WIP Games

Dropped the old shmup idea.  Perhaps I get around to detailing the basic plotline sometime, but it seemed like a nonsensical imitation that I’m not sure people would’ve liked.  On the other hand, I was able to convert another old idea, so as soon as I feel like I’ve generated enough backstory detail, I’ll post about it.  There’s almost no chance of me dropping this one in the near future, as empty as that sounds.  I guess I’ll have to offer proof soon in the form of a post in Project Ideas. 

My attention tends to wander a lot, which explains why I’m moving from project to project so often, but (when combined with my tendency for perfectionism) also factors into why I’ve had so much trouble with spriting and MIDI sequencing.  However, that’s not why I’m getting burned out on the Potentium games.  The main problem is that my brother has much grander, more ambitious plans for the series, so I’ve ended up feeling like I’m leeching off his idea, and since he’s the driving force behind the series in general I have to make sure not to contradict his canon, which is almost impossible because his ideas are always shifting.  That’s why I’ve shifted to a different Game Universe based on another old idea so that I’m not limited by what he wants to do.  I might change the title of this blog, too, but that remains to be seen. 

I’d say more, but right now I’ve got studying to do. 

Well, I did lose interest in the fangame after all, so I guess I’ll stick to my current projects.  I’ve picked up a couple more old ones again: a shmup (yep, the same one from last October; I actually completed a whole outline and script back then) and an Emperor: Battle for Dune-style RTS.  I’ve pretty much completed the stat system for Dawn of Potentium, but I’m waiting for Stencyl to be finished so I can test it better. 

On the college front, nothing but homework and exams coming up in another week and a half.   Argh. 

The ideas that eventually became the Potentium series had their humble beginnings in several other stories and games my brother and I considered, but later scrapped.  The whole concept of Potentium didn’t actually come to us until late one night, in a car on the way home from… I forget where.  All I know is that it was a long ride. 

The conversation turned to how horror stories and movies were stagnating, focusing more on the gore than the psychological aspects of horror.  My brother cut in that horror simply didn’t ask enough questions; instead, the genre often pumped out stock films where everything is clear to at least the viewer, and the only speculation is about who’s going to die.  He then floated ideas about a new stone arriving on Earth that posed enormous power, yet responded only to the strongest of all feelings: fear.  It made an interesting premise for a book.

The concepts of what Potentium is and does has changed almost completely since then, and we have at least 5 installments of storyline sketched out already.  I think our greatest challenge will actually be staying focused on making each story or game a quality product on its own.  I’ve already began to consider what we’ll need; an artist, for starters, unless my brother’s art skills improve enough (and he’s certainly been getting better).  By now, I’ve learned enough about patience that I think I’ll be able to see this series through in some form or another, even if my brother doesn’t (which I really don’t think will happen, considering that this series is practically his brainchild). 

One of my brother’s most ambitious projects is a series of RTSs based on the Potentium series.  Both him and I are working on the concepts right now.  Stencyl is shaping up to be a possible platform for these games, so I’ll be posting a couple of updates here, as well as a couple questions about some design decisions I’d llike you to have some input on (if anyone even reads this).  There are many ideas being floated around right now, so nothing’s set in stone, but I’m in the process of writing up a design document right now. 

However, I can’t say much about the story right now, because the game chronologically takes place after Dawn of Potentium (which takes place at the same time as the first book, if my brother ever gets around to writing the series).  So I’m not going to spoil anything. 

Any spoiler-looking stuff… well, rest assured I haven’t spoiled anything more than I planned to. 

BTW, I’d much appreciate it if someone could help me with the Latin names in the Potentium classes in Dawn of Potentium.  I know absolutely nothing about Latin grammar. 

 EDIT: Oh, the links are on the right sidebar on the main Potentium Games page, right under the “About Me” link. 

So, I’m back from Malaysia.  While I was gone, I redid the Shadow of Potentium character list and completed the Dawn of Potentium outline (and the weapon list for both games).  Now, if only I could get actually posting my ideas where others can see them…

By the way, if anyone actually reads this, I have a question for you: did you like being the “tactician” character in FE7?  I’ve been idly thinking of doing something like that for  my games. 

Going on vacation for 3 weeks in August.  Going to be overhauling Dawn of Potentium’s campaign structure based on new changes (mainly the addition of a third faction). 

Well on my way to updating the Public Outline; made some chagnes, but it’s not ready yet.  However, I’ve finally finished Shadow of Potentium’s story outline, so now I can focus on Dawn of Potentium and the situation on Earth.

Speaking of which, my brother and I have decided to collaborate on the Potentium series, meaning that his works and mine will have continuity. 

To tell the truth, I’ve gotten more Shadow of Potentium work done in the last monththan in the 6 months before that.  I have to go to college orientation tomorrow, but rest assured that I plan to update soon.  I’ve overhauled a lot of stuff, so that means I have to update the main project page as well…

Here’s the (right now obsolete) link, in case you don’t want to wait:

http://www.dmajohnson.com/fefactory/forums/viewtopic.php?t=30

Take note that Dawn of Potentium now will take place on Earth. 

Well, due to an influx of homework, several new games (including Supreme Commander), and the fact that I’m rather stuck on rethinking the story of Shadow of Potentium, I’ve gotten almost nothing done recently.  However, I have been playing more shmups recently, which should help when Lead Curtain development gets underway. 

I’m actually thinking of retooling Kevin and Isaac’s entire storyline.

(By the way, the character of Kevin was originally based on myself, but both he and I have changed a lot since then, something I think is for the better.)