Re: [Audyssey] The Future of MOTA
aah. Well if not like that, could you make the sounds/music sound retro, ok, proper sounds and I guess the navigation stuff and steps will have to be normal, but the rest. If not sounds then maybe music, not sure how though. At 06:58 p.m. 8/02/2012 -0500, you wrote: Hi Shaun, I was thinking a game kind of retro but not that retro. The sound effects in Atari games are useless to a blind gamer. Basically, a bunch of boops, bleeps, and beeps that are meaningless without describing each and every sound. Besides I don't have anything like that in my library. Think of this as a modern remake of a classic game much like the games on the Retro Remakes sight are based on a classic Atari or Nintendo game, but have updated graphics, music, and sound that makes it more modern. The new game would be similar here. Cheers! On 2/8/12, shaun everiss sm.ever...@gmail.com wrote: to be honest, I'd like a game that would sound like the system it was based on. So if this game is supposed to come from atary I'd like it to sound like that, I am a retro kind of guy. q9 is a good game, I have it myself. --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] The Future of MOTA
Hi Shaun, No. One of the things I pride myself on in developing games is attempting to make the audio environment as realistic as possible. I try to create the audio environment as though I were making a movie with extremely high quality sound effects and music. Using cheap arcade sounds and music would detract from the game in my opinion, and wouldn't be all that appealing to me personally. Cheers! On 2/9/12, shaun everiss sm.ever...@gmail.com wrote: aah. Well if not like that, could you make the sounds/music sound retro, ok, proper sounds and I guess the navigation stuff and steps will have to be normal, but the rest. If not sounds then maybe music, not sure how though. --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] The Future of MOTA
Hi Bryan, Lol! You are right. Big typo on my part. One a spell checker wouldn't catch unfortunately. On 2/9/12, BRYAN PETERSON bpeterson2...@cableone.net wrote: Just one question. Was Pitfall Harry hairy? LOL. Sorry. Just had to comment on that since I assume we were talking about the name Harry and not the adjective. And Dark I was just going to mention the Holy Hand Grenade. Once the number three, being the third number be reached, lobbest thou thy Holy Hand Grenade of Anteok toward thy foe, who being naughty in my sight shall snuff it. Amen. --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] The Future of MOTA
Hi Dark, Yeah, I don't think I made myself clear. Yeah, I was intending for a certain amount of magic items and creatures to be found in the game such as magic potions or perhaps a magic weapon or two. The point I wanted to make was that the main character in of himself can not use magic since he isn't a mage, wizard, etc. Now, as to the actual region and Inca, Aztec, or Mayan cultures I haven't gotten that far. Certainly those three are the biggest groups in the region, but that is because of centuries of conquest, and even then there was very little in the way of central authority. Its ironic that the Spaniards rolled over the Aztecs, the most warlike empire in Central America, all because Montezuma was an idiot, but took more than a century of warfare to beat the Inca's because of a lack of a central government or authority. They had to beat the Incas one city at a time. Cheers! On 2/8/12, dark d...@xgam.org wrote: Hi tom. I agree on the main character using magic being not a good idea, but magic items,enemies or effects in the game could be fun. for instance, statues animated by ancient spells, skeletons and other undead as enemies, some mutant or mythical creatures (pitfall had jaguar men as I remember), maybe even demonic type creatures such as bestial imps summoned to guard the tombs. also, you could get some magic weapons that did special stuff, like a magic bow with infinite arrows, or an ever burning torch that never needed relighting. while I've not played the original pitfall, the Snes remake (which i do own abd have played a fair bit), does have some things like that, particularly some limited use, screen clearing weapons your character has just referd to as exploding stones while I suppose these could be scientific in origin somehow, it doesn't seem likely, given that your explicitely stated to be using ancient Inca weapons in the game, and all your other weapons, a sling that can hit close or throw a rock projectile and a boomerang, are pretty in keeping with the primative technology theme. so, unless the Inca's had handgrinades, magic exploding stones sounds reasonable, and could work here too as a weapon you could find, pick up and use. then again, I suppose hand grenades aren't too unreasonable, afterall that famous and oft quoted book of the bible known as the book of Armaments refers to the Holy hand grenade of anthiock :D. three shal be the number of the counting, and the number of the counting shal be three. To four shalt thou not count, neither shalt thou count unto two unless thou proceedeth thense to three. Five is right out Hurl thou the holy hand grenade at thy foe, for he hath been naughty in my site, and he shal snuff it! appologies to all those who haven't seen Monty python and the holy graille, though I'd recommend anyone who hasn't seen it to deffinately do so! :D. Beware the grue! Dark.and --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] The Future of MOTA
hmmm I wander if you could mario music and sfx then. Obviously steps and navigation and stuff would have to sound but jumps, guns, etc music. Though if you are aselling it maybe not. If you are doing a retro game, as close as possible, not stopping access for the blind to it, not that far, not beeps or anything. Basically, I want to hear myself insert the cartredge, start the system, hear logos, music, and retro sfx with in reason. When I exit, I want to hear me shuttdown the console and put the cart away, etc. I've never played an old console, so if this is retro I want to emulate as close as possible without going overboard the unit. At 07:20 p.m. 8/02/2012 -0500, you wrote: Hi Shaun, Pitfall was a popular series of games developed during the 80's and 90's featuring an archeologist and explorer named Hairy who suspiciously looks a bit like Mario. Anyway, the original game for the Atari was pretty simplistic where you ran through the jungle grabbing items, jumping traps, and well it wasn't a big deal. However, as the series went on the games got better with more complex levels, more in depth storylines, and involved exploring the jungle, various caves, ancient temples, and looking for lost artifacts. In one game you were hunting for the Lost City of Gold. In summary it was an attempt to create an Indiana Jones type adventure without having to pay Lucasfilm for the rights to the Indiana Jones trademarks and characters. The later games in the series are quite good, and I believe would be a good example of a side-scroller because most of the stuff in the Pitfall games can be converted into audio. Case in point. In Pitfall you often had to climb up vines, and jump from branch to branch to get some item out of a tree or to avoid some enemy on the ground. Sound familiar? Well, the first time I picked up Perilous Hearts and played the concept demo the first thing that came into my mind was the Pitfall jungle levels. Pitfall played quite a bit like Perilous Hearts with the ability to climb a tree and use a branch or vine to swing over quicksand, a pit, or some other trap. When you got into the caves you might have to climb a rope, swing over to a switch on the wall, pull it to lower some spikes, and then land on the ground and run before the spikes pop back up. That's what I meant by there will be similar elements to MOTA, but not exactly the same. The later Pitfall games are in the same spirit or genre of games as Tomb Hunter, but the way it was played is different. More over since it is a side-scroller itself many ideas can be borrowed directly from the games as is. Cheers! On 2/8/12, shaun everiss sm.ever...@gmail.com wrote: hmmm excuse me for my dumbness but what was pitfall. --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] The Future of MOTA
