A Game w/ Construction Paper Graphics
by Ben Heath · in Game Design and Creative Issues · 06/05/2003 (9:15 pm) · 10 replies
My friend and I are talking about making a top-down, diagonal shooter/adventure that's somewhere between Super Contra and Wild 9, with good "WSAD" controls. I really want to put some emphasis on the story that I'm developing around it too (a love story, actually).
What's important about it, besides the story, is the look. We want to have a look that's inspired by South Park and Samurai Jack. Rather than do all the artwork on the computer, I want to try my hand at using construction paper to build up the backgrounds and many of the characters. The computer will still be used to touch up the graphics and some sprites and tiles will still be produced by computer, but I want to really have that unique look. I think it'll really be special.
What do you think? Do you want to talk about the gameplay? the look? the story? I'm open for suggestions, so let's talk.
=======EDIT========
I'd like to add: I don't want a military game, and I want to veer away from bland Sci-Fi (not to kill anyone's creativity or anything) but still have a good fiction. This just never inspires me. It's not in my interest. (Sure the last novel I finished was Dune, but the last one finished before that was G. Paulsen's Canyons, which really influenced me in my work.)
Keep in mind, though, that I'm early in the development phase, and the ideas are still taking flesh and root.
What's important about it, besides the story, is the look. We want to have a look that's inspired by South Park and Samurai Jack. Rather than do all the artwork on the computer, I want to try my hand at using construction paper to build up the backgrounds and many of the characters. The computer will still be used to touch up the graphics and some sprites and tiles will still be produced by computer, but I want to really have that unique look. I think it'll really be special.
What do you think? Do you want to talk about the gameplay? the look? the story? I'm open for suggestions, so let's talk.
=======EDIT========
I'd like to add: I don't want a military game, and I want to veer away from bland Sci-Fi (not to kill anyone's creativity or anything) but still have a good fiction. This just never inspires me. It's not in my interest. (Sure the last novel I finished was Dune, but the last one finished before that was G. Paulsen's Canyons, which really influenced me in my work.)
Keep in mind, though, that I'm early in the development phase, and the ideas are still taking flesh and root.
#2
06/06/2003 (5:21 pm)
This type of game would fit perfectly into the RE SDK schema, no need for all the bells ans whistles that a AAA engine like TGE has.
#3
What's the RE SDK?
========EDIT=========
Whoops. Reaction Engine. I got it.
06/06/2003 (10:37 pm)
I can't afford to do anything too incredible. That would actually be stupid, considering the Law of Decreasing Returns or whatever it's called. (Once you cross a certain line and try too hard, things start to fall apart.) BUT, I do want to try. I want to see what I can do within reason. I certainly want to get this story together, because I'm really falling in love with the two main characters (to tell you the truth).What's the RE SDK?
========EDIT=========
Whoops. Reaction Engine. I got it.
#4
That sounds like a really refreshing idea. I've always loved the South-Park series, particularly the art-style where unconvincing animation is actually used to enhance the story and not distract from it.
I was amazed when I found out that what looks like low technology animation is actually done on a computer. I then thought that it would be great to create a 2D animation system such as this to create a game.
I'm not sure if that's exactly what you're talking about but it does sound close.
I wish you good luck with it and I'll be sure to keep an eye out for your work.
- Melv.
06/07/2003 (12:42 am)
Ben,That sounds like a really refreshing idea. I've always loved the South-Park series, particularly the art-style where unconvincing animation is actually used to enhance the story and not distract from it.
I was amazed when I found out that what looks like low technology animation is actually done on a computer. I then thought that it would be great to create a 2D animation system such as this to create a game.
I'm not sure if that's exactly what you're talking about but it does sound close.
I wish you good luck with it and I'll be sure to keep an eye out for your work.
- Melv.
#5
Thats amazing heh.
Also there was a 3d comedy shooter named "Feedin Cleoh" or somthing it was like south park. Basicly it looked all happy and what not except you could kill stuff and the gore was insane. Total bipolar game.
06/07/2003 (12:45 am)
Ive played a 3d shooter game before and ALL the textures in game were HAND DRAWN.Thats amazing heh.
