Yeah, you should try to get this on STEAM Greenlight. We would definitely vote for it.
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Indie DrDungeon's Ultizurk and MADMAN Thread
- Thread starter Infinitron
- Start date
DrDungeon
Developer
- Joined
- May 7, 2012
- Messages
- 195
That would explain it, Syl - I hadn't thought they might get resized in uploading. In any case, the new font is much better. I also worked today on a slew of minor tweaks to the whole layout, sizing, position, etc. Everything's looking really snappy now. Safari S'agoody as they say.
Not sure yet about the Steam suggestions. Certainly, Steam would probably the best by way of exposure. The whole marketing and advertising is a huge part of making something like this. For now, I'm concentrating on the game. When it is further along - almost done - I'll see about possibilities like Steam, etc. -Rob
Not sure yet about the Steam suggestions. Certainly, Steam would probably the best by way of exposure. The whole marketing and advertising is a huge part of making something like this. For now, I'm concentrating on the game. When it is further along - almost done - I'll see about possibilities like Steam, etc. -Rob
What about Desura? Supposedly they cater specifically to Indies.
Agreed. Desura could be good for you, if you want to get some funding before you finish the game, as it allows you to offer pre-release builds...and charge for them.
You can also try GOG. They like their indies, too.
Yeah let me 3rd Desura. Underrail is using Desura and it works just fine. And their site has TONS of indie games. I know that Charle's had some issues trying to get his Sword and Sorcery game onto GOG though. So Desura seems to be 100% indie friendly.
PeeWee
Augur
- Joined
- Jul 2, 2012
- Messages
- 119
Dr. Dungeon reports something.
Dr. Dungeon has worked out the entire character class and leveling up system, how they get experience, what class has various capabilities, etc. Each class has abilities that they are good at. When you go up a level, these abilities will get better. But you also get training points that you can spend to improve your other skills. This is done with actual trainers similar to how they did it in Ultima 7. What's neat about this is that the trainers also give advice about the particular skill they teach you and upgrade you on, so it is more realistic.
The classes Dr. Dungeon has are these:
Fighter
Paladin
Ranger
Thief
Mage
Druid
Ninja
Monk
Bard
Each one specializes in skills different than the others, so the game play is different.
What's neat is how you can specialize. If you are a mage, you will get better automatically at casting, for example. So you might want to raise your other skills, OR you could become a super-mage and pump all your skill points to more casting.
Each class is as powerful as the others, but in different ways.
A bard, for example, may not fight as good as a paladin, or pick locks as good as a thief, or cast as good as a mage. But he is the master in bartering, which means he can much more easily get great equipment.
A thief would laugh at the Hackmaster +12, because with his lowly knife he has a natural back-stab critical chance in addition to whatever is trained in his regular critical chance. He can become very powerful, but is a little weaker in hit points and armor class.
It is similar with ninjas and monks, who have a natural critical punch ability, as well as higher chances of finding secret passages and detecting trapped chests and floor spots.
So the ability to customize your character is very diverse in Madman.
The monster AI is a radical departure for typical AI systems in games, and anything but predictable. It uses a simple heuristic, which in programming parlance would be called a small neuro-net, which operates on a "random with a policy" principle.
The monsters are given a small set of directives which they try to carry out. However, much is dependent on the area, whether it is wide open, or has lots of blocks and walls, etc.
For example - they are not directly programmed to flank you. But if the map has certain barriers in several spots, their probability heuristic will often make them move to the sides, while higher hit point monsters will charge in.
A ranged monster may or may not shoot at range, even if the path is clear. He may actually move to the side of the map, or run past you and range from another direction, perhaps exposing you to some powerful melee monster behind him.
Sometimes they will suddenly pack around you and beat the crap out of you. Other times they will scatter all over the map, or block an exit. The important thing is that they are not directly programmed to do this!
It is the way the map area is laid out that increases their odds of doing certain things, so Dr. Dungeon places the monsters very carefully in different sorts of maps.
Combat is therefore very interesting as its always different, and the monsters can be surprisingly clever.
Dr. Dungeon’s next step is to get the trainers in and start expanding the land. All is going well!
This is not Madman "Enhanced" in the same sense as the Witcher Enhanced is to the original Witcher.
A much better comparison would be like the original Tomb Raider compared to Tomb Raider Anniversary.
It's a complete re-boot and infinitely more elaborate than the old DOS game.
Dr. Dungeon has worked out the entire character class and leveling up system, how they get experience, what class has various capabilities, etc. Each class has abilities that they are good at. When you go up a level, these abilities will get better. But you also get training points that you can spend to improve your other skills. This is done with actual trainers similar to how they did it in Ultima 7. What's neat about this is that the trainers also give advice about the particular skill they teach you and upgrade you on, so it is more realistic.
