ELDER71'S PROFILE

author=kory_toombs
I'm not 100% sure what you're after, but at the start of the game create a control switch. Then just have a common event / parallel process check if it exists. This control switch will not exist if a player has not began to play the game and will disappear if you don't save. Other than that you could try to force the player to save at the start of the game.

The problem is with loading, not saving. Since I'm skipping the default 'Main Menu' screen that appears when you open up a game (New Game, Load, Exit), it's essentially as though the game automatically starts a new game each time.

To make a 'Load Game' function work, therefore, I have to be able to use an event/script call to check for save files and then I have to be able to load a save file using an event.

Apologies, I know it's quite a complicated problem

author=Marrend
If you're going to forgo the main title screen, you could probably still use "Scene_Manager.call(Scene_Save)" or "Scene_Manager.call(Scene_Load)" for the save/load operations. Scene_Load's default processing already disallows the loading of save files that do not exist, though, it still displays 16 slots. Checking against whither or not a save file exists might look like...

def save_check
  i = 1
  while i < 16
    if i < 10
      text = "Save0" + i + ".rvdata2"
    else
      text = "Save" + i + ".rvdata2"
    end
    return FileTest.exist?(text)
  end
end

...this? Though, I'm not entirely sure! I think you're right about loading a specific save file.

The problem is that I want to completely cut the Save Game window and the Load Game window and handle it all purely with events and script calls so I can create a custom interface with Pictures.

author=Dragnfly
The moment the player gets a weapon, especially a gun, they'll feel more secure for a moment but any smart player will then ask "The game's giving me a gun. Why? Is something going to attack me soon?"

You can play off this for good dread and anxiety by giving the player a gun but have it take several shots to drop an enemy. So if they search and find *Zelda treasure music* 1 bullet, they'll have brief relief because they found ammo but on the other hand, one bullet isn't going to do much. If you go this route, be sure to make it clear, possibly in a short cutscene, that enemies take several shots. Otherwise, the player will waste their opening salvo not knowing that the enemy won't die. Worst case scenario they'd think enemies are invincible or will take all 6 bullets to kill.

Another option is to have one bullet stop, but not kill, enemies. Of course, the usefulness of that depends on enemy movement and map layout.

Ideally, I want to create that 'on your knees thanking Christ' feeling when you stumble upon one bullet in a drawer somewhere, but marry that with a lingering feeling that the gun is nothing more than token comfort.

You're right that establishing its usefulness (or uselessness) is important. A cutscene may be the way to go, but then I think letting the player frantically empty their gun at the first enemy that shuffles their way and then be left helpless is a good way of establishing that the revolver does not make you safe.

As we've talked about, I'm gonna be keeping combat on the back seat and always treat it like a frantic last resort. I want to quickly set a scene of helplessness, and make it an obvious rule with this game that you can't shoot your way out of a bad situation.

Some enemies you can kill in a few shots, others can only be staggered. I think that all it takes to keep this fair is to have a save point just before a new enemy type is encountered (or a checkpoint of some kind) so that when the player fires every round at an enemy they could never kill (and which will probably kill them if they stood still and fired at it) they won't have to retread much (or any) of the game to give it another go.

It's a balancing act, in the end. I'm gonna playtest this to death AND then hopefully find a cadre of helpers to bug-hunt it for me before it goes 'live', as we wannabe devs say.

EDIT

Rephrase: my first (and maybe only) use for the revolver is as a kind of false-hope device; abusing that initial sense of safety and empowerment until its very presence in the inventory is just another visual cue to your weakness and vulnerability.

Combat, overall, will be more of a puzzle-solving mechanism than a central feature, where sometimes an enemy is an obstacle to the next jigsaw piece and you have to fight it.


I'm just rambling enthusiastically now.

author=StarSkipp
The bulge between the tail and the head has a crying face... Once seen can not be unseen :>

Agh. You've slightly spoiled an otherwise excellent title screen

author=Dragnfly
That's so stylish and the description was a really fantastic read. Such atmosphere to this gun.

Also... He's been to France. Good to know.

"He" may not be the he you see on screen :) Can't quite explain that until I've finalised a few details, but all will be made clear! The urge is overwhelmingly to show you folks all of the other inventory items so far, too, but something's gotta get kept back for the game itself.

author=StarSkipp

author=Elder71
I haven't done any animations or shooting mechanic eventing yet, but when you have the Revolver equipped, pressing 'A' fires it. The 'bullets in the chamber' graphic corresponds to how many rounds you have left, if you have zero, the gun just clicks.

Oh god, animations coupled with shooting was an absolute nightmare with me. Do you have a good plan on how you'll be implementing them? It looks so easy in your head but in practice it's like getting brainfreeze from ice brain. I do really like the menu here, is it in real time?

I think so, yeah.
It basically runs something like:


So yeah, something like that ^. You're 100% right, though, it quickly becomes a sprawling labyrinth of complexity and confusion. Especially if you're not particularly organised (which I ain't).

The ammo thing is a much simpler business:



Realistically, I'm expecting the combat mechanics to be clunky and slightly unreliable at best, but then, horror game combat is meant to leave you with a feeling of vulnerability and helplessness. Otherwise the things that go bump in the dark are just annoyances.

So yeah, it works. Using an array of variables, pictures, switches and complimentary events/common events, this menu works. You press 'S' to bring it up, and keep pressing 'S' to scroll through your items. The one you land on is automatically equipped.

Press 'D' to close the menu, or else it goes away on its own after a minute or so.

I haven't done any animations or shooting mechanic eventing yet, but when you have the Revolver equipped, pressing 'A' fires it. The 'bullets in the chamber' graphic corresponds to how many rounds you have left, if you have zero, the gun just clicks.

Yaddayadda - pressing 'Esc' brings up the options menu and there'll be instructions in-game.

Took two days to get the design down and get all the conditional branches to play ball. It's never as simple as you think it's gonna be.