Yeah, looks better. But the font looks too small. A small detail but, well, at least things are improving. Eagerly waiting for more info about the game.
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Minotaurs & Unicorns - upcoming classic oldschool retro RPG
- Thread starter Chris Koźmik
- Start date
Dorateen
Arcane
Posting in this thread to get alerts and follow devlopment. If this is a sincere attepmt to create a Might & Magic III - V clone, then good on ya!
But why Minotaurs and Unicorns? Seems like an odd combination.
But why Minotaurs and Unicorns? Seems like an odd combination.
funkadelik
Arcane
- Joined
- Jul 30, 2010
- Messages
- 1,496
Seriously, what the fuck am I looking at?
Edit: Just played the tech demo, it is some kind of water or electricity trap of some sort. There was also some ceiling blade traps, but the only trap I think will trick people is the flat spike traps that are hard to see. Not a bad tech demo.
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theSavant
Self-Ejected
- Joined
- Oct 3, 2012
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Chris Koźmik
Silver Lemur Games
- Joined
- Nov 26, 2012
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It's inventory screen, it has the smallest font, during NPC conversation it's significantly bigger.
Generally, I can't make it bigger on that particular page because it would require scrolling the equipment (12 slots on the left) which would be quite annoying. Plus, it will have those small icons so at a glance you would see if that's a weapon or helmet, etc so it should be more readable then.
Well, M&M3-5 is indeed probably the biggest inspiration (not that there are so many turn based RPGs from that period), but, well, there are some things I hated in those and I don't want to recreate these "mistakes" (like equipment breaking all the time or those robots in pyramids). Generally, my goal is not making a clone, more like recreating a similar feel/mood of adventures of a party of heroes in a fairy tale like world. But don't worry, it will be similar enough to enjoy it if you were a fan of early M&Ms
As for the game title I wanted generic title that would hint at a fairy tale fantasy mood. So listing the fanatsy monsters simply sounded to me the best. Besides, I was agonizing over it for a *very* long time and finally decided I should stop brooding, select the title I find the best at the moment and concentrate on making the game and not overthinking the title :D
There are two, energy and magic "traps". In the game it will be clear from the damage type you recieve when hit (since the same colour is used fro monster damage).
These are not exactly traps, more like barriers. The premise is it will be sort of an endurance test and a thing to make resistances management important (you want to enter Caverns, you better assure high magic resist first, or have tons of HP
). In some locations the monsters will not be that powerfull, but the barrier will be devastating, so the player is forced to return later whe he/she got proper resistances. Personally, as a player, I love such "there is this thing and you can overcome it later if you assure X" mechanic in games 
Hmm...shows some spunk, and the developer gives me some charlescgr vibes, and I did like me my swords and sorcery underworld. Tech demo seems interesting. I'll let the resident graphics whores debate the style of the thing, they've already said most of what needs said about it, anyway. I'll certainly be watching this to see what develops. Likely it'll be interesting.
Excidium
P. banal
Looks alright if everything I'm seeing is placeholder. Specially the UI. A 1024x768 game with that early 90's interface you gotta be kidding me.
wat
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If you are really going for a 640x360 (or less) look, the minimap on the top-right has a too high resolution. Especially the background.
Btw. what engine are you using? Or is it selfmade?
Btw. what engine are you using? Or is it selfmade?
Chris Koźmik
Silver Lemur Games
- Joined
- Nov 26, 2012
- Messages
- 416
Yes, both movement and combat. But note that combat is very fast (even only 1-3 seconds if you fight against a weak opponent and don't need to think), so it's not one of those "let's take an hour to position your level 100 party on a tactical map and move them to those two level 1 goblins whom you can kill in one blow"
The game is turn based yet very fast.
Yes, both movement and combat. But note that combat is very fast (even only 1-3 seconds if you fight against a weak opponent and don't need to think), so it's not one of those "let's take an hour to position your level 100 party on a tactical map and move them to those two level 1 goblins whom you can kill in one blow"
When you say that, you make it sound like turn-based is a bad thing. Is it?
DraQ
Arcane
Neither is butt-ugly.
Well, some of the old games had good graphics despite their limited technology.
I don't think you could seriously call Wizardry 7 or Lands of Lore "ugly".
It's perfectly legitimate to make an indie game with technologically backward graphics, but that doesn't mean it has to look like shit.
Alas, what we see here is deep within "not even trying" territory.
Excidium
P. banal
It isn't necessarily a good thing either.Yes, both movement and combat. But note that combat is very fast (even only 1-3 seconds if you fight against a weak opponent and don't need to think), so it's not one of those "let's take an hour to position your level 100 party on a tactical map and move them to those two level 1 goblins whom you can kill in one blow"
When you say that, you make it sound like turn-based is a bad thing. Is it?
It depends on the implementation, I guess. Until now I couldn't find a RT RPG that is superior to TB, for example. Tried to play Ravenloft lately... ugh
Luzur
Good Sir
i think you should make M&U II a Might and Magic 3 clone.
