Huge Project in the Works, Fading Shadows

[LittleBoyBaka]

EDIT: Updated and revamped


TeamSlain is currently developing an RPG in Sphere. Thankfully, our programmer (and team leader) slainAngel is very experienced with the language. Dubbed Fading Shadows, it has been in the works for several months now. Even though it's nowhere near being released, here are some of the features that will appear when it is:

*Over 40 different characters to recruit

*Highly non-linear plot, with many different endings. Depending on what conditions are met and which characters you obtain during the game, the endings will vary greatly.

*All original art, music and sound effects

*Custom battle & menu systems designed by slainAngel

*Weapon customization and upgrade system by using ’Crests’ (any ability can be added to any weapon)

*Skill system, including blue-magic style teaching and learning (see the website for a bit of info on how this works)

We haven't got to the stage where we'll be able to produce some screens, but if you want more info on the game, go here:
Fading Shadows(Yes, we know it doesn’t look pretty, but it serves the purpose)

The huge Fading Shadows topic in the GW forum (700 + post topic in Game Ideas): Fading Shadows

Story:

Once there were monsters,
Now there are none.
Once we needed heroes,
But now they have gone.
Only one man still remains,
With memories of his glory days.
But when old enemies return,
To interrupt the peaceful term,
He'll still do everything he can,
The living hero, Blacksmith Dan.

Kaji Dan is a hero, or so the people say. In reality, he is now an old man. But when a dragon threatens the village, he is forced to take up his warhammer again. But this makes him realize... he can't protect the people forever, and the only reason they called on him is because there is nobody else to take on the task. So Dan decides to go on one last quest, to try and recruit younger people to be heroes. Every new village he visits, he asks for any willing youngsters to train under him, so they can defend the village. But in every town, those with any aptitude for combat are too busy defending themselves from current threats, and have no time for training.

So Dan sets out to remove the clear and present dangers. With every dragon slain, or warlord driven back, or pack of bandits arrested, another teenager or 2 is able to join Dan's wandering band of heroes. And that can only be a good thing, because it soon becomes apparent that some malevolent force is controlling the demons. Yes... the ice giants will soon break free of their prison beneath the World's Edge Mountains, and already their disciples are trying to create chaos so that the heroes will be unable to turn them back. In a race against time, Dan must gather his companions and destroy the wizards who serve the ice giants. But now he is old, is there enough time left for Dan, or will the apprentices have to finish their quest alone?

---

The idea behind this is that Dan's mortality is always obvious. There are no phoenix downs in this game... if a character dies, he is removed from your party. This will mean that the game would need multiple versions of some conversations depending on which character is leading the party (much like in Wild Arms 3). Also, to emphasize Dan's old age, every battle will slowly erode his stats, reducing his maximum hit points until he eventually dies. In this game, running around fighting random battles in order to level up will not work, because Dan's stats go down rather than up as he ages. Here, the best strategy would be to try and get through the game with the minimum of conflict. I think this could be a welcome change of perspective from the traditional systems.

Some concept art of the many characters:

Drawing of Kemmei the ‘badass‘ scientist, brother of Zhang - by Agelaos
Kemmei
Drawing of Zhang the mystic, brother of Kemmei - by Agelaos
Zhang
Drawing of Ginza the gambler - by Agelaos
Ginza
MS Paint picture of Brandin the dwarf - by FeelAFear (sadly, the format lowered this picture’s quality)
Brandin
Dynamic sketch of Gai the feline hybrid monster - by Chainer
Gai
Full body sketch of Della, Dan’s apprentice - by Karsuman
Della
Full body sketch of Arelis the fisherwoman - by Karsuman
Arelis
CG Picture of Gansted the elf - by Yushiro SD (contribution)
Gansted

If you cannot view Gansted, try copy and pasting this Geonutsties link: www.geocities.com/littleboybaka/gansted.jpg

More concept art appears in the character profiles at the site.

So, where do you come in? We're looking for people fairly experienced with graphics and mapping to join our team. Why should you join? How do you know that we're not some n00bish "studio?" Well, we've been committed to the project and it shows. Check the website and the other info link to see how much we've done. However, in order to release a demo soon, we need this people. Sadly, many are busy or are committed to other projects, and we've even tried learning how to do things like pixel art, but it's too much stress especially if we've got our own aspects of the game to work on. Contributions are welcome, though. Specifically in graphics, we'd like someone who can create menus, chipsets, title screens and such.

