Item Descriptions

[Volyren Nightsong]

I think i offered to help with item descriptions and flavour text,inanother thread here, cant quite remember, i was on a plane and having a hard time of using the phone keyboard. (Which im still sadly stuck on until tonight)

At any rate, having made (or rather attempted to make) a few computer rpg's of my own, i know how quickly the momentum can be lost, especially when you have just a couple of people working. (In my case, just me)
the part that always stopped me dead in my tracks was the ungodly ammount of text that you never quite think about until its sitting there, staring you down, chomping at the bit for a chance to drain your creative energy, like some literary vampire.
when i first went to the store and lloked at weapons and armor, and saw the same descriptions for all types, i had the flashback of where i finally gave up on my game, after having spent 3 months creating the battle system and whatnot, and getting all the kinks worked out. Then another month spent on character dialogue, scenes, and encyclopedia (in game) entries for history, towns, famous figues,etc. I couldnt wait to have a few friends try it. Before i got the first compliment, i got the first question. "Hey what does this item do?" Then it hit me. I just worked all that time on a game, with a very intuitive and nearly limitless item combination system (stick+string=bow, sharpened stick(or simple spear)+large spoon(or ladle)= Atl Atl, viper's fang+small piston= Hypodermic needle.)
i knew then i would never finish. The game was over.
Over 12,000 items, never mind the numerous combinations resulting in "unique" variations of common items. (Venom Dragon's Fang+Medium Piston= Potion Injector)
i was crushed under the weight of what i had created.
i dont need any credit (i guess screen name's ok, but not my real one) and i dont expect you to even consider, until i show you how i might help. I will post several flavour text entries here later(when i can use a computer with a decent keyboard.)to give you an idea of how i might can help.
I also know what its like to have people change your work, or try to add their own twist to it. Given that, i assure you i would take no liberties with the fiction you have created. I have but two questions before i put together a "taste test "for you to check out.
*note* i also know the aggravation of making text fit in small graphical boxes. So i would make sure to keep the text decriptions about the same size/letter count as what is already there.
1. I guess this is the most important question. Is it possible to copy paste text into your editor/development kit. (Kinda pointless to do this if ya can't, huh?)

2. The weapon description (placeholder?) Mentions weapon modifications, and their incompatibility with gun x. Are mods planned, or was this an attempt to let players know that these were lower end weaponry?

Anyway, i will post a handful of examples later, and if you think they might help, i will have some free time over the next few weeks that i could work on those for you. (And this way, you dont have to release any files, nor have to worry about getting viruses or something from me. I can post entries to pastebin, and you can either add them, modify them, or choose not to use them at your leisure).

Ive been playing this game almost nonstop since i downloaded it. You have definately achieved the right balance and progression. And though it kind of throws you into the middle of the ocean without a life preserver, even that contributes to the immersion. After all, its a cruel world out there right?

[Raven]

You sure do talk a lot...
(just kidding a bit !)

It seems like Cory isn't here right now, so you may have to wait a little before getting any answer...

(Edit : Cory is planning a story mode, maybe your help would be useful for this ?)

[fallen]

Volyren Nightsong - it is a cruel, dirty, mean world =) In response:

1. yes we can cut and paste.
2. Weapon mods have been planned but do not exist yet. All sorts of things like recoil compensation to different types of sights to silencers to reduce heat build-up in combat. We are always happy to hear more suggestions!

Definitely post your examples here. As you have pointed out, there is just a lot of text to generate. We love the community to lend a hand. No promises to use it, but its great to have excitement and help from the team, and thanks for the good encouragement!

[Volyren Nightsong]

No problem, like i said, ive had a few people try to help me on a few projects, and i was always left in an akward position when they had worked so hard on something, but knowing it didnt fit into my game.
So i assure you, no hard feelings if you choose not to use something.
and apologies for the verbosity. Ive written a few books, and i tend to over explain things when i type, since thats exactly what you need in a book.
Its a hard habit to break.
I will make some notes on a few weapons and armours and get to work when i get home. Possibly, if you like what i can do, i could look at a list of items, so i could start tackling them. (Not to get ahead of myself). I will assume you would have the same worries as I, about releasing item lists, so i wanted to assure you i wouldnt release any info, and can even find an NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement) for you to use, in case you have people help you out on things that you dont want to be public knowledge. Also, feel free to just PM or email me, so that this stuff stays off of search engines and there would be no risk of someone finding a listing. (Make em work for their faq/walkthrough! ). II would have simply mailed you to begin with, but im having issues with this horrid service down here.
Anyway, no more long posts from me (at least until i have something to show) and thanks for the opportunity(even if ya don't use 'em)

[k0rd]

the game with 12,000+ unique items would be awesome if you had enough different kind of item statistics in order to make a large number of those items have an effect derived from the sum of its parts - er, that is, unless you really want to statically define each object (which you would kind of have to do with graphics anyway to a degree)
i like simple, complex games the best. like ST and nethack. any degree of complexity can add fun at the cost of the player having to learn the system.
i think the lesson here is :as a developer, don't add complexity to a game w/o doing the math first. you aren't the most successful developer to abandon a project that got out of control. didn't activision cancel development on a bunch of games recently?

