6-D : A Half-Life Puzzle Mod [WIP] Created 18 years ago2006-07-27 12:16:44 UTC by Rimrook Rimrook

Created 18 years ago2006-07-27 12:16:44 UTC by Rimrook Rimrook

Posted 16 years ago2008-05-29 15:46:24 UTC Post #250673
A bit of some quirkiness in the game has been bothering me lately. Mostly because there are parts of the game that current doesn't blend with the rest of it, albeit most of the puzzle elements in the game. Like I said, just a quirk.

Upon reminiscing, months ago I was playing Myst3 and I asked my roomy if the D'ni created the worlds to be puzzles on purpose, it didn't make any sense whatsoever nor help the story. It then occurred to me that almost any game have these side elements. Things that are in the game that don't detach it from the experience, but instead enforces the game aspect. Leading back to my oldest rule, ultimately its a game, games are meant to be played, and be fun.

An example is Zelda. The temples had no social or ritual features or application other than to supply the player with an intriguing experience to play. Its already known that if Zelda was realistic in the least bit, it would suck tremendously. Although the story would be probably be highly believable with everything being purposeful. But go any further and you have a movie.

The problem lies within that, the balance between game aspect and realism and believability. I could throw all realism out the window, but that wouldn't be intriguing to play with little purpose. I'm shooting for a balance between the two and trying to blend the two together as best I can. So if anyone ever asks "Why would anyone do this to go through a door everyday?" ... because I say so, there level are designed as puzzles on purpose for your entertainment.

Most HL mods don't have to deal with this, most people don't encounter observations like this though. Depending on the project, especially this one, understanding how gameplay and experience drive players really helps to direct the mod. Most mods have a lot of this already in play that the game they are modding has already a balance and no one is questioning such aspects. Like some quirks are good, like there is no human possible way Freeman could carry all of those weapons at the same time; and some bad quirks, like how come Freeman never eats, sleeps, or needs to piss. If these problems were corrected, without justice HL would suck. Its not fun, you might as well go play The Sims.

Learning to control and balance these quirks and aspects is a powerful thing justified by how much game do you want the player to experience. I'm glad that most of it is taking care of by HL already. Trying to design a perfect game from scratch, or near scratch, or even changing the gameplay type would teach you this. Even if its a mod, boil everything down to the minimal that it could possibly be and mod as if no one has ever played a video in their life, even the stuff that is commonly known. This helps to establish the new universe you are creating.

Just an observation.
(and a prewrite, fuh.)
Rimrook RimrookSince 2003
Posted 16 years ago2008-05-29 16:54:46 UTC Post #250675
Very interesting.

While writing my games document for my first coursework I had to use a few books as references and one of the books I used is called:

Theoretical Topic II ? Nine Trade-Offs of Game Design by Francois Dominic Laram?e ? Game Design Perspectives: pg. 116

I'll paste in what I wrote at the top:

The theory about the ?Nine Trade-Offs of game Design? by Francois Dominic Laram?e discusses the nine sets of conflicting goals that a game designer has to decide due to tight deadlines or budget limits. He discusses the idea that ?each of us, deep inside, harbours a personal conception of the ?Ultimate Game,? a perfect product capable of satisfying the needs of every player until the end of time.?

These are the titles he discussed:

?Balance versus Enjoyment?
?Realism versus Understandability?
?Structure versus Freedom?
?Mood versus Playability?
?Completeness versus Manageability?
?Innovation versus Familiarity?
?Scope versus Concision?
?Violence versus Isolation?
?Breadth versus Depth versus Pace?

I found it interesting cause the points he makes do open your eyes as to the decisions that have to be made when designing a game...

A lot of work!
Habboi HabboiSticky White Love Glue
Posted 16 years ago2008-05-29 17:07:11 UTC Post #250676
Myst 3 is an awesome game. The whole series is.
Penguinboy PenguinboyHaha, I died again!
Posted 16 years ago2008-05-29 21:32:49 UTC Post #250679
Myst is awesome for a reason, its good to understand that reason to continue making awesome games. Not all the same I hope, you get my point.

Rimboi, that stuff is gold. Everyone should copy and paste that in to a txt file and save it.

Funny though, I guess I'm during something right if I have a similar understanding as Francois Dominic Laram?e.

Finally understanding this kinda stuff makes me feel good about the project as a whole. Talked to Daubster (literally) and he seems optimistic about the progress and the mod itself. The other day, Grim thought somehow we'll pull this bitch off and make it good.

EDIT: Have to sign up some mappers to do that as mentioned before. I'm going to see if I can set that up ahead of time so after the demo goes public we can hit the ground running.
Rimrook RimrookSince 2003
Posted 16 years ago2008-05-29 23:18:09 UTC Post #250683
Grim thought somehow we'll pull this bitch off and make it good.
Damn straight.
TheGrimReafer TheGrimReaferADMININATOR
Posted 16 years ago2008-05-30 00:11:26 UTC Post #250684
I have faith.
Tetsu0 Tetsu0Positive Chaos
Posted 16 years ago2008-05-30 01:35:28 UTC Post #250685
There is no spoon.
Penguinboy PenguinboyHaha, I died again!
Posted 16 years ago2008-05-30 12:07:35 UTC Post #250693
waitwut?

