Otherworld Inspiration and Influences

I was asked some days ago about the inspiration behind Otherworld and its influences.

Although it draws its inspiration from several sources, its main influence is Celtic mythology, with others interwoven into its conceptual faric. I’ve also drawn on my own experiences as a "paranormalorist", a term I coined to combine parapsychologist and paranormal investigator. (I have a little over 30 years experience in the fields and, although I’ve now retired from the investigations side of it, am still consulted by individuals and groups on paranormal, psychic and spiritual topics.)

When I first wrote the short story, upon which much of the game is based, its basic concept was that the worlds of the living and the dead overlapped. Usually, ghosts and spirits are invisible but every so often manifest physically.

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Map/Compass HUD Script (RMXP) - New Script

The Map/Compass HUD script is available. It places a window on the map displaying the current map location and the party's compass direction (the direction in which it's moving), as well as the XY coordinates.

Originally written specifically for my upcoming RMXP project Paranormality: Portals, but I decided to release it as a standalone plug-and-play script.

The Paranormality Trilogy

The Paranormality trilogy is a series of games for RPG Maker, loosely based on a set of unpublished short stories and novellas I wrote, actually inspired by some of my own experiences.

The entire trilogy focuses around paranormal investigator Jack Urban. Alyssa, his sister, disappeared under mysterious circumstances, so his mission has become to find out exactly what happened to her. His quest for the truth will take him to the Other Side and back, pitting him against some of the most nefarious daemons in the Seven Realms.

Portals revolves around the events leading up to her disappearance and is the prequel to Darkling for RMVX and Nexus for RMVXA (planned as future projects).

What Happened To The Paranormality Webisodes?

I was asked the other day about what happened to the "Paranormality Webisodes" I started doing. Well, several things really.

The first is that the motherboard on my previous computer started going out and, despite a lot of upgrades, it become irreparable without major additional cost. I decided that it was better in the long run to just buy a new computer. The storyboard and resources are still stuck on its hard drive without an immediate solution to transfer the files. I guess I could invest in an IDE to USB cable, but that's not top of my priority list right now.

The second thing is that since I started my new job, working nights, it gives very little time to actually focus on most of the projects I started, including the webisodes. I've not had a chance to reinstall the movie making software I'd previously installed either. This is one of the most frustrating parts of working the night shift, but as long as it pays the bills, then it balances out.

The final thing is that inspiration and motivation dried out. With several different projects on the go at once, it was difficult to maintain them all and prioritize them, so I took a major hiatus from them. Instead, the focus shifted to work and spending time with family.

The Paranormality project isn't quite dead yet, though. Since my purchase of RMVXA, I've been experimenting with it for a while and decided that Paranormality: Darkling would greatly benefit from RMVXA's additional features and functions, so work has been progressing on that slowly but surely. Be sure to subscribe to the site's feed for the updates.

At this point, I don't know if I will be continuing with the webisodes; it's been left open at the moment.

Paranormality: Darkling (RMVXA)

The project, Paranormality: Darkling, has been restarted. Since I bought RMVXA, I've been experimenting with it quite extensively and decided to use it for this project to take advantage of many of its additional features and functions.

The primary resource used is the Mythos Horror Resource Pack and I'll be purchasing several other resource packs as the project progresses as well.

I've also designed two windowskins specifically for the project and will be (attempting on) creating some customized graphics, including icons, of my own.

The game is entirely mouse-driven, using Amaranth's Super Simple Mouse System for Ace, replete with customized icons.

To keep up-to-date with its progress, be sure to subscribe to its official site, Paranormality: Darkling. Right now, I'm developing the overall theme, and will probably be adjusting the style sheets over the next week or so.

Paranormality: Darkling Official Projects Site

Since I've now bought a copy of RPG Maker VX Ace, I've been focusing on familiarising myself with its features, functions and script.

The projects site for Paranormality: Darkling is now online and will be updated as and when updates to the project are finished.

Here is the final opening (animated) title screen:

I've been writing most of the scripts myself, porting over some of the RMVX scripts I've done, particularly the Extra Stats script, which is being updated for both and will be updated after my interview.

Paranormality RMVX / Q-Engine Features

Paranormality RMVX Project

I've started working on a new RMVX project, entitled Paranormality: Darkling, which are loosely based on my Jack Urban Chronicles novels (in progress) and will showcase what the Q-Engine is capable of. The project has just entered its embryonic stages, but regular updates will appear on its official website.

Q-Engine Features List

Now that the Q-Engine is at version 1.17.26.3 (cited as Release Candidate 2.0), it's time to showcase some of its major features. All of these are customisable from the Configurations Settings.

