The Secret of Darkwoods - Open-world illustrated text-based RPG

[rap2h]

Thank you! Release has been postponed (only 7 days) because it's STEAM SPRING SALES, and an almost invisible game would be totally invisible during this period. New release date is March, 28, sorry for the delay!



(I fail to understand how to use the smilies btw :D)

 

[rap2h]

 

[rap2h]

What will I do with all these papers now?

 

[agris]

What will I do with all these papers now?

what i imagine you looked like while writing these

 

[lukaszek]

What will I do with all these papers now?

common theme is to get drunk and burn them in bonfire

 

[rap2h]

agris Yeah, something like this. "Are you OK? Are you still working on your... game?"

 

[rap2h]

common theme is to get drunk and burn them in bonfire

lukaszek I'm definitely going to do this, it's the best option. Thanks.

 

[rap2h]

Voilà. The Secret of Darkwoods is out now.



I enjoyed developing this game, I hope you like it.

 

[MurkrLurkr]

I think you should really consider publishing it for Android phones and tablets, so you can spare us spinal deformities when playing on desktop On the more serious note, I really think that playing (reading) this kind of games (CYOAs, IFs and VNs) is better experienced in "handheld" environment.. For me, sitting in front of the screen is reserved for playing CRPGs... I can't tell you how much fun I have reading Fighting Fantasy Classics to my son while he watches the dice dance across the mobile screen, trying to roll them in our favor... Wherever we are, in the mall, on a blanket in the meadow, on the train or in bed before going to sleep, we can always open another location on the map and defeat another smelly, warty goblin. Just a food for thought... Everything best for you and your game, I will check it either way

 

[Infinitron]

 

[agris]

Congrats on the release rap2h, nice to see it's free. Is this a portfolio project to support job applications in the industry?

I'm curious - did you kick tires on AI voice over? If so, what kept you from it?

 

[rap2h]

Thank you for your feedback!

MurkrLurkr Thank you for your suggestion! I may be portable to tablets, I have to check how it works on Steam... Not sure about mobile since it would require a new interface design to be usable.

agris

Is this a portfolio project to support job applications in the industry?

No, it's just a gift to RPG gamers (and a gift to myself by the way!)

I'm curious - did you kick tires on AI voice over? If so, what kept you from it?

I never tried! I remember (sorry, super old game) Manoir de Mortevielle on Atari ST which incorporates speech synthesis, I was amazed as a child. I should have tried, I just forgot to think about it! About voice-over, a blind player finished the game, so it works with the right tools.

 

[Mr. Magniloquent]

rap2h I wouldn't burn your notes. The bonfire conjures a romantic cathartic image, but those notes are valuable. Even the ideas that didn't work out. They are a record of what works, what didn't work, and what could have been. I'd suggest loosely organizing them and putting them in a box. At least consider scanning them before you burn them.

 

[Butter]

Just started. This is pretty cool. I'm keeping a list of typos; so far I've seen 2 (or 1.5).

When entering the tavern in Telville, it says "Accomodations consist of several small rooms..." It should be Accommodations.

Both "story" and "storey" are correct when talking about floors of a building, but it should be consistent. When entering the tavern in Warcester, the game uses story. When entering the tavern in Telville, the game uses storey.

 

[Mortmal]

This is pretty cool and a glimpse of what the future will be, you are still curating images you produce, someday it will be the AI doing itself .

As for the writing, is it done by the AI too , or by a complete psychopath, a true codexer ?

Oh yeah we forget to feed the kid, shit happens , yeah .

 

[rap2h]

Butter Thank you I will fix it!

Mortmal Oops, sorry, I actually am this psychopath, that's the second side-quest I wrote. I realized recently that I made a game where the hero talks to random people on the street to help them solve their family problems, I don't know what that means.

 

[Mortmal]

Butter Thank you I will fix it!

Mortmal Oops, sorry, I actually am this psychopath, that's the second side-quest I wrote. I realized recently that I made a game where the hero talks to random people on the street to help them solve their family problems, I don't know what that means.

It's ok i understand you are doing your best to fake human emotions and couldnt know, sometime it shows.
Kinda like the quest design approach. Need some herbs? Learn herbalism but then you need int and pay 50 gold, annoying...Or do another quest for some girl , or just.. yes just punch a poor girl till she bleeds out and stole her bag with the herbs.
Definitely a game by codexer for codexers.

 

[fantadomat]

Good job mate, any hope for a gog release ?

 

[rap2h]

fantadomat

I would have loved to be on GOG, even if there are fewer players! As a player, GOG is my default platform (because I like old-school RPGs I guess).

I had to pay to be on Steam ($100).
I have to make a good game (I guess) to be accepted on GOG, I'm not sure my game is good enough.

I send them a prototype at the very beginning and they refused. Now, I am a bit scared. I feel like my game is a good game (really, I like it!) but not enough for GOG standards.

 

[fantadomat]

Ahhh just try again lol,nothing ventured nothing gained.


The game seems fun,should call out me nephew and check out if he remember some of his scam account on steam and try buying it. Wait it seems to be free....why not just upload the file or something ?

 

[Mortmal]

fantadomat

I would have loved to be on GOG, even if there are fewer players! As a player, GOG is my default platform (because I like old-school RPGs I guess).

I had to pay to be on Steam ($100).
I have to make a good game (I guess) to be accepted on GOG, I'm not sure my game is good enough.

I send them a prototype at the very beginning and they refused. Now, I am a bit scared. I feel like my game is a good game (really, I like it!) but not enough for GOG standards.

GOG have no standard, they are just being as retarded as they are irrelevant in the number of game sales.
Yeah your game is good, you should convert it for phones and tablets and sell it for a few euros on apple marketplace.

 

[rap2h]

So, has anyone finished the game?

 

[Mortmal]

So, has anyone finished the game?

Not yet, intending too .

 

[Abu Antar]

So, has anyone finished the game?

You could always put the game up on itch.io for people that prefer DRM free.

 

[rap2h]

Yes I will do it soon (Available in a few weeks)