Thanks for the comments, guys. It's always good to know I'm on the right track with this.
As far as an update goes, well, I've been bogged down in trying to optimise it for older computers in time for the NCFC - and it's not going fantastically well!
I did finally get round to compressing all the sounds, which has reduced the filesize down to 4MB (!) from 10MB, so that's good, I guess. But I don't know what more I can do, to be honest. I'm pulling out unnecessary step/draw events - particularly concerning the day/night engine - and using a single all-encompassing controller object; tiling some of the trees that don't need to be objects; stuff like that, but I really don't know if it's making much difference. And that's quite demoralising...
But I have sorted out a couple of things: as previously reported, the problem of sometimes stopping dead when you enter a new room has been eliminated, and I've added diagonal rolling, though I'm not happy with it. Looks weird. Might not be a permanent feature...
But the rest of the work has been more or less conceptual. Writing backstories for the harbour's NPCs, and completing that area is the next sort of milestone for me. I'm also enjoying writing the dialogue for the cut scenes that follow - in particular the villain's grand entrance which comes just after you get the sword and the story begins in earnest. He's got some killer lines already. Real juicy stuff! Heh.
Some of you may recall I said I had finally settled on a design I liked for the Sheikah shaman who essentialy 'is' the Shadowgazer. Well, now I've decided I don't like it!
I'm on the right track but it needs tweaking, and it's important I get him of all things right. I've set myself a deadline to finish a piece of artwork featuring him in time for my NCFC booth. And then there'll be no going back on the design!
Speaking of which - cheeky !@#$%, I know - if any kind soul wants to hook me up with some hosting for the event, I'd be eternally grateful...!
Hyrule Town - I think it shouldn't be a Port Town I think it should work like TP, have various parts of a town (North, East etc) and the West side could be what was the main part in the demo.
Basically i don't think the port should be the main part, it should just be a small part of what is the town.
It was originally going to be split into two rooms with a regular town area being the room you'd enter from the gates, and the harbour would be to the north of that, but I realised I really don't need it to be any bigger. In terms of having buildings for NPCs and their side-quests, there's enough there already. I don't think I could justify adding any more. For example, during the evening the cafe is going to be a meeting place for all the sailors, so that's going to be full of gameplay opportunities. The fish market will have a regular gaggle of customers (and at the moment is going to have an auction mini-game, provided I can get my head round it.) The Port Authority building has several functions, the main one being a waiting room for passengers. So it's all going to be very busy, and I don't see any benefit in spreading it out over two large rooms. If you're thinking it would give me scope to add more content, remember, there are two other ports in the game...
Also, the castle is going to be in the room off to the east, but that might have been obvious - it has to be somewhere in "Castle Town", right...?
This is absolutely incredible!
I love the three day cycle system, although I only played through two of the days. I'm guessing we're going to have to go to Calatia and grab Parcel Guy's mail at some point?
Thanks, and yeah, you just might...!
Well, keep going, can't say I found anything worth pointing out, would really like to see some new items, the screens and trailer looks nice =D
Thank you, I do intend adding a new item or two, but they need to be unique and imaginative - and I haven't come up with anything decent yet! However, I can promise you will be using all of the familiar items in brand new ways...
Wow, that's really awesome, KM! I luv'd the demo! This game is the best Zelda fan game so far! Can't wait for more. :3
Thanks. Glad to hear you finally played it!
Nice demo! Any chance of being able to choose your controls at some point in development?
Yeah, there's a few people have asked for this. I'll add it when I do the name entry screens and all that stuff.
Cheers!