Hi Shaun, Not to be rude, but repeating myself is getting a bit tiring. I'm not going to use any retro sound effects, music, jingles, logos, etc. That's not what the game is about. That's even assuming I use this revised idea, because there are people who insist on having MOTA just as it is currently. Plus using Mario sound effects, music, etc is copyrighted. I can not just record sounds, music, whatever from a classic video game like Super Mario Brothers and use it in a commercial game. That would put me right back where I started with Montezuma's Revenge. Cheers! On 2/9/12, shaun everiss sm.ever...@gmail.com wrote: hmmm I wander if you could mario music and sfx then. Obviously steps and navigation and stuff would have to sound but jumps, guns, etc music. Though if you are aselling it maybe not. If you are doing a retro game, as close as possible, not stopping access for the blind to it, not that far, not beeps or anything. Basically, I want to hear myself insert the cartredge, start the system, hear logos, music, and retro sfx with in reason. When I exit, I want to hear me shuttdown the console and put the cart away, etc. I've never played an old console, so if this is retro I want to emulate as close as possible without going overboard the unit. --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] The Future of MOTA
Absolutely reasonable Tom. That would, in essence, provide people with what they ordered and have been waiting so long for. I for one would be extatic to at last have such a sidescroller in hand. Hopefully, this decision would allow you to enjoy the creation process of both titles as fully as possible. I have some understanding of what utter hell you've gone through trying to live up to a commitment made in haste so long ago. I sincerely hope things work out well this time around. On 2/8/12, Thomas Ward thomasward1...@gmail.com wrote: Hello everyone, As a lot of you are aware a few weeks ago we made a decision to redesign Mysteries of the Ancients and renamed that game Tomb Hunter: The Temple of Life. We decided to upgrade to a 3d first-person format, and as can be expected got a rather mixed response from the gaming community at large. Some loved the idea, and others were decidedly upset by the change. So we've been trying to think of a fair solution that would make both sides happy and would fulfill our obligations to those who preordered Montezuma's Revenge in 2008. What we essentially have been considering is developing two separate games in tandem. The first would be a side-scroller named Mysteries of the Ancients, a substitute for Montezuma's Revenge, and the other would be our 3d FPS game, Temple of Life. As the Tomb Hunter series of games are intended to be an accessible clone of the Tomb Raider games I would like them to take on a 3d first-person format to closely resemble the game play of the Tomb Raider games. So that left us with the question of what exactly to do with Mysteries of the Ancients. Well, we have come up with an idea we believe you will like. Essentially our solution is to develop a game more closely resembling the original concept and the game you preordered. Obviously, given the copyright issues at hand we can't create Montezuma's Revenge per say, but there are a number of classic video games such as Montezuma's Revenge, Pitfall, etc that have a decidedly Indiana Jones type theme to them. So while we can't create Montezuma's Revenge exactly it is possible to create something that offers the same sort of game play and to be honest something we should have thought of doing a long time ago. In brief what we have been looking at doing is developing a side-scroller similar to the Pitfall games where you are in a Mezo-American jungle exploring caves, ancient temples, and pyramids looking for treasure and artifacts. A long the way you will encounter various snakes, giant spiders, skeletons, spirits, etc. There will be the usual traps you find in such games like lava pits, fire pits, giant spikes, chasms, poison darts, rolling boulders, quicksand, etc. Last but not least, it will be a 2d side-scroller with plenty of ropes and vines to climb on, stone staircases to ascend and descend, ledges to jump up and grab, etc. So in short many of the things you have come to know about MOTA will still be there with a slightly different story and setting. One of the major changes I can see here is while the Tomb Hunter games like Temple of Life will feature a female character, Angela Carter, we're thinking of using a male character for Mysteries of the Ancients. As you might expect he'll be the typical Indiana Jones type character who is a historian, archeologist, and adventurer. Although, we don't want to copy the Indiana Jones character too closely given Lucas is a fanatic about copyrights, but we don't believe being able to find Indiana Jones leather bull whip somewhere in the game is outright steeling George Lucas's copyrights. In addition to the classic bull whip we've been thinking of adding some Spanish weapons and armor to the game since we'd imagine that swords, daggers, knives, shields, spears, and body armor could possibly be left behind in various ruins. Plus all of the native Americans that lived in Central and South America made tools and weapons out of bone and stone. Those would be easier to find given that iron weapons will rust but stone weapons are practically impervious to decay as long as they aren't exposed to the weather. That leaves us with one more issue we haven't decided upon, but is open to discussion. That is the sf element of the game. In Montezuma's Revenge, for example, it was sort of a combo of ancient weapons and magic with some decidedly technological traps like electric walls, vanishing platforms, and things like that. It was a bit strange having torches, swords, rolling boulders, existing side by side with technological traps that have no explanation for their existence. We're thinking of being decidedly low tech for this game as we're not at all sure that such things should exist in an ancient ruins unless there is a realistic explanation for their existence the way Lucas did in Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Anyway, we're looking forward to your thoughts. Is this something you would
Re: [Audyssey] The Future of MOTA
What is the status of the FPS? Will that be put on hold while you finish developing this side scrollr? To answer the question you asked I would agree low-tech would be best Sent from my iPhone On Feb 8, 2012, at 8:16 AM, Thomas Ward thomasward1...@gmail.com wrote: Hello everyone, As a lot of you are aware a few weeks ago we made a decision to redesign Mysteries of the Ancients and renamed that game Tomb Hunter: The Temple of Life. We decided to upgrade to a 3d first-person format, and as can be expected got a rather mixed response from the gaming community at large. Some loved the idea, and others were decidedly upset by the change. So we've been trying to think of a fair solution that would make both sides happy and would fulfill our obligations to those who preordered Montezuma's Revenge in 2008. What we essentially have been considering is developing two separate games in tandem. The first would be a side-scroller named Mysteries of the Ancients, a substitute for Montezuma's Revenge, and the other would be our 3d FPS game, Temple of Life. As the Tomb Hunter series of games are intended to be an accessible clone of the Tomb Raider games I would like them to take on a 3d first-person format to closely resemble the game play of the Tomb Raider games. So that left us with the question of what exactly to do with Mysteries of the Ancients. Well, we have come up with an idea we believe you will like. Essentially our solution is to develop a game more closely resembling the original concept and the game you preordered. Obviously, given the copyright issues at hand we can't create Montezuma's Revenge per say, but there are a number of classic video games such as Montezuma's Revenge, Pitfall, etc that have a decidedly Indiana Jones type theme to them. So while we can't create Montezuma's Revenge exactly it is possible to create something that offers the same sort of game play and to be honest something we should have thought of doing a long time ago. In brief what we have been looking at doing is developing a side-scroller similar to the Pitfall games where you are in a Mezo-American jungle exploring caves, ancient temples, and pyramids looking for treasure and artifacts. A long the way you will encounter various snakes, giant spiders, skeletons, spirits, etc. There will be the usual traps you find in such games like lava pits, fire pits, giant spikes, chasms, poison darts, rolling boulders, quicksand, etc. Last but not least, it will be a 2d side-scroller with plenty of ropes and vines to climb on, stone staircases to ascend and descend, ledges to jump up and grab, etc. So in short many of the things you have come to know about MOTA will still be there with a slightly different story and setting. One of the major changes I can see here is while the Tomb Hunter games like Temple of Life will feature a female character, Angela Carter, we're thinking of using a male character for Mysteries of the Ancients. As you might expect he'll be the typical Indiana Jones type character who is a historian, archeologist, and adventurer. Although, we don't want to copy the Indiana Jones character too closely given Lucas is a fanatic about copyrights, but we don't believe being able to find Indiana Jones leather bull whip somewhere in the game is outright steeling George Lucas's copyrights. In