Also there was a 3d comedy shooter named "Feedin Cleoh" or somthing it was like south park. Basicly it looked all happy and what not except you could kill stuff and the gore was insane. Total bipolar game.
#7
Has anyone done anything with Kyra? I know Arianne uses it, for one thing. If I can use Kyra for this, perhaps we'll have a multi-platform game with less work. We'll see. (I am a programmer, but I want to focus on the game and not the engine. That can be a black box, for all I care, so long as it gets the job done.)
The jam right now is that my partner in crime is going on vacation to Hawaii. I'll have 3 weeks to get everything together before he gets back. Then the real game development can begin. I don't know how long that will take nor how much work either of us will have to put in, so it's probably time to get to work. ;)
Jaeger: I recall seeing a Quake 2 mod that was like that. Everything was all hand-sketched and there was no color. It looked cool, but I never got to play it. Also, the sprites for Valkyrie Profile (PSX) were apparently all hand-painted, and that game looked really good.
06/07/2003 (9:33 pm)
Yeah. I've already got some scenes playing in my head, which is good. That typically means that the idea is pretty solid and I know what I want, for the most part. Another good thing is that I may have found a suitable engine for it: Kyra 2.Has anyone done anything with Kyra? I know Arianne uses it, for one thing. If I can use Kyra for this, perhaps we'll have a multi-platform game with less work. We'll see. (I am a programmer, but I want to focus on the game and not the engine. That can be a black box, for all I care, so long as it gets the job done.)
The jam right now is that my partner in crime is going on vacation to Hawaii. I'll have 3 weeks to get everything together before he gets back. Then the real game development can begin. I don't know how long that will take nor how much work either of us will have to put in, so it's probably time to get to work. ;)
Jaeger: I recall seeing a Quake 2 mod that was like that. Everything was all hand-sketched and there was no color. It looked cool, but I never got to play it. Also, the sprites for Valkyrie Profile (PSX) were apparently all hand-painted, and that game looked really good.
#8
By the end of summer, we'll be working on the art and code, and by the end of fall, we'll probably have a good release. We'll also have to get some trademark/copyright stuff, and a hosted website for the game.
I'm going to be very, very busy. I'll keep you updated. If you have some advice, tips, anything, PLEASE post them. I'd really appreciate it.
06/08/2003 (12:35 pm)
Okay, I'll most likely be using Kyra for this project. I will program it on Windows and Linux, and try to get something working on a Pentium 233, which is what my slower computer has. (I have 2 of them.) I'm probably going on vacation myself, up to Oregon. There, I'll work on the story and some of the game design. I'll try to get together some designs for game objects and backdrops.By the end of summer, we'll be working on the art and code, and by the end of fall, we'll probably have a good release. We'll also have to get some trademark/copyright stuff, and a hosted website for the game.
I'm going to be very, very busy. I'll keep you updated. If you have some advice, tips, anything, PLEASE post them. I'd really appreciate it.
#9
06/09/2003 (3:09 pm)
http://www.garagegames.com/mg/snapshot/view.php?qid=568 did something similar in style i think with darkbasic - might help in inspiration.
#10
Okay, I'm not going on vacation. :( Instead, I'll be taking some summer college classes (American River College in Sacramento, CA). I'll still be working on this, though.
Next: I have a name for the game. I can't release it yet, on account of copyright garbage and the fact that it's a tentative name anyway, but I do have it.
I'm keepin you updated, but keep in mind that not everything is set in stone, so don't say anything if I change a thing or two.
06/10/2003 (10:50 pm)
I appreciate that, Tom. :) Ain't bad, man.Okay, I'm not going on vacation. :( Instead, I'll be taking some summer college classes (American River College in Sacramento, CA). I'll still be working on this, though.
Next: I have a name for the game. I can't release it yet, on account of copyright garbage and the fact that it's a tentative name anyway, but I do have it.
I'm keepin you updated, but keep in mind that not everything is set in stone, so don't say anything if I change a thing or two.
Steve Fletcher
You should probably make the controls configurable, though "WSAD" can be the default. I believe that you mean the player will be using the keys W,S,A, and D here.