Beyond The Abyss Mini-Game Concept
by Will Zettler · 03/08/2009 (8:55 am) · 2 comments
Beyond The Abyss Mini-Game Concept
U P D A T E
Welcome one and all!
My game, Beyond The Abyss is slowly moving forward. Since I work on the game off and on in my spare time, it's a slow go. I am making some head way though on the island level. I'm using L3DT for testing it out and using Grome Pro for the end result. Not sure with one I like best, just using both to see what one I get the island exported from first, and that will be the one I use.
For the first level, we're going to make an island to walk around on and learn how to use the controls (either mouse or 360 pad, depending on what your best at using). You will be able to holster your weapon, drop and pick up sticks, coconut and throw items like rocks, coconut or even drop your stick or weapon. Just remember NOT to throw your wepon in the water as it is very hard to find and get back!
A few small shots of the terrain in L3dT, I don't know for sure yet if I'm going to stick with this or move to Grome for the importing... I might just use TGEA's own terrain edit system... I just don't know til I play around more with them all and see what one is best for me to use...
I would have to say the game will be something like, but not like Bio Shock. I hate to compare games like that to mine, but the game's overall plot line is not totally worked out yet. The plot for the game will come when we start work on the underwater base level using Alan James wonderful Corridors & Conduits SciFi Construction Kit (goto www.monsterpacks.com to check it
out, it is well worth the money for what you get). The base gives you freedom to make any kinda base your game requires, Sci-fi or underwater base like mine is.
Overall, the pack is cutting about 3-4 months work off the project thanks to the Corridors & Conduits SciFi Construction Kit. Here is some shots of that great kit we're using...
The Island is going to be pretty general, but have a beach, a volcano and a lot of eye candy. Oh and BTW, I'm using TGEA 1.8 for the game. I will be upgrading to T3D after we get some sales to help offset the $2500 I have so far invested into the kit in just content packs. I figure there is like 30 I believe it is in just content packs for this one game I'm using, not including the cost of the software side of
things like Paint shop Pro, Milkshape, 3dws, and the list keeps growing. Overall, I would have to say I have invested close to $4k out of my pocket todate since the last 18 months on just this game which has been in the planning off and on for last 3 or so years and is just now moving...
Here is a few of the hut I made for the island level... I think the hut is ok but basically, the island is where you take your lunch breaks at to get away from the rig underwater.
Read on for the story highlights...
Beyond The Abyss - Story
Basically, in a nutshell, your Jac, a 38 year old who lives aboard a oil rig, and what's different about this rig is that it's based underwater at the sea floor. The crew is drilling for oil under an inactive volcano and on the edge of a abyss. As time goes on, you get the adventure bug, go snooping where you don't belong and learn the volcano island is actually a secret Military Installation for black
projects and high level projects. Basically, it is a Area 51 underwater and under ground, about 6 miles under ground.
you get in your sub one night and go into the abyss, find a secret entry point into a cave under the volcano and boom the adventure begins. I don't want to give too much away but the real game begins at that point and get ready for a Left 4 Dead, Bio Shock and a R/E like project as you will have to fight your way through more zombies then Left 4 Dead had :-). Should be a fun effort thou... I hope to make money off the work but too, if it don't sell, i had fun trying. Hey remember this... follow your dreams with all your heart and you will never go wrong...
Mini Game Concept Idea
This idea might actually move people to make these kinda games (Mini Games). My idea is this... what if we could make a game smaller and faster using only 3-4 levels for a game that are replayable? The basic idea would be something like a short story but in blocks of small 3-4 level games. You could have a huge story from many of these small mini game blocks, and thus, start selling your ideas right away for a constant income rather then waiting 6 months or 3-4 years designing and
building one giant game.
This way, for say, $4.95 to $9.95 a mini game with those 3-4 levels, you could get a small story going and make some money while your working on your next two mini games. I feel this is a way of the future, hey I could be wrong, but it's worth a shot for me to try. This game, will be in that kinda group. It's an experiment in the making. I'm also trying this on my 2nd test game, Project Jupiter which
will feature a small 4 level package that will tell an intense short story in only 4 levels. I also figure, depending how much talent you have, you might be able to push out a new short story game in about 4-6 weeks, again depending how much talent you have and how many team members are working with you on that project.
One down side I see to this idea thou is the fact of content packs. What if the content pack your buying for that game only allows you to use it once for one game? And if you break the game up into this mini game subset, how would that apply to the EULA? Just something to think about... I would have to personally say (myself included in this) that we as content makers would have to readjust our EULA for these types of games for up to 3 mini games then you would have to re-buy the pack for other mini game episodes. I feel this would work best but, again, its all an experimental idea in the making. I will keep you all updated on how it goes or if it flops out. Actually can't wait to see how the public accepts or rejects the idea outside of Garage Games.
That's all for this blog on it... if you really can't wait til the next blog on the game, go check out my You Tube page and I will be posting vids shortly (after about March 30th or so) on the games and other projects I have going on behind the scenes that only you will learn about over there...
www.youtube.com/user/dlstorminc
Til next time... stay safe.
Will Zettler
will_zettler@dlsstudio.com
www.dlsstudio.com
Waskom, Tx
St Louis, MO
U P D A T E
Welcome one and all!
