PSIV: Beneath a New Light. (I'M BACK...with a bang!)

[Semix]

Achievements/Trophies are shit.

I disagree, on PSN it allows some extra information to see on your friends, and can give you other objectives that are visible to others online. I got the Resident Evil 5 platinum (on my old account) and it was fun. Plus the little "bling" you get when it pops up. Oh joy! I'm one away from MW2 platinum myself.

[IndispensablePeaGuy]

My two cents.

I don't really care for any fan game. You guys are total plagiarisers who can't come up with graphics or ideas of your own. Why play this worthless crap when I can play the original games anyway? Super Nintendo pixels + Kodama's final PS project = fan made fail.

If Benoit wants to criticise, deal with it. Don't lay it out on him because he doesn't worship your art shite. Or simply ignore it without being uppity with a small forum.

So the paedo posts at that other place? He claimed he didn't to me. LOL

[meteor9]

The first mode 7 screenshot is infinitely better than the second, so I'd tilt the angle back up and get rid of the odd looking sky melting into what should be the horizon.

I don't really care for any fan game. You guys are total plagiarisers who can't come up with graphics or ideas of your own. Why play this worthless crap when I can play the original games anyway? Super Nintendo pixels + Kodama's final PS project = fan made fail.

I think that's going a wee bit far, honestly. Most fan games suck out loud, certainly, but on the rare chance that you find someone with an extreme knack for handling the original game's world/characters/whatever and puts effort into it, is it still something to be thrown out?

That said, the realm of literature has been doing 'fan' stuff for centuries. There's tons of plays and stories from centuries past that nowadays would just be considered weird ass fanfic. Or in more recent cases, things like Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead.

I dunno. Just seems like a needlessly closed opinion, even if it is based on some hefty evidence.

tl;dr - it's what you do with a concept that makes it original/good, not who originated it.

[IndispensablePeaGuy]

What's closed minded about fan made games not piquing my interest at all? They never start from scratch and make something new. Instead they re use the PSIV sprites and music over and over, and their end result is mostly the same as the original game.

I'm just being honest as to why I rarely support projects which, to me, are patronising the creators of the four games

[Zucca]

What's closed minded about fan made games not piquing my interest at all? They never start from scratch and make something new. Instead they re use the PSIV sprites and music over and over, and their end result is mostly the same as the original game.

I'm just being honest as to why I rarely support projects which, to me, are patronising the creators of the four games

I've been trying to keep my mouth shut but I think now the proper time: I agree.
But as many of you know it's the most time consuming part to create the graphics. I've started a topic for you to contribute graphics (sadly, that topic has been all but active). So I don't blame people when they copy the graphics, but when you do that just by taking screenshots and not even correcting the outlines that just makes me sad - It looks clumsy. Of course it's possible to correct these later.
Now. I think there's too much useless 'glitter' in your game, Lyla. I think that you should now just complete the story (using the ripped graphics). After the functionality of the game is ready, please correct the graphical ummm... "errors". I don't mean that all ripped graphics should be replaced, but to make it look like your creation, create your own graphics as much as possible. I don't blame you if you use some open/free graphics, but if you use one whole sprite set for all the parts of your game - it doesn't look like your game.

NOTE: This post was criticism and advices... advices that you don't have to obey.

[Daren]

I to didn't want to get involved in this, I mean I'm also making a game and I think ThePeaGuy is mostly right about the graphics part but one has to know that making original graphics are the longest and hardest part of game creation. Some makers have an idea of what they want to produce but don't have the team or time to make all of the graphics needed for that vision. Most creators just want to pay homage to the series they have grown to love so much and in the process take graphics from the originals to explain that vision.
What I want to point out is that even though a fan game has graphics from other games, it doesn't take out the fact that the game can still be good if he or she worked on a good and original story because lets face it, graphics and music isn't the core of a game. You can have the best graphics or music or SFX and a game can still be shit if you don't have a good story.
Now, Lyla has worked very hard on her game for a very long time and she deserves credit for her work but she also needs to be able to take some criticism because I find that that's the best way to fix stuff that isn't up to par. But, there is good and bad criticism, to just come and say that "oh your game is going to be shit like every other fan game ever done" doesn't offer anything constructively in the short and long run and please for Gods sakes no one can say if a game will be bad or good without trying it out first. It's like saying "I hate broccoli even though I haven't tasted it yet because I hate carrots" it just doesn't make sense.
So in the end I encourage Lyla to continue her game and finish it the best way she can but to also listen to peoples advise, they are just trying to help in there own and sometimes unique different ways.

