit: re read the front page and realise his name is meant to be phire. So, does that make the name we choose a last name?

 

[Firestalker5]

last thing, i was just wondering why the name is phire(something), if phire is his orginal name that you gave him shouldnt it disappear and just be the name we put in? or is it meant to be sire but it is a typo?

No the it's not a last name. You just have to erase the old name. I made it a default in case some one doesn't want to try and think up a name for their character [Don't think that's wierd, I sometimes get lazy and have done it]. Instructions on how to erase the name is below.

If you hit the "Insert" key on the keyboard it will erased the name and you can start at the beginning of the line for the Hero Name. It'll be whatever you put it at.

Also, im not sure if you already mention this or not but, to me personally playing a game with arshes as the main character is sort of annoying, but, again up to you

I chose Arshes becuase I thought he fit the character better than the other RTP Characters. He's a child first and for most during the prologue, Arshes looks more like a kid [that isn't actually one] than any of the other characters. Since I'm still no good at spriting I have to rely on the RTP for now.

I find it weird that people hate Arshes so much that they actually find it annoying to play a game that has him as the main character. I'm different in that matter, I feel if he works for the character then use him. Makes no nevermind to me :D .

The pictures of the king/queen in the text boxes arre very pixelated and blurry compared to the one of surge and the main character.

I have already fixed this problem, yes it was annoying me as well. I have new pictures for them and Derrick.

All in all what do you think of the game so far? I'm dieing to know what people think.

 

[Saikoden]

It just whenever some addresses the character and in the text box when i speak, so like up the top of the box it says "PhireSaiko" it might of been something i did while entering the name, although i couldnt really see the name as i entered it into the box lol, yes all the fonts are installed.

As for what ive played so far the game is pretty nice, i like the intro at the beginning and the story line seems very good. I like how some humans became gods but, altaras was it? denied it lol. Im currently only walking around the town and from what i see the mapping is also good .

I think people dont like arshes as a chracter because so many people have done it and it just takes away from game orginality but, your sort of right. He does suit, although it might just be his orange hair and the name of the title being "crimson rune". Is why you named it crimson rune?

 

[Firestalker5]

It just whenever some addresses the character and in the text box when i speak, so like up the top of the box it says "PhireSaiko" it might of been something i did while entering the name, although i couldnt really see the name as i entered it into the box lol, yes all the fonts are installed.

That right there is a name input problem. If you hit the insert key on the keyboard it will erase the "Phire" Name given and you can put your own name in.

Actually the name [Crimson Rune] is a name I have used for a lot of different things and in many different stories. The meaning and/or object called Crimson Rune usually changes from story to story. It's just a cool name I liked when i was growing up and was into reading wierd things [like Thesaurus']. It's just Crimson = Red and Rune = Magic. So Red Magic.

The meaning of the Crimson Rune will be revealed later in the game. I also have a few little twists in store for the characters and the story. I love twists, but you'll have to wait for them. They aren't going to be for awhile I have to map the new areas and then get to the task of scripting the events and populating the areas with monsters and/or NPC's. Not to mention a full time job and a pregnant wife that desires attention every now and then, your looking at at least a week until the new version comes out.

I'm glad you enjoyed the game so far. I have added a little to the beginning in the new version. Nothing major, just some sprites I made in photoshop. I am currently testing the new Monster Adaptability and Difficulty system that was written by Sephirothspawn. So far it looks like it will save me hours of work and testing to get the monsters just right.

 

[Saikoden]

alright, ill test the name input thing after i complete the demo.

I just assumed because his last name is Rune and because crimson is another word for red, so you like put two and two together and got crimson rune lol.

Gratz on the pregnant wife, a week really isnt that long to wait , especially when ill be tied up with my own job/game lol. If you ever need help with beta testing just give me a PM, im always willing to help out with game testing, lets me take my mind off my own games for a bit.

Edit: It seems i have run into the same problem as Kairo, the king rapier doesnt appear in the weapon equipment slot, yet when i go to pawn at the item shop it appears there. Just thought you should know it isnt a one off thing

2nd Edit: I checked the project file and it seems that Phire was set to be a rogue class, which is most likely the reason why the rapier isnt popping up. Also, you have prince in their twice as a class . Changing phires class now to prince and ill get back to you if it worked or not

3rd Edit: Yeh, i was right. Kairo, and anyone else who has downloaded the demo and come across this problem i suggest changing phire's class from a rogue to a prince, but, you will need to restart from the beginning. Also, the name thing that firestalker suggested worked.

 

[Firestalker5]

Oh crap!!! I guess I forgot to change that back when I was fooling around with the new class. ':|

If you change the class back to Prince change it the First Prince... The on e at the very top. That will make everything start normal like. Thats definitely something that will fixed in the next version.

Sorry about that. Thank you for pointing that out to me though I never would have thought of that. Geez, I feel sheepish.-_-

 

[Saikoden]

Lol, its alright. You can't get everything perfect, that would just be mean to the people who test it and look for errors :P.

Yeh, changing it to the first one helped, although why is there two or is that part of the plot? i wont ask too much into just incase it is.

Edit:

Spoiler

I gave the guard in the dining room food in exchange for the key but it seems the key doesnt open up any of the cells inside the prison. Is this another type of error or am i not suppoed to open the cells yet lol? Sorry about the spoiler tags, wasnt sure if some people consider this a "spoiler" because they didnt find it or something lol