AVEE'S PROFILE

Massive fangasm for the newly revealed trailer of Odin Sphere Leifdrasir.

The game will apparently include an HD remastered version of the original game (not that it weren't already gorgeous), as well as an extra mode with several added features such as new areas, platforming action, new enemies, new character abilities, an enhanced crafting system, etc.

You can watch the trailer below. The first half showcases the remastered original game, the second half introduces the new content.
I'm really excited about this remake and it's great to see a professional dev studio being passionate about their projects enough to offer both options, and caring about their fans.

This is probably what Squeenix should do with the FF7 remake: one version should only have better graphics and another should redesign everything. That way every single fan would be happy with it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yo11vp8cd_8&feature=youtu.be

I just learned about it thanks to the Other Adisq Awards rerun and would like to share this with you guys.
Angèle Dubeau & La Pietà, a well-known string band from Québec, Canada, released an album of video game music arrangements and won the Classical Album of The Year award.

The album features medleys of games including Chrono Trigger, Halo 3, Angry Birds, Heavy Rain, Final Fantasy and Secret of Mana.
I just listened to a few tracks and I must say, they did and amazing job.

Here's the Secret of Mana medley someone uploaded on Youtube. As for me I'm definitely buying that album.


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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKus0ofMFvs

Was the search feature that usually appears in the upper right corner taken out today? I just noticed it's missing and I was actually using this feature quite a few times a day.

Again for my Roguelike project under 2k3.
I want the hero to face a direction without moving if an arrow key is tapped, while if it is pressed and held the hero will move.
I can't figure out how to code this, so any help would be greatly appreciated ^^

I have to mention that using a "Move Hero: Wait" stops the hero for too long between movements. The coding should avoid using this command (or find a way to lessen the waiting time) if possible.

Also, moving with this system should still allow for Collision events to initiate.

Okay, I don't know where this thread will go and it's quite blurted out, but these ideas just popped up after reading recent posts on the item hoarding thread and I wanted to share them.

Are RPG battle systems shallower than other genres' battle systems ?

I am referring to the "purer" kinds of RPG battle systems here, such as turn-based and ATB gauges systems, with command selection as the only mean of interaction.

By shallower, I mean that winning a battle within these systems all comes down to two things:

1) Matching attributes (such as exploiting elemental weaknesses or inducing some sort of handicap: silencing a spell caster can be considered as exploiting a weakness)

2) Optimizing numbers (such as using the most effective attacks for maximum HP damage or using the most effective ability in a given situation to minimize damage received, or maximizing experience points received)

But what about devising strategies, you say? When I think about it, the player's tasks only come down to these two goals regardless of how many different character abilities, equipment pieces, items, status effects, battlefield effects, alchemy recipes, resources gathering and crafting, etc. you can include in that kind of battle system.

Now let's add another goal, another layer to this battle system. Taking Strategy RPGs such as Fire Emblem as an example with the moving of character units on a battlefield grid. We now add a form of control over which characters can engage the enemy and which are more likely to be targeted, thus deepening the battle system by adding another task and complicating strategies.

Let's add Reaction Inputs (dunno how these are officially called) during attack and defense animations, the player having to press the right buttons with the right timing to alter outcomes or strengthen the previous goals (added damage, etc.) That's another layer here that draws the player's reaction skills.

My inspiration stops here... There are several other ways we could think of for adding layers of complexity to RPG battle systems.

It seems to me that more and more professional (or "industrial" if you'd prefer) RPGs nowadays try to deepen their battle system in such ways. Is it the same in the indie game development community?

Hopefully all repliers will read this little sentence here: I am not trying to belittle RPG battle systems, even though I admit having a strong preference for battle systems that include action elements.

This thread's goal is to discuss RPG battle systems' depth and suggest viewpoints or interesting design ideas toward it.

I'd love to hear what you think on this matter :)

P.S.: the thread's title is chosen for attention-grabbing purposes only :P