• Animated Title Screen - Animated title and author/subtitle graphics, as well as moving layers.
• Menu Information Windows - Provides additional information about each menu command (main menus).
• Game Over Menu - A menu on the Game Over screen to provide options to restart, continue or terminate.
• Actor Ranks/Titles - A feature where a title is given depending on the actors' levels.
• Alternative Layout - An alternative Status Screen layout, replete with titles. This feature has recently undergone a rewrite for improvements and compatibility issues.
• Extra Character Info - A feature to provide extra bio information on the Status Screen, such as gender and age.
• Pretitles/Last Names - Gives options to include a pretitle and last name (surname).
• Actor Options - Displays additional bonuses derived from objects and actor options (set in the Database.)
• Battle Start/End Images - Displays an announcer image at the beginning and end of battles.
• Critical Flash - The screen flashes a certain colour when a critical hit has been struck (actors and monsters).
• Turn Counter - A window is displayed during battle counting the number of combat rounds.
• Extra Stats Window - Shows a window displaying additional stats, such as the number of combats won/lost, the amount of gold collected, etc. This can also be summoned from the map by pressing a (predefined) key.

Paranormality Darkling Demo & Webisodes

My RMVXA trial has now ended, but because life has swept me away this month I've only experienced 9 days out of the 30 day trial. This means that the RMVXA project (along with the demo) will now no longer be available. As I mentioned previously, having an actual 30-day trial rather than a 30 day usage trial is NOT useful to me at all. Of course, I'll buy RMVXA, it's just a question of when I can afford that $90 pricetag, and the way it's been lately - with too many very large companies demanding very large sums of money - it won't be soon enough.

All is not necessarily lost. I'm making provision for porting the entire project over to RMVX instead. There won't be a playable or interactive demo, as I'd planned for RMVXA, but rather a series of webisodes telling the story of Ralph and his quest for his missing sister, presumed dead. All made with RMVX. The previous videos showcasing what would have been part of the demo will be re-updated.

I'll give more updates later, shortly after the port and first few chapters.

RMVXA Trial Time Running Out

The last post was on Good Friday, but I've not been able to continue with any projects because I was away for the Easter holidays. And then again for a further week, with no access to RMVXA.

This now means that my RMVXA trial now has 8 days of trial time left. I don't think it's really that useful for a program to have a 30-day trial based on the actual install date rather than the number of days used, especially given that it's not a viable option to access the program every day, thereby maximising the trial period. I've only used the trial a maximum of 9 days out of the 30-day trial thus far.

As it stands today, I have 8 days left to the trial. I don't know what's now going to happen with the Paranormality 1: Darkling demo, since I'm not sure if a week is sufficient to produce enough material for a playable demo. Probably only a basic one. So now the quandary is whether to continue with it, for which I'm only able to spend about an hour each day on the project, and attempt to produce a small playable demo or another storyline video. After the trial period expires, the project will be deferred until later.

I simply can't afford $90. It's not viable for me; work doesn't pay enough for creature comforts above basic rent, utilities and food. The paycheck I was expecting, which would pay for two-thirds of it, has been deferred a month (the rest I'd be able to fund on my own). The "makers of the maker" have offered a one-week-remaining discount of 15%, but I'm short. Oh, the vicissitudes of life!

I don't know at this point where it's going. I am currently taking a Ruby script course (another one), so even after the trial ends and even if I can't finish the Darkling project, I still have RMVX, which will be the main focus for a while afterwards.

Paranormality 1: Darkling - Project Demo #2

Continuing the Paranormality 1: Darkling project, this is the second video demo of the introduction.

Events are set in motion when a series of strange events and encounters occur. Ralph, a paranormalist, who lost his sister three years ago, is still dealing with her death. His partner, Diona, is tolerant of his creeping depression, but even that is starting to fray at the edges. How will things turn out? Find out in the next demo update, which will be a playable, downloadable one.

(Again, apologies in advance for the poor sound quality. I'm still getting used to this microphone; it's so powerful that it picks up all background noise and I don't know how to filter those out yet.)

Paranormality 1: Darkling - Project Demo #1

Further to yesterday's post, I decided to go a little further and see if I can create a game before the Trial version expires.

Unfortunately, the microphone is so "powerful" as to pick up on the background noises and traffic (I might redo this video later, with improved sound quality). You might want to turn down the volume slightly before playing the video.

Scripts Used (So Far):

• Animated Title - Companion Wulf
• ATS Series RMVXA - Modern Algebra

Music:

• Kevin Macleod - Incompetech