- If you want to join our team, please feel free to PM me or Little Boy Baka, or post here.

Current list of Staff:
SlainAngel (Skilled Sphere programmer, team leader and maker of the original concept)
Karsuman (Concept artist, storyline and concept contributor and dialogue writer)
Little Boy Baka (A major storyline and concept contributor. He’s also our recruiter)
CouchFiend (The music man. He will be making pretty much all the music and sound effects in Fading Shadows. He’s also the character voice editor)
Pedrogammos (A major storyline and concept contributor)
Agelaos (The humble concept artist)
Makell (Storyline contributor, concept artist)
Devilmaycare (Spriter, writer and map designer)
Flappy (Spriter)

List of Contributors:
Bunny (Contributor)
Chainer (Artist)
BlackSparkle (CouchFiend’s voice actress friend)
Kosuke (Contributor-Advertisement)
BadLuck (Possible Map designer)
Grindie (Monster design)
Magikoopa (Referrer)
NunoLac (General system graphic design)
DragonSlayer (Making TeamSlain a banner)
DeadPhoenix (Storyline contribution)
Yushiro SD (Art contribution)
Dracoa (Storyline contribution)
Draak (Storyline contribution)

I will answer any questions people may have to the best of my ability.

Thanks for your time.

[Oin]

This game sounds good and the concept art is execellent this seems like a good idea and id like to see it get completed......good job

[zumbum - The Screen Monster]

Sorry, but, when I heard, Blacksmith Dan, I burst out laughing and started a little a song in my head.

"Blacksmith Dan, doo doo doo, Blacksmith Dan, dum dum dum"

[The Patryn]

I'd love to see this game completed, it sounds like if it is finished, it will be an excellent piece of work. I especially like the idea of characters not coming back from the dead. It will make the game quite difficult, most likely, and require many people to rethink their strategy, as long as it doesn't become completely impossible, and as long as there are no instant kill spells

[SickAndWretched]

yes.. in indeed it sounds good.. I would help but I'm busy.. though I might be able to make menu graphics..

[Magi]

This game is incredibly anticipated in other communities. I'd have to say that it looks like a killer and like Baka's told me, they're really only lacking in the graphics department. Let's hope that problem is fixed soon.

[NunoLac]

Well, i've decided to help them with a Titleset and a GameOverset and maybe a little help with the facesets (edits, cause my original work it's still very week and very cartoon)

Anyway I just wish that my little help could make a big diference!

[Thores]

Hey, you decided to advertise over here, LBB! Awesome!

I was actually on the team for a little while before everyone realized I had nothing to do. But I'm still definitely looking forward to the game.

[LittleBoyBaka]

Revamped first message. Managed to slip in more pictures.

[The~Inquisitor]

It looks like a very promising start to the game as it has concept art, a team which looks like they have talent BUT I have yet to see any screenshots of what the actual game will look like.
You may want to post stuff showing what the actual game will look like to encourage more people join your teams.

(Concept art is nice for games, but it does not really reflect much on the game itself)

[Magi]

The~Inquisitor said:

BUT I have yet to see any screenshots of what the actual game will look like.

They're... in need of help in the graphics department. That might be why the screenshots were not shown.

[LittleBoyBaka]

Magikoopa said:

They're... in need of help in the graphics department. That might be why the screenshots were not shown.

Perhaps the right word would be desperate? ;D

As for the recruiting-hunt, it's going well. We've managed to get a handful of new people to help us, so there's just the matter of getting someone to do tilesets. It isn't as if we can't be bothered to do screenshots. We really are trying our hardest
And the only visual thing that is available and finished is the concept art. The sprites are in very early stages. Keep checking the topic, though. We'll have some graphics by the end of next week at the least. ^_^

[Oin]

LittleBoyBaka said:

Perhaps the right word would be desperate? ;D

As for the recruiting-hunt, it's going well. We've managed to get a handful of new people to help us, so there's just the matter of getting someone to do tilesets. It isn't as if we can't be bothered to do screenshots. We really are trying our hardest
And the only visual thing that is available and finished is the concept art. The sprites are in very early stages. Keep checking the topic, though. We'll have some graphics by the end of next week at the least. ^_^

For tilesets id say Mac&Blue because they are the best but they are used alot but you could always ask Inq,Im even using some of his work for Lesnian Story..

[EightSlicesOfPie]

Sounds great. I'm looking forward to playing it. Nice art for Gai. (That's the hybrid's name, right?)