 What are the Adventure Apes?The Adventure Apes is a concept I've had floating around for a number of years now. Basically, it boils down to the struggle of good versus evil, but more specifically it deals with Mitch and Otis(the two heroes) and their attempts at stopping Horatio Hawk (the villain)
from stealing magical items from around the world. It all takes place on Earth, just not necessarily our Earth, so things will seem familiar even though there will be a fair number of glaring differences. Take for instance the very fact that you have a gun-wielding monkey chasing after a big evil bird!
 |
| Adventure Apes - Story Book |
How long did it take to make?
The game itself is still in progress. So far though, a couple years have gone into it. That is just to get level one to the point where it is ready for beta testing! It has taken longer than I thought it would to get to this point, but you have to take into account that everything has been done after-hours; the style development, music composition, not to mention learning how to write code for a game. After that is set, then comes the days and days of testing and fixing. It can be very draining on a person, but I believe persistence pays off!
From an Animator to a Game Maker to a Business Man, how are you finding these transitions?
Having studied classical animation at VanArts, the switch to creating a game is not all that drastic. The thing that I love most about animating is that it breathes life into still drawings, that fascinates me! A stack of paper on the end of a desk with drawings that at quick glance all look insignificant, but having them captured and played back to reveal the fluid swoop of a piece of cloth, or the crazy run cycle of some hyperactive character, it's almost magical! Putting that kind of stuff into a game is not all that different; objects get animated frame by frame, only when it is in a game, you have the ability to control how it plays back instead of just watching it. Each action is separated, and when a player wants the character to act, the code will call up the specific action needed. As long as it is done properly! For me, the trickiest aspect by far is the business end of things. Everything from a business standpoint is in its infancy with me. I decided from the beginning that rather than rush out with a handful of ideas and loose concepts of what I wanted, I would work to get a whole pile of things put together before approaching anyone about anything business-wise. That way there is always the option to do it independently. Like I said though, the business aspect is a tough one, and right now I am at the very bottom, looking up at the first rung of the ladder!
 |
| Adventure Apes - Power Up |
What has been the biggest challenge in the making of Adventure Apes?
The toughest challenge to date is keeping focused on what needs to be finished first. There are so many ideas in my head, and new ones keep barging in all the time, that it can be difficult to sit down and really just do one thing at a time. I have had many evenings where I would be working on one thing, but would get an idea for something new, get excited about that idea, and rather than finishing the first task I would move on to this new one. Having ideas is great, but I have finally started learning that bouncing from idea to idea means never getting anything accomplished. These days my desk is covered in lists and stickynotes! It really is organized, it just looks chaotic....
|
Adventure Apes Demo
|
When will Adventure Apes be released?
Soon! It's funny, whenever I think the first level is ready to go, some little detail needs tweaking. I've been testing it for the past month now, ironing out glitches and adding features to really make it a more enjoyable game. There have been some really great suggestions handed to me in various forums, and I've done my best to implement them into the game. The most exciting one is the addition of a 'help' system in case you lose your way. It was a brilliant idea as it made the game a little easier, and it helped flesh out the characters of the game too! If I had to give a specific answer to your question, I would say that everything will be ready around the beginning of September.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I have found this to be a huge undertaking that has been filled with confusion, frustration and joy. It is important I think for people to never stop pushing themselves, always challenge yourself and learn something new, because no matter how rough it gets, you will always end up better off having gone through that experience when it's all said and done.
|
Comments