My very first quest system i didn't use tutorials

Sorry I uploaded it to rapidshare, but I can't seem to upload anything to MU despite having a premium account there
http://rapidshare.com/files/229547393/QuestSystemTest3.rar.html

if uploading to MU works later I'll upload a mirror there too

I just used what I know from CNC and now MMF to create this, if it's any good use the quest system however you want, improve it, use it in your own games though I doubt it's better than other quest systems out there just don't touch the characters, tho these are no good low quality sprites I'm actually considering making a complex adventure game(100% freeware, I don't support the sale of games made with MMF or RPG Maker and stuff like that) with these characters and they're my own designs and everything.

So guys, take a look at it, offer some friendly advice, I decided to go ahead and make my own quest system first before reading any tutorials to see if i could do it.

This is only the first part of the quest system, my game has two kinds of quests so I'll start working on the second part of the system now which might prove a bit more challenging.

My main concern is whether or not I manage the quest log and inventory windows well, dialog boxes and text, is my coding way too complex for something that could've been done much easier and so on.

If you have the time, look through it, I WILL read a tutorial on how to do quest and inventory but first I want to see if my own quest system is any good.

Just some things you should take note of:
- The Fox's Dialog updates with every quest Update and so does the description in the Quest Log
- Mouseover the Quest Title in the Quest Log to read a description of the quest and see its current status.
- The Quest updates once you pick up a Healing Herb.
- Once you complete the quest collect 9 Healing Herbs, then try to pick up a 10th and see if the dialog box works fine, i had some issues with it but i think i sorted it out.
- In the Woods the girl's controls switch to Platform(her 2nd Movement type)

edit: In the version I uploaded the Doctor doesn't look in the direction of the girl when you talk to him but that's not a big deal, i forgot to add that cause i was fixing the events after the dialog when you reach a maximum number of herbs messed up, i added it now but i'm not reuploading the file just for that lol

edit 2: File dropper link
http://www.filedropper.com/questsystemtest3
also with the fixed direction thing on the doctor

Use http://www.filedropper.com/ it's far superior.

thanks dude
I uploaded it there
http://www.filedropper.com/questsystemtest3

Is there a way so I don't have to have the Quest Log, Dialog Box and Inventory windows in every frame or the quests and still add to their values, update them and have them show up when needed even if they're on another frame?

I mean, i know these are just shortcuts, but they clutter up my workspace and i don't do the destroy/create object thing cause in MMF2 unlike in CNC it seems you can't see the objects created in the application so deciding where they should show up is kind hard, plus i think that would be more trouble than just toggling visibility and animations like i do now for "system windows"

You could use Global Values. These work over frames.

stephen1980

I know Global Values work over frames, I've used them before in CNC for graphics settings like, low, medium and high and some other stuff, but i don't think they can make an object from another frame act as if it's in all frames even if a shortcut to that object isn't placed in every frame.

As for Global Values, aren't there only A-Z Global values and nothing more? I use values as you can see, but I don't quite understand all the complex stuff relating to values, strings and especially those weird equations, I'll have to go over the tutorials on Marv's site to get a better understand of that I think.

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100% freeware, I don't support the sale of games made with MMF or RPG Maker and stuff like that) with these characters and they're my own designs and everything.

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Why?

I dunno, from what I've seen you can't really make highly polished, clean games with MMF, they all have that "MMF feel" to them even if they're very, very well made.

Maybe I'm wrong, i dunno, but I've seen free flash games that have been far more polished and professional looking than MMF games, I have yet to see a MMF game that would truly blow me away.

I'm going to make what I can for my game with MMF but my ultimate goal is to get actual programmers interested in the project so we can put a team together and have them properly program the game engine in C++ or something, and even then the game would still be freeware since this particular game was meant to be freeware but i could see myself selling that.

What you make really depends on the quality of work. I don't know exactly what you mean by MMF feel. You need to look at some higher profile games, like Fairie Solitaire, etc. I'd never guess that was made in MMF unless I already knew.

I agree with shawn. It depends on your ability. There are many first class applications made in MMF.

Marv

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Originally Posted by Shawn

Fairie Solitaire. I'd never guess that was made in MMF unless I already knew.

