Feedback on idea's for my new project

[Futendra]

Feedback on my new project: Twisted Mind



As some may know, I canceled my previous project "Spells of Chaos". Basically, Spells of Chaos sucked ass deeply. I want to start a new, better, project. It will be a lot more interesting and I have already started brainstorming and such. It will be called Twisted Mind (Thanx Blizzy ).

Basically, I am going to make a list here of my idea's:

STORY:

- You are kidnapped
- The kidnapper injected you with an unknown liquid
- From that moment you start having personality splits called overtakes
- All you want is answers and solutions
- Main character: Businessman, Charismatic, Vulnerable
- Overtaken character: Agressive and feels threatened
- Not overtaken: Searching for info
- Overtaken: Trying to survive as you feel threatened by other overtaken
- Every part of the game is a different day
- You have a diary where you keep things in, what happened, etc...
- The game is in an underground bunker
- There are many Areas and you were kept in Area Lamprey
- You don't remember much
- You start in an overtake


GAMEPLAY:

- "Overtake" mode
- Blizz-ABS
- Play-through'ish
- Modern-day
- Guns and knives
- The further in game, the more items, skills and answers
- Bosses, "imaginary" monsters during overtake mode
- Puzzles

REST:

- Trying to find answers, when at an important part overtakes blow it all, and you see bosses
- Somewhere in game you meet a girl whom gives you important information
- This girl comes back during the game a lot

SPOILER! IF YOU WANT TO PLAY THIS FO REAL, DO NOT CLICK HERE: ShowHide

- This girl had injections before you and is too far into overtakes which makes it almost impossible for her to survive later
- The leader-figure below doesn't want answers, he wants to live there, right now, but you want to end this

- There is a specific leader-figure which want to start up civilisation
- You find a journal made by another overtaken who did the same things you are trying to achieve, basically, this is what gives you "quests"

AREAS:

1. Area Lamprey
•Infirmary
•Shop
•Fight-HQ
•Collector

2. Area Candiru
•Merchant
•Doctor
•Collector

3. Area Axolotl
•Pond
•Infirmary
•Collector
•Shop

4. Area Solenodon
•Doctor
•Merchant

5. Area Dermestidae
•Collector

Now, to explain some things:
•Infirmary: A place where you can heal and buy medicines.
•Doctor: You can only buy medicines.
•Shop: Food and fire weapons.
•Merchant: Food and ammo
•Collector: Has special items that he trades for other things. Will often give small quests to find stuff in exchange for essential stuff.
•Pond: For fishing
•Fight-HQ: To learn the basics



If you have any idea's, feedback, hints or tips, POST IT HERE


http://projecttwistedmind.tumblr.com

[MarkHest]

From my point of view, so far this sounds freaking awesome!

The story so far SO MUCH BETTER than the last game you attempted to make. It's not just about some random dude trying to rule/destroy the world ('bla bla, overused cliché) but this is in fact interesting. I'm already starting to wonder what's going on and am quiet curious on what's going to happen. Indeed, why the hell was he kidnaped and injected with some strange chemical? Interesting

The split personality thing is brilliant. I feel like we're going to get a lot of mood changes in this game.
A game that focuses a bit more on personalities are always more fun to play ^^ (especially when something like this happens to the main charakters)

So far the game has caught my attention and i hope this will turn out well.
Don't rush this, fut. I know it can be hard sometimes with patience and all but this idea is brilliant and it would be a shame to just let it go to waste becouse of impatience.

Your last project didn't interest me at all, not one bit.
This project makes me want to fast-forward time just to see how you pull this off, becouse it is a realy good idea

That's my point of view on the story.

