Afterlife: Escape The Darkness - UPDATE WITH PHOTOS!

Hello one and all once again!

In this blog, I will go over the details of my new (and very first) game using the Torque 3D engine. I have a lot to tell you so grab a drink, get some food out and relax. I hope to explain a lot about the game and what is now in the game and what will be in the game, what is it and a lot more that people are wondering about.




Afterlife: Escape The Darkness is now underway. It actually broke ground 2 years ago, when I was working on a game that was just too complex for what I wanted to do... so, I remained stuck in a non-progress loop not getting far with the game at all. I bought content packs, I made my own stuff, I had scripts, code, you name it... and I couldn't do anything beyond my vision to make it come to life... it was just TOO complex of an idea.



Now, enter Afterlife, a game that is a much scaled down version of the Project Jupiter game I once wanted to do. I took all the assets and content I was going to use for that game and am adding it to my first game, on a much smaller scale then what I had first envisioned the game to be. Afterlife is a product of over 3 years of ideas, experience and buying up content. Personally, I think this game is going to actually get finished as it is simple, to the point and no weapons in the game at all. This could change down the road as progress moves on... just hear me out for those who are saying "What in the world is this guy thinking?", I'll explain...



Afterlife: Escape The Darkness is a simple, small mini-game using Torque 3D. It is basically a escape story and the journey to get there... if you ever get to escape. You won't know until the very end. The game features cool sets, ambient audio created by myself and some from my own ambient packs I've created since 2003 to now and a lot of eye candy that will draw you into the mystery of why you are here. The journey through this adventure will be long... think of it as a rat maze of never ending halls and rooms that seem to go on forever. Not really go on forever, but you get what I mean.




The story is you wake up, in a metal box... and basically have to find your way out and what you are doing there. There will be puzzles and clues along the way that will piece together the mystery of the why, how and where; along the trip through this living nightmare. You will find out a lot, and some things you didn't even know about your location.



As I said above, I will be using some new ambient tracks created just for this game as well as using older stuff I've had around for years. The Ambient soundtracks to Afterlife will be available for sale as well. You can buy the soundtrack and the game together for a disocounted price of just $15.99 (saving yourself $4). The Ambient CD alone will be selling for $9.99 a copy and the game will be $9.99 as well. There will be 20 tracks in the ambient soundtrack, and the sounds may NOT be used in your game project... only for easy listening. I'll update a EULA on it coming soon.




Below are some afterlife screenshots I have created so you can check out the progress of how things are working out thus far. I have about 35 shots total I'm going to spread over 3 blogs, so you will have to wait to see the others... plus, I will update newer update shots of the levels in coming blogs too. Hope you enjoy what you see... these are the main ground breaking shots with not a lot in the areas. I've still got a bit to complete on the halls yet... see my coming features list to see whats going to be added before the release (below the photos):




















Please remember that the photos can change as time moves onward. I may rip stuff out and put new stuff in, so it is a non-stop motion of action until I release the game. Just please be aware of this.




No exact release date is being stamped on this but I'm trying to get it out the door by the end of the year. All depends how fast I can work to finish it in my spare time. It will be done when its done basically.




Current features of the game include the following:

- No weapons at all for the player - No I'm not kidding, no weapons in the game at all
- Limited GUI use
- Save game feature
- Load game feature
- Some of my own content (rocks, models, etc)
- 1 to 2 levels (3 max) to tell the story of the game



Coming features of the game include:

- Blood Splatters on walls, floors, etc.
- Steam coming out of the pipes
- Flooded levels
- Other lighting options outside of the T3D defaults
- Adding creatures that hunt you down in the game
- Creative level design and startling moments
- Moving things
- Triggers
- Flashlight

Other issues I'm working on include fog for a section of the map and water area you have to swim through to exit the room area. I will update you all on any new features in the next blog post on the game.




Game play... you can use your Xbox 360 controller to move around and check things out. Game play will be a lot like dear esther, just not relaxing like that game was. Using audio, in game clues and more, you will explore the level finding out what really happened and why you are here. I'm working to make it interesting and fun both, with a ending that will shock you, or so I hope. When the game ends, I want to hear "I didn't see that coming". If I do my job right, it will end like that.




Using Torque 3D 1.2 the paid version of it btw. Custom mods to the engine as needed for the level and features I want to do. I'm very proud to say I'm using Torque 3D, the best engine on the planet IMO. Great work guys! I thought about using a lot of other engines for this game, but figured Torque line of products is what I know best, so I went with the Torque 3D engine which I feel is by far the best engine, to me, out here.




I have been thinking about adding this to the game and make the game free. In game ads? why not? Android does it all the time, more so, EA products. I am considering it but right now, its still a pay to play system until I get all the facts down about ads in games... which to me, don't sound like a good idea but I don't know. It doesn't hurt to research it and throw around the idea right? What do you think of ads in games? Honestly, I hate it with a passion. Only reason I would do it is to help fund my efforts for the hours and weeks on end I work on the game. Let me know what you think of this idea... good or bad idea?




Please visit my Facebook page at:www.facebook.com/pages/Digital-Lightstorm-Game-Studio/236909276500210 and like my page! Thank you for the support!




Would you like to help with the game? You can! Just email me and you will be a part of the team working towards the goal of making a fun game! If your interested, please drop me a line to my email under Email on the lower section of this blog...




Send me your emails at info@hallowscreams.com with your questions, comments or ideas for the game.


In closing


Thank you for reading the blog. I hope you found it interesting in some way. I hope you enjoyed the screen shots. I plan on updating a video in the next blog or two on the game. Please drop me a line, I would love to hear what you think of the game concept and photos. If you have ideas how I might be able to improve anything you see, or don't see, please let me know. I'm trying hard to make sure this game is fun and entertaining.

Stay safe!

Will Zettler
Indianapolis, IN