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That game IS very well done, huh? :)

stephen1980

Not to sidetrack, as I know this isn't the OP's original thread topic, but I thought I'd just add that I think in general, the quality is determined a lot by the quality of game assets; i.e. sprites and/or 3d models, textures, gui, sounds/music, etc. Honestly, I don't see how a typical 2D sprite game programmed in C++ would really look or feel any different from one made in MMF2 if it is using the exact same assets. If you don't use built in movements, but fine tune custom ones, then you won't have issues with the built in movements and whatnot. In many cases, the C++ version probably wouldn't even be as well done as the MMF2 version unless your programmer for the project is able to make a decent game engine.

Also, other than vector graphics support, I don't see what Flash could really do in the realm of 2D that MMF2 couldn't, especially since MMF2 is getting a Flash exporter anyway. But I don't know everything there is to know about Flash.

Just my two cents.

I think you guys might be right, guess I didn't realize that MMF/TGF are far more serious than the RPGMaker programs.
I don't really know anything about applications made with MMF, I'm a gamer so that kinda stuff doesn't interest me much but if you say there's professional and well made applications out there I take your word for it.

As for games, in all honesty as well made as that solitaire game might be, stuff like that doesn't really impress me, if there's something as beautiful looking, sounding and clean as Braid for example made with MMF, a serious adventure game much like the one I'm planning on making I'd love to see it, something with a lot of attention to visuals, sound and custom movement and all that stuff.

Anyway, if someone here(Mr. Marv?) wants to do all the programming for my game for me I'd really appreicate it lol, I'm not a big fan of coding and programming, I'm an artist and the only reason I try to learn MMF as best as I can is because nobody really wants to bother with a complex project such as the one i have in mind :)

btw Marv, it would really mean a lot if you looked over my quest system and tell me what you think, I WILL go over your tutorials on your site but i first wanted someone as experienced as you to give me their opinion on my quest system.

I have downloaded your file and will take a look at it. In all honesty, there are forum members that are far superior to me in coding and using MMF in general, but I thank you for the compliment.

Marv

Just out of curiosity, ShinigamiKiba what is the project you had in mind? Maybe some details? And in my opinion, Marv is one of the better coders on this forum. :)

stephen1980

I'll tell you guys what it is once I have all the concept art down and maybe some proper sprite work done in whatever Moho is called nowadays.

It's basically a fairytale like action adventure game about a little girl living in a small mountain town who befriends a spirit fox and tries to aid the fox into protecting the mountain from a huge, colossus sized crazed spirit. Well that's the basic plot, there's much more to it, the spirit fox, the "evil" spirit they're protecting the mountain from, other playable characters, they all have backstories and what not.

There should be 4 Playable characters.

The little girl - you already saw what her quest system is like, her gameplay style should be action/platformer/exploration, think the Metroid and Castlevania games and since she is the main character the majority of the game consists that type of gameplay.

The other 3 playable characters, 4 maybe if i decide to include one more guy all have somewhat different gameplay styles.

There's a Brawler, his gameplay is platforming/beat em up, but mostly beat em up with a few jumps and wall climbs here and there. That's the Doctor guy in the quest system test, that's his final character design for the spring season.

Another playable character is an agile, fast old dude whose weapons usually differ based on his levels, but for the most part it's just aesthetics and his gameplay style is pretty much the same all the time, platforming with lots of hack and slash action.

AND the fox, but in her "Human" form, you play with her onlye 2-3 times in the game, the final boss battle, a boss battle near the end of the Fall season and maybe one more time.

Now the fox has two types of gameplay depending on boss fight, one is the same as the old man I mentioned before, so his mechanics will be used for that, you know, lots of jumping and hacking and slashing with the addition of some magical attacks for her.
The Spirit Fox's second gameplay style should be similar except her movement will be the all direction one since in the last battle she flies while fighting the final boss.

It may seem complex, but it really isn't all that bad, especially since only the girl has an inventory and stuff while all the other characters pretty much have is a list of "levels" you unlock over time or with special items you find with the girl and play those levels with them(those are the story quests, I'll explain that some other time)

I know it can all be done in MMF, I want to keep the gameplay simple and easy to get into and the graphics as awesome as possible and definitely usage of MP3 music instead of crappy midis.
Now it seems not all MP3s work with MMF's DirectShow thingy, at least not all work for me so I guess some re-encoding and stuff wil have to be done, but there's still time for that.

