15 replies to this topic

[Cass]

So I'm sure not a whole lot of you will remember, but before I vanished from this forum for a year, I shared with you that I was developing an indie game - Salem. I thought I might give you an update, and a general insight of gamedevelopment during other projects? So more engine screenshots, updates, gamedev diary entries... 
 
If you're wondering, no, the previously mentioned indie game Salem hasn't been called off. It's undergone some radical changes though and it won't be out for a long time, probably. This is due to the fact that I have met up with three companions - a programmer, a concept artist and a sound designer with his own studio - to upgrade the game from a one-man indie job to an actual (possibly) good quality game. Conceptually, a lot of changes have been going on. Modified story, different setting (no more Egypt, to my own great regret :'( ) and a new title. Is there anything left of the old game, you might wonder? Yes, but nothing I can disclose quite yet So, introduce to you, the updated game and it's progress:
 
What Sleeps Beneath
The story takes place in an underground research facility somewhere in the UK during the Cold War. You wake up in a ward, startled by the alarm ringing throughout the complex and severe tremors. As you rush outside the ward, you find the complex already completely abandoned. Your main goal is to find the exit and escape the collapsing facility as soon as possible. However, the facility may not be as abandoned as it may seem...
 
The focus of What Sleeps Beneath will be puzzle-solving. However, this doesn't mean we won't try to scare the bejeezus out of you. In the final game, there will be a co-op mode available. With this, we aim to deliver a two-person horror experience.
 
We do not have a release date yet. However, we are in full development and testing of a demo. When the demo has reached a satisfying state, we will turn to Kickstarter and Steam Greenlight to fund the full development and will release the demo with it. The co-op mode will not (yet) be available in the demo.
 
Enjoy some in-game screenshots and a bonus engine screenshot below (clickable thumbnail). NOTE: we're aware that the images may be very dark for some people. We're working on relighting the scenes. Our own monitors however show them as pretty light scenes, so we're working out a happy medium.

 
Oni
Another project I'm currently working on in my private time, is a very small short-story adventure game. This was a 2D project I finished for school almost 2 years ago, and I've been wanting to revise it in 3D. Production for this game is pretty slow since I do it in my scarce spare time
 
In Oni, you are fatally injured during a car crash. You end up in a limbo, where you are required to face your own demons. In Oni, every playthrough is different. You make up your character's own lifestory through the choices you make: what paths you choose, what demons you face and in what manner, et cetera. The game tackles heavier subjects like substance abuse, rape, domestic violence and death. Here is a small look through some screenshots (clickable thumbnail):
 

 
Here's a screenshot of the 2D version (clickable thumbnail):

 
So please let me know if you find anything interesting, or very uninteresting I will happily answer questions and I'm also very curious if other people are into gamedev!

[DonValentino]

Love the idea of the Oni game

[Shannon]

I would play the shit out of both games. Love these concepts, and I hope we get to see them come to fruition sometime soon! Good luck!

[Swar]

I remember your post about that first game, and I was pretty excited about it.

I'm even more excited now

[Cass]

Aww thanks, that's really great to hear! It's horribly demoralizing how much time it takes though hahaha. But I'm excited to release a beta-demo soon, pre-kickstarter

[Honchkrow]

Thats amazing! I'm wondering what kind of program you're using to model your scenes and where are you getting your textures?

[Cass]

Thats amazing! I'm wondering what kind of program you're using to model your scenes and where are you getting your textures?

I use Autodesk 3Ds Max for the 3d models, and build the scenes in Unity 5 For the characters that are currently being modelled I use Zbrush.

I get a lot of textures from CGTextures. They offer a great and very big database of HQ photographs, free to use.

[xcreamz]

Is what sleeps beneath going to be similar to Amnesia? 

[Cass]

Is what sleeps beneath going to be similar to Amnesia?

In a way, yes. We will be looking at Amnesia as well as Silent Hills P.T. for tension building, as they have proven how to effectively set the mood. And we're quite interested in the eyes-adjusting-to-darkness mechanic that Amnesia sported, especially now that we're relighting the scenes. However, What Sleeps Beneath will be more focused on puzzle solving and different puzzles than Amnesia (which had mostly a repeated key-door mechanism), for which we will draw our inspiration from the old Myst game. Plus there won't be a sanity-mechanic present, and no notes to be found. At least, not to build the story, I can't guarantee there won't be any note in-game

[xcreamz]

In a way, yes. We will be looking at Amnesia as well as Silent Hills P.T. for tension building, as they have proven how to effectively set the mood. And we're quite interested in the eyes-adjusting-to-darkness mechanic that Amnesia sported, especially now that we're relighting the scenes. However, What Sleeps Beneath will be more focused on puzzle solving and different puzzles than Amnesia (which had mostly a repeated key-door mechanism), for which we will draw our inspiration from the old Myst game. Plus there won't be a sanity-mechanic present, and no notes to be found. At least, not to build the story, I can't guarantee there won't be any note in-game

 

Sounds interesting. I never played amnesia but I loved watching other people playing it. Its so fun to watch people scream in terror at a video game, haha!

