[WIP] Untitled Cartoon RPG (Warning: Image Heavy) - Reece Pawn has landed!

[lethal_d0se]

ATTENTION: The title of "Epoch" has been used by another project further in development than my own, so this project will now remain untitled.

I will be updating this thread on a regular basis. New updates are depicted in RED.

Updates:

- 12th July 2011: Finished the Reece Pawn model, uploaded new images.

Features:



Videos:

[YouTube] Bunker: Dormitory Walkthrough (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jvd2LGq3EW4)

[YouTube] Station: Platform Walkthrough (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZHZSJgXx9Y)

Images:

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e251/lethal_d0se/UDK_Epoch2055/fab4fd6f.png http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e251/lethal_d0se/UDK_Epoch2055/df7bbd8a.png

I would like to thank Gnometank, mktwo, TheAgent, Wizard of Ozz & Blade[UG] for their help with my progress thus far.

[TheAgent]

Hey great job! So you did get the Health save to work!

[lethal_d0se]

Hey great job! So you did get the Health save to work!

Getting there slowly, but surely :) Trying to figure out a currency system still though.

[TheAgent]

you should show me how you got health to work i pm'ed you i think, unless i have a block on o.o and i see you got MP too! Does player name work too?

My game is not really character based so a custom name would make the player of my game feel more.... in control! hehe, your game looks like its making great progress tho

[El Junk]

Looks nice. I was just reading up on UnrealScript the past couple days, especially the UI part of UDK. Then I went on these forums and saw talk about a new UI system (http://forums.epicgames.com/showthread.php?t=724791) (:P) for UDK, Scaleform GFx (http://www.scaleform.com/). I kinda gathered that it's planning on being released on the order of months (possibly as early as the may update?), so soon. Just passing along info I thought was good to know.

[lethal_d0se]

Looks nice. I was just reading up on UnrealScript the past couple days, especially the UI part of UDK. Then I went on these forums and saw talk about a new UI system (http://forums.epicgames.com/showthread.php?t=724791) (:P) for UDK, Scaleform GFx (http://www.scaleform.com/). I kinda gathered that it's planning on being released on the order of months (possibly as early as the may update?), so soon. Just passing along info I thought was good to know.

I'm aware of Scaleform, and I can't wait to integrate it with my project. At the moment though, I'm happy utilizing UnrealScripts Canvas functions.

[Kaldrick]

Check out tutorial in my sig, you may find it useful.

[Deezy]

Looking yumm so far. A nicely formed UI right on spot. Really handy. Can't wait to see more. :)

[lethal_d0se]

Thread updated.

- Experience system now integrated.
- New Screenshot uploaded.

[TheAgent]

The hud looks even better hehe i liked the colors for for the bars of the last hud though

[lethal_d0se]

The hud looks even better hehe i liked the colors for for the bars of the last hud though

I'll be changing the colours shortly, it was the default after I migrated the Experience system.

I've figured out that the health values aren't stored, and so cannot be saved from PlayerController. They are within Pawn.

I'm also trying to integrate a localized chat system using mouse input, scrollable text etc

[TheAgent]

SO the health can only be stored within the actual pawn?

[lethal_d0se]

SO the health can only be stored within the actual pawn?

The health is certainly modified by accessing the pawn, but as for saving the variable it won't work for me. I'm lost to be honest.

[McTavish]

in your controller just use Pawn.Health or save a reference to your pawn ? Am I missing something here ?

[TheAgent]

create a variable for pawn.health? then just do a save config? how would i create a variable for it.

[lethal_d0se]

That's what I originally tried but it won't save anything but a null value.

[TheAgent]

try making it simple, try a pawn.health after any event then a saveconfig

[McTavish]

I have no idea what you guys are talking about ? Why would you want to save health ? its always changing ? Why wouldnt you just reference pawn.health ?

[TheAgent]

when you level up we want to save that current health state so it wont reset to 100 all the time. How would we reference pawn . health?