addition to the classic bull whip we've been thinking of adding some Spanish weapons and armor to the game since we'd imagine that swords, daggers, knives, shields, spears, and body armor could possibly be left behind in various ruins. Plus all of the native Americans that lived in Central and South America made tools and weapons out of bone and stone. Those would be easier to find given that iron weapons will rust but stone weapons are practically impervious to decay as long as they aren't exposed to the weather. That leaves us with one more issue we haven't decided upon, but is open to discussion. That is the sf element of the game. In Montezuma's Revenge, for example, it was sort of a combo of ancient weapons and magic with some decidedly technological traps like electric walls, vanishing platforms, and things like that. It was a bit strange having torches, swords, rolling boulders, existing side by side with technological traps that have no explanation for their existence. We're thinking of being decidedly low tech for this game as we're not at all sure that such things should exist in an ancient ruins unless there is a realistic explanation for their existence the way Lucas did in Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Anyway, we're looking forward to your thoughts. Is this something you would consider a reasonable compromise for Montezuma's Revenge? Thomas Ward USA Games Interactive http://www.usagamesinteractive.com --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org.
Re: [Audyssey] The Future of MOTA
Hi Thomas, I applaud you for the decision to split up the 2d and 3d games. However I see no reason to remove Angela Carter, from the 2d game, unless you have a male voice actor that has already recorded all the things she says in the game. One suggestion is to change the pitch on the 2d voice so it is a little higher and a little younger than the current voice. For example I increased the pitch of Sarah's voice in my Hogwarts game by ten percent so she sounds younger, and also to take ten percent off the size of my game. Phil --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] The Future of MOTA
Michael: I wish I could write as well as you do. I agree with you one! hundred! percent! --- Shepherds are the best beasts, but Labs are a close second. - Original Message - From: Michael Feir michael.f...@gmail.com To: Gamers Discussion list gamers@audyssey.org Sent: Wednesday, February 08, 2012 8:39 AM Subject: Re: [Audyssey] The Future of MOTA Absolutely reasonable Tom. That would, in essence, provide people with what they ordered and have been waiting so long for. I for one would be extatic to at last have such a sidescroller in hand. Hopefully, this decision would allow you to enjoy the creation process of both titles as fully as possible. I have some understanding of what utter hell you've gone through trying to live up to a commitment made in haste so long ago. I sincerely hope things work out well this time around. On 2/8/12, Thomas Ward thomasward1...@gmail.com wrote: Hello everyone, As a lot of you are aware a few weeks ago we made a decision to redesign Mysteries of the Ancients and renamed that game Tomb Hunter: The Temple of Life. We decided to upgrade to a 3d first-person format, and as can be expected got a rather mixed response from the gaming community at large. Some loved the idea, and others were decidedly upset by the change. So we've been trying to think of a fair solution that would make both sides happy and would fulfill our obligations to those who preordered Montezuma's Revenge in 2008. What we essentially have been considering is developing two separate games in tandem. The first would be a side-scroller named Mysteries of the Ancients, a substitute for Montezuma's Revenge, and the other would be our 3d FPS game, Temple of Life. As the Tomb Hunter series of games are intended to be an accessible clone of the Tomb Raider games I would like them to take on a 3d first-person format to closely resemble the game play of the Tomb Raider games. So that left us with the question of what exactly to do with Mysteries of the Ancients. Well, we have come up with an idea we believe you will like. Essentially our solution is to develop a game more closely resembling the original concept and the game you preordered. Obviously, given the copyright issues at hand we can't create Montezuma's Revenge per say, but there are a number of classic video games such as Montezuma's Revenge, Pitfall, etc that have a decidedly Indiana Jones type theme to them. So while we can't create Montezuma's Revenge exactly it is possible to create something that offers the same sort of game play and to be honest something we should have thought of doing a long time ago. In brief what we have been looking at doing is developing a side-scroller similar to the Pitfall games where you are in a Mezo-American jungle exploring caves, ancient temples, and pyramids looking for treasure and artifacts. A long the way you will encounter various snakes, giant spiders, skeletons, spirits, etc. There will be the usual traps you find in such games like lava pits, fire pits, giant spikes, chasms, poison darts, rolling boulders, quicksand, etc. Last but not least, it will be a 2d side-scroller with plenty of ropes and vines to climb on, stone staircases to ascend and descend, ledges to jump up and grab, etc. So in short many of the things you have come to know about MOTA will still be there with a slightly different story and setting. One of the major changes I can see here is while the Tomb Hunter games like Temple of Life will feature a female character, Angela Carter, we're thinking of using a male character for Mysteries of the Ancients. As you might expect he'll be the typical Indiana Jones type character who is a historian, archeologist, and adventurer. Although, we don't want to copy the Indiana Jones character too closely given Lucas is a fanatic about copyrights, but we don't believe being able to find Indiana Jones leather bull whip somewhere in the game is outright steeling George Lucas's copyrights. In addition to the classic bull whip we've been thinking of adding some Spanish weapons and armor to the game since we'd imagine that swords, daggers, knives, shields, spears, and body armor could possibly be left behind in various ruins. Plus all of the native Americans that lived in Central and South America made tools and weapons out of bone and stone. Those would be easier to find given that iron weapons will rust but stone weapons are practically impervious to decay as long as they aren't exposed to the weather. That leaves us with one more issue we haven't decided upon, but is open to discussion. That is the sf element of the game. In Montezuma's Revenge, for example, it was sort of a combo of ancient weapons and magic with some decidedly technological traps like electric walls, vanishing platforms, and things like that. It was a bit strange having torches, swords, rolling boulders, existing side by side with technological traps that have no explanation for their existence. We're thinking
Re: [Audyssey] The Future of MOTA
Hi Tom. As you can imagine I like this news very much. i was sorry Mota stopped, not because I was totally against a 3D game or tied to a side scroller, but simply because Mota was doing things we've not seen in an audio side scroller before. Vertical movement, analogue jumping, mazelike levels, keys and doors etc. Now, it sounds like though more of an arcade game, a pitfall game would still! have all of those elements, and indeed probably I'm guessing you'll use some of that code that you spent all the blood and tears writing. I'd also be extremely glad to help in the voice department if I can as well, though obviously for that game you might want an American main character so as to be more distant from mota, still if you need other parts doing let me know. as regard traps and such, I like the idea of keeping things low tech, perhaps even having one or two magical elements or enemies such as giant scorpions, demons and the like (the astecs certainly had some less than pleasant gods who would make very nice bosses or antagonists in the game). I actually think The scifi elements in the first monti game for the Atari, such as the conveyers and electricity, were not actually there by design, but there because they were graphically easier to represent, sinse afterall to create electricity all you needed was a blue wavy line with a bit of fuzz, where as animating something like a gilliteen would be far more difficult. it's quite possible to think of low tech ways of creating timing and ground traps, for instance instead of intermitent turning on and off electricity, a falling and rising blade or stone weight on a rope, and for conveyrs a flowing current of water or sliding sand. Deffinately a good idea and I look forward to seeing where it goes. 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.
