Sorry for not posting in a while. I thought I'd post something to let you guys know I'm not dead and that CyberpunkRL is still being worked on. Unfortunately the past few days have not been very productive due to a sudden Bad Company 2 addiction. Don't worry; I'm aiming to get 0.2a out within a week. That's not a hard deadline or anything, but hopefully I can stick to it. What more do I have to do to get 0.2a ready? The truth is I've already gone through my list of things I wanted to do for the next release. The problem is there are a lot of rough edges I'd like to smooth out before I release another version. I've added so much stuff that there are a lot of things that aren't fully integrated or completed yet (a lot hacking stuff for instance).
I'm happy to announce the next version does have saving! It uses the rather unforgiving model of only one save allowed and it is deleted when you die.The files are in plain text format and can be edited, if you're a dirty cheater.
I've also listened to a lot of the suggestion you guys have given in the comments and stuff. Thanks for all the support!
You should change "rather unforgiving model" to "characteristically roguelike feature" :)
ReplyDeleteKeep it coming, I can't wait for the next release!
BTW, while I'm waiting for your game to come along, I've been playing Shadowrun for the Genesis. That. Game. Is. Awesome. If you want a bit of inspiration for the direction to take with some of your mechanics, get yourself a Genesis emulator and a Shadowrun ROM. Roguelikelike I would have to say... If only slightly, but really cool game nonetheless.
ReplyDeleteReefpirate, I agree 100%. Genesis Shadowrun should be roguelike-ified, that would be awesome. If I ever do start making a RL, that's what it'd get the most influence from.
ReplyDeleteI'll check it out.
ReplyDeleteOh, and Reefpirate, if you are at all interested...
ReplyDeletehttp://dl.dropbox.com/u/2321290/ShadowEdit.zip
Save State Editor for Shadowrun I wrote a while back.
Wow, small world! (or should I say small internet?) I stumbled across your Save State editor just the other day when I got my Shadowrun ROM. Lol, what are the chances...
ReplyDeleteNot to hijack this blog too much, or CyberpunkRL, but I couldn't stop thinking about roguelikes in general, and CyberpunkRL in particular, as I started playing through Shadowrun (Genesis). Last time I played it I must have been a lot younger/stupider, because I dropped the game pretty quick. Now, my first time really giving it a chance for a few hours and I'm in love. Forget Chrono Trigger, man, Shadowrun (Genesis NOT SNES) is my new fave console RPG of all time!
But to bring it back to the topic here, just the way the game flows from doing shadowruns, to doing story missions, and shopping, etc. really has a strong sense of progression. I might be jumping ahead here, but Gregory have you thought about how CyberpunkRL might flow? Missions? Random and deep dungeon crawl type flow? Cyberpunk-Sandbox? Of course, I wouldn't suggest the magic, or even the shadowrun ruleset (although Shadowrun rules I've always liked better than D&D types), but the flow of Shadowrun is truly addicting!
I hope you're enjoying it, Gregory! Don't give up on Shadowrun early like I did 5 or 10 years ago, it's a truly amazing game!
(Also, if you'd rather the Shadowrun Genesis talk be brief, or stop altogether on YOUR game's blog, just let me know! lol)
I don't mind you talking about other things.
ReplyDeleteI just spent about an hour trying to figure out Shadowrun, but it's fucking impossible. D: I die in pretty much every combat I get into so I keep losing all my money. I gave up when I realized I was out of ammo and couldn't afford any more. Trying to fight with my knife fists or whatever doesn't work well either because I die instantly upon contact with the enemy. I'm not sure if this is just an insanely hard game or I'm doing something wrong.
When you start, it IS insanely hard. You'll need to run from almost every encounter, and keep doing Shadowruns for Mr. Gunderson until you can get your Karma high enough to upgrade your basic skills, so you can actually survive in a fight. In the beginning it's pretty unforgiving, but once you beef up it isn't so bad.
ReplyDeleteOh btw, you upgrade your skills at hotels, just stay in the hotel and you get the option.
Yep, the game is tough to start, and it can still be tough once you get fully kitted up too. But it's especially tough because the designers were probably assuming you would have a manual to start with! Like Kyle said, make sure you stop at a hotel to spend skill points. If you're the samurai (you should be!) then putting points into intelligence, quickness and body are good, don't worry about strength unless you're going melee-focussed. Level up your firearms skill too. You'll start to feel stronger. First thing I would upgrade is quickness, get it up to 4, then you can outrun or at least keep pace with your enemies while you shoot them. (Expert tip: don't put your body, quickness or strength above 4 until you've gotten them up to 6 with cybernetic implants! Then you can raise them beyond their max.)
ReplyDeleteThat being said, stick with courier and bodyguard missions at first... Don't take on the ghoul missions until you can hire a buddy (in the bar next door), or until you have some decent skills/equipment. Once you can run a couple of solid ghoul missions without dying, things get a bit easier. Then buy your brother's stuff at from the hotel guy to get out into the city!
One final tip: I was getting kind of stuck (after I got out of the first zone) and not making a lot of money. That's when the Matrix comes in. That's a whole other game in itself, but it also makes you a LOT of credits. I'd recommend the first FAQ on the GameFAQs page for Shadowrun if you want the most detail. Even just a quick read through the intros helped me a lot.
I never said it was easy to get into the game! But it sure is worth it once you get a bit of understanding of how it all works...
Oh ya, and save up for the Predator Heavy Pistol (You can buy it right next to the hotel), that'll help you save on ammo. One clip goes into all guns for their ammo, so a gun with 6 shots will burn it up a lot faster than a gun with 16 shots. Plus, the Predator, and all heavy pistols, give you more Bang for your buck, so less shots to kill pesky punks. Even with mediocre skills, a Predator will quickly turn things around between you and the Halloweeners jumping you in Redmond.
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, I forgot to ask, will you be releasing the source a little later on down the line Greg? I'd be really interested in seeing it.
ReplyDeleteEventually I plan to, but the code is pretty messy and noobish so I'm not sure how interesting or useful it will be to anyone.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I gave Shadowrun another chance and managed to start not dying every encounter. I even got a Predator pistol. It's a really fun game with an interesting atmosphere.
I'm glad you like Shadowrun. Not many decent cyberpunk games out there, and that one seems to get overlooked a lot.
ReplyDeleteYeah, just wait until you start getting into decking and the Matrix. That's its own game right there, not to mention a good way to make buttloads of money.
ReplyDeleteMan, a roguelike remake of Shadowrun for Genesis would be literal game heaven for me. These features look amazing and can't wait :)
ReplyDeleteI'd just like to reiterate that Shadowrun isn't really a big influence on the development of this game, considering I'd never played it before now. So if you go into it expecting Shadowrun, you may be disappointed. :\
ReplyDeleteWith that said, Shadowrun is definitely worth drawing inspiration from, so we'll see where that leads.
I was worried this might happen... lol.
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to mention it, get some ideas churning design-wise. You know, maybe to add it to your list of Deus Ex, Ghost in the Shell, etc. as influences.
Maybe I shouldn't have mentioned it... Those were hours spent dying hopelessly in Shadowrun when you could have been working on the next release! Back to work, you!
:D
Greg, that doesn't stop us tinkerers from using the source to create SR specific items and such ;)
ReplyDeleteAre you STILL working?
ReplyDelete(crosses fingers)
:o
Well, I've made the tough decision to do a complete rewrite of the game because there are some pretty big changes I want to make. I'll post about it soon, and possibly go ahead and release the current version and the source.
ReplyDeleteSorry for the lack of updates lately. I have not given up on this game!
Awesome!
ReplyDeleteI haven't given up either!