[McTavish]

ooohhhh you mean pawn.healthmax ? Just set pawn.healthmax and save that to your config ? Why would it reset ? you mean when you change level or something ? I take it the healthmax is being upped by whatever level you are ? I would suggest having some sort of "Calculate" function perhaps on event tick maybe that calculates the current level and health and everything.

[TheAgent]

yes we already have the calculate next level thanks much im gonna try it, your a great help! ill tell you after my final! haha if it worked

[lethal_d0se]

Didn't think of that :/

[lethal_d0se]

New Screenshot added, started coding a scrollable chat box and input.

- Particle system and sound upon player Level-Up added.
- Player name is now being read from the PRI and displayed on the interface.

Updates to follow.

[gausswerks]

Very cool--both the project and the discussion about how to store health. It's insightful and helpful to everyone else trying to figure out how to tackle these kinds of issues for people to discuss them out in threads--so thanks everyone who participated in that.

Waiting for the next update :)

[lethal_d0se]

Thread updated.

- Started a conversion of Old Canvas HUD to Scaleform HUD.
- Attempting to re-integrate the experience system.

[TheAgent]

Glad your back on the project :P

[lethal_d0se]

Thanks, I've come a lot further on it in the last few days than I had when I first started it.

[Alexin]

I really like how the Hud looks. Keep up the great work!

[lethal_d0se]

- Sunday 6th March 2011: Overhauled original post and added new screenshots.

[lethal_d0se]

- Tuesday 8th March 2011: Updated post with many changes and added a video.

[lethal_d0se]

Updates:

- 1st April 2011: Updated thread, new screenshots added, new working content listed, etc.

[lethal_d0se]

Updates:

- 4th April 2011: Added new screenshot of almost complete HUD.

Screenshots:

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e251/lethal_d0se/UDK_Epoch2055/47de847c.jpg

[ilguano]

Can I propose something? It's not for being a complainer or something like that, but I see that your hud is coming along awsome, but it is too invasive in my opinion. its too damn big :D If you could take it down a notch, also the alpha. It the hud would be less solid, like a glassy transparent feel to it, it would really look better. This is my humble opinion. To tell you honestly, if I had to play an RPG and see that orange all the time, ill start killing people randomly :)

EDIT:
Ok so I just saw your latest update (stupid me for not noticing it) and saw you did what I proposed, but I would like to see that new hud during gameplay, cause I feel it could be even more transparent (and glassy looking too).

[lethal_d0se]

Just to clarify, the new HUD (though there's no screenshot to show it) has a transparency to it.

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e251/lethal_d0se/UDK_Epoch2055/e790637d.jpg

Thanks for your post.

[ilguano]

Wow! Ok that's looking really nice :D

[Kelt'ar]

Updates:

- 4th April 2011: Added new screenshot of almost complete HUD.

Screenshots:

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e251/lethal_d0se/UDK_Epoch2055/47de847c.jpg

noooiiiice!!!
hOW BOUT A TUT ON THIS, HUH?

[lethal_d0se]

Small game update, created a Large Health Pack model for item pickup.

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e251/lethal_d0se/UDK_Epoch2055/050740b7.jpg

[heyufool1]

Lookin' good! How many polys is that large health pack?

[lethal_d0se]

Couple more item updates.

Medium Health Pack - 2,688 Polygons

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e251/lethal_d0se/UDK_Epoch2055/28b6b353.jpg

Small Health Pack - 7,176 Polygons

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e251/lethal_d0se/UDK_Epoch2055/dc527e83.jpg

[lethal_d0se]

Lookin' good! How many polys is that large health pack?

Large health pack has 4,650 Polygons.

[TheAgent]

Hes going for the detail! :D

[Tamaru]

This is good so far!

[Skulburn]

You do realise some entire characters have 7,000 polygons. Those props shouldnt be any more than 300 polygons considering the amount of detail you've included...

[lethal_d0se]

I do realise this. But this is a personal project, if I was aiming for something releasable then I'd rethink my actions.

[lethal_d0se]

Polygon Reductions have been made.

Large Health Pack: 932 (Previous 4,650)
Medium Health Pack: 464 (Previous 2,688)
Small Health Pack: 1,272 (Previous 7,176)

Thank you for your constructive criticism.