The classes Dr. Dungeon has are these:
Fighter
Paladin
Ranger
Thief
Mage
Druid
Ninja
Monk
Bard
Each one specializes in skills different than the others, so the game play is different.
What's neat is how you can specialize. If you are a mage, you will get better automatically at casting, for example. So you might want to raise your other skills, OR you could become a super-mage and pump all your skill points to more casting.
Each class is as powerful as the others, but in different ways.
A bard, for example, may not fight as good as a paladin, or pick locks as good as a thief, or cast as good as a mage. But he is the master in bartering, which means he can much more easily get great equipment.
A thief would laugh at the Hackmaster +12, because with his lowly knife he has a natural back-stab critical chance in addition to whatever is trained in his regular critical chance. He can become very powerful, but is a little weaker in hit points and armor class.
It is similar with ninjas and monks, who have a natural critical punch ability, as well as higher chances of finding secret passages and detecting trapped chests and floor spots.
So the ability to customize your character is very diverse in Madman.
The monster AI is a radical departure for typical AI systems in games, and anything but predictable. It uses a simple heuristic, which in programming parlance would be called a small neuro-net, which operates on a "random with a policy" principle.
The monsters are given a small set of directives which they try to carry out. However, much is dependent on the area, whether it is wide open, or has lots of blocks and walls, etc.
For example - they are not directly programmed to flank you. But if the map has certain barriers in several spots, their probability heuristic will often make them move to the sides, while higher hit point monsters will charge in.
A ranged monster may or may not shoot at range, even if the path is clear. He may actually move to the side of the map, or run past you and range from another direction, perhaps exposing you to some powerful melee monster behind him.
Sometimes they will suddenly pack around you and beat the crap out of you. Other times they will scatter all over the map, or block an exit. The important thing is that they are not directly programmed to do this!
It is the way the map area is laid out that increases their odds of doing certain things, so Dr. Dungeon places the monsters very carefully in different sorts of maps.
Combat is therefore very interesting as its always different, and the monsters can be surprisingly clever.
Dr. Dungeon’s next step is to get the trainers in and start expanding the land. All is going well!
This is not Madman "Enhanced" in the same sense as the Witcher Enhanced is to the original Witcher.
A much better comparison would be like the original Tomb Raider compared to Tomb Raider Anniversary.
It's a complete re-boot and infinitely more elaborate than the old DOS game.
Stabwound
Arcane
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2008
- Messages
- 3,240
This game needs more publicity. I had never even heard of any of these games until this thread, and the new Madman looks straight out of the great mid 90's era we love.
Please, Doctor, finish this game.
edit: just saw the new font. Perfect. 10000x better than the old one.
Please, Doctor, finish this game.
edit: just saw the new font. Perfect. 10000x better than the old one.
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2011
- Messages
- 100,024
This game needs more publicity. I had never even heard of any of these games until this thread, and the new Madman looks straight out of the great mid 90's era we love.
Please, Doctor, finish this game.
It gets a newspost as soon as the Doctor releases a demo.
I see this game as the bizarro Grimoire. Based on Ultima rather than Wizardry, made by a genial old guy rather than a snarky Neanderthal.
PeeWee
Augur
- Joined
- Jul 2, 2012
- Messages
- 119
I would recommend everybody to read the original post of this thread again, because it has been changed.
Dr. Dungeon reports several things about the new "MadMan":
Two new features will be the features of detecting secret doors and trapped floors.
Dr. Dungeon has done putting in the fuctions to READ stuff like signs, books, etc.
Dr. Dungeon has done with Archmage Leomund and his dungeons. The dungeons are much bigger.
Being able to move people around is a new and handy feature.
Dr. Dungeon has butterflies flying around the land.
Dr. Dungeon is happy everyone LOVES the new font!
The journal is great! Dr. Dungeon has it all worked out. When something important happens, there is a "ring ring" sound and the journal icon flashes. When you open it up there are new entries that the madman has noted, as well as his thoughts on the matter. The player can roll his / her mouse up and down the titles, and it turns green and on the right the information appears.
Dr. Dungeon did something similar with one of the spells, INSIGHT, where it lights up the monsters the player is dealing with and information about them.
There are shields, weapons, ammo, boots, etc., but also belts and rings. There are places for all this.
In BOTH the new "MadMan" and "ULTIZURK IV: Lord of the Cyclops", those objects are automatically put in the right place, such as armor or a parka for your body. In the new "MadMan", and maybe also in "ULTIZURK IV: Lord of the Cyclops", the objects are switched with the objects that are already there and the player can actually lift up objects right on the mouse to move things around. Much more realistic.
