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"No its quite safe I assure you... the chances of me being killed are quite low"
-- Grubber, Nilbog inventor as he strapped his apprentice in.
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On Friday, December 05, 2008 at 12:05 PM posted by: Devilduck (Devilduck) |
Wow... has it really been that long since I have posted any new news on the state of things. And even then it was a quick blurb. Well this will be another quick blurb but wanted to show you all what we have been working on. Its a 90mb windows media video of bastlur and nilbog in flight and combat you can view it here.
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Admin
Site Admin
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Date joined: May 24, 2005
Posts: 242
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Posted:Dec 05, 2008 - 18:07
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Please comment <!--[<A HREF=index.php?module=pagesetter&func=viewpub&pid=72&tid=1&ez=2 target="_top">]-->this article<!--[]--> here.
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Sherri
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Date joined: Mar 01, 2006
Posts: 55
Location: Canada
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Posted:Dec 08, 2008 - 14:38
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Very cool 
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Thorinkhalin
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Date joined: Dec 05, 2008
Posts: 14
Location: Buckhannon, WV
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Posted:Dec 09, 2008 - 00:22
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Hrm.... most folks would probably have something dull to say about the graphics not being like the other "new" games in their quality. However, my ultimate standpoint is that the graphics are a bonus feature if the functionality is good.
That being said my only real question is this:
Having shot archery at a semi-pro (unpaid but sponsored amateur) level and having fired a crossbow before as well just for sheer S&G factor, are the semi-auto crossbows gonna stay that way or is it simply just the way it is right now?
That seems to me to be a very quick firing device and while the inventive little Nilbogs are sure to come up with something cool in that respect, it simply doesnt seem all that fitting or real in terms of functionality. Within our own scope of understanding from real application and history, crossbows had a limited use and the conceptual design gave way to far more effective instruments of warfare that used it simply as a founding principle.
I'm not so limited in scope that back-story management wont provide quality answers and alot of opportunity for inventing things, but it was my only thought on what I could see in front of me at the moment.
Now having given my functional question, I do have a couple thoughts otherwise that bring up abstract questions.  I see that there are multiple passengers allowed on that craft and I was wondering this... if you have a pilot, the others can shoot and other such tasks allowed to be performed in flight. But are there going to be skills pertaining to boosting benefits of combatants? For instance some of the passengers on that thing might play war drums or some such instruments and provide a bonus to the pilot's handling of the device or extra accuracy (or damage or rate of fire) to those engaging in combat.
my pair of silhouette Lincolns on the matter.
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Thorinkhalin
"If boredom is a state of mind, I am in Alaska"
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Sunicro
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Date joined: Dec 05, 2008
Posts: 14
Location: Marysville, WA
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Posted:Dec 09, 2008 - 17:38
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Well I having thinking about what to say about the Video for a few days now. I have a couple of comments to hopefully start some good conversation.
First, I must agree with Thorinkhalin, the rapid fire crossbow just doesn't seem to fit into what I got the impression was the state of the world. Now if the crossbow is Magic based and doesn't actually take bolts, but using say a crystal as the source of power, then I could see it work. However if that is the case I would hope that you changed the look a bit to make it a stand alone type of item, rather than be a crossbow. Also we would need some background story to explain how the crossbow was developed concidering that most things that the Nilbogs tend to blow up. If it does fire crossbow bolts, you need to show the magazine feed on the crossbows.
A second note on crossbows is that the Bastlur was using one. The power and the might of the Race seems to be based on pride. Why would a mighty race like them belittle themselves to used a ranged weapon? I got the impression that they would be a race of brute force and magic. I would see them using a mighty hand weapon or pike to knock people out of the sky or slashing the Derigable and make it crash. Shot from a distance seems so cowardice for a Bastlur. Anyone agree or disagree with this point?
The biggest thing that struck me by the video was the functionality of flight, I so look forward to trying that out. Both with the ships and as a race. Great job on seeing a concept and putting it into play.
The downside that I see is the User Interface. Yes I know that it is a test environment, and it may not in any way represent what is intended. But I have to say a UI can almost make or break a game. This is an area that I personally take stock in and will put many hours into if it is user editable. You can see the work I did on a UI here http://www.vginterface.com/portal.php?id=13 I just point this out to get some discussion going in this area.
keep the information coming, we are hungry for more
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Devilduck
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Date joined: Jul 05, 2006
Posts: 197
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Posted:Dec 11, 2008 - 20:41
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One of the conflicts between the bastlurs and nilbogs (other than the bastlurs thinking that nilbogs taste really good raw) is that they both covet a rare crystal found in the Razorback mountain range.
The bastlurs covet the crystal cause it is what they eat to give themselves their breathweapon when they are in their Elder stage. The Nilbogs covet it cause it is what powers all their mechanical devices.
The Jarg covet it cause it tastes good and the other races want it cause its pretty, even if it does cause their teeth to rot and hair fall out. The bastlur crossbow ammo comes from their life force so each time they shoot the cross bow it takes away a little of their life. They can charge up the crossbow to by injecting more lifeforce into the weapon to do larger amounts of damage.
The nilbog have a repeating crossbow that acts more like a machine gun at time powered by that crystal. It can shoot fast but depletes the crystal fast. They then have to find more to power the crossbow.
Something else to point out about that video. Its a test environment for Valhyre but it is also a demostration of a First person shooter we are working on that will run on XBox360 and xbox live.
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Sunicro
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Date joined: Dec 05, 2008
Posts: 14
Location: Marysville, WA
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Posted:Dec 15, 2008 - 16:31
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Interesting concepts, Compendium updated.
Seems to me that if it is ONLY in the Razorback mountains, it must be an extremely contested area. Making the use of both the Breath Weapons and the Nilbog Crossbows infrequently used because of it. Unless of course there is a lesser quality, easier to find substitute that can be used. Or the Razorback mountain range is so huge that though conflicts will occur, the odds of running into each other is greatly reduced.
Also since the Jarg are primarily Dessert dwellers, this must make a great trade item for those brave enough to collect it and trade it to them.
Now for the Bastlurs' life force, does this mean that a Basltur can actually kill themselves by expending all their energy when in heavy combat or just put themselves in a comma until the rest and restore their energy? Sounds like a great strength and a weakness to have that much power.
Interesting that you would use an Xbox to flesh out ideas for a PC game. I was an Xbox 360 compliance Tester with http://www.vmcgamelabs.com/ for a bit. Was a unique experience.
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Plan for Tomorrow, Strive for Today, Can't let anxiety get in our way, so play play play!
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tim.vangehugten
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Date joined: Feb 22, 2007
Posts: 33
Location: Maaseik (belgium)
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Posted:Dec 30, 2008 - 22:41
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The graphics are fine:) and like Thorinkhalin said :a game doesn´t need fancy graphics to be good.
I also like the part where you can choose which seat you can take.
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