This is precisely why we haven't been discussing it much. I'm actually working on an updated manual which will give more of a substantive guide to everyone. A whole lot has to be changed and adapted. It'll probably take a couple of months at least to do proper justice to the new manual.
The original game was my attempt to adapt an idea for a sort of stacked sidescroller I had into board game. You play it in a word processor so there never was a physical Sparkle board. In essence, we're still working out what the computerised sidescroller will ultimately be like and don't have more solid answers to give. I'll have to make major changes to the magic system among other things so that it better suits being programmed. For now though, the old manual is one's best option for getting a feel for what Sparkle is all about since that's all there has actually ever been. All of us are working on this project in our spare time and development is subject to that. It'll be a long haul as each of us has other interests and commitments. I was quite surprised at the continued interest in the idea that a few people seemed to have. The game was disasterously clunky to play in a word processor and would have been a bit of a chore even with a physical board and pieces. As a computer game, however, it should turn out to be a fun fast-paced game. It's a matter of correctly using sound and speech information to give enough of an overall perspective while still allowing one to concentrate on the immediate situation and surroundings. No easy task, but possible I think. On 9/18/12, dark <d...@xgam.org> wrote: > Hi Ryan. > > Side scroller meets rpg? two of my favourite things together, sounds awsome! > > indeed, I've always been sorry I couldn't play such games graphically. > > I do however have a couple of questions. > > While I understand the need to build the game as a four player game to begin > > with, it would be nice to have a single player option, either for getting > used to the game, or just when nobody else is online, perhaps either by > having some computer controled opponents, or indeed none at all. > > As regards stats, I'm quite content to wait and see what can be added there, > > though either way I'm fascinated by the concept, particularly the use of > analogue jumping and full 2D mechanics. How exactly were you planning to > simulate enemy attacks? thus far in audio, the side scrollers we've had > haven't really allwed for the possibility of dodging or blocking enemy > attacks, sinse enemies attack as soon as your close, meaning that it's all > about fast reactions. Are you however planning to follow Michael's initial > idea by having enemy attacks with sonic clues of their own that the player > must respond to, in addition to the sound of the enemy's position? > > Did you have any plans on adding weapons to vary the fights? not necessarily > > statistically, but in terms of attack speed and damage? > > If your on the architecture of the game at the moment, i'd be interested to > > know how that is working or what plans you have, sinse this is sounding like > > a very unique game indeed! > > Oh, and btw, I'll be glad to provide voice acting when you get to that stage > > too. > > All the best, > > dArk. > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Grey Matter Info" <i...@greymatterproductions.com> > To: "'Gamers Discussion list'" <gamers@audyssey.org> > Sent: Tuesday, September 18, 2012 12:04 PM > Subject: Re: [Audyssey] What the sparcle? > > >> Hi Dark et al, >> Sparkle is a pretty deep game and unfortunately nothing I can truly do >> full >> justice to in a few paragraphs. Still, I'll try. >> Basically, there will be a complex of 6 stacked levels, each of which >> contains a variety of obstacles such as walls to jump or climb over, pits >> full of gems, helpful or harmful buildings with which the player can >> interact, and a full cast of fantasy characters from goblins to dragons. >> The >> player's goal will be to race through the complex collecting trophies and >> trying to deposit them at the top of the complex before the goblins do. >> Doing so earns points and positive events for the players, while failing >> to >> do so causes negative events to occur. >> I should point out, as well, that this game will be a true side-scroller >> with vertical movement, gravity, etc. Jumping, for example, is not a >> true/false variable, but is rather an analogue command that takes >> advantage >> of the second dimension. There are few things more fun right now than >> leaping off the top of a wall to the bottom of a pit to see just how long >> >> it >> takes. Less fun is climbing all the way back out of that pit. >> Michael and I have discussed the possibility of adding in stats before, >> and >> it's something I'm interested in, but right now, I'm still laying down >> the >> basic functionality. The player can navigate basic levels, collect items, >> and use them, but that's about it. As Shaun said, I'm working on network >> support right now, as I don't want to end up accidentally designing the >> game >> for single player and then having to start over. >> I'm happy to answer any questions you or anyone else has, but as Shaun >> also >> accurately pointed out, things are a bit hectic at work right now, so I >> might not respond as quickly as I would like. I do still check the list, >> however, and I'll answer as soon as I can. >> All the best, >> Ryan >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: gamers-boun...