The game is going to have 4 seasons, think 4 main chapters, spring, summer, fall and winter and lots and lots of cutscenes, but all the cutscenes will be done with the in-game graphics and sprites so they should be easy to do what with them being nothing but scripted non-interactive events and all.

There will be quite a few games you have heard of or seen that were made in MMF, and you would of never guessed thats where they are made :).

On a side note, if your art is fantastic you'll EASILY find programmers to do your bidding.

It's much harder for the coder to find an artist in my experience :).

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Originally Posted by ShinigamiKiba

I know it can all be done in MMF, I want to keep the gameplay simple and easy to get into and the graphics as awesome as possible and definitely usage of MP3 music instead of crappy midis. Now it seems not all MP3s work with MMF's DirectShow thingy, at least not all work for me so I guess some re-encoding and stuff wil have to be done, but there's still time for that.

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Keep in mind that there are some licensing issues when using .mp3's in your games/apps. This is why you are encouraged to convert them. You don't have to use .midi files, you can use .wav or .ogg. :)

stephen1980

There have been a number of games made in MMF that have won the shareware awards i believe, and have been sold at #1 on Big Fish games website. ;)

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Originally Posted by stephen1980

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Originally Posted by ShinigamiKiba

I know it can all be done in MMF, I want to keep the gameplay simple and easy to get into and the graphics as awesome as possible and definitely usage of MP3 music instead of crappy midis. Now it seems not all MP3s work with MMF's DirectShow thingy, at least not all work for me so I guess some re-encoding and stuff wil have to be done, but there's still time for that.

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Keep in mind that there are some licensing issues when using .mp3's in your games/apps. This is why you are encouraged to convert them. You don't have to use .midi files, you can use .wav or .ogg. :)

stephen1980

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Yeah I'd just use .ogg. Compresses like an .mp3 but its an open format so you don't have to worry about licensing and things. And MMF2 has built in support for .ogg

Wait, i got some VERY early concept art, keep in mind i'm only using a mouse for drawing this stuff so until I get a good tablet and a good monitor i can see on(I'm legally blind lolz...and I love drawing, go figure) this kinda concept art will have to do.

Dr. Thomas:
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h102/Shinigami_Kiba/DrThomastestsprite213123.png
This one was drawn on the DS so that's why it's all weird like that
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h102/Shinigami_Kiba/DrThomas.png

The old dude:
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h102/Shinigami_Kiba/234324wqert.png

ONE of the many monsters you encounter during the game:
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h102/Shinigami_Kiba/Seeker.png

Now guys, I want to show you something else, I LOVE designing monsters, I pretty much never run out of ideas, been doing this my entire life so check this out
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdTacyaQpxU&feature=channel_page
Concept art of sorts for this one
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h102/Shinigami_Kiba/Misc/asd2134214asd.png


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xc46v0Msa34&feature=channel_page
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEnTMhuDU7Y&feature=channel_page

please, take a look at my youtube you'll see what I mean :)
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=ShinigamiKiba&view=videos
I got over 100 on there.

I posted those to show you that I'm VERY serious about this game even though those particular monsters won't be in the game...tho i might use some we'll see

That's some cool stuff! I like your hand drawn art style. And your Spore creatures are really cool too

Those are awesome! :D I agree with Shawn, your hand drawn art is very cool! Good work. :)

stephen1980

Guys, here's some more concept art if you want to see, i made this today.

Keeper
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h102/Shinigami_Kiba/Keeper.png

Creepy, yet very cool. :grin:

stephen1980

Comment removed.

I'm thinking of maybe making a potion crafting system so the doctor can brew stronger potions and stuff, but that would only be fun and useful if the characters level up and I'm not sure if I want to make the game that complex...

ShinigamiKiba, I am currently working on a project, "The Young Magician", that will have that feature. Slow going indeed, but very fun. I like the fact that I can mix two different elements and conjure up just about any magic.

Marv

Marv, why don't you and I just make my game together? I'll do the art, you do all that fancy programming stuff and it'll be awesome?

In fact, buddy, you don't have much say in this, once all the sprites and stuff are done in a couple months you're working on the game :D

c'mon it'll be awesome

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Originally Posted by nivram

ShinigamiKiba, I am currently working on a project, "The Young Magician", that will have that feature. Slow going indeed, but very fun. I like the fact that I can mix two different elements and conjure up just about any magic.

Marv

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Marv, that sounds very interesting indeed! :D

stephen1980