If there are no changes of plans, in the new "MadMan" there will be one player or character and in "ULTIZURK IV: Lord of the Cyclops" there will be a party of four.
Dr. Dungeon reports several things about the new "MadMan":
Two new features will be the features of detecting secret doors and trapped floors.
Dr. Dungeon has done putting in the fuctions to READ stuff like signs, books, etc.
Dr. Dungeon has done with Archmage Leomund and his dungeons. The dungeons are much bigger.
Being able to move people around is a new and handy feature.
Dr. Dungeon has butterflies flying around the land.
Dr. Dungeon is happy everyone LOVES the new font!
The journal is great! Dr. Dungeon has it all worked out. When something important happens, there is a "ring ring" sound and the journal icon flashes. When you open it up there are new entries that the madman has noted, as well as his thoughts on the matter. The player can roll his / her mouse up and down the titles, and it turns green and on the right the information appears.
Dr. Dungeon did something similar with one of the spells, INSIGHT, where it lights up the monsters the player is dealing with and information about them.
There are shields, weapons, ammo, boots, etc., but also belts and rings. There are places for all this.
In BOTH the new "MadMan" and "ULTIZURK IV: Lord of the Cyclops", those objects are automatically put in the right place, such as armor or a parka for your body. In the new "MadMan", and maybe also in "ULTIZURK IV: Lord of the Cyclops", the objects are switched with the objects that are already there and the player can actually lift up objects right on the mouse to move things around. Much more realistic.
If there are no changes of plans, in the new "MadMan" there will be one player or character and in "ULTIZURK IV: Lord of the Cyclops" there will be a party of four.
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2011
- Messages
- 100,024
It has? Not recently, I should think.
PeeWee
Augur
- Joined
- Jul 2, 2012
- Messages
- 119
To Infinitron:
The original post / start post of this thread was changed several times, but not recently.
To Deuce Traveler:
I have sent you four new screenshots and I am asking you to upload them here, please.
To everybody:
There are four new screenshots showcasing the new Castle/Fortress areas and the Snow and Ice areas.
The original post / start post of this thread was changed several times, but not recently.
To Deuce Traveler:
I have sent you four new screenshots and I am asking you to upload them here, please.
To everybody:
There are four new screenshots showcasing the new Castle/Fortress areas and the Snow and Ice areas.
DrDungeon
Developer
- Joined
- May 7, 2012
- Messages
- 195
Dr. Dungeon's MADMAN - Early estimate system requirements:
Processor: 2.4 gig Intel Core 2 Duo or better
Memory: 2 gigs or better
Video card: ATI Radeon HD 2600 Pro or better, 256 mg, openGL compliant
nVidia 8600m GS or better, 256 mg, openGL compliant
Resolution: 1280 x 800
Operating systems: Mac OS X Leopard, Snow Leopard or Lion
Windows XP, Vista, Vista 64, Win 7
Not yet tested on Win 8
Processor: 2.4 gig Intel Core 2 Duo or better
Memory: 2 gigs or better
Video card: ATI Radeon HD 2600 Pro or better, 256 mg, openGL compliant
nVidia 8600m GS or better, 256 mg, openGL compliant
Resolution: 1280 x 800
Operating systems: Mac OS X Leopard, Snow Leopard or Lion
Windows XP, Vista, Vista 64, Win 7
Not yet tested on Win 8
As requested:
DrDungeon
Developer
- Joined
- May 7, 2012
- Messages
- 195
I keep forgetting to personally thank Deuce Traveler for uploading these pics I send to PeeWee. I shall now amend this.
Deuce, thank you very very real much, a whole million, for uploading these screen shots.
I, Dr. Dungeon, greatly appreciate this. It shows the world how far gone I really am, to take the time to set down thousands of these little tiles to make the world come alive.
I think PeeWee will soon have another little surprise for you! Thanks again, man. -Rob aka, "Dr. Dungeon, In The Castle of The Mach Gryphon"
Deuce, thank you very very real much, a whole million, for uploading these screen shots.
I, Dr. Dungeon, greatly appreciate this. It shows the world how far gone I really am, to take the time to set down thousands of these little tiles to make the world come alive.
I think PeeWee will soon have another little surprise for you! Thanks again, man. -Rob aka, "Dr. Dungeon, In The Castle of The Mach Gryphon"
No problem, I'm glad to help. I am predicting that 2013 will be the year that the CRPG decline was reversed, and I can tell my dubious children that the legends are true, the decline did indeed exist, and that I did a very tiny bit to help push it back.
