Progress Report and the first tid-bits about TE:B!

[Jason Tandro]

Well I don't have new screenshots yet, but the final product is coming along nicely. There are 3 Guild quest-lines, 1 Organization quest line and 2 other Organizations which have two different functions but no quest line. This adds to the already exceedingly long list of ways to do anything but play the main quest in the game!

In improving the beta I am putting storyline development and intriguing puzzle-solving/dungeon exploration at the forefront. The problem with this game is since it has been developed (essentially) by the combined ideas of the entire group which keep coming in, my coding is a little jumbled and so when I add new elements it is hard to see what previously existing elements's toes it's stepping on.

So, major update #1:

There will be a pre-release Beta Version 2.0 released on August 1st!
I will take the information you all gather in that time to FIX BUGS ONLY. I can make minor (very minor) changes to additional features and storyline suggestions but mainly I'm working towards wrapping up this project in a nice neat little bow so I can move along to the sequel.

Major update #2 answers a lot of questions and comments I got from the beta:

I am abandoning the "Rank" System and returning to a more orthodox Class system
This will facilitate weapon expertise, skill sets and also take away some of the burden of trying to choose weapons. Freedom is good, but I found that too much choice overpowers you. Also, on the New Character modes you will not have to reach a certain rank to enter towns. Those missions will be treated as ordinary side missions.

Now, alongside the final version of TE:A I have begun development on TerraEarth: Beyond. Here are the first few tid-bits of info:

1. New Playable Characters: Metall Ark, Hydra.7, Lenc, Flamez.

2. An Active-Time Battle System will be employed.

3. The game will take place on multiple planets and have a Star Ocean, Mass Effect, Kingdom Hearts feel to it.

4. Other planets to explore include: Hyrule, Rysun (Jason's home planet), The Demon Realm, and the Dark Comet.

5. The game will have you choose a main character and then have you build a party around that central character.

6. Each character will have an animal companion (familiar), which will have unique skills and puzzle-solving applications.

7. There will be a very complex relationship system which determines the main characters relationship with party members and notable NPCs, as well as party members inter-mingling relationships (although romantic interest is reserved for Freedan and Raini )

8. When you enter towns, your party members will wander the town doing their own thing allowing for "Private Actions" based on your affection levels.

And finally the biggest and perhaps most interesting tidbit about this game:

9. There will be .mov cutscenes, most likely filmed in live action.

[inferiare]

So the relationship thing would be like the private action thing in the Star Ocean games? I LOVE that feature in SO, so I'm hoping that's what you mean.

[Jason Tandro]

More or less. Based on affection levels, different dialogue options would be open between the main character and whomever he was speaking to.

Oh, that reminds me! (I'll add this to the first post)

When you enter towns, your party members will wander the town doing their own thing allowing for "Private Actions" based on your affection levels.

[inferiare]

Oh AWESOME I am pleased with this.

[lucas_kelly11]

Can someone fill me in? I have no idea what you are talking about.

[Jason Tandro]

So like 75% of the threads on this Fan Made Games and Sequels is about the game I am designing called TerraEarth: Absolute, which is about us guys.

http://www.absolute-support.webs.com/ will give you more info about the game.

[Flamez]

ROFL

"NEW STORY: The Desk Job [Starring: eFlare, Flamez] (5-18-09)"

sounds like a enthralling storyline right there

[Jason Tandro]

Oh that story takes place before TE:A begins dude. Those stories are just gonna be backstory stuff for TE:A alone and maybe some inbetweener stuff.

No no... your destiny is darker my friend.

[psychokind]

So the relationship thing would be like the private action thing in the Star Ocean games? I LOVE that feature in SO, so I'm hoping that's what you mean.

yeah, I remember that! was a really interesting feature

[Freedan]

This is sounding more fantastic-er and terrific-al all the time.

If there's one thing I like games to have, it's lots of extras. An awesome main story is always most important, but sometimes you like to finish sidequests, go for 100% completion, or just waste time.

Also, woo! Romance with Raini.

[Manibrandr System]

Awesome!

Though I am not sure if live action cutscenes are a good idea. Maybe if you could find someone with good machinima skills to model, script and voice act the cutscenes, it might be good. Otherwise ingame cutscene scripting should do fine.

Also, do you mind if I design the combat system for TE:B?

[Jason Tandro]

It's gonna be done in RPGMaker VX with some serious script-whoring. Are you talking actually coding the combat system, laying ground-work, or what?

I mean, you're more than welcome to, I value your expertise in this area more than my own, but how would we facilitate that?

We have severals months to talk logistics, so let's continue this via PM.

[Manibrandr System]

As in illustrating with words and sketches how I think the combat system should be handled, but yeah, feel free to talk to me about it in PM.

[inferiare]

Random question: in combat, would there be a way to implement like, job class changes mid-battle? (no, I haven't been playing FFX-2 recently, why do you ask?) Or at least a job class system?

[Jason Tandro]

Not so much in TE:A but perhaps in TE:B.

And Joan, if that's what you're planing then by all means send it my way. I will do my best to accomodate.

I'm already implementing your Fonym concept and RP Char Sheets-style battle system with Awakening Drives into TE:A. I assume a lot of that will carry over into TE:B