REVIEW: Pokémon Uranium - The first 20 minutes

So I decided to review the new fan made Pokémon game: Uranium as a change from showing off my artwork in a cheap attempt for publicity... NAH who am I to kid around. I played this game at the early stages before it was even finished and my god, the finished product is incredible.

So you remember that feeling when you first got Pokémon for the game boy, that feeling of setting out on your own Pokémon adventure with your cute little Charmander (lets face it he da best) then you set off to kick youngster Joey's butt, then the eight gyms elite four and then Blue. One experience we will only get once. However you will not be disappointed, this game captures that very first moment with such nostalgia, the sniveling rival, the choice of the three starter Pokémon even a new professor to press the action button rapidly.

So the first thing I loved is the sense of story you get at the beginning for the first time in Pokémon game history we finally learn a bit more about the silent protagonist we are all use too, we are given a small cinematic which gives the player insight to the protagonists past which then leads up to the reason your character is where he is. I love this because it immediately gives the player a connection to the character and who he is. Makes an absolutely brilliant writing choice to do this.

snippet from the started cut scene

So you move on and the next thing I think is just awesome is the whole "choose your fighter"... Just kidding this isn't Mortal Kombat. The way you get your starter is awesome, you are given a test to determine what strategy is for you. Just like the Fallout 3 G.O.A.T exam you are given a series of questions. Although this is different from choosing your starter as like the original games it gives you an idea of what your Pokémon is going to be good/ weak at. Another awesome thing is that each answer is colour coded towards the corresponding type, so if you want an water type starter, pick blue.

The humour is also really good. - I know people who would say this but with dogs.

The visuals are lush. reminds me of Pokémon Diamond, Pearl and Platinum. Very Vibrant and green with a simple layout of the environment but interesting enough that it makes you want to explore it. The buildings are newly created assets which is also nice, gives the environment that sense of originality; (some Pokémon games use already used assets hence the mention although there is a use of old character assets like trainers n such). Night time is especially beautiful, here are some screenshots to give you a taste.

Starting town

second town glimpse

Night time - real time clock realness

And the most important thing the music, It feels like a Pokémon game, the music that makes you want to go out and explore, the battle theme that gets you pumped and even the sound of safety in the Pokémon Center. This game is something you would expect out of Nintendo themselves.

The battling, is one I'm a little different with, not sure if I like the way the health bar and experience meter are laid out. I found it difficult at first to know what is which until i took the first strike, just feels a little messy. Classic font, love it. the buttons used feel like a Game Boy Advanced Pokémon game attempt at the Diamond and pearl touch screen system, nice too look at and tells you each individual button as is highlighted with the cursor. It keeps most features all the games have but most importantly the music rocks! One criticism (yes again) some of the Pokémon cries are either edited from previous Pokémon or taken. Not a massive fault just looses that uniqueness if you recognize the Pokémon it is taken from. The fire starter Raptorch, has a cry which sounds exactly like Palkia from Gen 4 and a poison type crocodile Pokémon sounded like a Totadile cry. Some edgy animations here and there in the battle screen, but nothing is perfect eh?

Battle screen, cool style? eh?

Love it. if you haven't got it, get it you won't be disappointed. So good for a custom Pokémon game.

And that is all there is to that, just some opinions of a game that I like and credit to me for doing the correct é in Pokémon in every time I typed it, Peace

Concept: Pretty Pictures and Procrastination

So... If you have been reading, skimming or even just scrolling through this I am sure you are currently aware I have been gobbing off my recent idea. So for the gossipy article I am going to bore you to death for a bit while you procrastinate before bed... and if you last long enough show you some "pretty" pictures.

So if one was to ask the question: "What inspired your game" My first response would be, who is this one you speak? But secondly I would say a game which has combined elements off Mass Effect 2 and Fallout 4 the open world of fallout 4, similar game play 3rd person style and the inter planetary travel that Mass Effect offer. That's why I loved the idea of an alternate reality of Earth being in company of a potentially hostile planet. I could say some Metal Gear stuff but finding an effective way to show that level of story telling in a 7 minute game level was... Impractical.

My favourite shot which then became the poster space for my game. 

The funny thing about this I really wanted my level to be an escape the facility scenario. But as a design choice I chose against it because a previous project was also set in a facility with the same kind of situation.