Re: [Audyssey] The Future of MOTA
Hi Michael, That's basically the way my wife and I saw the situation as well. We can't offer people Montezuma's Revenge, but there is nothing saying we can't produce a game similar in design and story. Plus we have a lot of sounds left over from the development of Montezuma's Revenge as well as MOTA itself that this should not be an expensive endeavor for us. Mostly it will take time, but certainly not a great deal of time since we have an existing game engine, Genesis, and we have some tested code from MOTA beta 22 itself to work with. I can see putting out a game like this in a fairly short length of time once we get started with it. As for personal interest I'm excited to do it. For one thing even though Pitfall and games like that are simplistic compared to games of today I really liked them, and is one reason I took over Montezuma's Revenge in the first place. As Dark has so often mentioned Super Liam, Q9, etc are good games, but they consistently fail to live up to the expectations we have when comparing them to even relatively simple games from the Atari, Sega, and NES era of games. Here is a chance to give everyone a retro game that has all of the features we would expect from a 2d side-scroller from the 80's and 90's, and be similar in feel to Pitfall or Montezuma's Revenge that you would in effect be getting almost exactly what you paid for. Cheers! On 2/8/12, Michael Feir michael.f...@gmail.com wrote: Absolutely reasonable Tom. That would, in essence, provide people with what they ordered and have been waiting so long for. I for one would be extatic to at last have such a sidescroller in hand. Hopefully, this decision would allow you to enjoy the creation process of both titles as fully as possible. I have some understanding of what utter hell you've gone through trying to live up to a commitment made in haste so long ago. I sincerely hope things work out well this time around. --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] The Future of MOTA
I hope this time that the game will be completely finish. I would love to see this game get made into a full version game and not a beta. I have one question about MOTA is there going to be any kind of end level bosses? -- Email services provided by the System Access Mobile Network. Visit www.serotek.com to learn more about accessibility anywhere. --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] The Future of MOTA
Hi Dark, Yep. The new game will simply be an adaptation of the existing MOTA code from beta 22 since all of the basic code is there such as menus, jumping, running, swimming, saving/loading games, whatever. All I really need to do is redesign the levels, perhaps update the enemy AI for newenemies, use different sounds, and bingo. We've got a different game based on some well tested code. I could probably have a beta or concept demo out in a month because of the simplicity of working with a template. As for traps that makes sense. Certainly its easier to draw a wall of electricity than a large blade that moves up and down or spins in place. All of the traps in Montezuma's Revenge were very very simplistic because they were easy to draw, and didn't require complex graphics. Fire pits, lava pits, drop-offs, and burning ropes are child's play for a programmer. The traps seen in Prince of Persia were slightly more advanced, but then again so was the graphics technology etc which made drawing them possible. In this case we don't need to worry about teh graphics, and can do anything we want as long as we can represent it in audio. Cheers! On 2/8/12, dark d...@xgam.org wrote: Hi Tom. As you can imagine I like this news very much. i was sorry Mota stopped, not because I was totally against a 3D game or tied to a side scroller, but simply because Mota was doing things we've not seen in an audio side scroller before. Vertical movement, analogue jumping, mazelike levels, keys and doors etc. Now, it sounds like though more of an arcade game, a pitfall game would still! have all of those elements, and indeed probably I'm guessing you'll use some of that code that you spent all the blood and tears writing. I'd also be extremely glad to help in the voice department if I can as well, though obviously for that game you might want an American main character so as to be more distant from mota, still if you need other parts doing let me know. as regard traps and such, I like the idea of keeping things low tech, perhaps even having one or two magical elements or enemies such as giant scorpions, demons and the like (the astecs certainly had some less than pleasant gods who would make very nice bosses or antagonists in the game). I actually think The scifi elements in the first monti game for the Atari, such as the conveyers and electricity, were not actually there by design, but there because they were graphically easier to represent, sinse afterall to create electricity all you needed was a blue wavy line with a bit of fuzz, where as animating something like a gilliteen would be far more difficult. it's quite possible to think of low tech ways of creating timing and ground traps, for instance instead of intermitent turning on and off electricity, a falling and rising blade or stone weight on a rope, and for conveyrs a flowing current of water or sliding sand. Deffinately a good idea and I look forward to seeing where it goes. 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.