[Zucca]

Yeah. Creating graphics is the most time consuming part of the game.
That's why I'm trying to get more people involved in contributing free graphics.

[Xander]

I saw this a couple of times before I registered. I have to say, you're doing a marvellous job here. Please keep it up as I'd be happy to give it a shot when it's ready. And I totally agree with what Daren said too.


Certainly, getting people to contribute to a project isn't easy. I've never seen a project get people to pitch in easily at all. But considering how much you've gotten done up to now I don't think you need to worry about anything more except the time it'll take to complete. I just wish I was of an artistic bent, then I might actually to be able to put paid to my words and chip in with something.

Anyhoo, keep it up.

[lyla2284]

Thank you for the encouragement, everyone. My game is nearly done, I'm just busy with the beta-testing right now. As for the storyline, everything has already been fleshed out to the very last scene of the game. Bear in mind that I had this idea around as early as 2002, and RPGMaker XP was only released in 2005, though I only started using it last year.

18 months in development come June.

@Daren: Thank you for the music so far. I love it, especially the battle tune. Awesome stuff.
@Jeric: As for porting the game, it isn't possible, unfortunately.

And I can take criticism people. This isn't the only site (apart from Fringes) that I've posted the game. I've put it up on several non-fan sites, sites that deal with making RPGMaker games in specific, and the general response has been quite positive. The guys there really know the engine, and I've recieved tons of tips and advice from them.

185 downloads so far. It ain't a lot, but it's something.

And the only ripped graphics I'm using are the sprites and the battlers... Nothing else.

[Xander]

It's almost done?! Nice. Can't wait for it now.

[Jeric Hikari]

Glad you got rid of the crafting systems to focus on things that seem more core to the game. The idea of your techs upgrading after lots of use is also appealing. Granted I haven't seen it in action but the concept is appealing enough to make me want to see it.

Are you in need of beta testers?

[Daren]

@Daren: Thank you for the music so far. I love it, especially the battle tune. Awesome stuff.

Great news Lyla, I was a little worried I didn't hit the mark on some of the request you'd made. Is there some you want me to rethink and resend? Are the looping edits ok?
The battle cue you're talking about is the Avatar one?

[IndispensablePeaGuy]

And I can take criticism people.

Only because you seem to quote from various sources who mostly agree with your views on your projects. That makes it okay then.

Like, for example, when I'm now honestly saying your Alys art sucks ass, you'll likely come up with a post how so-and-so says how marvelous it is and all that.

[Daren]

And I can take criticism people.

Only because you seem to quote from various sources who mostly agree with your views on your projects. That makes it okay then.

Like, for example, when I'm now honestly saying your Alys art sucks ass, you'll likely come up with a post how so-and-so says how marvelous it is and all that.

You know, there's a difference between criticism and being an flat out ass guess under which category you fall into. Jeez man what's your problem with Lyla anyway? I mean every time you say something about her game, it's like you're attacking her personally for no apparent reasons, you yourself said you didn't care for any fan games so why stay focused on hey and her game? The only reason I see is that you're purposely trying to be rude.

[Zucca]

Daren was dead right when he said that graphics aren't the main component of the game. I consider the gameplay most important factor, also the plot.
Good examples of games like these are Nethack and Adom.

The only reason I see is that you're purposely trying to be rude.

He is. But I'm already gotten used to his rudeness.

To put it simple: if you don't like what other person is posting - do not respond to it, or take it to PM.
Another good response is to take the criticism and try to improve.

Shall we finally keep it in topic?