30 replies to this topic

[dhm]

I've reached a point where I need a break from my new child project, Heroes of Umbra, so I've switched gears back to Starless Umbra.

If you're unfamiliar with the game, Starless Umbra is an rpg maker project in the works for a long time now. Featured on the MP homepage as a game of the week, I am making an honest effort to finish it up in 2013. In it, you play as two childhood friends as they attempt to find their way back to their hometown after events from a midnight raid on their village send them to far off lands.

I want to invite you all to a release event of sorts on facebook. I'm wrapping up the changes to the next chapter of the game, so you can expect another hour or two of gameplay and a few tweaks to older content. I'll be giving away free stuff, teasing screenshots, and posting all sorts of nonsense, so if you're interested in that please check it out. The scheduled date of release is February 1st, 2013.

If you have any suggestions for the event, feel free to let me know. Any other questions you have are also welcome. Thanks and happy 2013.

[Monkeydog]

I'm excited!

If people haven't played Starless Umbra yet they really should. It's pretty great.

[Glaciermage]

Yes! This is great, DHM! I can't wait to see what else you've worked into this already great game.

[dhm]

Thanks, guys!

There's two new dungeons, two new towns, and of course little minigames and stuff.

My favorite thing about the release is that skills and equips start to diversify, so players can start coming up with lots of neat character builds. The whole thing should feel fast-paced and hopefully fun.

[Monkeydog]

/>There's two new dungeons, two new towns, and of course little minigames and stuff.

Two new as compared to the prologue (which I haven't played since I was waiting for this) or compared to the last big release?

[Glaciermage]

Will it be raining carrots? Is there mine cart jumping?

[dhm]

/>Will it be raining carrots? Is there mine cart jumping?

The carrots is from an android game I developed with libgdx to learn the library. It's not too exciting, I promise.

There will be mine carts!

[Xteven Xavier]

once this is done I will be giving it a download and play

just so you know, I've been holding off til it was finished

[dhm]

/>once this is done I will be giving it a download and play

just so you know, I've been holding off til it was finished

Lots of people have -- I understand. Ten years in the works, I have some patient people interested in seeing this thing complete.

[dhm]

/>

There's two new dungeons, two new towns, and of course little minigames and stuff.

Two new as compared to the prologue (which I haven't played since I was waiting for this) or compared to the last big release?

I don't know how or why I overlooked your reply. :(

By two new I mean two new compared to the prologue.

They're new to me because all of the cutscenes have had massive overhauls, and with the new visual encounters there are new enemies and treasures to find as well.

Essentially, early content in my OLD BIG chapter 7 release was really ugly. It was a lengthy, massive game but the prologue and first two chapters in particular were originally developed before I had a clear idea of how I wanted the game to end, so a lot of the "mystery" the old version had was me being lazy as a developer!

Now that I've closed the loop on how I want the game to end, I've gone back and reflected that in the first chapter and the prologue. Chapter two will also have a few similar overhauls for cutscenes, but I'm really happy with three - seven, so those releases will be really quick.

EDIT: one dungeon is "truly" new in a sense that it was cut from the original game because I didn't have the level of skill or resources to implement everything what I wanted to back in 2004 when I was first working on this area. It's now been added and no one has played it yet. Sorry I'm so vague with release details. />

[Glaciermage]

Hey dhm, is the event itself on facebook? You'll be updating the fan page throughout the day? Just wondering if I need to reactivate my account in order to participate.

[dhm]

Yes, the event page is where all the giveaways are going on. I hit 100 attendees and gave away some steam games, and I'm going to push for another giveaway at 200, but that's unlikely.

[dhm]

Here's a quick preview video/interview I did with Zerephiehell:



It's getting close and I keep finding bugs.

[Glaciermage]

One week, dhm!

I for one, don't mind that the previous saves aren't compatible. The prologue wasn't that long to play thru again, and it'll be a good refresher of the storyline.

Was Zere's "Let's Play" in all german? Is that why you had a hard time with it?

[Monkeydog]

February is going to start awesome for me.
1st New Starless Umbra
2nd I quit Starbucks hopefully forever
3rd Super Bowl yay!
4th New job yay!
5th New Thao Nguyen album I've been waiting forever for.

I'm just saying...Starless Umbra is going to start off February right for me.

[dhm]

Yay MOTW! :)

Thanks all. Yes, his LP was all in german.

[Glaciermage]

I think I heard him swear around 1:16. But otherwise, yeah, I didn't understand much. :) Is Chapter 1 complete, DHM? All bugs destroyed? Or are you still trying to finish in time for Friday?

[dhm]

I've done two playthroughs; there's no show-stopping bugs (that I can find).

I want to update a few NPCs to have more relevant dialogue, but that's about it.

I'm sorta nervous; chapter 1 is fun but I don't know if it holds up to the prologue's standards. We'll see!

[3DS]

I have one thing to say about this game..

HOLY CRAP THIS IS F*(^&#NG AMAZING!!!!

[dhm]

/>I have one thing to say about this game..

HOLY CRAP THIS IS F*(^&#NG AMAZING!!!!

Haha! I'm glad you like it man.

And dear MP, I've pushed chapter one. Big thanks to Glace and MD for really pushing me and expressing interest in my project. Seeing the game on the homepage also gave me a surge of motivation. :) I'm getting better at sticking to medium-term dates.

The first major release of the year is finally behind me. It has honestly been so long since I've gotten any feedback. Chapter one was reworked in a silo, and the prologue was pretty much refined to a very solid state. With that said I'm not sure how chapter one compares to the prologue, especially the inclusion of the next protagonist. I have no idea... let me know your thoughts and reactions to the new chapter. I've done some very different things with this release; things I've never done as a developer. The whole thing feels a bit apprehensive at times. It honestly feels way too long since I've released something, so thanks for the push.

http://dl.starlessumbra.com/sumbra.zip -- feel free to upload the links on the MP homepage with this update as well.

I already forgot to push some minor bugfixes this morning and I'm sure users will find another dozen more, so expect a patch this weekend!