Re: [Audyssey] The Future of MOTA
Hi Michael, I really can't say at this point. I'm still developing the idea. What I gave you was an outline rather than a full blown story. All I can say for sure is conceptually it will borrow ideas from Montezuma's Revenge, Pitfall, Prince of Persia and other side-scrollers from that era to give game players the classic retro feel. If there are going to be any bosses I'd imagine they would be some kind of Aztec god or goddess which would be found in the temples. I'll be developing those ideas as I write the storyline and do background research for the game. Cheers! On 2/8/12, michael barnes c...@samobile.net wrote: I hope this time that the game will be completely finish. I would love to see this game get made into a full version game and not a beta. I have one question about MOTA is there going to be any kind of end level bosses? -- Email services provided by the System Access Mobile Network. Visit www.serotek.com to learn more about accessibility anywhere. --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] The Future of MOTA
Hi Phil, Yes and no. While I could use Angela Carter in this game there are good reasons not to use her. For one this will not be a part of the Tomb Hunter series. It is intended to be a stand alone game adventure much the same way Montezuma's Revenge was. Plus I intend the game to be a throwback to the classic side-scrollers from the 80's where you get so many points for gathering gold coins, jewels, magic potions, and slaying monsters. That kind of game is completely different in design from something like Tomb Raider that is heavily based on puzzle solving and navigating a 3d environment more than scoring points etc. In short, while I want this game to be fun, enjoyable, and hopefully have good replay value its not going to have the same degree of features as something like Tomb Raider would. I probably won't have a lot of cutscenes and things like that as I'm going to try and emulate the retro feel as best as I can. The retro feel I'm aiming for in MOTA and the totally modern feel of Temple of Life are so different as to be quite different games in the end. So I felt it made sense to have a male character in MOTA. Of course, it could be possible to create a team of characters with different abilities to add more replay value. Cheers! On 2/8/12, Phil Vlasak p...@pcsgames.net wrote: Hi Thomas, I applaud you for the decision to split up the 2d and 3d games. However I see no reason to remove Angela Carter, from the 2d game, unless you have a male voice actor that has already recorded all the things she says in the game. One suggestion is to change the pitch on the 2d voice so it is a little higher and a little younger than the current voice. For example I increased the pitch of Sarah's voice in my Hogwarts game by ten percent so she sounds younger, and also to take ten percent off the size of my game. Phil --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] The Future of MOTA
Hello Thomas, Will the bosses be possessing any powers when your dueling them? For instance, maybe one of the bosses could be 7 foot high, with 3 gigantic clawed arms and a spiked head which is resistent to bows, arrows, or any type of gun. The only weapon that has a high likelyhood of defeating the boss can be a sword which grants you extra strength and speed during battle. The boss can have powers like levetating objects in front of him, serving as a type of sheeld against your offensive strike, the ability to make spikes shoot up from the ground, and the ability to shoot a huge wave of fire at you which is strong enough to shake the walls around your position. - Original Message - From: Thomas Ward thomasward1...@gmail.com To: Gamers Discussion list gamers@audyssey.org Sent: Wednesday, February 08, 2012 5:18 PM Subject: Re: [Audyssey] The Future of MOTA Hi Michael, I really can't say at this point. I'm still developing the idea. What I gave you was an outline rather than a full blown story. All I can say for sure is conceptually it will borrow ideas from Montezuma's Revenge, Pitfall, Prince of Persia and other side-scrollers from that era to give game players the classic retro feel. If there are going to be any bosses I'd imagine they would be some kind of Aztec god or goddess which would be found in the temples. I'll be developing those ideas as I write the storyline and do background research for the game. Cheers! On 2/8/12, michael barnes c...@samobile.net wrote: I hope this time that the game will be completely finish. I would love to see this game get made into a full version game and not a beta. I have one question about MOTA is there going to be any kind of end level bosses? -- Email services provided by the System Access Mobile Network. Visit www.serotek.com to learn more about accessibility anywhere. --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] The Future of MOTA
Hi Mike, The FPS game, Temple of Life, is still under development. I've had to make some serious changes to the source code to convert it from 2d to 3d and its still buggy. I expect another two or three months before I'll have a public beta ready although its functionally playable. If I work on Mysteries of the Ancients, update it with the new game idea, I'd have to temporarily put Temple of Life on the back burner while I get MOTA beta 22 updated with the new code. that shouldn't take long, but of course won't happen over night either. Cheers! On 2/8/12, Mike Maslo mmaslo1...@swbell.net wrote: What is the status of the FPS? Will that be put on hold while you finish developing this side scrollr? To answer the question you asked I would agree low-tech would be best Sent from my iPhone --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] The Future of MOTA
Hi Muhammed, As I told Michael. I have not taken any time to think about bosses or anything that detailed yet. All I will say is that bosses will probably be taken out of Aztec mythology, and therefore powers and abilities will be based on the myth and legends for those creatures. So let's not get too far ahead of my rough outline as that's all it is at this point. Cheers! --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] The Future of MOTA
Sounds good to me. I like the idea of two games, though I will be keeping my eye on the fps title for sure slightly more than the side scroller since I've been after a game like that for a while, and shades of doom and monkey business really didn't do me any justice. A couple of weapons to think about.. being in presumeably mexico or somewhere in latin-america, there are two weapons I have been thinking about which would be cool to see in a game... both come from aztec designs. There's the tekpatl, which was the sacrificial dagger used by aztecs.. being made of obsidian, it'd be a great combat weapon plus be hard enough to last, and most likely not decay being made from volcanic glass and probably underground. The macuhitl is also another one, more in the fashion of a club, but with obsidian on both sides... which creates a kind of club. And since you're talking about a modern-day historian / archeologist, a machete wouldn't be out of order... along with the usual guns and the like. The two weapons I mentioned were just possibilities for things you would find while exploring the ruins. - Original Message - From: Thomas Ward thomasward1...@gmail.com To: Gamers Discussion list gamers@audyssey.org Sent: Wednesday, February 08, 2012 6:16 AM Subject: [Audyssey] The Future of MOTA Hello everyone, As a lot of you are aware a few weeks ago we made a decision to redesign Mysteries of the Ancients and renamed that game Tomb Hunter: The Temple of Life. We decided to upgrade to a 3d first-person format, and as can be expected got a rather mixed response from the gaming community at large. Some loved the idea, and others were decidedly upset by the change. So we've been trying to think of a fair solution that would make both sides happy and would fulfill our obligations to those who preordered Montezuma's Revenge in 2008. What we essentially have been considering is developing two separate games in tandem. The first would be a side-scroller named Mysteries of the Ancients, a substitute for Montezuma's Revenge, and the other would be our 3d FPS game, Temple of Life. As the Tomb Hunter series of games are intended to be an accessible clone of the Tomb Raider games I would like them to take on a 3d first-person format to closely resemble the game play of the Tomb Raider games. So that left us with the question of what exactly to do with Mysteries of the Ancients. Well, we have come up with an idea we believe you will like. Essentially our solution is to develop a game more closely resembling the original concept and the game you preordered. Obviously, given the copyright issues at hand we can't create Montezuma's Revenge per say, but there are a