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Hello again... from Zero Sum

CP

Liturgist
Joined
Nov 20, 2002
Messages
110
Hey all. I wanted to officially confirm that we are re-releasing <a target="_blank" href="http://www.zero-sum.com">Prelude to Darkness</A> as freeware this December. Since we released the first version of Prelude in 2002, RPGCodex has been a true ally, helping us to get the game more exposure than we could have imagined. Our decision to re-release was due in large part to the overwhelming support we recieved through Codex postings and emails. So, before I do anything, I want to thank The Codex and it's posters for all of your support!

With the re-release of Prelude, we want to 1) get the game into lots of new hands and 2) make sure that those who have already played the game will have plenty of reason to re-visit it. Once we decided to re-release, the first thing I did was to go back and read through all of the the postings/emails we recieved. It was pretty clear where people felt Prelude's strengths lay, and where it could use improvement.

The biggest gripes that people had about Prelude were its stability, graphic interface, and music. Here is what we are doing to reconcile these issues:

1) Stability.
- Right now there are a lot of buggy old versions running around. When the time comes, we will make sure that there is only one version of the game
- All script (people, events, etc.) have been thoroughly parsed, ref checked, and tested. (No easy task with 90,000+ lines of dialogue and event script hehe)
- Improved error handling (e.g. less crashes)

2) Graphic Interface. All new user interface. More intuitive and looks much, MUCH better. (The current graphics are NOT up on our site yet).

3) Music. All new ambient music tracks are less intrusive. I have a sentimental attachment to the old music, but I think this is much more appropriate, and absorbing.

People's favorite things about Prelude were its dark setting, combat, quests. We are also took measures to enhance these features.

1) Dark setting.
- Interactive new intro and mid-game segment. Hmmm... I'd rather let you see this for yourselves :)
- More opportunities to be evil. Given the nature of the main quest, it doesn't really make sense that the party would be 'evil.' That said, there is certainly no reason why the party wouldn't be mercenaries or thieves, doing 'whatever is necessary' to win (or simply for the almighty drach). The game is now balanced more so that the party can do things through intimidation, extortion, theft, bribery, etc. In fact, one of my favorite times playing the game recently was as a lowlife Barrier thief, dumb brute bodygaurd and charred acolyte. Not a lick of charisma or speech between the three of them.
- Music. The new ambient soundtracks help provide a dark, eerie feeling

2) Combat
- Previously unavailable items are available
- Many more combat/spell sound effects
- Improved spell graphics

3) Quests.
- The journal is cleaned up and organized by quest
- Additional quest(s)


Other things that we've added include:
- Graphics upgrade. The game can be ran in 1280 by 1024, which looks A LOT better. Re-texturing has also signigicantly improved the graphics. (Again, the current graphics are NOT up on our site yet).
- New NPC portraits
- Playbalancing. Lots of small things (ex: having a musician is more valuable, as the amount of drachs you get for playing at inns has been upped).
- I made a through and complete <a target="blank" href="http://www.zero-sum.com/walkthrough/walkthroughStart.html">walkthrough</A> of the games current quests available. It also gives an index of all joinable npcs, items (unique and non), creatures, etc.

So, that's the latest. The re-release is scheduled for mid-december, but could take a bit longer. Once again, thank you for your continued support. We're all very excited, as we think the game has been improved quite substantially. If you have any comments/questions/suggestions, please feel free to post. As the people around here know, we're very responsive to any kind of feedback. Thanks.



CP
President, Co-Founder, Area Designer (Jerrock, The Barrier Fortress)
Zero Sum Software
 

RobRendell

Novice
Joined
Nov 7, 2005
Messages
9
Location
Melbourne, Australia
It's really cool that you're putting extra effort into the game at the same time as releasing it as freeware, rather than simply putting a keygen for the last shareware version online.

I'm going to wait for 1.6, having only strayed into these forums recently and not knowing about PtD until now. However, once 1.6 is out, will there be a way for us late-comers to donate a contribution to you guys at Zero Sum? Or have you wound up all your money-recieving arrangements?
 

CP

Liturgist
Joined
Nov 20, 2002
Messages
110
Nope. This one's on us. Enjoy.

If you do like the game, however, the best way you can pay us back is by spreading the word. Thanks!



