For about a year or so(while actual time spent is but a fraction) I have been working on a 3d rpg with influence from old school dungeon crawling rpgs that possed faux-3d graphics. Games like Lands of Lore and Eye of the Beholder are the best examples for my inspiration. Now I've never been a master programmer or the likes, mostly I devote my talents towards layouts, design, story, and gameplay. This and my lack of time to devote for this project makes progress rather slow.

The game has no title as of yet, but thats the least of my worries.

That all said, let me get to the actual meat of the game…

Gameplay aspects

I'm going to try and capture certain feels of old rpgs with the addition of more variety in interaction and content. However I'll also be simplifying other aspects of gameplay. For example, free sitting items can be picked up by touch, containers opened with 'space' to reveal items. 'Space' button will act as the activation button for interacting with containers and non-aggressive NPCs. Combat will also be in a turnbased set up, and more geared toward stratagies then button mashing. Of course to compensate for the simple combat I'll be using special effects and moves to spice things up and make it fun.

NPCs will be complex characters that can be interacted with on multiple levels. Offering gifts, getting quest, improving relationships, trading, manipulating and so on.

Creatures like rats or goblins will be like scaled down versions of NPCs, basically reduced to attacking them or befriending them.

Progress as of…

Currently I'm on my 8th alpha version(before alpha I got to 64 builds), I make alot of backups to help find mistakes or correct ones I end up making.

It contains a 'experimental' movement system with optional mouse movement or mouse look. These need work as you may see if I don't fix them before my first demo release on this site.

The stat system is nearly fully functional, as is the inventory system. (although items can only be equiped)

A system is in place for handling teleporting from map to map or place to place with a pleasant blending transition effect.

A world map has been made and I'm gradually constructing the zones by hand. Heres a sample of what I use to check off whats done.

Heres a close up of the completed areas.

Green areas represent premade heightmaps. This applies to coastal and mountainous terrains. Red areas are usually flat land so they contain randomly generated terrains to give the area a less flat look.

Screenshots of Alpha 8

First castle to be done.

Shot of the forest(you can take mushrooms too)

Stat/Inventory system windows.

Small keep on smaller island.

All purpose log book.

Inside a shop

Local town.

Out dated demos

Heres a few links for some older demos that have all the yummy flaws of progressing game developement. I had planned not to release a demo until I finish the NPC system, but if I get the combat system and item collection system fully working I'll release one sooner.

Some links may not work…

Last released demo, version 6 alpha

Pre-alpha demo

First attempt, last released older demo

Future Plans

Fully functioning NPC and Quest systems

Impoving controls, movement and collisions

Combat system and effects

Contract a music composer? Not sure yet.

This is my first attempt at a blog like thingy.