number of classic video games such as Montezuma's Revenge, Pitfall, etc that have a decidedly Indiana Jones type theme to them. So while we can't create Montezuma's Revenge exactly it is possible to create something that offers the same sort of game play and to be honest something we should have thought of doing a long time ago. In brief what we have been looking at doing is developing a side-scroller similar to the Pitfall games where you are in a Mezo-American jungle exploring caves, ancient temples, and pyramids looking for treasure and artifacts. A long the way you will encounter various snakes, giant spiders, skeletons, spirits, etc. There will be the usual traps you find in such games like lava pits, fire pits, giant spikes, chasms, poison darts, rolling boulders, quicksand, etc. Last but not least, it will be a 2d side-scroller with plenty of ropes and vines to climb on, stone staircases to ascend and descend, ledges to jump up and grab, etc. So in short many of the things you have come to know about MOTA will still be there with a slightly different story and setting. One of the major changes I can see here is while the Tomb Hunter games like Temple of Life will feature a female character, Angela Carter, we're thinking of using a male character for Mysteries of the Ancients. As you might expect he'll be the typical Indiana Jones type character who is a historian, archeologist, and adventurer. Although, we don't want to copy the Indiana Jones character too closely given Lucas is a fanatic about copyrights, but we don't believe being able to find Indiana Jones leather bull whip somewhere in the game is outright steeling George Lucas's copyrights. In addition to the classic bull whip we've been thinking of adding some Spanish weapons and armor to the game since we'd imagine that swords, daggers, knives, shields, spears, and body armor could possibly be left behind in various ruins. Plus all of the native Americans that lived in Central and South America made tools and weapons out of bone and stone. Those would be easier to find given that iron weapons will rust but stone weapons are practically impervious to decay as long as they aren't exposed to the weather. That leaves us with one more issue we haven't decided upon, but is open
Re: [Audyssey] The Future of MOTA
What about the Bola, assuming I spelled it right. I remember those were featured in the NES game StarTropics wich, though not properly a side scroller, had asimilar theme since you were exploring ruins and caves of various kinds. On 2/8/12, Clement Chou chou.clem...@gmail.com wrote: Sounds good to me. I like the idea of two games, though I will be keeping my eye on the fps title for sure slightly more than the side scroller since I've been after a game like that for a while, and shades of doom and monkey business really didn't do me any justice. A couple of weapons to think about.. being in presumeably mexico or somewhere in latin-america, there are two weapons I have been thinking about which would be cool to see in a game... both come from aztec designs. There's the tekpatl, which was the sacrificial dagger used by aztecs.. being made of obsidian, it'd be a great combat weapon plus be hard enough to last, and most likely not decay being made from volcanic glass and probably underground. The macuhitl is also another one, more in the fashion of a club, but with obsidian on both sides... which creates a kind of club. And since you're talking about a modern-day historian / archeologist, a machete wouldn't be out of order... along with the usual guns and the like. The two weapons I mentioned were just possibilities for things you would find while exploring the ruins. - Original Message - From: Thomas Ward thomasward1...@gmail.com To: Gamers Discussion list gamers@audyssey.org Sent: Wednesday, February 08, 2012 6:16 AM Subject: [Audyssey] The Future of MOTA Hello everyone, As a lot of you are aware a few weeks ago we made a decision to redesign Mysteries of the Ancients and renamed that game Tomb Hunter: The Temple of Life. We decided to upgrade to a 3d first-person format, and as can be expected got a rather mixed response from the gaming community at large. Some loved the idea, and others were decidedly upset by the change. So we've been trying to think of a fair solution that would make both sides happy and would fulfill our obligations to those who preordered Montezuma's Revenge in 2008. What we essentially have been considering is developing two separate games in tandem. The first would be a side-scroller named Mysteries of the Ancients, a substitute for Montezuma's Revenge, and the other would be our 3d FPS game, Temple of Life. As the Tomb Hunter series of games are intended to be an accessible clone of the Tomb Raider games I would like them to take on a 3d first-person format to closely resemble the game play of the Tomb Raider games. So that left us with the question of what exactly to do with Mysteries of the Ancients. Well, we have come up with an idea we believe you will like. Essentially our solution is to develop a game more closely resembling the original concept and the game you preordered. Obviously, given the copyright issues at hand we can't create Montezuma's Revenge per say, but there are a number of classic video games such as Montezuma's Revenge, Pitfall, etc that have a decidedly Indiana Jones type theme to them. So while we can't create Montezuma's Revenge exactly it is possible to create something that offers the same sort of game play and to be honest something we should have thought of doing a long time ago. In brief what we have been looking at doing is developing a side-scroller similar to the Pitfall games where you are in a Mezo-American jungle exploring caves, ancient temples, and pyramids looking for treasure and artifacts. A long the way you will encounter various snakes, giant spiders, skeletons, spirits, etc. There will be the usual traps you find in such games like lava pits, fire pits, giant spikes, chasms, poison darts, rolling boulders, quicksand, etc. Last but not least, it will be a 2d side-scroller with plenty of ropes and vines to climb on, stone staircases to ascend and descend, ledges to jump up and grab, etc. So in short many of the things you have come to know about MOTA will still be there with a slightly different story and setting. One of the major changes I can see here is while the Tomb Hunter games like Temple of Life will feature a female character, Angela Carter, we're thinking of using a male character for Mysteries of the Ancients. As you might expect he'll be the typical Indiana Jones type character who is a historian, archeologist, and adventurer. Although, we don't want to copy the Indiana Jones character too closely given Lucas is a fanatic about copyrights, but we don't believe being able to find Indiana Jones leather bull whip somewhere in the game is outright steeling George Lucas's copyrights. In addition to the classic bull whip we've been thinking of adding some Spanish weapons and armor to the game since we'd imagine that swords, daggers, knives, shields, spears, and body armor could possibly be left behind in various ruins. Plus all
Re: [Audyssey] The Future of MOTA
Tom, its my vote you just release the game level1 or whatever for free at beta 15 to those that want it and wish to whine. I have watched you go over several incarnations of this game and I am passed caring. They want a side scroler game. many have been complaining. I suggest you release beta 15, without all the new features and comercial sfx ofcause. Its crap but so what. Then forget about it and move on. I am all for the 3d fps style. The other option could be a challenge, that is. 1 have 3d levels of the game. 2. have some parts that are needed to be done via side scrolers. 