My game, Beyond The Abyss is slowly moving forward. Since I work on the game off and on in my spare time, it's a slow go. I am making some head way though on the island level. I'm using L3DT for testing it out and using Grome Pro for the end result. Not sure with one I like best, just using both to see what one I get the island exported from first, and that will be the one I use.
For the first level, we're going to make an island to walk around on and learn how to use the controls (either mouse or 360 pad, depending on what your best at using). You will be able to holster your weapon, drop and pick up sticks, coconut and throw items like rocks, coconut or even drop your stick or weapon. Just remember NOT to throw your wepon in the water as it is very hard to find and get back!
A few small shots of the terrain in L3dT, I don't know for sure yet if I'm going to stick with this or move to Grome for the importing... I might just use TGEA's own terrain edit system... I just don't know til I play around more with them all and see what one is best for me to use...
I would have to say the game will be something like, but not like Bio Shock. I hate to compare games like that to mine, but the game's overall plot line is not totally worked out yet. The plot for the game will come when we start work on the underwater base level using Alan James wonderful Corridors & Conduits SciFi Construction Kit (goto www.monsterpacks.com to check it
out, it is well worth the money for what you get). The base gives you freedom to make any kinda base your game requires, Sci-fi or underwater base like mine is.
Overall, the pack is cutting about 3-4 months work off the project thanks to the Corridors & Conduits SciFi Construction Kit. Here is some shots of that great kit we're using...
The Island is going to be pretty general, but have a beach, a volcano and a lot of eye candy. Oh and BTW, I'm using TGEA 1.8 for the game. I will be upgrading to T3D after we get some sales to help offset the $2500 I have so far invested into the kit in just content packs. I figure there is like 30 I believe it is in just content packs for this one game I'm using, not including the cost of the software side of
things like Paint shop Pro, Milkshape, 3dws, and the list keeps growing. Overall, I would have to say I have invested close to $4k out of my pocket todate since the last 18 months on just this game which has been in the planning off and on for last 3 or so years and is just now moving...
Here is a few of the hut I made for the island level... I think the hut is ok but basically, the island is where you take your lunch breaks at to get away from the rig underwater.
Read on for the story highlights...
Beyond The Abyss - Story
Basically, in a nutshell, your Jac, a 38 year old who lives aboard a oil rig, and what's different about this rig is that it's based underwater at the sea floor. The crew is drilling for oil under an inactive volcano and on the edge of a abyss. As time goes on, you get the adventure bug, go snooping where you don't belong and learn the volcano island is actually a secret Military Installation for black
projects and high level projects. Basically, it is a Area 51 underwater and under ground, about 6 miles under ground.
you get in your sub one night and go into the abyss, find a secret entry point into a cave under the volcano and boom the adventure begins. I don't want to give too much away but the real game begins at that point and get ready for a Left 4 Dead, Bio Shock and a R/E like project as you will have to fight your way through more zombies then Left 4 Dead had :-). Should be a fun effort thou... I hope to make money off the work but too, if it don't sell, i had fun trying. Hey remember this... follow your dreams with all your heart and you will never go wrong...
Mini Game Concept Idea
This idea might actually move people to make these kinda games (Mini Games). My idea is this... what if we could make a game smaller and faster using only 3-4 levels for a game that are replayable? The basic idea would be something like a short story but in blocks of small 3-4 level games. You could have a huge story from many of these small mini game blocks, and thus, start selling your ideas right away for a constant income rather then waiting 6 months or 3-4 years designing and
building one giant game.
This way, for say, $4.95 to $9.95 a mini game with those 3-4 levels, you could get a small story going and make some money while your working on your next two mini games. I feel this is a way of the future, hey I could be wrong, but it's worth a shot for me to try. This game, will be in that kinda group. It's an experiment in the making. I'm also trying this on my 2nd test game, Project Jupiter which
will feature a small 4 level package that will tell an intense short story in only 4 levels. I also figure, depending how much talent you have, you might be able to push out a new short story game in about 4-6 weeks, again depending how much talent you have and how many team members are working with you on that project.
One down side I see to this idea thou is the fact of content packs. What if the content pack your buying for that game only allows you to use it once for one game? And if you break the game up into this mini game subset, how would that apply to the EULA? Just something to think about... I would have to personally say (myself included in this) that we as content makers would have to readjust our EULA for these types of games for up to 3 mini games then you would have to re-buy the pack for other mini game episodes. I feel this would work best but, again, its all an experimental idea in the making. I will keep you all updated on how it goes or if it flops out. Actually can't wait to see how the public accepts or rejects the idea outside of Garage Games.
That's all for this blog on it... if you really can't wait til the next blog on the game, go check out my You Tube page and I will be posting vids shortly (after about March 30th or so) on the games and other projects I have going on behind the scenes that only you will learn about over there...
www.youtube.com/user/dlstorminc
Til next time... stay safe.
Will Zettler
will_zettler@dlsstudio.com
www.dlsstudio.com
Waskom, Tx
St Louis, MO
About the author
- Ambient sound artist since 2004 - Texture artist since 2001 - Terrain designer since 2006 - Android app design since 2016 - Game design (Sky Fall, A_Clone) 2018
Torque Owner Will Zettler
Digital Lightstorm Game Studio
Will