[Nick]

Good news: I've already uploaded a pre-release version of video.

Bad news: It's 3AM here, my mana pool is empty and all the spells are forgotten, so I'm going to sleep --> video should be up tomorrow.

[Priapist]

Right, but you know when the table is at the ``definitely a fucking table'' stage, and then you can probably estimate how long some legs and drawers should take to complete.  When you get that done, you stand back, and it's definitely a fucking table with legs and drawers, but it still leaves much to be desired.  So you go back, rework the legs and drawers, add some scrollwork, &c...

Game production isn't something I'd wish upon anyone with their mind set upon a definitive timeline, and within an non-professional context it becomes something altogether different, because you suddenly have an entire world of possibilities infringing on the accuracy of your estimates and have to plan around "spare" time. On the upside, having no business pressures enables milestones without dates, where you still set out to reach prioritised goals, but take whatever time is required to reach them.

I guess the real trick comes in effectively balancing incremental improvements within your game against those happening within the industry as a whole. This seems to be the black hole 3D Realms have found themselves in, and even though independent projects can distance themselves from the cycle fairly effectively, you still have to posit yourself as a contemporary to the current market if you want to be part of it.

Basically, you want to be using whatever technological "snapshot" you're using to its fullest. If you're using sprites, make sure they're up to the quality standard of other sprite games. If you're using 3D models with a single texture layer, make sure its up to the standard of the late '90s.

That to me is the biggest reason why Prelude to Darkness never got anything close to the attention it deserved - the graphics, animation and consistency of production just weren't up to the standard of technologically similar games, and that seems to be a huge barrier for some.

Age of Decadence on the other hand is taking lots of positive steps toward a consistent and well-presented style, so even if it lacks pixel shading, Havok, Speedtree, FaceGen, etc. It still exemplifies the quality of its "technological era". Many would question the worth of this pursuit, but I think this relative quality is an important factor - especially if the same perfectionist ideals are carried across to the more crucial gameplay elements.

Good news: I've already uploaded a pre-release version of video.

Bad news: It's 3AM here, my mana pool is empty and all the spells are forgotten, so I'm going to sleep --> video should be up tomorrow.

And this is fantastic news. Can't wait to see it.

[Plalito]

Good news: I've already uploaded a pre-release version of video.

Bad news: It's 3AM here, my mana pool is empty and all the spells are forgotten, so I'm going to sleep --> video should be up tomorrow.

Good news: It's tomorrow.

Bad news: There's no video. 

But in all seriousness, looking forward to the new video, can't wait to see the improvements over the older one.

[Nick]

VD and Elhoim have suggested several more good tweaks (like "breaking the shields" mechanics). I'm almost done with them all, will take a new video featuring them in a couple of minutes. And still have plenty of time till 3AM

[Mimir]

Awesome, I'm really looking forward to seeing more of the game in action.

[Special_Can]

VD and Elhoim have suggested several more good tweaks (like "breaking the shields" mechanics). I'm almost done with them all, will take a new video featuring them in a couple of minutes. And still have plenty of time till 3AM

 The more the merrier.

[ninjelephant]

I hope it will get out by spring 2008...

Spring depends on where you live. For me it would be September.

I would settle with any spring of 2008

EDIT: could u put teh video already.. i'm getting sleepy and got classes tomorrow :/

[axedice]

Nick I guess we share the same timezone, and it's nearly 3 am here 

[Vince]

We're having some issues with PC doing a great job dying quickly. So, the official ubar awesome trailer filled with life and death drama won't be posted today.  We'll show you what we are working on though.

Oscar?

[Oscar]

Here it is.

http://www.irontowerstudio.com/video/combat_video_draft.avi

[ninjelephant]

Here it is.

http://www.irontowerstudio.com/video/combat_video_draft.avi

2 crits in a row=instant kill?
u got asskicked  lol lol
 

We're having some issues with PC doing a great job dying quickly.

lolz, at first a actually thought that the computer was crashing 

[Vince]

Critical Strike is a skill, and the palace guards are well-trained. Perhaps, too well trained. I told Nick to use a shield, but he thought he would have time to throw that spear first...

[axedice]

What is the spear interrupt message? Was your attack interrupted somehow? Also did you improve the blood spilling animation? It looks better than the first video. Overall it looks great btw, the lightning, the animations. But the guard is right, you shouldn't have messed with him.

edit : One more thing. Why do you start the new round with 6ap instead of 11? Is it because of the interrupt thingie or am I missing something?

[Vince]

Spear skill gives you a chance to interrupt an attempt to approach you, thus keeping opponents at bay. If you get an interrupt attack, you get 6APs, so it's not a new round.

Well, I hope we'll manage to overcome the forces of evil and live long enough to show you a full video.

[axedice]

That sounds neat. Do other weapon skills give you passive bonuses like that? If so, will you name some examples