CP
 

Human Shield

Augur
Joined
Sep 7, 2003
Messages
2,027
Location
VA, USA
Wow, sounds great. The interface is what turned me off of the game from the demo, along with a weak opening hook of "you are agents" in a town that I got lost in. Hope you guys make another RPG.
 

CP

Liturgist
Joined
Nov 20, 2002
Messages
110
Human Shield said:
Wow, sounds great. The interface is what turned me off of the game from the demo, along with a weak opening hook of "you are agents" in a town that I got lost in. Hope you guys make another RPG.

We'd love to hear more specific details with regard to what you found problematic about the interface. We are still fiddling with it. Thanks.


**I also wanted to add something to our upgrade list. The Valley is HUGE, and right now there's not a whole lot of benefit to wondering/exploring. I am in the process of adding unique events/encounters and other goodies to make wondering more rewarding.


CP
 

Jed

Cipher
Joined
Nov 3, 2002
Messages
3,287
Location
Tech Bro Hell
I was happy to see this going freeware so others would play, but after hearing all the work you've done it'd be damn foolish not give it another go in the Valley.

Thanks, and can't wait.
 

chaedwards

Liturgist
Joined
Jun 10, 2004
Messages
352
Location
London
A most excellent development. Now it's freeware, perhaps other devs will have a look and see how to make an rpg with decent quests, interesting characters and fun combat. Yeah right.
 

Roqua

Prospernaut
Dumbfuck Repressed Homosexual In My Safe Space
Joined
Apr 28, 2004
Messages
4,130
Location
YES!
I bought this a while ago, no patch listed for 1.6, just looks like the full download (for free).

But I can't seem to DL. I just get an error page "page cannot be found. 404, whatever" Any suggestions? Front page says it is avialable.
 

Naked_Lunch

Erudite
Joined
Jan 29, 2005
Messages
5,360
Location
Norway, 1967
Roqua said:
I bought this a while ago, no patch listed for 1.6, just looks like the full download (for free).

But I can't seem to DL. I just get an error page "page cannot be found. 404, whatever" Any suggestions? Front page says it is avialable.
Yeah, that's an error. The full free version (1.6) won't be out until mid-december, hopefully sometime this week.
 

Roqua

Prospernaut
Dumbfuck Repressed Homosexual In My Safe Space
Joined
Apr 28, 2004
Messages
4,130
Location
YES!
Thanks. I never beat it and I have some good ideas for a new party. And last time through a lot of quests were broken.
 

RGE

Liturgist
Joined
Jul 18, 2004
Messages
773
Location
Karlstad, Sweden
I'm happy that it'll be free because until I've finished the NWN OC and played through HotU I don't really have an incentive to pay for another RPG campaign. And then there are all those free NWN modules that people say good things about, but which I've never played. But I like the impressions I've gotten of Prelude to Darkness. :)
 

crpgnut

Augur
Joined
Dec 11, 2002
Messages
337
Location
St. Louis,MO,USA
I'm most excited about adding clutter. It'd be nice to have a reason to explore. I registered and played PTD and probably emailed Mat 15 times. The one thing that was never addressed was the completely empty terrain. There was no reason to take one step away from a quest objective. The other thing that needed some work was play balancing mages. I seem to remember that a fire mage was almost useless for quite a while. The game was solid, it just needs fleshing out.
 

Naked_Lunch

Erudite
Joined
Jan 29, 2005
Messages
5,360
Location
Norway, 1967
Just got this email from CP:
i just wanted to let you know that a few issues came up with us
which lead to a little bit of a setback. none the less, we're still
plugging away. i hope to have an announcement and new screenshots up by
weds. thanks.
 

mondblut

Arcane
Joined
Aug 10, 2005
Messages
22,205
Location
Ingrija
CP said:
Given the nature of the main quest, it doesn't really make sense that the party would be 'evil.'

I'd have to object against that statement. If anything, PtD was unique in the way it allowed to handle the mainquest wholly through the "bad guys" (ie rebellion), betraying the watcher and doing tasks in their favor. For 95% of the game. All the more disappointing was the sudden railroading in the final part, whereas it was IMHO already perfectly staged for an alternate "evil" ending. Like murdering the goddess with a dagger. But no, after helping the rebellion/demons throughout the whole game, we're suddenly treated with a choice between forced gameover or forced switch to the "good" side. After all the freedom throughout most of the game, this is highly disappointing.

A game like that DESERVES a full-fledged alternate ending. Please consider that.
 

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