[TheAgent]

Do they still look as smooth as the ones you had before ? :P

[lethal_d0se]

Do they still look as smooth as the ones you had before ? :P

They don't look too bad to be honest. Nothing a decent normal map won't solve.

[TheAgent]

Nice to hear :D

[Arixsus]

Looking Good Lethal - Keep it up :)

[lethal_d0se]

Thanks, more updates to come.

[TheAgent]

Hope to see some more updates soon then, hehe.

[lethal_d0se]

New Updates:

- 20th April 2011: Working on my first vehicle, added a screenshot of the framework.

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e251/lethal_d0se/UDK_Epoch2055/e848bd6c.jpg http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e251/lethal_d0se/UDK_Epoch2055/17dd0fc2.jpg

[lethal_d0se]

Updates:

- Added another screenshot of the vehicle in-game. It extends from the Manta.

[lethal_d0se]

Updates:

- More progress on the Hover Car, added Matrix-esque pads and reworked the frame. New Screenshot.

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e251/lethal_d0se/UDK_Epoch2055/41433aab.jpg

[TheAgent]

Im so in love with the hydraulics.

[lethal_d0se]

Im so in love with the hydraulics.

I'd barely even pressed the post button and you've replied.

;)

[TheAgent]

Hehe i got a free day, so i got no life today : p

[ivangraphics]

mmmm.... Hovery....... :)

[lethal_d0se]

Update:

- A small selection of street and motorway lights.

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e251/lethal_d0se/UDK_Epoch2055/c6dc3688.jpg

[lethal_d0se]

Update:

- Made some new assets, added screenshots.

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e251/lethal_d0se/UDK_Epoch2055/b4fa982d.jpg http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e251/lethal_d0se/UDK_Epoch2055/14ac0143.jpg

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e251/lethal_d0se/UDK_Epoch2055/928fc312.jpg

As always, constructive criticism is welcomed.

[Rhiyo]

That screen looks amazing :) I had an idea for a screen sorta like that, but it was just a bar that was along the bottom that shot a holographic sorta image up.

May I ask what the story for your game is about? (Had a quick skim through the thread and couldn't find anything)

[lethal_d0se]

That screen looks amazing :) I had an idea for a screen sorta like that, but it was just a bar that was along the bottom that shot a holographic sorta image up.

May I ask what the story for your game is about? (Had a quick skim through the thread and couldn't find anything)

Thank you, I've detailed the model a bit more since posting those images.

The main premise is a city in the year 2055 that has been ravaged by a nuclear blast with the cause unknown. The idea is that the player is playing through the 24 hours prior to the blast to either stop it, find out why it happened, etc.

There is an RPG element to it that I'm yet uncertain if I'll keep. Hope this answers your question.

[lethal_d0se]

Update:

- This is another update to the Holo-Computer.

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e251/lethal_d0se/UDK_Epoch2055/fc8c8daa.jpg

[Rhiyo]

Thank you, I've detailed the model a bit more since posting those images.

The main premise is a city in the year 2055 that has been ravaged by a nuclear blast with the cause unknown. The idea is that the player is playing through the 24 hours prior to the blast to either stop it, find out why it happened, etc.

There is an RPG element to it that I'm yet uncertain if I'll keep. Hope this answers your question.

Thanks, that sounds really good :) I hope you continue on with this project untill it's finished, it'd be an inspiritation to go on with my project untill it's finished XD

Anyway, keep posting more pictures! Everything that's been made looks pretty professional and just really good.

[lethal_d0se]

Update:

- Screenshot of my Test scene, will become a train station.

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e251/lethal_d0se/UDK_Epoch2055/ad3e9979.jpg

[lethal_d0se]

Update:

- New assets made, video recorded and screenshot added.

Epoch:2055 Platform Two Walkthrough (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZHZSJgXx9Y) NEW VIDEO!

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e251/lethal_d0se/UDK_Epoch2055/ba838674.jpg

[nightFlarer]

Awesome materials! Also like the god rays coming through the platform signs.