3. have some puzzle levels or something I don't know. That was just something I just thought of it sounds quite hard but I have seen that in some sighted adventures a friend and I play. If all this is because of the origional preorder base, the beta that had you fight several monsters with the minotor and dog thing at the end of the levels, the one that used the old directx things etc, that was stable. Release that for free to the customer base. They can have their crappy game they have been waiting for for ages and ages and will not nagg you. If they want the other then they can have it. The latest version as it is even on easy is quite hard but then I have never been a scroler man myself. At 09:16 a.m. 8/02/2012 -0500, you wrote: Hello everyone, As a lot of you are aware a few weeks ago we made a decision to redesign Mysteries of the Ancients and renamed that game Tomb Hunter: The Temple of Life. We decided to upgrade to a 3d first-person format, and as can be expected got a rather mixed response from the gaming community at large. Some loved the idea, and others were decidedly upset by the change. So we've been trying to think of a fair solution that would make both sides happy and would fulfill our obligations to those who preordered Montezuma's Revenge in 2008. What we essentially have been considering is developing two separate games in tandem. The first would be a side-scroller named Mysteries of the Ancients, a substitute for Montezuma's Revenge, and the other would be our 3d FPS game, Temple of Life. As the Tomb Hunter series of games are intended to be an accessible clone of the Tomb Raider games I would like them to take on a 3d first-person format to closely resemble the game play of the Tomb Raider games. So that left us with the question of what exactly to do with Mysteries of the Ancients. Well, we have come up with an idea we believe you will like. Essentially our solution is to develop a game more closely resembling the original concept and the game you preordered. Obviously, given the copyright issues at hand we can't create Montezuma's Revenge per say, but there are a number of classic video games such as Montezuma's Revenge, Pitfall, etc that have a decidedly Indiana Jones type theme to them. So while we can't create Montezuma's Revenge exactly it is possible to create something that offers the same sort of game play and to be honest something we should have thought of doing a long time ago. In brief what we have been looking at doing is developing a side-scroller similar to the Pitfall games where you are in a Mezo-American jungle exploring caves, ancient temples, and pyramids looking for treasure and artifacts. A long the way you will encounter various snakes, giant spiders, skeletons, spirits, etc. There will be the usual traps you find in such games like lava pits, fire pits, giant spikes, chasms, poison darts, rolling boulders, quicksand, etc. Last but not least, it will be a 2d side-scroller with plenty of ropes and vines to climb on, stone staircases to ascend and descend, ledges to jump up and grab, etc. So in short many of the things you have come to know about MOTA will still be there with a slightly different story and setting. One of the major changes I can see here is while the Tomb Hunter games like Temple of Life will feature a female character, Angela Carter, we're thinking of using a male character for Mysteries of the Ancients. As you might expect he'll be the typical Indiana Jones type character who is a historian, archeologist, and adventurer. Although, we don't want to copy the Indiana Jones character too closely given Lucas is a fanatic about copyrights, but we don't believe being able to find Indiana Jones leather bull whip somewhere in the game is outright steeling George Lucas's copyrights. In addition to the classic bull whip we've been thinking of adding some Spanish weapons and armor to the game since we'd imagine that swords, daggers, knives, shields, spears, and body armor could possibly be left behind in various ruins. Plus all of the native Americans that lived in Central and South America made tools and weapons out of bone and stone. Those would be easier to find given that iron weapons will rust but stone weapons are practically impervious to decay as long as they aren't exposed to the weather. That leaves us with one more issue we haven't decided upon,
Re: [Audyssey] The Future of MOTA
hmmm excuse me for my dumbness but what was pitfall. At 04:44 p.m. 8/02/2012 +, you wrote: Hi Tom. As you can imagine I like this news very much. i was sorry Mota stopped, not because I was totally against a 3D game or tied to a side scroller, but simply because Mota was doing things we've not seen in an audio side scroller before. Vertical movement, analogue jumping, mazelike levels, keys and doors etc. Now, it sounds like though more of an arcade game, a pitfall game would still! have all of those elements, and indeed probably I'm guessing you'll use some of that code that you spent all the blood and tears writing. I'd also be extremely glad to help in the voice department if I can as well, though obviously for that game you might want an American main character so as to be more distant from mota, still if you need other parts doing let me know. as regard traps and such, I like the idea of keeping things low tech, perhaps even having one or two magical elements or enemies such as giant scorpions, demons and the like (the astecs certainly had some less than pleasant gods who would make very nice bosses or antagonists in the game). I actually think The scifi elements in the first monti game for the Atari, such as the conveyers and electricity, were not actually there by design, but there because they were graphically easier to represent, sinse afterall to create electricity all you needed was a blue wavy line with a bit of fuzz, where as animating something like a gilliteen would be far more difficult. it's quite possible to think of low tech ways of creating timing and ground traps, for instance instead of intermitent turning on and off electricity, a falling and rising blade or stone weight on a rope, and for conveyrs a flowing current of water or sliding sand. Deffinately a good idea and I look forward to seeing where it goes. 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.
Re: [Audyssey] The Future of MOTA
to be honest, I'd like a game that would sound like the system it was based on. So if this game is supposed to come from atary I'd like it to sound like that, I am a retro kind of guy. q9 is a good game, I have it myself. At 11:57 a.m. 8/02/2012 -0500, you wrote: Hi Michael, That's basically the way my wife and I saw the situation as well. We can't offer people Montezuma's Revenge, but there is nothing saying we can't produce a game similar in design and story. Plus we have a lot of sounds left over from the development of Montezuma's Revenge as well as MOTA itself that this should not be an expensive endeavor for us. Mostly it will take time, but certainly not a great deal of time since we have an existing game engine, Genesis, and we have some tested code from MOTA beta 22 itself to work with. I can see putting out a game like this in a fairly short length of time once we get started with it. As for personal interest I'm excited to do it. For one thing even though Pitfall and games like that are simplistic compared to games of today I really liked them, and is one reason I took over Montezuma's Revenge in the first place. As Dark has so often mentioned Super Liam, Q9, etc are good games, but they consistently fail to live up to the expectations we have when comparing them to even relatively simple games from the Atari, Sega, and NES era of games. Here is a chance to give everyone a retro game that has all of the features we would expect from a 2d side-scroller from the 80's and 90's, and be similar in feel to Pitfall or Montezuma's Revenge that you would in effect be getting almost exactly what you paid for. Cheers! On 2/8/12, Michael Feir michael.f...@gmail.com wrote: Absolutely reasonable Tom. That would, in essence, provide people with what they ordered and have been waiting so long for. I for one would be extatic to at last have such a sidescroller in hand. Hopefully, this decision would allow you to enjoy the creation process of both titles as fully as possible. I have some understanding of what utter hell you've gone through trying to live up to a commitment made in haste so long ago. I sincerely hope things work out well this time around. --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] The Future of MOTA
I think you should have a magic element in the 2 d game as yoy have spirits in it as well. Tim - Original Message - From: Thomas Ward thomasward1...@gmail.com To: Gamers Discussion list gamers@audyssey.org Sent: Wednesday, February 08, 2012 11:34 AM Subject: Re: [Audyssey] The Future of MOTA Hi Phil, Yes and no. While I could use Angela Carter in this game there are good reasons not to use her. For one this will not be a part of the Tomb Hunter series. It is intended to be a stand alone game adventure much the same way Montezuma's Revenge was. Plus I intend the game to be a throwback to the classic side-scrollers from the 80's where you get so many points for gathering gold coins, jewels, magic potions, and slaying monsters. That kind of game is completely different in design from something like Tomb Raider that is heavily based on puzzle solving and navigating a 3d environment more than scoring points etc. In short, while I want this game to be fun, enjoyable, and hopefully have good replay value its not going to have the same degree of features as something like Tomb Raider would. I probably won't have a lot of cutscenes and things like that as I'm going to try and emulate the retro feel as best as I can. The retro feel I'm aiming for in MOTA and the totally modern feel of Temple of Life are so different as to be quite different games in the end. So I felt it made sense to have a male character in MOTA. Of course, it could be possible to create a team of characters with different abilities to add more replay value. Cheers! On 2/8/12, Phil Vlasak p...@pcsgames.net wrote: Hi Thomas, I applaud you for the decision to split up the 2d and 3d games. However I see no reason to remove Angela Carter, from the 2d game, unless you have a male voice actor that has already recorded all the things she says in the game. One suggestion is to change the pitch on the 2d voice so it is a little higher and a little younger than the current voice. For example I increased the pitch of Sarah's voice in my Hogwarts game by ten percent so she sounds younger, and also to take ten percent off the size of my game. Phil --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] The Future of MOTA
