TDG Development Diary

headkaze · **Reply #360 on:** December 17, 2009, 10:17:14 am

sverx: Pressing left or right is supposed to cancel out of the menu selection (as in the original) and I just tried and it works for me. Hmm strange.

sverx · **Reply #361 on:** December 17, 2009, 10:38:59 am

Quote from: headkaze on December 17, 2009, 10:17:14 am

sverx: Pressing left or right is supposed to cancel out of the menu selection (as in the original) and I just tried and it works for me.

Yes, it works... I just was expecting to see menu options disappear... Not a big problem, you see

spacefractal · **Reply #362 on:** December 17, 2009, 10:43:29 am

if you wont want the people got away after you have asked them, you can pause the game..... Yes its a bit annoying, but its a part of the game if you ask me.

For the Carry Items list, it happens here as well, but it does disapper when you leave a room, so its so minor bug and is also none annorying one.

Another last tweek is if you hold A button down 1-2 secs its should quit just like B boutton instead (I like that tweek). In that way it should been easier to play on a emulator, so you can use arrow + space key.

Sokurah · **Reply #363 on:** December 17, 2009, 11:31:29 am

Quote from: headkaze on December 16, 2009, 09:40:47 pm

Rpg type games are not for everyone, and this is probably not a style of game I will make again. Anyway thanks for giving it a try!

I must admit that I often prefer something more arcadey but I also like turnbased strategy games, so I'm not a completely lost cause.

I've thought about remaking games like this before - like Knight Tyme/Spellbound/etc., and I can't imagine how hard it must be to figure out a clever way to store all the dialogue, persons, items, locations and making sure everything interacts as it should with everything else.

You seem to have solved that problem though and the result is smooth and and seems to work very well. I marveled at that while playing and couldn't help but be a little envious.

As I followed development, but not super closely, I have without doubt missed lots of talk about "how to do things best", so I don't know if there's been talk about this, but one thing I wasn't crazy about was the scrolling info-bar.

If I'd done it I would have used a smaller font and had whole lines of text scrolling up a window (say, half the height of the screen) instead of having to concentrate as much as I had to, to ensure I didn't miss any text scrolling by.

But, you know, "different people..."

headkaze · **Reply #364 on:** December 17, 2009, 12:19:27 pm

Actually the dialog, inventory etc. system is very basic in this game. It is based on a C64 game afterall. To make a true RPG you really have to use a scripting language like Lua to deal with the complex events and scenarios. It's not the sort of game a small Indy team can make really as you need writers etc. That being said a friend of mine in the DS scene called LiraNuna made an impressive RPG called Tales of Dagur which you can read a review of here. I think it's a very impressive homebrew game and especially because he tackled an RPG - sadly not something many homebrewers attempt.

Again the scrolling text is something I wanted to keep from the original. I guess things would be different if I designed the game from scratch. Anyway I really appreciate your feedback, thanks!

spacefractal · **Reply #365 on:** December 17, 2009, 12:23:20 pm

mightbeen possible to adjust the speed of the scrolling by the right shoulder button can do the job? Just like the title scroll in Manic Miner.

Sashanan · **Reply #366 on:** December 17, 2009, 01:38:49 pm

That does sound like a nice tweak actually. Something to consider?

*casually bookmarks link to homebrew RPG for later perusal*

sverx · **Reply #367 on:** December 18, 2009, 09:33:25 am

What's 'CRAVATEE' btw?

headkaze · **Reply #368 on:** December 18, 2009, 09:50:56 am

Quote from: sverx on December 18, 2009, 09:33:25 am

What's 'CRAVATEE' btw?

Quote

The necktie (or tie) is a long piece of cloth worn around the neck or shoulders, resting nowadays under the shirt collar and knotted at the throat ...

I never knew what it was either for a long time. Luckily it was marked as evidence or I wouldn't have a clue that it could be used to strangle someone lol

sverx · **Reply #369 on:** December 18, 2009, 10:16:19 am

Ok, I already knew what a tie is, (it's Cravatta in Italian, so even closer to 'Cravate') what I don't know is why it's not CRAVATE with no little E on the right...

flash · **Reply #370 on:** December 18, 2009, 10:22:24 am

You can strangle someone with a CARRAT?

Wow!

Lobo · **Reply #371 on:** December 18, 2009, 12:58:59 pm

Quote from: Flash on December 18, 2009, 10:22:24 am

You can strangle someone with a CARRAT?

Wow!

DerailForce PowerAngers! Reporting for duty!

Quote from: sverx on December 18, 2009, 10:16:19 am

Ok, I already knew what a tie is, (it's Cravatta in Italian, so even closer to 'Cravate') what I don't know is why it's not CRAVATE with no little E on the right...

Yeah, it's a common tie, Cravate, the reason that there's a small 'E' at the end is because 'E' means Evidence Item, a latest addition. You'll see this small 'E' on every piece of evidence in game. Confused me at first, as I thought it was a bug.

sverx · **Reply #372 on:** December 18, 2009, 02:05:17 pm

Quote from: Lobo on December 18, 2009, 12:58:59 pm

[...]the reason that there's a small 'E' at the end is because 'E' means Evidence Item, a latest addition. You'll see this small 'E' on every piece of evidence in game.