[lethal_d0se]

Just a few random post-apoc shots.

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e251/lethal_d0se/aad8c067.jpg

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e251/lethal_d0se/b5d6f70c.jpg

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e251/lethal_d0se/36a95c31.jpg

[lethal_d0se]

Been a small while since I've posted anything, I've taken a break from the Train station and started on another level of my project... the Bunker.

Here's a few images for your viewing pleasure.

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e251/lethal_d0se/UDK_Epoch2055/5d92d3c3.png http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e251/lethal_d0se/UDK_Epoch2055/9b2dcd7a.png

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e251/lethal_d0se/UDK_Epoch2055/f3bcb6b8.png http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e251/lethal_d0se/UDK_Epoch2055/142380df.png

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e251/lethal_d0se/UDK_Epoch2055/d3019a59.png

I'm not too sure on the Torch, I think the poly count may be a bit too small.

[lethal_d0se]

Created the heavy doors, sound effect and animations today.

Here's a small video of the doors in Dormitory A...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jvd2LGq3EW4

[TheAgent]

As always its looking good :D

[Hellclown]

Having the faceless human figure in the room is kinda creepy durring gameplay...

[lethal_d0se]

Having the faceless human figure in the room is kinda creepy durring gameplay...

Yes, that's purely a placeholder. Used mainly to judge sizes, etc.

I will get around to rigging eventually, I'm just bad at it.

[Hellclown]

Yes, that's purely a placeholder. Used mainly to judge sizes, etc.



I use the default UDK characters for that...

[lethal_d0se]

I use the default UDK characters for that...

I was just trying to get the cartoon feel without using and epic meshes. I'll have some new updates later tonight.

[TheAgent]

Would love to see em!

[Mr.Illusive]

Created the heavy doors, sound effect and animations today.

Here's a small video of the doors in Dormitory A...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jvd2LGq3EW4

I'm loving the designs you're coming up with!
Do you animate it in your 3d package, or use Matinee? I'm wondering which one would be the best method.


-Mr. Illusive

[lethal_d0se]

I'm loving the designs you're coming up with!
Do you animate it in your 3d package, or use Matinee? I'm wondering which one would be the best method.


-Mr. Illusive

Hey there, thanks for your reply.

For simple sequences like doors and sequences I want triggered, I'll use matinee, for more complex animation, I use my 3D package.

[Hellclown]

I keep reading the top two or three post everytime I check this. I htink that those same posts are new updates everytime...

When do we get to see the train station with the new toon effects applied?

[lethal_d0se]

Attention: Reece Pawn has arrived, yeah that's right... it's his name.

He's headless, but I'm working on it.

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e251/lethal_d0se/UDK_Epoch2055/f7ead18e.png

Hellclown: I will be working on the Train station again soon. The map file got lost in the traverse between XP and Windows 7 so i'll remake it soon. All the meshes are still in tact though.

[Hellclown]

Sweet.

Like the... superhero ... guy.

[Mr.Illusive]

Attention: Reece Pawn has arrived, yeah that's right... it's his name.

He's headless, but I'm working on it.

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e251/lethal_d0se/UDK_Epoch2055/f7ead18e.png

Hellclown: I will be working on the Train station again soon. The map file got lost in the traverse between XP and Windows 7 so i'll remake it soon. All the meshes are still in tact though.

Sorry to hear that man. I suffered the same back when I was making maps for UT3. I lost all of them when I changed OS. Ever since then I had been keeping backups on an external usb, about 16 gb of space. Pretty sufficient space for a little backup, and peace of mind. You might want to consider picking one up. ;)

On the character, nice start. Is it going to be flat colors, or are you going to add detail to him such as subtle material pattern, or muscle definition? Can't wait to see where you go with it.

-Mr. Illusive

[lethal_d0se]

Sorry to hear that man. I suffered the same back when I was making maps for UT3. I lost all of them when I changed OS. Ever since then I had been keeping backups on an external usb, about 16 gb of space. Pretty sufficient space for a little backup, and peace of mind. You might want to consider picking one up. ;)

On the character, nice start. Is it going to be flat colors, or are you going to add detail to him such as subtle material pattern, or muscle definition? Can't wait to see where you go with it.