[Subsonic_Noise]

The general idea in for this is great... now, pay attention on the execution. I'd, for example, also suggest you do research on actual split personality and how it works and affects someone. Obviously, it'll probably not be -just- that in your game, but to base it on reality in some way is a good thing, because you already have a complex, interesting foundation in it. You can ask me about specific things about it.. since I know a psychologist and two people with split personality personally (see what I did there? ha. haha.), i'll probably be able to give you an answer. What also comes next is linking the story to gameplay. Find strong points in the story and ask yourself how you could put them into a gameplay mechanism... what could be interesting is to make things methaphorical. For example, with split personality, the parts of a persons mind tend to have different views on certain things - you could show this by actually changing the graphics. Obviously, the protagonist's vision doesn't actually change, but it can be a nice twist to it. You'll get more of this soon.

[Vexus]

Now THAT is a better plot for a story, good job

Now I'll ask you just 1 thing. I hope you understand that writing:

"- Bosses, loads of em"

Means a lot of work.

You can't simply put random bosses in the wild without a real reason else they would become normal monsters that are harder.

I'm interested in how your intending on doing this overtake mode and if I where you I would try something as subsonic_noise is saying, making the character see the world in a different way when he splits personality.

Well goodluck and don't forget mapping with details!

[Futendra]

I already planned on making graphics different, there will be a red'ish tint when he is in overtake mode and I would also want to do something special, like some kind of HUD change. Also, is there a good spriter here that could teach me how to sprite different positions of the same sprite?

[Subsonic_Noise]

I'd make it a bit more than that. For example, the other personality might see certain persons as enemies? Make them -look- like enemies, and maybe even make them attack you. Then, when you switch back, you notice that they never attacked you, and you just killed them etc.
Feel free to mess with the player's mind.

[Futendra]

I'd make it a bit more than that. For example, the other personality might see certain persons as enemies? Make them -look- like enemies, and maybe even make them attack you. Then, when you switch back, you notice that they never attacked you, and you just killed them etc.
Feel free to mess with the player's mind.

That indeed does sound good, but I would do it more like this:

You first walk through some "empty" rooms but when you are in overtake mode, they aren't empty and full of "overtaken".
I would make it that in the "overtake" mode you can see overtaken people that you will see as enemies at first.



Just to put it straight:

You are the only one who survived the injection and the only one who isn't fully overtaken. The people you see in overtake mode didn't survive and are now stuck in overtake mode. With other words: It is a different world, in the "real world", in your eyes.



Good or not?

[Subsonic_Noise]

Well, that differs greatly from the "split personality" thing, and makes the player a "chosen one" of sorts again. I liked the original idea more, because it's a personal story. He's trying to solve his own problems, maybe one others have too (as you said, he's not the only one anymore), but in a way him not being the special / chosen / only one makes it more realistic, and easier to identify with him. Sure, you can still have him save someone or something in the end, but don't make him special from the beginning. Let the player live through the process with him.
That being said, there's tons of things you can do without the chosen one part. For example, imagine the other personality takes over, and you start seeing someone as an enemy, and kill them. You awaken again, and see the dead person (now here you have to decide if both personalities share a memory), panic and decide to flee (you could also make the player choose here if they want to flee or not, and it'd affect the story), and from there on, the police could be after you, so you have to flee from them while still trying to find out the reasons behind your abduction. If they do catch you, you can get locked up in an asylium, where you'd have to escape... etc, etc, etc. There's so many things you can do.. be creative.

[Vexus]

Well, that differs greatly from the "split personality" thing, and makes the player a "chosen one" of sorts again. I liked the original idea more, because it's a personal story. He's trying to solve his own problems, maybe one others have too (as you said, he's not the only one anymore), but in a way him not being the special / chosen / only one makes it more realistic, and easier to identify with him. Sure, you can still have him save someone or something in the end, but don't make him special from the beginning. Let the player live through the process with him.
That being said, there's tons of things you can do without the chosen one part. For example, imagine the other personality takes over, and you start seeing someone as an enemy, and kill them. You awaken again, and see the dead person (now here you have to decide if both personalities share a memory), panic and decide to flee (you could also make the player choose here if they want to flee or not, and it'd affect the story), and from there on, the police could be after you, so you have to flee from them while still trying to find out the reasons behind your abduction. If they do catch you, you can get locked up in an asylium, where you'd have to escape... etc, etc, etc. There's so many things you can do.. be creative.