Kuh-Bewm!!!
Rimrook RimrookSince 2003
Posted 16 years ago2008-06-04 16:54:03 UTC Post #250910
small update

Here's Imengo, a commander of the Human detachment of military.
User posted image
The player, yaarr!
User posted image
Same but I didn't finish the coloring. I hate that style anyway but it still looks nice.
User posted image
Decided to change the commander from Seidon to Imengo because the name was no longer fitting his character. However, the head scientist of the civilian science team that's traveling with the military detachment will be named Seidon.

Also, set up the factions correctly. Try to follow along

You Has:

The Player
Navengers
Human Military
Human Science Team
Proving Ground AI

The player is allied with the Navengers and the human science team but nothing else.

The Navengers are allied with only the Player, they hate all humans.

The Human military is allied with only the science team.

The AI is only allied with the science team.

A good conflict is the internal squabbles among the military and science teams on the human's behalf. The player's alliance with the science team upsets the Navengers, which believe all human have the same motive to take over after the military fucked up relations commanded by the arrogant asshole Imengo. And of course, the science team developed the proving ground AI so they have full clearance that the player may use to an advantage.

Setting that up adds a lot to how the player will interact with certain characters. Makes it easier on my part thinking of events and such, getting in to the character's minds a little bit.
Rimrook RimrookSince 2003
Posted 16 years ago2008-06-04 17:01:40 UTC Post #250911
That's captain Jack Sparrow to you, sir.
Posted 16 years ago2008-06-04 17:22:04 UTC Post #250912
cap'n crunch ___
Rimrook RimrookSince 2003
Posted 16 years ago2008-06-04 18:04:44 UTC Post #250914
.no.
Rimrook RimrookSince 2003
Posted 16 years ago2008-06-04 18:09:45 UTC Post #250915
But Captain Jack is awesome. :(
monster_urby monster_urbyGoldsourcerer
Posted 16 years ago2008-06-04 18:16:58 UTC Post #250916
awesome in his own sense but has nothing to do with 6D i assure you.
Rimrook RimrookSince 2003
Posted 16 years ago2008-06-04 18:26:15 UTC Post #250917
Fair enough. :)

The alliance system sounds complex from the players point if view. Can't wait for further updates. :)
monster_urby monster_urbyGoldsourcerer
Posted 16 years ago2008-06-04 23:06:03 UTC Post #250919
He played an amazing part as Sweeny Todd too.

This is looking good, I can't wait for a demo.
Posted 16 years ago2008-06-04 23:11:28 UTC Post #250920
Sweeney Todd was awesome but everyone I know said it sucked and the theatre play was way better.

AS IF I have the time and money to go to a play now o'days.
Rimrook RimrookSince 2003
Posted 16 years ago2008-06-04 23:19:07 UTC Post #250921
i supposed it depends largely on your tastes. some people don't like dark slasher-musicals, some people do!
Posted 16 years ago2008-06-05 02:03:45 UTC Post #250922
Utterly off topic, but Sweeney Todd was indeed awesome. I'm not normally one for morbid humour, but it was great. Would've been better without the undeniably gay sailor pretending to be in love with Joanna.
Strider StriderTuned to a dead channel.
Posted 16 years ago2008-06-05 02:43:33 UTC Post #250923
Utterly off topic
NO U! my thread, GET OFF MY CLOUD!

I think the gay sailor going after Joanna was a bit of light to an awfully dark ending. The whole thing was morbid enough to end someone's life. :(
Rimrook RimrookSince 2003
Posted 16 years ago2008-06-05 03:05:50 UTC Post #250924
Heh, I just didn't like the actor. :death:
Strider StriderTuned to a dead channel.
Posted 16 years ago2008-06-05 03:29:33 UTC Post #250927
well someone had to suck to make Johnny Depp look better. :P
Rimrook RimrookSince 2003
Posted 16 years ago2008-06-05 21:46:21 UTC Post #250948
Haha. I was keeping quiet about loving the movie but seeing ask you guys are now talking about it...

Saw it in the cinema.
Recommended to everyone.
Bought the soundtrack.
Played soundtrack in car.
Bought DVD.
monster_urby monster_urbyGoldsourcerer
Posted 16 years ago2008-06-08 06:56:27 UTC Post #251029
Rimrook: Is there a Fixed release date? (just for curiosity)
:D
Posted 16 years ago2008-06-08 09:15:36 UTC Post #251031
nnnnyeah
Rimrook RimrookSince 2003
Posted 16 years ago2008-06-09 04:28:17 UTC Post #251053
Posted 16 years ago2008-06-09 17:29:45 UTC Post #251081
:plastered: :thefinger:
Rimrook RimrookSince 2003
Posted 16 years ago2008-06-11 11:47:24 UTC Post #251134
G'luck with teh progress...
Posted 16 years ago2008-06-14 11:48:51 UTC Post #251231
Status updates??
Tetsu0 Tetsu0Positive Chaos
Posted 16 years ago2008-06-14 13:10:12 UTC Post #251234
Not yet, but now that Rim and I are both on break, we're going to kick some 6D asshole.