-Mr. Illusive

Thanks for the comments Mr. Illusive, I'm going to be keeping the flat colours, with the Cartoon Post Process, they come out quite nicely and give the feel I'm looking for.

I may well add more detail to him, but I don't want to overdo it on my first proper character.

[Hellclown]

Can we have a shot of the setup for the toon shaded you're using?

[TheAgent]

Hey lethal!!! I wasn't on most of the day but hope you are making progress!!!

[Hellclown]

dunno if you've seen this yet...

http://forums.epicgames.com/showthread.php?t=805339

[lethal_d0se]

dunno if you've seen this yet...

http://forums.epicgames.com/showthread.php?t=805339

It seems they have a more viable working project than myself, and will therefire be releasing content before me. So they shall keep the name.

[Hellclown]

you're very professional about it.

you seem to have missed the link in your signature(at time of post).

[lethal_d0se]

you're very professional about it.

you seem to have missed the link in your signature(at time of post).

It's the way I was raised. Thanks, forgot about my sig.

I shall overhaul the thread tonight to depict more toon content than unrelated in the original post.

[Hellclown]

Do we get to see the train station?

[TheAgent]

Hey lethal_dose! Just passing by. Hope it's all going well!

[lethal_d0se]

I hope to rebuild the station map tonight, if not, it will be another day.

[Hellclown]

I literally squealed like a little girl when I read that.

[Mr.Illusive]

Wow. I'm not one to point fingers here, but what are the chances that someone post a game with the exact same title of another that has been in development on this forum for some time now? Come on... Oh well I guess you'll just come up with something better. :) If you're actually going to be making money off of the game you're creating, you might want to limit the information you reveal until you have it copyrighted/trademarked. Just to be on the safe side. :)

-Mr. Illusive

[lethal_d0se]

Wow. I'm not one to point fingers here, but what are the chances that someone post a game with the exact same title of another that has been in development on this forum for some time now? Come on... Oh well I guess you'll just come up with something better. :) If you're actually going to be making money off of the game you're creating, you might want to limit the information you reveal until you have it copyrighted/trademarked. Just to be on the safe side. :)

-Mr. Illusive

I thought the exact same thing, but I'm a reasonable and professional person and didn't want to create what would come out as a childish fuss.

The name of my project is due a change, considering the premise and content has changed, and the premise is so funny I'm not telling anybody.

Thanks for your input though, always happy to accept feedback.

[Bob_Gneu]

More power to you for muscling through. If it were me i would stick with the name. Their project is app stored =(

Good work thus far, glad to see progress.

[Mr.Illusive]

I thought the exact same thing, but I'm a reasonable and professional person and didn't want to create what would come out as a childish fuss.

The name of my project is due a change, considering the premise and content has changed, and the premise is so funny I'm not telling anybody.

Thanks for your input though, always happy to accept feedback.


No problem. It takes a lot to be the bigger person, and you gain a lot of respect when you do so. Very professional indeed. ;)

-Mr. Illusive

[lethal_d0se]

Updates:

- 12th July 2011: Finished the Reece Pawn model, uploaded new images.

Check original post.

[Hellclown]

Why does the wire frame cast a shadow?

[lethal_d0se]

Why does the wire frame cast a shadow?

The material used is set to wire mode, and hence will only cast a shadow from the wires themselves as the faces are transparent.

[Hellclown]

okay, I couldn't figure it out.

[Mr.Illusive]

Like the goggles :D This would have to be the first cartoon RPG I've seen. Don't know if it's been done before. Can't wait to see where you go with this.

-Mr. Illusive

[lethal_d0se]

Like the goggles :D This would have to be the first cartoon RPG I've seen. Don't know if it's been done before. Can't wait to see where you go with this.

-Mr. Illusive

Got my inspiration somewhat from Borderlands, also a cartoon shaded RPG, but my project has a more exaggerated cartoon style.