That looks so familiar, ehem fahrenheit

Great game you could take some ideas from it if your going to go sub's route on the story.

[ZombieBear]

I think this could be really interesting, though I'd be careful with the world A/world B when in overtake mode; it gives a Silent Hill vibe of sorts, which isn't bad in itself, but dealing with too much empty space that becomes full of overtaken in overtake mode would make it difficult to add interesting NPC's, thereby limiting your ability to interact with others and expose more of the player's drive and direction.

This seems like a heavy psychological game, so fleshing out each character really well would make things interesting, especially the kidnapper and his motivations for injecting the main character with this chemical. I'd look up some other games in the genre and look at what they did right and wrong for some ideas.

[Futendra]

- Modern-day
- Main character: Businessman, Charismatic, Vulnerable
- Overtaken character: Agressive and feels threatened
- Every part of the game is a different day
- You have a diary where you keep things in, what happened, etc...
- The game is in an underground bunker
- There are many Areas and you were kept in Area Lamprey
- You don't remember much
- You start in an overtake
- Not overtaken: Searching for info
- Overtaken: Trying to survive as you feel threatened by other overtaken

[Magus]

It's been a while (or probably the first time) since I commented on someone's rpg maker project...

Whatever you do... please....PLEASE avoid using the existing rtp. I really hate to see those overused monsters in a potential epic game like this.  Of course I don't mean anything by this --you're probably 500 times more experienced than I am, but seeing those overused monsters again.. AH...

Which is why even in my game, I'm only using them for like the first level and then poof, no more of them. (Not saying they're all bad, but this game idea is pretty epic. ) sorry for the late comment.

[Futendra]

- Somewhere in game you meet a girl whom gives you important information
- This girl comes back during the game a lot

SPOILER! IF YOU WANT TO PLAY THIS FO REAL, DO NOT CLICK HERE: ShowHide

- This girl had injections before you and is too far into overtakes which makes it almost impossible for her to survive later
- The leader-figure below doesn't want answers, he wants to live there, right now, but you want to end this

- There is a specific leader-figure which want to start up civilisation


Characters!
Protagonist: Jonathan Hayles (Names aren't fixed yet)
Businessman, mid-twenties, at first very businesslike, after first overtake: survivor
Non-overtake personality: calm, scared
Overtake personality: aggressive and feels threatened

Side-characters: Anna Desny
15 year old girl, pretty cute
Non-overtake personality: very happy
Overtake personality: creepy cute (Little Sister-style from BioShock)

Alarik Bernson
Mid-thirties, very mean
Non-overtake personality: cruel, sadistic
Overtake personality: even more sadistic, evil laugh

Ezekiel Walker
Over 18 years old, diary-overtaker
Non-overtake personality (known through diary): scared, desperate
Overtake personality: defensive, often loud 'cries' (cause: pain+despair)

Music
Main theme:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-J6YI5ysDU8

Overtake:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWDWvgLDnvI

Introduction:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xUmrHo0t7g

Credits:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5LVutpvJNA

TRUE SPOILER!!!!: ShowHide

Death of Anna:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7A8xRJJf3E

[Futendra]

Okay so, since I am working with Lena now for this project, and I was busy with my social life, I now have some new things for you guys!

Lena made some area-idea's, since the complete story is in an underground bunker, there are areas. Some of these will be playable and you will explore them. of course there are some off-screen areas which aren't "civilized".

AREAS:

1. Area Lamprey
•Infirmary
•Shop
•Fight-HQ
•Collector

2. Area Candiru
•Merchant
•Doctor
•Collector

3. Area Axolotl
•Pond
•Infirmary
•Collector
•Shop

4. Area Solenodon
•Doctor
•Merchant

5. Area Incubus
•Collector

Now, to explain some things:
•Infirmary: A place where you can heal and buy medicines.
•Doctor: You can only buy medicines.
•Shop: Food and fire weapons.
•Merchant: Food and ammo
•Collector: Has special items that he trades for other things. Will often give small quests to find stuff in exchange for essential stuff.
•Pond: For fishing
•Fight-HQ: To learn the basics

Also, I found some better music for my game (an old teacher of mine gave me some names)

Red Sparowes

VoidWork

Sun O)))

Tell me what you think about these idea's and the music?

