So, here it is, the reason for my long absence!
I haven’t posted any of the art because it’s all in the game. So, without further adue, here’s the link. Feel free to comment on bugs or if you like or whatever 
http://www.megafileupload.com/en/file/167724/Druid-rar.html
Hi!
The game is going slow. I blame the essays. And yet, I think I was rewarded for learning about Sally Potter, and getting to meet her in person. One thing I got is my writing ability back.
And the first story is the one about the girl who talks to ducks!
So, they are on a small family boat, cruising down river. The parents are somewhere inside chatting, the older brother (6) chases her around and torments her <okay, lightly>. Eventually she sneaks away unnoticed, and go on to the very back of the boat, hiding there. She then hears the ducks who are about in the river. She quaks back. The ducks pause. She quaks again. They answer. She quaks happily. They start following the boat and begins a conversation of quaks. Sometime later something scares them and they fly away. She quaks to the silence and moans a bit, but doesn’t cry. Evening falls, she is asleep. Her parents carry her away to a warm bed.
The next day, while playing, she hears a quak. She skips to her ’secret’ place and quaks merrily. There’s a chorus of quaking. She stand us and slides across the ladder at the back of the boat, to the water. She slips on the last step but lands on a big goose.
Dunno what happens next. Maybe she flies with them, or goes on a journey of some sorts and returns.
Okay, so, the essay is turned in, I am pleased and learned, now back to animation.
Here are some sketches from the past days…
So the brave Fibia managed to give me a few animations. Poor doll, she’s broken her left shoulder now too. But she did well. I am now questioning wether it was a good idea to do the game in stop motion. Is it really worth it? I’ve come this far but how much game could I have had by this time (and amount of work put in) if I had only done it in flash…? And the difference in feel, it it worth it?
I mean, there are a gazzilion flash games and many of them look the same, but there’s nothing quite like Druid. Maybe those people were making the right choice though, because it has been stopping me from advancing. Stop motion is extremly time consuming, mostly because of all the item-hunting and problem-solving you have to go through. For classic all you need is a trusty tablet and a good mood. For 3D… a house-sized PC and lots of beer.
Anyway, nuff rant! Here’s a peek at the animations I’ve got, finally. The video is stretched from some reason… sorry. And some fun sketches, too.
Okay here’s a sneak peek at the forest. I’ve got both tiles ready now and plenty of trees, although I still need to drill the holes and insert the nuts so I can do the replacements of the trees… BUT you can get a feel of it. I’m gonna get proper lighting and do the shooting sometime this week. Hmm… maybe I’ll shoot in school?
If anyone’s interested in some retro fun… I’ve come across a live game museum , where you can play old Sierra games right on your browser, they’re in flash. There’s also some other stuff, like old graphics…
http://sarien.net/
Another site which has caught my eye, is one developing anime games and translating some Japanese games. There are a lot of dating/life games, but with a more interesting, dynamic take then your usual Sims, and some RPG’s, all in super cute anime style! It is aimed towards women and, thankfully run by one too. Most of the games are for sale but there’s a free demo for any and some are free.
http://www.hanakogames.com/
Also, here are some more sketches!
Sorry, no new animations.
My puppet broke today.
Let us mourn for a minute of silence.
Okay all done! I’m gonna make a hell of a lot better one now!
I was in the midst of despair when I bumped into my tutor, Magnus, on campus, and after hearing of the tragedy, he wouldn’t let me drift to classic animation but instead directed me to Jonathan, the animation tutor, who in turn gave me a roll of aluminum wire! Now you all know how hard I was looking for aluminum wire some time ago, until I gave up and setteled for copper. BIG mistake. Copper breaks, as it appears. Aluminum is awesome! It’s so soft and flexible and light. Mmmmm aluminum…
Anyway, this means, no excuses! I’ll make a new puppet and get on with the plan. So first thing I did was research some more on stop motion. Jonathan told me where I could get this wire (and a huge selection of other animation materials, including tricells and cell paints!)ff
http://www.chromacolour.co.uk
Next I’ve found a great site and forum for stop motion enthusiasts, including one guy who’s making a game like me. Yeepee!!! this one is http://www.stopmotionanimation.com
Also, if anyone is interested in trying out stop motion with puppets, this site sells a durable armature kit, at only 20 pounds. It’s the cheapest I’ve seen anywhere and it includes aluminum wire and trust me… it will save you a lot of pain. Ah if only I’ve known of this before…. http://www.animationtoolkit.com/index.htm
Also a really cool site that sells scenery-sets making materials. I’d usually rather make those stuff myself, and regardless my whole game will only be made in yarn (including UI and special sparkly effects!), so it’s no good for me. But still fun to look at. http://www.ecscenics.co.uk/index1.html
Also a few things I’ve learned…. how to make a T-tiedown (instead of magnets). To use plaster to make different heights. How to “plant” fake grass (there’s a tool for that in ecsenics website). How to make water..
Also discovered a really cool animator and prop maker, Nick Hillisgosnic. Well it’s not like he’s new or anything, he’s a 62 year old veteran, but he’s Australian! http://www.youtube.com/user/StopmoNick
So here are a few shots of my set in progress. I decided to talk the whole thing to yarn kingdom!
So the background will by “drawn” with strings, kinda appears like Vincet’s strokes. Ahead will be trees wrapped in yarn and green some dropping from the brances for the leaves. Tell me whatcha think?
[edit: Note to self: Lionel Cohen's Project Orange album! It's lovely for background music for the game.]
I finally managed to saw through the first bolt! Man. They have to give in. Strangely, the second one went much faster. As I was waiting for the epoxy to dry, I painted a bit…
Tomorrow I could finally animate Fybia! <crosses fingers>
Oh yeah I’ll prolly use MonkeyJam or Motion mage for the capture. Couldn’t get Dragon…
Okay so… while I nearly finished sawing through the first bolt (to make Fybia’s feet), my saw broke.
So, instead of drowning in despair, I did some tests for the vines. First I tried animating with fimo, without any wire. The fimo is pretty but it’s just not too animative. It keeps breaking and without wire I have no control.
So next I quickly built a simple “armature” (just some wires wrapped in masking tape) and covered that in plastecine. Now I got some control but I’m still not too pleased. And the best part is: the program I’m using is a trial and it only lets you shoot 50 frames per take! /cry
Anyway, here are the tests:
Oh I remembered another game which set me in the direction of making this sort of game. Odin’s Sphere!
Not much up… finishing up the puppet for animation proved to be more challenging then I thought. So… I’m stuck. At the moment I’m sawing through thick bolts so I could have their heads for Fyvia’s feet.
Here are some sketches in the meantime! I’m dying to get some animation already. I haven’t animated in ages and I miss it.