@audyssey.org [mailto:gamers-boun...@audyssey.org] On >> Behalf Of dark >> Sent: Tuesday, September 18, 2012 3:28 AM >> To: Gamers@audyssey.org >> Subject: [Audyssey] What the sparcle? >> >> Hello. >> >> I'm not sure how many people have been following Greymatter productions >> and >> reading Ryan's blog over at http://www.greymatterproductions.com/blog/ >> >> I must admit I was checking regularly until about may, but then got out >> of >> the habbit. Visiting the site again now however, I learn that Ryan is >> working on another project in addition to the Boxing game and >> developement >> sounds like it's chugging on very nicely. I am however a little uncertain >> what exactly this game is. >> >> ryan states in his blog that it's a side scrolling adaptation of a board >> game called sparcle which I believe Michael Feyr was involved in >> designing >> (ryan puts a link to the sparcle rules), I however haven't heard of the >> board game exactly and am rather uncertain about what form it takes. >> Mentions of goblins, ghosts, treasure and adventurers grabbed my interest >> >> of >> course, particularly when Ryan mentioned that the adaptation he's working >> >> on >> will be in the form of a side scroller, sinse a fantasy themeed side >> scroller possibly with rpg mechanics sounds distinctly interesting. >> >> However, sinse I've not heard of the original game, and am unsure how the >> rules work, I'm not exactly certain of the theme, complexity or anything >> else. For instance will there be a stats system? player classes? Weapons >> and >> armor to pick up and use? maybe magic or single use items like a ring of >> floatation to survive a fall or a wand of cold to freeze a fire pit? >> >> while Ryan's blog sounds fascinating, I think for those who are not >> familiar >> with the original game, ---- some more explanation of how things work >> would >> be quite nice, if nothing else for anticipation value. >> >> While he has provided the link to the original 83 page manual, I'm >> slightly >> uncertain how much help that will be sinse I have never heard of the >> game, >> have no idea what a sparcle board may look like, (if there ever was! such >> >> a >> board), and also sinse the game is changing from turnbased boardgame to >> realtime side scroller, ---- presumably with single player or multiplayer >> options, some of the rules may be different, or there may be additions >> made >> to the game. >> >> So, while I freely understand the game is still in developement and >> testing, >> It would be great if Ryan, or possibly Michael could say a little more >> about >> it just to give us unenlightened, ---- or maybe non sparcling! an idea >> :D. >> >> Beware the Grue! >> >> Dark. >> --- >> Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org >> If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to >> gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. >> You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at >> http://mail.audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. >> All messages are archived and can be searched and read at >> http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. >> If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the >> list, >> please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org. >> >> >> --- >> Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org >> If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to >> gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. >> You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at >> http://mail.audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. >> All messages are archived and can be searched and read at >> http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. >> If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the >> list, >> please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org. > > > --- > Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org > If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to > gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. > You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at > http://mail.audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. > All messages are archived and can be searched and read at > http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. > If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, > please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org. > -- Michael Feir Volunteer at The Dam http://www.thedam.org 2011-- Twitter: mfeir Skype: michael-feir Author of Personal Power: How Accessible Computers Can Enhance Personal Life For Blind People 2006-2008 http://michaelfeir.blogspot.com/2009/01/personal-power.html A Life of Word and Sound 2003-2007 http://michaelfeir.blogspot.com/2009/01/life-of-word-and-sound.html Creator and former editor of Audyssey Magazine 1996-2004 Check out my blog at: http://www.michaelfeir.blogspot.com --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://mail.audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org.