Chris Koźmik
Silver Lemur Games
- Joined
- Nov 26, 2012
- Messages
- 416
A version without font outlines http://silverlemur.com/work/MinotaursAndUnicorns-Test2.zip (TIHS IS A TEMPORARY LINK, FOR AN "OFFICIAL" TECH DEMO CHECK THE FIRST TOPIC)
It looks better, but... I find it less readable... Maybe that's just my impression?
What you think?
Which, BTW, has some nice features, like loading all assets strictly on demand (even separate letters are loaded only if needed to draw first). Which results in a very quick load time.
I just wanted to stress out that my turn based combat has NOTHING to do with that system
It looks better, but... I find it less readable... Maybe that's just my impression?
What you think?
If I decrease res, each minimap tile would need to be 8x8 pixels, and that's not very readable...
Selfmade.
Which, BTW, has some nice features, like loading all assets strictly on demand (even separate letters are loaded only if needed to draw first). Which results in a very quick load time.
Well, maybe that's personal, I just remember my traumatic experience with FF7 when I was waiting for the screen to do various strange things to bring me to a battle screen and then play several combat animations so I can kill a jelly that has 5HP
I just wanted to stress out that my turn based combat has NOTHING to do with that system 
m_s0
Arcane
- Joined
- Jun 18, 2009
- Messages
- 1,292
Neither is this:
Heh.
That aside, the game looks promising so far, so I'll definitely be watching this space.
I almost had a seizure when seeing the screenshots.
OP, we know your point and we have heard it hundreds of time before. "Graphics do not matter, the gameplay does.". That is true when it comes to technical limitations or manpower limitations. You can play in 2013 an Apple II game because it focuses on the essential and it did the best it could. You can look at the screenshots of said game and not have your eyes bleed. As for a lot of indie games, they go for the pixel look claiming "it is a hommage" to the games of old but the main actual reason is that it's cheaper and easier to do, and people will forgive much more your lack of graphical skills if you do it that way. Fine, in many cases it still looks decent.
This, however, is pretty much ugly. And I am speaking of those ginormous pixels, of that horrible beast in one of your screenshot (I dare not even look at it again), it looks like this was done purposedly ugly, that it was made with a sense of exageration at the detriment of basic aesthetics. This is the difference with the aforementioned Apple II or retro game ; despite being ugly by technical standards, most of them are readable, most of them do not make you start shrieking in horror when you see their screenshots. Because there is such a thing as a difference between "dated" and "horrible".
I do not want to completely go trolling or trashing your efforts. You are making a game. It is already great because of that since many people dream to make one and do not do anything. It might add nothing new to the table, but it is your game, and we have to respect that. But as a piece of advice, change that graphical style if you can. Have smaller pixels. Else, you are going to turn away a lot of people that would have been interested otherwise.
OP, we know your point and we have heard it hundreds of time before. "Graphics do not matter, the gameplay does.". That is true when it comes to technical limitations or manpower limitations. You can play in 2013 an Apple II game because it focuses on the essential and it did the best it could. You can look at the screenshots of said game and not have your eyes bleed. As for a lot of indie games, they go for the pixel look claiming "it is a hommage" to the games of old but the main actual reason is that it's cheaper and easier to do, and people will forgive much more your lack of graphical skills if you do it that way. Fine, in many cases it still looks decent.
This, however, is pretty much ugly. And I am speaking of those ginormous pixels, of that horrible beast in one of your screenshot (I dare not even look at it again), it looks like this was done purposedly ugly, that it was made with a sense of exageration at the detriment of basic aesthetics. This is the difference with the aforementioned Apple II or retro game ; despite being ugly by technical standards, most of them are readable, most of them do not make you start shrieking in horror when you see their screenshots. Because there is such a thing as a difference between "dated" and "horrible".
I do not want to completely go trolling or trashing your efforts. You are making a game. It is already great because of that since many people dream to make one and do not do anything. It might add nothing new to the table, but it is your game, and we have to respect that. But as a piece of advice, change that graphical style if you can. Have smaller pixels. Else, you are going to turn away a lot of people that would have been interested otherwise.
I don't think the screenshots give the "art" style much justice. While it's hardly the most handsome game around, it definitely does look better in action than the screenshots will have you believe.
deuxhero
Arcane
It always amazes me how these SORETRO crappy pixel art games actually look worse than games from BEFORE the era they are styled after. Don't get me started on how it doesn't even bother keeping true to what colors can be used or the number of simultaneous colors
(the fact that DM is a real time game and not a true blobber makes it even worse.)
(the fact that DM is a real time game and not a true blobber makes it even worse.)
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rpgcodexusername
Arcane
DM graphics require artistic talent, which programmers do not possess.
DraQ
Arcane
If there is ever a fad for games playable directly in their icons, then maybe such GFX will suffice.
Otherwise, nope.
Chris Koźmik
Silver Lemur Games
- Joined
- Nov 26, 2012
- Messages
- 416
I removed the font outline and changed font colours. What you think?
V_K
Arcane
Is it a sword or an obscene gesture?
(though I must say character portraits trouble me much more than enemy sprites)
(though I must say character portraits trouble me much more than enemy sprites)
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