PeeWee
Augur
- Joined
- Jul 2, 2012
- Messages
- 119
Dr. Dungeon said he thought I, PW, would soon have another little surprise for you, Deuce Traveler. Yes, there is another screenshot. I have already sent it to you, Deuce Traveler. Dr. Dungeon added a message to this screenshot, which he calls a "blow-up of a dungeon". The message is: "Abandon all hope, all ye who enter herein!"
Dr. Dungeon and I, PW, hope this screenshot can be uploaded as well, please, but it is a very big screenshot. Can it still be uploaded properly?
Dr. Dungeon reports several things:
- The player’s character is the same size as one of those tiny white dots.
- Some dungeons are even bigger.
- There are many of them!
- Things are progressing in leaps and bounds!
- Estimated time of release of the new "MadMan" is now July 4, 2013!
I, PW, would like to add some things to my own lists on page 6 and page 8 of this thread. To the list on page 6 I would like to add "MadMan", because I have completed "MadMan", too. Note that I am talking about the old "MadMan". To the list on page 8 I would like to add "MadMan II", because Dr. Dungeon is considering writing that game after completing the new "MadMan".
Note:
"MadMan II" and "ULTIZURK V: The Mach Gryphon" are two of the games which Dr. Dungeon has never started writing and are just titles.
There is a sort of nemesis in the games by Dr. Dungeon. He appears for the first time in the game "ZURK II: The World Below". There he is the gentleman and the thief, who are the same person. He is also the Shadow Master in "ULTIZURK II: The Shadow Master". Unlike "Grandmaster" and "Guildmaster", the Shadow Master is a character, not a rank. Dr. Dungeon told me that this nemesis will also be there in "ULTIZURK IV: Lord of the Cyclops".
Dr. Dungeon and I, PW, hope this screenshot can be uploaded as well, please, but it is a very big screenshot. Can it still be uploaded properly?
Dr. Dungeon reports several things:
- The player’s character is the same size as one of those tiny white dots.
- Some dungeons are even bigger.
- There are many of them!
- Things are progressing in leaps and bounds!
- Estimated time of release of the new "MadMan" is now July 4, 2013!
I, PW, would like to add some things to my own lists on page 6 and page 8 of this thread. To the list on page 6 I would like to add "MadMan", because I have completed "MadMan", too. Note that I am talking about the old "MadMan". To the list on page 8 I would like to add "MadMan II", because Dr. Dungeon is considering writing that game after completing the new "MadMan".
Note:
"MadMan II" and "ULTIZURK V: The Mach Gryphon" are two of the games which Dr. Dungeon has never started writing and are just titles.
There is a sort of nemesis in the games by Dr. Dungeon. He appears for the first time in the game "ZURK II: The World Below". There he is the gentleman and the thief, who are the same person. He is also the Shadow Master in "ULTIZURK II: The Shadow Master". Unlike "Grandmaster" and "Guildmaster", the Shadow Master is a character, not a rank. Dr. Dungeon told me that this nemesis will also be there in "ULTIZURK IV: Lord of the Cyclops".
This was a big one, but I managed:
Bruma Hobo
Lurker
- Joined
- Dec 29, 2011
- Messages
- 2,481
DrDungeon
Developer
- Joined
- May 7, 2012
- Messages
- 195
Fear not, Unorus! I may be estimating on the high side. I'm building it with the character movement speed at a certain level, and still getting almost 60 cycles per second all the time. so he can move much faster. Since there are five levels of speed choices, it may indeed run fine on a lower computer, and I'm erring on the side of caution with the card. It likely will be alright on lower-end cards. We'll see for sure when play testing time comes around, and that might not be too far off. -Rob
Luzur
Good Sir
wow, kinda futuristic system requirements there, doc.
DrDungeon
Developer
- Joined
- May 7, 2012
- Messages
- 195
This is not your father's madman. 
Actually, in reviewing the code and graphic storage, I'm thinking about half of all the specs above should be ok. I must make certain to cover all the platforms I can, and stick with the "no player left behind" policy.
So I hope you can forgive me if I misunderestimated the specs. -Rob
Actually, in reviewing the code and graphic storage, I'm thinking about half of all the specs above should be ok. I must make certain to cover all the platforms I can, and stick with the "no player left behind" policy.So I hope you can forgive me if I misunderestimated the specs. -Rob
Luzur
Good Sir
This is not your father's madman.
So I hope you can forgive me if I misunderestimated the specs. -Rob
hope that doesnt include releasing on PS3 and XBox 360 first, then porting it to PC with gamepad support only.
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