[Hellclown]

So... Speaking of train stations, when will we see the revamped one?

[lethal_d0se]

So... Speaking of train stations, when will we see the revamped one?

It took time to create the station level, and as I have to recreate it and some of the materials, fitting it into my schedule right now is difficult.

I will upload some images on here as soon as I'm done with it.

[lethal_d0se]

Had a try at sketching a cartoon-ish soldier head today, as a base for the next character model, unlike the superhero, there will be many soldiers.

I've been watching a lot of Pixar and Dreamworks movies lately for inspiration, feel free to critique.

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e251/lethal_d0se/UDK_Epoch2055/382f00de.png http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e251/lethal_d0se/UDK_Epoch2055/cbb7ed1b.png

[Hellclown]

I'd make the skin a bit darker, maybe one shade. He seems really pale. Maybe make the the lines a little sharper. I assume that the soldiers are the bad guys, his lines seem too soft for a bad guy. kinda like the guards in the Pixar movie Incredibles.

Like this:
http://images.wikia.com/pixar/images/3/3a/500px-Incred-GuardSMG-4.jpg

[Mr.Illusive]

Looking good Lethal. You definitely have the facial emotion down. ;) Reminds me of the guy from Up.

-Mr. Illusive

[lethal_d0se]

Looking good Lethal. You definitely have the facial emotion down. ;) Reminds me of the guy from Up.

-Mr. Illusive

Funny you should mention Up, I watched it last night for the first time. Thoroughly enjoyable, doug is exactly like my Labrador.

[TheAgent]

Up was a great movie. Hehe so sad too . If you ain't busy get on Skype so we can chat a bit :D

[Mr.Illusive]

Funny you should mention Up, I watched it last night for the first time. Thoroughly enjoyable, doug is exactly like my Labrador.

Haha, I was just reminded of the old guy's frown when I saw your pic. :D

-Mr. Illusive

[lethal_d0se]

Should have an update on the main character soon, just finished the model sheet.

Unfortunately there will be no previews until the mesh is finished, can't have model sheets disappearing over the interwebs.

[Hellclown]

Should have an update on the main character soon, just finished the model sheet.

Unfortunately there will be no previews until the mesh is finished, can't have model sheets disappearing over the interwebs.

The super hero guy isn't the main character?

[lethal_d0se]

The super hero guy isn't the main character?

No, Reece Pawn is only supposed to appear as the main character dies or is about to die. Hence his name, he's a haplass superhero that only gets there when it's too late.

[Hellclown]

I don't get it... How does his name imply that he would do that?

[lethal_d0se]

I don't get it... How does his name imply that he would do that?

It's simple word play.

Reece Pawn ~ Re Spawn

[Hellclown]

HAHA I get it now. I was breaking it up into two words and enunciating.

[Mr.Illusive]

Hey lethal, any updates on this? Been a while.

-Mr. Illusive

[lethal_d0se]

Hey lethal, any updates on this? Been a while.

-Mr. Illusive

I'm afraid I've put the project on hold for 6 weeks. I've been accepted into University studying with some awesome tutors, such as Phil Jackson, a former senior artist for Sony Europe.

Got in without any qualifications and my portfolio, on which the first page was Reece Pawn followed by some of my environments, shaders and code.

I'm so happy, but this project will continue.

Thank you for keeping interest Mr Illusive.

[Hellclown]

I'm afraid I've put the project on hold for 6 weeks. I've been accepted into University studying with some awesome tutors, such as Phil Jackson, a former senior artist for Sony Europe.


Congratulations. I hope you learn lots of cool stuff.

[Mr.Illusive]

Congrats man :) I wish you luck! I can't wait to see what stuff you'll create with your new knowledge. :D

-Mr. Illusive

[lethal_d0se]

Congrats man :) I wish you luck! I can't wait to see what stuff you'll create with your new knowledge. :D

-Mr. Illusive

Thank you, neither can I.

[lethal_d0se]

Project closed!

Being a full-time university student and having no more time to work on this, I've closed the project.

Thanks all for your support.