My First Game Ever! 'To the Light'

[Granite]

Okay so earlier today (Christmas day to be exact) there was a small conversation in the chat about games. I forget most of the conversation, but ,after saying I could never make a game, I went and looked up how to make a game in an easy way. Next thing I know its like 5:00 pm and I've got a game right in front of me. :frog:

(version 0.1) <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/x114atq2nxx2ptl/Ether%20and%20Mana.exe?dl=0">https://www.dropbox.com/s/x114atq2nxx2p ... a.exe?dl=0</a><!-- m -->
(version 0.3) <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/0n3qtmkma3hmg2e/Ether%20and%20Mana%20v0.3.exe?dl=0">https://www.dropbox.com/s/0n3qtmkma3hmg ... 3.exe?dl=0</a><!-- m -->
(version 0.5) <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/wqvfsvlmwyr320c/Ether%20and%20Mana%20v0.5.exe?dl=0">https://www.dropbox.com/s/wqvfsvlmwyr32 ... 5.exe?dl=0</a><!-- m -->
(current 0.6) <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/blzpxp55wkvx8qa/To%20the%20Light%20v0.6.exe?dl=0">https://www.dropbox.com/s/blzpxp55wkvx8 ... 6.exe?dl=0</a><!-- m -->

Here's a link to the dropbox download. The game itself is a pure, bare-bones show of my progress. It features two characters, the girl you control being called Mana and a npc guy (he's really nothing more than an object right now) called Ether. The names are only temporary as I haven't come up with final names for them yet. I won't tell you anything else though, so try it out and give me harsh criticism! I'm thinking of doing one more tutorail a day and updating it every week. Buuuuuuuut :effort: Though, I had tons of fun making it, so I might not let it die just yet.
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Update:

[spoiler](version 0.3)
-Added music for all maps
-Updated movement controls
-Added the Work and Garden maps
-Fiddled with Ether. He's now in a new location and does even less now. He's practically just a paining on the ground...

(version 0.5)
-Birthday Update (December 28th)
-Added the Boss and Receptionist characters
-Added looping walking animation for Mana
-Added specific interior and desks for Work
-Added dialogue and go to work question
-Added road outside Home
-Finished planning out the story line.

(version 0.6)
-New Years Update (2015-16)
-Added backgrounds for all current maps.
-Added object sprites for the Garden
-Finalized Ether's first location in the Home.
-Decided on official name 'To the Light'[/spoiler]
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To do list:
[spoiler]-Make more furniture and plants
-Make next area
-Have Mana face the direction she is walking in
-Sprite more characters
-Collision sound effects
-More music[/spoiler]

[Granite]

I've updated the game to version 0.3 everyone. For those who already have v. 0.1 I wouldn't suggest downloading it as its not really much more than 0.1. But I did my best to supply some nice sounding music.

[Kakashi Hatake]

Really digging the music. Room 2's tune creeps me out a bit. =P

[Granite]

As promised, well a day later is better than never, the newest birthday build of my game. This build marks version 0.5. I'd have uploaded the 0.4... but I couldn't get Mana to be able to move. To be honest, I'm really only numbering these to mark my progress and to show which build is the most recent. I'm also making this post so people can see there's a new build on the page. Also, by the end, this story is going to be depressing. But if I make it right, it will also be satisfying and peaceful. Just don't hold me to that claim...

[Rin Takao]

How did you make it and what did you use?

[Granite]

I simply used Game Maker Studio 1.4 when putting it all together.

As for all the sprite work, I used Paint.

Pretty simple tools for an even simpler game.

[Rin Takao]

Cool, I have been interested in making games for quite som time but never got around to it.

[Granite]

Well, I'm not sure how well a collaboration would work, but i'd love to try making a small game with you.

[Rin Takao]

Yeah, that would be cool.
The closest I have got to making a game is messing around in RPG Maker.

[Rin Takao]

You have inspired me to make a game tonight, would you like to be in it Granite?

[Granite]

Sure, there's few things I love more than a good natured self insert. If you need any information, just go ahead and pm me.

[Rin Takao]

Is Granite OC?

[Granite]

Hey Rin, do you mind if we take this conversation to pm, having it here is really clogging up the page.

[Granite]

Hello everyone, and Happy New Year! Anyway, as a new years gift from me to all of you I've churned up another update. And trust me, this will be the last one for a while. After all, I can't expect you all to download a new version every other day. So please, go ahead and download this version and tell me what you guys think. Like, do you like the black and white style? Do you find the floor tiles to be odd? Did you find a graphical or other glitch? Or do you like a certain concept I added? Suggestions for later builds? Go ahead and ask me any kind of question. Please, I've gotten like no feedback.

[Sans]

Feedback time, cause why not.

Downloaded the current version. As I like to do when I review games, I like to place things into the most important categories, also known as Gameplay, Story, and Graphics. Other stuff like soundtrack and bugs are put into Other, the last category.

Now, since this is a first game, I won't be harsh and look at it like the first time game that it is. Therefore, some of the stuff like the lack of a standing animation and dialogue not spoken through an ingame text box I'll leave out.

Let's start.

Gameplay: ???

There really isn't any, so I won't count it.

Story: 3/5

Since this is a first time game, I won't say the story is bad. It's just not fully realized in its current state. However, it does have some potential. The fact that Mana (the character you play as) is the owner of some business and refused a promotion for another coworker can set up some conflict (albeit one that is predictable, but clever writing can turn that on its head.) So, based off potential alone, I'm giving it a 3.

Graphics: 3/5
Aside from the more nitpicky stuff, like the fact the character models don't turn in directions you move, as well as don't have a standing animation for the PC, it's okay. I didn't have an issue with the look of the game, though it does make the game look depressing in a lot of areas, which could be taken advantage of. Though there are a few invisible walls in the third area (the orchard) that I found a bit annoying, but nothing major.

Other: 3/5

Like Graphics and Story, it was okay. The soundtrack is so far my favorite thing about it, though one song started looping into the song currently playing when I entered the third area. I also found the fact I couldn't interact with anything a bit annoying, but that's the thing with first time games.


Suggestions:

From what I've said, some polishing could be done. One other problem I have with the game is the fact I don't really know what I'm supposed to be doing and when I'm supposed to be doing it. So basically, more polishing for the animations, the ability to interact with the environment, possibly an in-game text box, as well as further elaborating on this potential story we have here. The story itself can complement the graphics style quite nicely if its what you are going for.
Final result: 9/15 (Average Game by Sans Standards)

[Kakashi Hatake]

So I'm not the best critic, but I can say that I'm liking the progress. I agree with much of Sans' points, mainly that I think some in-game text boxes would help a lot to provide direction and that interaction would be cool. It's definitely way beyond what I could accomplish, so kudos!