[Spoofus]

ok i have been reading this topic now and i have to say that, the music in your last post Funtendra(previous post duh)

would be much better i think.
i find that music without any lyrics tend to set the mood better than ones that do but that it just me.

[Futendra]

ok i have been reading this topic now and i have to say that, the music in your last post Funtendra(previous post duh)

would be much better i think.
i find that music without any lyrics tend to set the mood better than ones that do but that it just me.

Indeed, I am going to use Red Sparowes a lot, the ambient, still interesting sounds are so good and they will fit in amazingly!



More about the music:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hs5S45U-wJg as title-screen music?

Normal Mode songs:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSf3CukZIJ0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncJazOonwPo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Asog13FpC8I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74-s5PekbBg

Any idea's for music in Overtake and other main music?
I need around 5 songs for Normal Mode and 1 song for Overtake Mode (This will be recognisable) (Only search songs of Sun O))), VoidWork, Russian Circles, Red Sparowes and Dir and Grey)

Optional Overtake songs:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=as6Dbw1aO_w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIR1KfKXH6s




I and a friend made a Tumblr account to keep track of progress and ideas (and sprites): http://projecttwistedmind.tumblr.com

[AJNR95]

I skimmed through this since you pointed it out to me. If you're using Z-Hud I assume, you should
change the HUD when in "Overtake Mode" or switching personalities. I recently learned this.

I would like to see some pictures of the game

(Off Topic - Updating the Horror Template to a newer version by the end of today, check it out)

[Futendra]

(Off Topic - Updating the Horror Template to a newer version by the end of today, check it out)

For me this is very on topic really

I will sure check out and if you can help with the HUD change, I already made a little edit to change the HUD background when in overtake

My idea was to make a red glow around the HP and EN bar

[ShadowPierce]

I will sure check out and if you can help with the HUD change, I already made a little edit to change the HUD background when in overtake

My idea was to make a red glow around the HP and EN bar

I skimmed through this since you pointed it out to me. If you're using Z-Hud I assume, you should
change the HUD when in "Overtake Mode" or switching personalities. I recently learned this.

If you don't mind, I'd also want to learn about this... I'll be using CRLS so this will be very suitable for my game... Would it be alright? :3

[AJNR95]

I will sure check out and if you can help with the HUD change, I already made a little edit to change the HUD background when in overtake

My idea was to make a red glow around the HP and EN bar

I skimmed through this since you pointed it out to me. If you're using Z-Hud I assume, you should
change the HUD when in "Overtake Mode" or switching personalities. I recently learned this.

If you don't mind, I'd also want to learn about this... I'll be using CRLS so this will be very suitable for my game... Would it be alright? :3

KK20 taught me it. It's simple once you have it copied once. Using the "Script" Command in the Event, enter:

BlizzCFG::Z_HP_FILE = ''

Within the '', you can enter the file name to change the HUD.
ex.
BlizzCFG::Z_HP_FILE = 'Horror_HP'
BlizzCFG::Z_HP_FILE = 'Fantasy_HP'
BlizzCFG::Z_HP_FILE = 'Simple_HP'

Along with

BlizzCFG::Z_SP_FILE = ''
BlizzCFG::Z_HP_FILE_EMPTY = ''
BlizzCFG::Z_SP_FILE_EMPTY = ''
BlizzCFG::Z_ITEM_BACK = ''
BlizzCFG::Z_SKILL_BACK = ''
BlizzCFG::Z_HOTKEYS_BACK = ''
BlizzCFG::Z_MINIMAP_BACK = ''

And some I don't know if they work
BlizzCFG::Z_SP_TILING = false
BlizzCFG::Z_SP_TILING = true
BlizzCFG::Z_HP_PER_TILE = 25
BlizzCFG::Z_HP_TILE_COLUMNS = 100