I think I figured out how to get this done.
Initially I believe I bit off alot more than I can chew with Fighters of Legend, and after a while I was starting to feel it. Overtime with work picked up, events outside of work covered most of my free time, and FoL was getting harder and harder to work on. Also I was having alot of trouble working the combat system around the differences between client and server delays.
I took some time today to reflect upon most of this and worked out something that seems very possible. Firstly I limited the animations and icon-states to about 26 (down from close to 60), which may cause some actions to not look as awesome as I would hope, but these animations should cover all aspects of the game I wish to present.
Secondly, I was trying something so complicated with stats (for me at least) that getting the math right for all levels, variations and aspects of combat was proving to be wicked tough. Combine that with the timing offsets between clients and outputs were scaling in two completely opposite directions. I'm gonna simplify (if not rework entirely) all of the stats in the game, so they're back down to the initial 5-6 and everything works around them. Adding in an automatic hit-or-miss element based around these calculations was also proving to be very tough.
Thirdly my approach with styles and mastery would make for alot of tweaking, instead I may have a dynamic class-type system in its place. I was thinking heavily about it and I believe that this would not only be easier to work out as a sole developer (especially in terms of balance), but would also produce the same type of results.
And finally the world. For some reason I had it in my head that having a planet for each race would be plausible, given that at most I'll have a hundred or so players per server this would be a terrible idea. Instead I plan on having two similar areas for each level throughout the entire game, initially at least. I'm sure I can rework the story to flow around this concept, and it'd allow for more player interaction (as well as saving me a ton of work).
I'll try and keep everyone updated, I apologize for my lack of postings but alas real world calls and this kind of thing isn't a paying job :)
- Heart, Ken.
I took some time today to reflect upon most of this and worked out something that seems very possible. Firstly I limited the animations and icon-states to about 26 (down from close to 60), which may cause some actions to not look as awesome as I would hope, but these animations should cover all aspects of the game I wish to present.
Secondly, I was trying something so complicated with stats (for me at least) that getting the math right for all levels, variations and aspects of combat was proving to be wicked tough. Combine that with the timing offsets between clients and outputs were scaling in two completely opposite directions. I'm gonna simplify (if not rework entirely) all of the stats in the game, so they're back down to the initial 5-6 and everything works around them. Adding in an automatic hit-or-miss element based around these calculations was also proving to be very tough.
Thirdly my approach with styles and mastery would make for alot of tweaking, instead I may have a dynamic class-type system in its place. I was thinking heavily about it and I believe that this would not only be easier to work out as a sole developer (especially in terms of balance), but would also produce the same type of results.
And finally the world. For some reason I had it in my head that having a planet for each race would be plausible, given that at most I'll have a hundred or so players per server this would be a terrible idea. Instead I plan on having two similar areas for each level throughout the entire game, initially at least. I'm sure I can rework the story to flow around this concept, and it'd allow for more player interaction (as well as saving me a ton of work).
I'll try and keep everyone updated, I apologize for my lack of postings but alas real world calls and this kind of thing isn't a paying job :)
- Heart, Ken.
Posted by The Naked Ninja on Tuesday, October 13, 2009 08:17AM
- 12 comments
(link)
/
Keywords:
fol,
update
Login to post a comment.
#12 Nazarian:
Yea you just should making the game when you feel like it take all the time you want we can wait i know it will be a great game and i will play it for 100%
Wednesday, November 04, 2009 03:55PM
#11 The Naked Ninja:
No need to argue, I admit that Rugg's claim is rather truthful. The game itself was announced way too early and has no promise of completion, which would dub the vaporware term appropriate (I had to look it up by the way to see if I should be offended or not, lol)
However, feel free to follow me or dump me completely. I don't want supporters who will just hound me about finishing a free game for them, with no care of my personal restrictions. I'm not saying anyone specifically falls under that category, but there are plenty around the community who feel it's some developers purpose in life to finish a freeware for them... Kinda like people who threaten to boycott certain sequals to games because the initial one didn't have a year worth or more of free downloadable content.
Thursday, October 15, 2009 07:32PM
#10 Rugg:
I'm the only one who opted to be honest about this games longevity. Feel free to criticize.
Thursday, October 15, 2009 01:21PM
#9 Mista Dougie:
Rugg wrote:
> Yeah, I'm being an idiot for pointing out the obvious.
>
> Shut up.
I don't think i directed that to you..did i? If you want to think you're an idiot. Go for it. =]
Wednesday, October 14, 2009 01:56PM
#8 Rugg:
Yeah, I'm being an idiot for pointing out the obvious.
Shut up.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009 12:06PM
#7 Mista Dougie:
The Naked Ninja wrote:
> I suppose vaporware is a decent term to describe the game. While I can't guarantee this will ever be in a public state, I will keep those interested in the development process informed. You as individuals are welcome to ignore me, or even create your own games with some of my design philosophy, I'd actually welcome it.
>
> Sadly this isn't something I'm doing for a job or anything I can ever benefit from with all the free time I've spent working on it, so if the game never finishes the only person losing out is myself. Hopefully that'd be enough motivation to push through my obstacles and have my creation see daylight, but the odds are against me.
>
> Either way I'll continue working on it and updating as often as I can until I'm sure nobody (including myself) can care less about it. :)
>
That's good spirit man. Don't let idiots out here put you down with their idiotic remarks. After all, this is YOUR game that you're creating with YOUR free time. =]. Keep at it til' you can't anymore.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009 11:58AM
#6 The Naked Ninja:
I suppose vaporware is a decent term to describe the game. While I can't guarantee this will ever be in a public state, I will keep those interested in the development process informed. You as individuals are welcome to ignore me, or even create your own games with some of my design philosophy, I'd actually welcome it.
Sadly this isn't something I'm doing for a job or anything I can ever benefit from with all the free time I've spent working on it, so if the game never finishes the only person losing out is myself. Hopefully that'd be enough motivation to push through my obstacles and have my creation see daylight, but the odds are against me.
Either way I'll continue working on it and updating as often as I can until I'm sure nobody (including myself) can care less about it. :)
Tuesday, October 13, 2009 07:46PM
#5 Rugg:
I already dubbed this vaporware awhile ago.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009 04:33PM
#4 Quaddw:
o.0
Tuesday, October 13, 2009 04:08PM
#3 Revelation Gaming:
Ken-chan is alive. Nice.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009 02:32PM
#2 The Naked Ninja:
I thought they went bankrupt!
Tuesday, October 13, 2009 08:40AM
#1 Sariat:
Can I get GM? ;)
Tuesday, October 13, 2009 08:22AM