So... Soon. (and/or -ish)
TheGrimReafer TheGrimReaferADMININATOR
Posted 16 years ago2008-06-14 14:43:42 UTC Post #251238
that's all i wanted to hear :)
Tetsu0 Tetsu0Positive Chaos
Posted 16 years ago2008-06-14 20:44:25 UTC Post #251251
So... Soon. (and/or -ish)
Now. I've already started.

Status: Getting its ass kicked.
Rimrook RimrookSince 2003
Posted 16 years ago2008-06-25 16:29:34 UTC Post #251825
All the links to the demo versions seem to be down. Any chance for a mirror?
Posted 16 years ago2008-06-25 16:39:41 UTC Post #251826
All the newer stuff seems to be up.
As for older media - go to our Moddb page.
Daubster DaubsterVault Dweller
Posted 16 years ago2008-06-25 18:29:22 UTC Post #251829
Nothing on the maprookie.com/6d page works, except moddb link, benchmark, and completion chart.
Posted 16 years ago2008-06-26 06:02:43 UTC Post #251832
all of which haven't been upkept. once the demo comes out here, i need to finish that bitch up and provide a home for the project. Its started but needs finishing. A LOT of things need finishing... especially the demo.

sorry i haven't posted updates, not really necessary to at this point.

here's a progress note: it looks like it could come out on time.

Also, this is my new homepage for a while.
Rimrook RimrookSince 2003
Posted 16 years ago2008-06-26 06:47:46 UTC Post #251837
Hey Rimrook Are you sure the countdown's excact? Or an estimate? :D
Posted 16 years ago2008-06-26 08:19:34 UTC Post #251841
its set for noon on july 13th, so i think its accurate. at least it better be.
Rimrook RimrookSince 2003
Posted 16 years ago2008-06-26 12:04:53 UTC Post #251843
That's for the demo then?
@.@ The wait is killing me.
Posted 16 years ago2008-06-26 12:34:48 UTC Post #251845
well sorry i put up a timer... be glad i couldn't make the text larger like i wanted to. :(

the good news is its not that far off, the bad news is its not that far off.
Rimrook RimrookSince 2003
Posted 16 years ago2008-06-27 09:01:33 UTC Post #251869
Finally! :D In years the world waited...the wait is almost over...clock is ticking (tick tock tick tock)...
Posted 16 years ago2008-06-27 13:10:58 UTC Post #251871
Its possible I can finish mapping pretty soon here. Its looking like we will really hit that mark.

That actually makes me feel gewd.
Rimrook RimrookSince 2003
Posted 16 years ago2008-06-28 01:21:26 UTC Post #251922
Posted 16 years ago2008-06-28 11:01:27 UTC Post #251937
hope you guys can handle the r_speeds... 1000-2000 wpolies + prop model epolies ranging to about ~9000.

its all optimized as best it can get of course.

a while back i think it was agreed to go a little above the limits of a standard dm map just for this. can't really remember though.
Rimrook RimrookSince 2003
Posted 16 years ago2008-06-29 00:33:58 UTC Post #251946
we can handle r_speeds..(right guys?)
Posted 16 years ago2008-06-29 07:35:09 UTC Post #251950
SP maps have much higher r_speed limits anyway. What would lag online with a couple of players aboard (1500-2000 wpolies) runs perfectly in SP. Keep it below 2000 and everything'll be fine. :>
Daubster DaubsterVault Dweller
Posted 16 years ago2008-06-29 09:10:20 UTC Post #251951
unlike some people, I'm not trying to recreate or even make it look like HL2.
Rimrook RimrookSince 2003
Posted 16 years ago2008-06-29 20:04:38 UTC Post #251964
Yes you are! LIAR!

Look at the Hammerhead! Its a complete ripoff of...erm...

Yeah ok.
monster_urby monster_urbyGoldsourcerer
Posted 16 years ago2008-06-30 17:54:28 UTC Post #251967
NOTICE: The timer is not correct! according to that, I would be releasing it at 4 in the morning on monday... I don't know how to fix the timer, but just to let you know, it comes out at noon sunday, July 13th. (noon my time. its 5:51 at the time writing this... so calculate you're own offsets.

sk_apache_health is now 900. You can thank Urb for the brilliant suggestion. :pwned:
Rimrook RimrookSince 2003
Posted 16 years ago2008-07-01 06:19:40 UTC Post #252008
Oh yeah...can't wait :nuts:
Taylor TaylorJohn Romero's Bitch
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