Previous idea, kept the concept of it being Chimer-Tech warehouse, but the idea bored me.
An early 3DS Max render (bas

So! with that in mind I came up with some maps not only for the environment I planned but for the entire planet which they player would get to explore if this game was gunna' be produced by a whole team.. NOTE: These where only a reference and not the final products I intended to use in the game.

Map reference I designed and tried to follow when sculpting in the engine.

DISCLAIMER: The planet was changed to Pauria - pain in greek (or comes from the word)
The map you see here is literally a reference for more story writing.

So I have my locations, and the setting. Next was creatures to inhabit the planet and characters to support some of the roles so... I had a few cool ideas and concepts. Again if anyone needs explaining what concepts

The enemy you see me shooting the crap of in the video HERE 

Cause humans with guns are logical, something tribal for a sci fi game to make it interesting.

Werewolves but German.. nahh these are 75% Human  25% Wolf
*insert controversial remark here*

hoomans with guns - Nova Empire Forces.

The next and final thing was making sure the people could picture some of the main characters, even though some of them didn't make it to the final feature, the visuals exist where the models don't to give the audience some kind of insight how shitty some of the "baddies" are.

Douchebag of the game. If the game was made further on he would be
the asshole who tries to stop you millions of times before actually
facing you off himself... yes, THAT guy

Main Protagonist, we all know about him

The emperor who is the reason the whole story rolls out the way it does
He is also not nice.
He runs an empire and forces his battalions into committing unnecessary genocide.

The weird thing i forgot to mention the whole campaign would of been
multiplayer or the player switches between characters.
He was going to be the second option.

So there you have it more thinking. and some artwork I did to support the creation of my project, if you find yourself reading this and not knowing what is going on, CLICK HERE to see the project that is finished.

Not sure if there is any more gossip on this project other than some of the actual stuff. But shall be updating soon. Stay Fierce and peace.

All artwork and story writing is mine. I Claim copyright act 2006 n such.

From Concept to Creation - Stratospheres

Hey ho! 

So as of recently I finished my final project for uni which was to make a game level. This level had to have a narrative, working game play functionality and be somewhat visually interesting to look at as well as have a win/ lose condition. So, like all projects we draw some stuff and write some stuff and eventually we have a concept ready to be 3D modelled, textured, rigged, skinned, animated and finally programmed in and made into a game. (long list yes we are busy people)

So my first idea came while I was sat on the train on the way home and I had this crappy notebook which we all received from our lecturer (It was useful but for my initial sketches I spent some cash monies on a leather book to show class) - It wasn't classy I just liked it.

This idea I wasn't too fond of, I wanted to go science fiction the moment we was given creative freedom but I didn't know what angle I wanted to go at. So I wrote some more stuff and came up with a story.

- Now imagine a world exactly like Earth but 200 years in the future, suddenly this planet appears from nowhere and as you look, you can see it closing in towards you, moving closer and closer till it stops. Life continues as normal but governments of nations grow concerned off it's presence, and scientists grow curious of how and why it is even there in the first place. The Earth you know becomes united as planetary empire because of the fear and anticipation that comes with the unknown life that may be upon this strange planet.

So communications start and the other planet respond, different species including humans live on this planet and so talks begin about intentions and a positive relationship grow between the governing bodies of the two planets. This then leads of to trading and even inta-stratosphere transit begin. The two planets live peacefully together for 75 years. 

So these 75 years past and a new leader is elected, resources are running dry on this planet named Pauria and the newly formed NOVA empire is in need to make some decisions on how to deal. Damascus the new emperor decides to eradicate life on the planet to drain the last of its resources for the survival of Earth. This leads to invasions from Earth eradicating life on the planets. 

Concept NOVA warmongers 

During the first initial strike of the NOVA Empire the protagonist Laguna a weapons trader for the company CHIMERA-TECH is on the way back from an excursion where the NOVA begin their first strike, being a target you escape the blockade and crash land on the strange planet. Surviving with just a rifle Laguna needs to find an alternate way of the planet before it is eradicated... but before that, he needs to find some kind of civilization so he can find a way back to Earth.-

Laguna - Initial character art

Next blog I will be posting concept art and some of my thinking behind the idea. if you read this well done and have a pat on the back cause you're cool. Peace.

If you haven't seen the game play for my game and would like too click HERE