Is this project dead as a dodo?
Author: indiefoldcreator
Date:
Thu, 05 Sep 2024
Game: Fringes of the Empire
Genre:
Action, Adventure, Casual, Indie, RPG, Early Access
Developer: Lost Astronaut Studios
Release Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2015
Developer: Lost Astronaut Studios
Release Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2015
I started working on this game about 4 or 5 years ago. I made it in GameMaker and it could only go so far before I couldn't deal with GameMaker anymore.
Prior to working on Fringes, I was making a procedural space exploration game called Empire in the Sky in 2.5D. When that got too crazy to work on, I stopped and took a pause to learn more about graphics and game engine programming. I also thought it might be easier if I used a third party engine so I didn't get bogged down in "engine design" rather than "game design" ...
Fast forward 3 years and I promised on the Space Game Junkie podcast #134 that I would be translating the GameMaker version (which you get along with the Lost Astronaut Game Engine version when you buy Fringes) into my own engine and start from scratch.
Well, progress has been made, but the game isn't finished yet.
What was done ?
After appearing on the podcast, I spent years writing all of the parts of Fringes that I dreamt of having in the GameMaker version but couldn't. A dialog system. A 2D top-down map Zelda-like part. A 2D top-down space ship part. Extensive editors packaged with the game to let people mod it and make their own stories. Cool particle effects. Customizable ships.
I created one of the seven alien homeworlds and Earth. I made some levels. But I still don't feel the levels are good enough. I made a lot of dialog but I wonder if people even read it.
I've decided to go work on some other games by taking pieces of this game and reworking them into a series of casual games. Does that mean that Fringes won't ever get done? No.
It just means I have to make lemons out of lemonade for awhile to feel better about myself as a game programmer, and achieve goals that are easier to achieve.
Imagine the work that goes into a game like this:
I draw and clean up all of the 2D art.
I make all of the "meta data" that makes space ships and objects work.
I make the 2D maps, locations and tiles
I made all of the in-game editors.
I write all of the dialog.
I make the engine.
I make the audio and sound effects.
I pick and produce or compose the music.
I make the cut sequences.
I do all of the testing.
What's left to consider this "done"?
On-ground and in-space combat.
Level and progression for the main character and the ship crew.
About 60 2D maps. This means lots of tiles, objects, NPCs and scripts.
More ship systems including fighter/hanger system.
Optimizations
Support for Game Controllers and user-configurable control settings.
Steam Workshop support
Modding editor cleanup and documentation
If Fringes ever gains a following that wants to participate in the making of the game -- enthusiastically wants to participate in making the plots and scenes and levels and features of the game -- then the game would be successful.
You can always contact me on our discord http://discord.gg/MduSuX3
If you have ideas, or bug reports, or want to somehow participate. If you own a copy of Fringes, there is a way for you to make levels and submit them to me. You can give me feedback on dialog, or you can just enjoy your purchase. The game is not dead, it's just sleeping in 2019. If you don't own the game and you buy a copy, thanks. It does go to support the game's development. Stay in touch! -h3
Prior to working on Fringes, I was making a procedural space exploration game called Empire in the Sky in 2.5D. When that got too crazy to work on, I stopped and took a pause to learn more about graphics and game engine programming. I also thought it might be easier if I used a third party engine so I didn't get bogged down in "engine design" rather than "game design" ...
Fast forward 3 years and I promised on the Space Game Junkie podcast #134 that I would be translating the GameMaker version (which you get along with the Lost Astronaut Game Engine version when you buy Fringes) into my own engine and start from scratch.
Well, progress has been made, but the game isn't finished yet.
What was done ?
After appearing on the podcast, I spent years writing all of the parts of Fringes that I dreamt of having in the GameMaker version but couldn't. A dialog system. A 2D top-down map Zelda-like part. A 2D top-down space ship part. Extensive editors packaged with the game to let people mod it and make their own stories. Cool particle effects. Customizable ships.
I created one of the seven alien homeworlds and Earth. I made some levels. But I still don't feel the levels are good enough. I made a lot of dialog but I wonder if people even read it.
I've decided to go work on some other games by taking pieces of this game and reworking them into a series of casual games. Does that mean that Fringes won't ever get done? No.
It just means I have to make lemons out of lemonade for awhile to feel better about myself as a game programmer, and achieve goals that are easier to achieve.
Imagine the work that goes into a game like this:
I draw and clean up all of the 2D art.
I make all of the "meta data" that makes space ships and objects work.
I make the 2D maps, locations and tiles
I made all of the in-game editors.
I write all of the dialog.
I make the engine.
I make the audio and sound effects.
I pick and produce or compose the music.
I make the cut sequences.
I do all of the testing.
What's left to consider this "done"?
On-ground and in-space combat.
Level and progression for the main character and the ship crew.
About 60 2D maps. This means lots of tiles, objects, NPCs and scripts.
More ship systems including fighter/hanger system.
Optimizations
Support for Game Controllers and user-configurable control settings.
Steam Workshop support
Modding editor cleanup and documentation
If Fringes ever gains a following that wants to participate in the making of the game -- enthusiastically wants to participate in making the plots and scenes and levels and features of the game -- then the game would be successful.
You can always contact me on our discord http://discord.gg/MduSuX3
If you have ideas, or bug reports, or want to somehow participate. If you own a copy of Fringes, there is a way for you to make levels and submit them to me. You can give me feedback on dialog, or you can just enjoy your purchase. The game is not dead, it's just sleeping in 2019. If you don't own the game and you buy a copy, thanks. It does go to support the game's development. Stay in touch! -h3
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