Topic: Yet another Castlevania fan-game

[Viper]

still nothing

Some additional in-game video this week probably.
Still in a big need for an artist. It can end with doom-style "story in txt file" this way.)))

[darkwzrd4]

It looks like it could be a great game.  From what I've seen so far, it really has potential and I like how you aren't stuck in Dracula's castle the entire game.  However, I would like to see some details on the story.  When does it take place?  Who are the characters?  Do you go to Dracula's castle at all?  Do you ever fight Dracula?  Keep up the good work.

[Viper]

When does it take place?
Some other place, some other time. I have a map and some locations names, but no country name yet.)

Who are the characters?
For now I have main character named Ralph, his fiancee, a man named Jorgenson, Dracula, a girl named Melissa and some other NPC like Cornuell with his own goals, nobleman Darell, town priest, of course the Ferryman and more. Any name coincidences with characters from official castlevanias are accidental.

Do you go to Dracula's castle at all?
Yes. This is Castlevania after all.

Do you ever fight Dracula?
Sort of. Don't worry, that "sort of" has nothing to do with any IGA's "sort of"s.

[Claimh Solais]

Who are the characters?
For now I have main character named Ralph, his fiancee, a man named Jorgenson, Dracula...

Could it be?!

Nah, just kidding.

I've actually seen this game's trailer quite a while ago on YouTube. It looks really great so far. I was hoping for a long time that you'd release a demo of some sort. ^^

[Viper]

For unknown reason camstudio now makes avis with not synchronized audio.
So, some screenshots from different parts of dracula's castle at least:
http://pachka-chaya.livejournal.com/9705.html

I also have some comments that my "Julius with Trevor's head" character is ugly. Well, he probably is.) I'm not a sprite artist at all. Maybe I should make a request for a character sprite, like in other thread here?..

[Mega Man Model T 101]

Actually Trevor's head on Julius' body doesn't look to bad at all. It looks pretty swell in fact.

[Claimh Solais]

It actually does look problematic. Julius was made to be facing in a 3/4 angle, whereas Trevor was made facing a full 4/4 angle, thus making the pose look kinda funny gameplay-wise. It'd be just as weird sticking Julius's head on Trevor's body.

I'd help you with the sprites, but I'm tackling a metric ton of projects right now. Wish I could be of more help, since I really like the way this game is looking.

[julianbelmontxx1]

wow,i saw the screens,and i like how the castle looks.
i  don´t have any problem with the character sprite,they are perfect to me.
will there be castle keep in the dracula castle just like in the official games?

[Viper]

Castle Keep...don't know. There are so many of them and all look more or less the same. If anybody makes an interesting castle keep I'll probably include it in game, but I'm not interested in making one.

[KaZudra]

Ralph could use a little work but the game looks amazing.

[X]

will there be castle keep in the dracula castle just like in the official games?

Every castle has a keep. It's the central part of the inner structure of the outer castle itself. Otherwise it's just a fortress. But I know you mean Dracula's top-most tower. Always a fave 

Castle Keep...don't know. There are so many of them and all look more or less the same. If anybody makes an interesting castle keep I'll probably include it in game, but I'm not interested in making one.

If you don't feel the need to have Dracula's tower you could simply do your own style. By tradition, Dracula is always met in the top of Castlevania. It signifies his power over the people and the country. Other games like CV2, SotN, HoD, seem to favor the dark crypt in the heart of the castle. Not my personal fave mind you, but it's a different approach. If you've got something else in mind for the final meeting place then we'd love to hear about it.

[Viper]

Another question.

What do you think about variable-size viewports? I mean, what if in one room you have standard 256x192 view size, and in another, f.e. 384x256, so character will be smaller on the screen but you can see more space around you? Or it's too confusing have such things in one game?

[Claimh Solais]

Another question.

What do you think about variable-size viewports? I mean, what if in one room you have standard 256x192 view size, and in another, f.e. 384x256, so character will be smaller on the screen but you can see more space around you? Or it's too confusing have such things in one game?

Actually, many games have done this before. It'd make it more dynamic, actually.

[Viper]

Sad to say, but it seems that I must suspend project now.
The reason is buggy Game Maker. When quantity of sprites in my game exceeds some number game starts to glitch, freeze etc. I checked all my code, and it seems to be GM issue. The same game without some sprites run perfectly, add them and it ruines. It seems its somehow collide with FMOD wrapper also.
Maybe with some GM update problem will disappear, but until then it seems that tens of new sprites, over a hundred rooms, dialogs and monsters, new music and sound effects was a complete waste of my time.

[TheouAegis]

If you want, send me the GMK (I hope you're not on 8.1... Well if you are, I have a program to convert it down to GMK) and I can try to widdle down the issue to manageable levels.

When you say "too many sprites" do you mean the sprite library is too big or do you mean too many instances in the same room or do you mean too many sprites being draw in the room?

Debugging your game would also give me something to look at other than mine. Lord knows I have enough bugs in my engine to keep me busy for years.