Creating an RPG game

Ths is a useful link for getting started in knowing which softwares, in particular freeware, can be used to create an RPG style game:
http://www.ehow.com/how_6827286_create-3d-rpg-game.html

In particular I have been looking at using a simple game maker known as RPGmaker:
http://www.rpgmakerweb.com/products/rpg-maker-xp

This image shows how the RPG maker XP looks, when creating the game!

This engine includes templates for level and characters, and could be used to create a retro, Zelda style of RPG.

However I came across an interesting addition that can be used with the free software, Unity 3D. Known as the UniVenture camera and toolset, this can be used to create a 3D game in a Zelda style. See link below to see more about the toolset:
http://forum.unity3d.com/threads/101197-UniVenture-Camera-A-Zelda-Style-Camera-RELEASED

The video below is a clip showing how the camera works:


To try it out for yourself, visit the link below (need to download Unitys web player for this):
http://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/57249909/UniVentureTest/WebPlayer/WebPlayer.html

Story boards and Visual development for Animation

This storyboard highlights the relationship between the two main characters (the cats)

Concepts for scenes.

The story boards below is the first draft to the opening scene (cut scene) to the game.

The video clip is an animatic, narrated by myself, simply to get an idea of how the story would flow. Feedback so far has been the conversation between the snake and the cat needs to be more visually interesting, as it seems flat and boring. Things to include would be typical actions that a cat and snake would do, such as hissing at each other, or fighting.



  Also, one comment suggested was to not include the entire body of the snake in a frame. When looking at other animations of snakes (the Jungle Book, Aladdin etc.) The snakes body is never in full view. This was an interesting observation and when I put this into practice the results did seem to show an improvement to how the scene looked.

This jungle book clip is a great clip to see an effective animation, with a conversation between a cat and a snake! One other comment that was suggested was that the snakes head looked like it needed more definition from its body.


Most of my observations of corn snakes (which is the type of snake in the animation I am creating) has no definition whatsoever from its head to its body/neck. In fact its head is indeed smaller than its body. However, for the purposes of animation, I will exaggerate the shapes for the snakes head, in the character design, so that the drawings translate in a way that the audience feels looks right!

Pen Tool Photoshop

USING PEN TOOL TO CREATE LINES:

http://www.agavegroup.com/?p=68

SHORTCUTS:

http://forums.adobe.com/message/4451736

Character Design and Story

The characters for the game are based on my own pets and  the story of their relationship.


Stitch is the main character/game protagonist in the story. A very beautiful and magically talented cat, she lives with her wizard, in a mill.

Known simply as 'The Wizard', he is a kind hearted, gentle soul, who lives and works at a water mill, providing the nearby village with water and energy. He also provides flour, which the baker comes and collects every week. Nobody knows exactly how old the wizard is, as he is a very private person, especially when it comes to his spell work! However, he enjoys having a good time once in a while, the stories he tells suggest he is much older than we realise!

George is a snake, who made his home at the mill 20 years ago. With Stitch being a lazy cat, and mice over running the mill, the wizard gives him a home, in the hope he and Stitch can control the mice together.

Shadow is the young kitten that arrives, unexpectedly at the wizards cottage, to much of Stitches annoyance. The catalyst to the games story. The first half of the game play, Shadow follows Stitch everywhere, allowing time for the audience to understand the cats relationship. In the second half of the game (when the map will open up) Shadow runs away, and Stitch is sent on a quest to retrieve the lost kitten. At the end, on completion of the game, the cats relationship is resolved!

Mason is a dark wizard, sworn enemy of The Wizard.  Long ago, the land had been divided, as Mason used his powers to try to suppress and control the lands and its inhabitants. In a mighty battle, Stitch and The Wizard defeated Mason, leaving nothing of him left!

Mason carried a staff, and anticipating the Wizards final blow, transformed all his magic power into the staff, which lies lost somewhere in time, saving only enough power to transform his being into a nearby snake. With his magic disappeared and his body lifeless, the wizard assumed victory, believing Masons tyranny was over once and for all!


Of course the story would be developed, along with the story boards, within a team, if the concept document was successful!

Game type and style (inspiration)

BRAID

http://braid-game.com/



Braid trailer 1.2 from David Hellman on Vimeo.

Braid is a 2D puzzle game, similar to SEGA sonic and super Mario retro games. Its playable on Xbox consoles, and the characters repertoire of actions and moves is more varied than what you would usually expect from a 2D game of this style.

http://kotaku.com/5891076/why-the-indie-game-that-was-supposed-to-be-the-next-braid-never-came-out

Characters in the story/game (Initial concepts)

Enemies of CATS

According to these links, the natural enemy of the cat is in fact the snake, hence why cats put their ears flat and hiss, to appear more serpentine. Dogs and cats are often friends.

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Whats_the_natural_enemy_of_a_cat
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Who_are_a_cat's_enemies

Other enemies can include large birds of prey, bears etc. all of which could be enemies within the game and story.

An owl would be a good addition to the game and story, fitting in quite well into the fantasy theme of the game.
http://listverse.com/2010/04/21/top-10-formidable-birds-of-prey/


One area of the game I had considered including was a gold mine. This could play host to a bear enemy here, back story- this could be a good opportunity to include a message here, involving mining and its effects on the environment. The gold mine would be abandoned as it has been taken over by a ferocious bear. On closer inspection, the gamer/reader discovers the bear stopped the mine from expanding for fear that the entire forest (habitat) would be destroyed. Link below describes how these effects can be quite devastating in our world:
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/how-does-mining-affect-the-environment.html

RPG MAKER

http://www.ehow.com/how_4500129_make-own-2d-game.html

Having struggled to make any progress due to programs not working, I've moved on to try a simpler method.

Originally decided to use construct2 to create the game, however my brother kindly showed me an easy and fun to use game engine, that is much more suited to the RPG style I was hoping for

RPG MAKER XP

The game graphics are much simpler, and this will allow me to use paint to create the characters and game graphics. I'm much happier with this, at this point, as I hope this will minimize the amount of problems I will encounter

Whats more there are plenty of easy to use tutorials and the option to include cut-scenes within the game, which is the most important part for this project (to include animation).