[Volyren Nightsong]

this was a game made using one of those rpg making programs. it was one of my first attempts at a game. and the fact that i was the only one working on it, was what really did it in, it was simply too much work for one person to do (when you have a full time job, no less) looking at the fact that it took me over 6 months to make a 30 minute demo, i knew that by the time i actually completed enough of the game to warrant a real release, it might not even run on most computers. and i didnt need graphics for the weapons/items. it was a custom system, built using variables, text menu choices and a few other custom scripts. the player was never meant to create all those weapons or items. it was just there so people could create their own weapons, and give a feeling of individuality in a game where so many of the games made using the creation software end up looking the same and using the same sprites.

back on track though.
ive been delayed due to my luggage being lost at the airport. (my damned computer!!!!) i would be even more upset, but apprently they have it, verified the contents, and have mailed it out free of charge via 2-day air. so i should be able to knock out some descriptions for you VERY soon. i apologize for the delay, and hipe you can understand. perhaps i will download a text editor for my android and see how easy it will be to copy/paste using it.
i will attempt to focus on doing just a few examples of items in each category.
i was thinking of doing a few guns, a few armors, and possilby some cyber equipment, though that may be more difficult due to needing a better understanding of the tech behind them, because i dont want to have a description like:

***warning! Silliness ahead!!*****
(made up example)

"The Schieza-x73 Nano Sphinctor was originally designed by ProctoDyne Systems LLC as an advanced prosthesis for the victims of the infamous "Tezpur pepper incident" at the 2234 International Chili Cook-Off. The victims that survived that fateful day were forced to endure wearing colostomy bags for the rest of their lives, due to the damage that the weapons grade peppers did to their GI systems. The technology was re-purposed and made infamous recently by the crime-spree of the notorious criminal ThunderButt who used the system to hold in enough compressed gas as to create a weapon that could deafen and stun all those around him."
****end siliness alert.*****

who knows if i got the date right, the company name right? i would mostly not have any idea. which is why im trying to play and read as much about the game as i can.
keep in mind, this is a silly example, but things like that might be hard to work on without knowing enough of the fiction behind the companies and historical events to tie the items into the game world, and make them feel like a real part of the world.

i should be able to work on some REAL examples soon enough, but sadly i cannot even play cyber knights now, as im having to conserve battery power, since my charger was also in my lost luggage.
i DID however go Elite, though i have not had a chance to play again, since. did the save games from one transfer over to the other?

[Raven]

They do ! In the saved game menu...
(Love your silly description, by the way ! )

[Volyren Nightsong]

Ya know. I'm still ticked about my computer... however i must say, my fiancee(common law wife?) Just reminded me why i proposed.... she doesnt play many games, and knows nothing of cyber-punk, shadowrun, or this killer game, cyber knights. I showed her some of the game, and explained a few concepts, like the easter-eggishness of the whole Ares corp (monoswords, when do we get em? I mean duoblades....?) She loves to help, even though she doesnt know much about the game,and she assumed that the above joke item was real. She then said, "and you just made up the company? That proctodyne bit?" When i told her that the whole itemwas just a joke while i wait for my computer, and the notes ive already done. SShe then put her hands to her hips and told me that she was dissapointed in me.
Before i could get offended, she said" there is that whole joke about ares being replaced with mars, right?"
"Well, yeah, i guess so, but..."
She laughed at me. "And proctodyne was the best you could come up with for a mechanical butthole? "
"Well, it was just an example, whats wrong with what i did?"
" well if mars makes weapons, wouldnt you think cyber-shpinctors would be made by Uranus?"
THATS WHY I LOVE HER!
On a serious note, ihope the computer gets here soon. Too many hand written notes and descriptions will be harder to have to re-enter it into a text editor.
i hate uusing phone keypads...grrrrr
anyway, hope to do a few "real" ones soon. Maybe we could throw a few joke items in the mix, as just sellable items (for a laugh and 500-1000 Nuyen)
later guys

[Volyren Nightsong]

finally, got the computer back! will have some samples for you very soon.
also, i found a neat little program that may help you to increase your sales, and allow PC gamers (probably a bigger audience for this type of game) to get in on the cyber knight action.
i will attempt to run cyber knights in it. from what i understand you can simply transfer the .apk file into the program and play the games on windows.
i will make a seperate post shortly to see how it goes. there seem to be a few android emulators, but this one seems more professionally done, and promises not to be slow and clunky like the others i have seen.

[spectre]

That's hilarious Volyren! You're fiancee sounds pretty awesome!