Hi Tim, Define magic in this context. As the main character will be an archeologist he or she wouldn't possess magic. The existants of spirits doesn't necessarily hint at magic either as many cultures believe that we have souls that live on after we die that really doesn't require magic. Although, the fact there are skeletons wandering around trying to kill you would definitely lean towards some supernatural power at work. :D On 2/8/12, Tim Kilgore tim8...@cox.net wrote: I think you should have a magic element in the 2 d game as yoy have spirits in it as well. Tim --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] The Future of MOTA
Hi Shaun, I was thinking a game kind of retro but not that retro. The sound effects in Atari games are useless to a blind gamer. Basically, a bunch of boops, bleeps, and beeps that are meaningless without describing each and every sound. Besides I don't have anything like that in my library. Think of this as a modern remake of a classic game much like the games on the Retro Remakes sight are based on a classic Atari or Nintendo game, but have updated graphics, music, and sound that makes it more modern. The new game would be similar here. Cheers! On 2/8/12, shaun everiss sm.ever...@gmail.com wrote: to be honest, I'd like a game that would sound like the system it was based on. So if this game is supposed to come from atary I'd like it to sound like that, I am a retro kind of guy. q9 is a good game, I have it myself. --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] The Future of MOTA
Hi Shaun, Pitfall was a popular series of games developed during the 80's and 90's featuring an archeologist and explorer named Hairy who suspiciously looks a bit like Mario. Anyway, the original game for the Atari was pretty simplistic where you ran through the jungle grabbing items, jumping traps, and well it wasn't a big deal. However, as the series went on the games got better with more complex levels, more in depth storylines, and involved exploring the jungle, various caves, ancient temples, and looking for lost artifacts. In one game you were hunting for the Lost City of Gold. In summary it was an attempt to create an Indiana Jones type adventure without having to pay Lucasfilm for the rights to the Indiana Jones trademarks and characters. The later games in the series are quite good, and I believe would be a good example of a side-scroller because most of the stuff in the Pitfall games can be converted into audio. Case in point. In Pitfall you often had to climb up vines, and jump from branch to branch to get some item out of a tree or to avoid some enemy on the ground. Sound familiar? Well, the first time I picked up Perilous Hearts and played the concept demo the first thing that came into my mind was the Pitfall jungle levels. Pitfall played quite a bit like Perilous Hearts with the ability to climb a tree and use a branch or vine to swing over quicksand, a pit, or some other trap. When you got into the caves you might have to climb a rope, swing over to a switch on the wall, pull it to lower some spikes, and then land on the ground and run before the spikes pop back up. That's what I meant by there will be similar elements to MOTA, but not exactly the same. The later Pitfall games are in the same spirit or genre of games as Tomb Hunter, but the way it was played is different. More over since it is a side-scroller itself many ideas can be borrowed directly from the games as is. Cheers! On 2/8/12, shaun everiss sm.ever...@gmail.com wrote: hmmm excuse me for my dumbness but what was pitfall. --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] The Future of MOTA
Hi tom. I agree on the main character using magic being not a good idea, but magic items,enemies or effects in the game could be fun. for instance, statues animated by ancient spells, skeletons and other undead as enemies, some mutant or mythical creatures (pitfall had jaguar men as I remember), maybe even demonic type creatures such as bestial imps summoned to guard the tombs. also, you could get some magic weapons that did special stuff, like a magic bow with infinite arrows, or an ever burning torch that never needed relighting. while I've not played the original pitfall, the Snes remake (which i do own abd have played a fair bit), does have some things like that, particularly some limited use, screen clearing weapons your character has just referd to as exploding stones while I suppose these could be scientific in origin somehow, it doesn't seem likely, given that your explicitely stated to be using ancient Inca weapons in the game, and all your other weapons, a sling that can hit close or throw a rock projectile and a boomerang, are pretty in keeping with the primative technology theme. so, unless the Inca's had handgrinades, magic exploding stones sounds reasonable, and could work here too as a weapon you could find, pick up and use. then again, I suppose hand grenades aren't too unreasonable, afterall that famous and oft quoted book of the bible known as the book of Armaments refers to the Holy hand grenade of anthiock :D. three shal be the number of the counting, and the number of the counting shal be three. To four shalt thou not count, neither shalt thou count unto two unless thou proceedeth thense to three. Five is right out Hurl thou the holy hand grenade at thy foe, for he hath been naughty in my site, and he shal snuff it! appologies to all those who haven't seen Monty python and the holy graille, though I'd recommend anyone who hasn't seen it to deffinately do so! :D. Beware the grue! Dark.and --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] The Future of MOTA
Just one question. Was Pitfall Harry hairy? LOL. Sorry. Just had to comment on that since I assume we were talking about the name Harry and not the adjective. And Dark I was just going to mention the Holy Hand Grenade. Once the number three, being the third number be reached, lobbest thou thy Holy Hand Grenade of Anteok toward thy foe, who being naughty in my sight shall snuff it. Amen. On 2/8/12, dark d...@xgam.org wrote: Hi tom. I agree on the main character using magic being not a good idea, but magic items,enemies or effects in the game could be fun. for instance, statues animated by ancient spells, skeletons and other undead as enemies, some mutant or mythical creatures (pitfall had jaguar men as I remember), maybe even demonic type creatures such as bestial imps summoned to guard the tombs. also, you could get some magic weapons that did special stuff, like a magic bow with infinite arrows, or an ever burning torch that never needed relighting. while I've not played the original pitfall, the Snes remake (which i do own abd have played a fair bit), does have some things like that, particularly some limited use, screen clearing weapons your character has just referd to as exploding stones while I suppose these could be scientific in origin somehow, it doesn't seem likely, given that your explicitely stated to be using ancient Inca weapons in the game, and all your other weapons, a sling that can hit close or throw a rock projectile and a boomerang, are pretty in keeping with the primative technology theme. so, unless the Inca's had handgrinades, magic exploding stones sounds reasonable, and could work here too as a weapon you could find, pick up and use. then again, I suppose hand grenades aren't too unreasonable, afterall that famous and oft quoted book of the bible known as the book of Armaments refers to the Holy hand grenade of anthiock :D. three shal be the number of the counting, and the number of the counting shal be three. To four shalt thou not count, neither shalt thou count unto two unless thou proceedeth thense to three. Five is right out Hurl thou the holy hand grenade at thy foe, for he hath been naughty in my site, and he shal snuff it! appologies to all those who haven't seen Monty python and the holy graille, though I'd recommend anyone who hasn't seen it to deffinately do so! :D. Beware the grue! Dark.and --- 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.