[Honchkrow]

I use Autodesk 3Ds Max for the 3d models, and build the scenes in Unity 5 For the characters that are currently being modelled I use Zbrush.

I get a lot of textures from CGTextures. They offer a great and very big database of HQ photographs, free to use.

Awesome! I'm actually learning on using those right now and so far I'm not enjoying texturing and doing topology in Zbrush. I'm wondering if there will be any combat in What Sleeps Beneath? Also, would there be PT-esque puzzles where there are multiple solutions?

[Cass]

Awesome! I'm actually learning on using those right now and so far I'm not enjoying texturing and doing topology in Zbrush. I'm wondering if there will be any combat in What Sleeps Beneath? Also, would there be PT-esque puzzles where there are multiple solutions?

We're going to test multiple options. I haven't actually played PT myself, so I can only go on the videos. As far as it is now, the puzzles won't be very PT-like. In the current phase, we are aiming to offer multiple ways of playing the game (so if you prefer stealth-play you can play like that, while there's still room for a more direct approach). It's a matter of testing whether that works or not, if too much or too little combat kills the mood we're going for. So we're not yet sure. The focus will definitely not lie on combat, however, and the combat that we are going to test will be limited (so you may only temporarily incapacitate enemies as opposed to defeating them).

 

In the meantime, a small snapshot of an Oni WIP. In the image below you can see Okui, one of the demons, getting shape. I've found it pretty hard to translate the flat, heavily stylized tribal-ish ink-characters to 3D, as you may notice in this WIP. I'll be trying out (glowing) markings on Okui's face tonight, and try to maybe stylize his features more, looking at Oni-masks.

 

[Cass]

Although there's not any visual progress for What Sleeps Beneath, I have been able to reel in a musician and a 3D-artist who will enforce the team, and I'm very excited

 

Furthermore, I'm slowly modelling more stuff for Oni. Today, I'm making a convertible modelled after a Mustang.

 

 

This is, of course, a very rough WIP. The car will be brandless in-game and not resemble the Mustang 100%, it's just a general guide.

 

Also: the story of Oni is coming along nicely, and I'm almost finished scripting a small text-based betatest. When it's done, I'll be putting up a notice for people to test it out!

[Swar]

I can't wait to test it

[Cass]

I can't wait to test it

And I can't wait to release it You have no idea how tempting it is to just release the current half-ass version lol. But that wouldn't be good, so I'm forcing myself to really complete it properly.

 

More exciting stuff! Last year, I made a game for school about the myth of Orpheus the musician. I always intended to make a slick video of it, but never got around to do it. Today I finally finished it!

 

The music was specially produced for this game by a professional music producer and buddy of mine, and I'm so proud of the endresult

 

And, while I'm finishing up the website for Mystax Studio, I've also finally decided on a final logo design.

 

 

You have no idea how much I love it

Edited by cassiopeiic, 05 August 2015 - 12:41 PM.

[Cass]

Hi friends,

 

For the game 'Oni' that I'm working on, I'm looking for two things. A male voice actor and an artist (or multiple). I will be looking for more things in the future when we're at a later stage,

 

Voice actor

I'm looking for a male who can do some very simple voice acting; some sighs/gasps/moans (non-sexual). The sounds will only be for alpha/beta testing and will most likely be replaced whenever I find a lead voice actor. Regardless if the sounds stay in the final version, you will be credited with either your username or your real name (whichever you prefer )

 

It doesn't have any text. I'd have my husband do it, but I'm afraid my mic is pretty bad. So I'm looking for someone with a semi-descent mic who can do some simple sounds, like:

• gasping after suddenly waking (ex. after a nightmare)
• startled gasp
• groan/moan when bumping into walls
• moan when standing up/climbing up

You can throw in a little "What the..." if you so wish. If you're interested, please send me a PM with some sample audio Accents are no problem since there isn't any text involved. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask them here.

 

Artist

Secondly, I'm looking for an artist, or more specifically a 3D artist. I'm looking for someone who can make simple 3D objects (think of candles, keys, lamps, faucets... just tiny stuff) and/or make textures (these textures could be for bigger objects as well). The textures I need must include a diffuse and normal map, and for some objects a height and/or specular map. The game's style is realistic.

 

 

Now, I'm very sad to say this, but I can't offer any compensation as of now, so I'm really looking for someone looking for experience, something to do, or who just plainly enjoys doing it and wants to help out. Oni is (and will be) a free Indie game (which I'm also working on without pay). Sorry

 

Should in the future money be generated with the game, this will naturally be distributed among all who have collaborated with me. But just know that this is not the focus or expectation.

 

Just like the voice actor, regardless if the models/textures end up in the final game, you will be credited with either your username or real name (whichever you prefer)

Edited by cassiopeiic, 22 August 2015 - 04:42 AM.