OMG! I didn't expect that was the "this is an evidence" mark! Please HK, make it clearer. An 'E' inside a golden circle, maybe?

headkaze · **Reply #373 on:** December 18, 2009, 03:58:18 pm

If you follow Bentley at the start of the game and go into your room. I would expect most people to examine what's in their room. If you examine the Padded Envelopes it will say:

Quote

THERE ARE 10 ENVELOPES ALL MARKED 'EVIDENCE' YOU MUST FILL ALL OF THEM BEFORE YOU SOLVE THE MURDER. MOST EVIDENCE IS MARKED WITH AN E.

I added the last sentence so you know some evidence is unmarked.

Lobo · **Reply #374 on:** December 18, 2009, 04:08:47 pm

I thought it was on every item, huhweird. Anyway, I don't mind it though, hopefully people will read that sentence or they might be confused about that, put it in readmes as well.

Sashanan · **Reply #375 on:** December 19, 2009, 03:33:51 pm

Back in the Commodore 64 days we had to figure this kind of thing out for ourselves

And the fact that not all evidence items had the cute little E was a nastier surprise still. The game expects you to deduce the significance of several items on your own. We've in fact done a few additions to the "examine" text of some items (such as the Padded Envelopes) to help with that, so make sure to examine what you pick up.

Lobo · **Reply #376 on:** December 19, 2009, 04:09:38 pm

The problem is that today's crowd might not be from the C64 days and not as patient to discover things on their own without being nudged left or right. Putting it in readme at least allows us to give a fair warning and headstart for what the things are supposed to do.

sverx · **Reply #377 on:** December 19, 2009, 05:06:39 pm

Actually my problem was only that I didn't know that the little 'E' was the 'This is an evidence' mark... from my point of view it's ok either if some evidence are marked and some aren't, or none at all (but the game may be a little bit too hard then... uh?)

Touch screen is still enabled when you swap screens, this brings on unexpected behaviors, IMHO...

Lobo · **Reply #378 on:** December 19, 2009, 07:53:30 pm

WOOTSIE? Released today? HUURRAAHH!

And I was just about to say that I couldn't find anything wrong in the latest build. This is really cool, I've put the newsie on twitter, you should also announce it on RR page, great holiday gift methinks.

headkaze · **Reply #379 on:** December 19, 2009, 08:03:43 pm

Quote from: Lobo on December 19, 2009, 07:53:30 pm

WOOTSIE? Released today? HUURRAAHH!

On my birthday too *cheers* and thanks to everyone involved in the game. Now it's "out of the way" me, Flash, Lobo and SF are going to be making a new game... top secret new game.. anyway I hope everyone out in Internets land enjoys the game. There will probably be a few bug fix releases over the next week or so as these things happen...

BTW I did manage to fix the touchpad working when screens are flipped

Lobo · **Reply #380 on:** December 19, 2009, 08:06:51 pm

Happy birthday dude, may you do a lot of cool games in the future and find ladies without sharp objects!

headkaze · **Reply #381 on:** December 19, 2009, 08:12:46 pm

Quote from: Lobo on December 19, 2009, 08:06:51 pm

Happy birthday dude, may you do a lot of cool games in the future and find ladies without sharp objects!

..or boxes that open the gates of hell

Thanks mate! I think I will crack a beer now...

Incidently my last birthday I spent setting up RetroBytes Portal forums with Flash. It's quite amazing what we've all achived in a year

Lobo · **Reply #382 on:** December 19, 2009, 08:18:45 pm

Yes, in just a year, serious kickassage. It's blizzard outside but I have a great urge to go out and visit a liqueur store.
Be riiight back (unless I break my leg, there's ice as well).

flash · **Reply #383 on:** December 19, 2009, 08:42:02 pm

Happy birthday mate...

I remember back last year now... I wish I could find the post when you were saying about it being your birthday and here you sit setting up this site... I top my hat to ya mate - you are a trooper!!

Though, I did find this from December the 25th

Quote

"Re: (No subject)
« Sent to: Flash on: December 25, 2008, 12:04:11 AM

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks mate Merry Xmas to you too. It's certainly been a lot of fun helping set up this cool website and thank you too for inspiring me to get back into coding the DS as well as starting my own retro collection.

Look forward to seeing what we come up with next year"

Well, them 12 months exceded expectations really ... ..

spacefractal · **Reply #384 on:** December 19, 2009, 08:58:32 pm

lo, if its your birthday today (so close to xmas), happy birth day with the release

flash · **Reply #385 on:** December 19, 2009, 09:00:30 pm

Reading my post, I will add,

"You were the one that inspired me to return to coding mate"

Congrats on both the release and your birthday.....

Lobo · **Reply #386 on:** December 19, 2009, 09:19:09 pm

Crap, that was the longest 7 minutes it took me to cross the street and grab the bottle of vodka!

Now onward to ~~sloshing~~ drawing!

spacefractal · **Reply #387 on:** December 19, 2009, 09:24:19 pm

http://www.remix64.com/board/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=7254&p=82233#p82233

There is noone that have attempted to remix this tune before me

flash · **Reply #388 on:** December 19, 2009, 09:26:58 pm

Quote from: Lobo on December 19, 2009, 09:19:09 pm

Crap, that was the longest 7 minutes it took me to cross the street and grab the bottle of vodka!
Now onward to ~~sloshing~~ drawing!

I hope you did not slip!

Well done SF for the post.

spacefractal · **Reply #389 on:** December 19, 2009, 09:29:22 pm

I which the next game is on MY birthday when we done (its in the summer period). Its the second birthday release we have.