Story

Marcus Thompson is lost. Totally lost. I guess sometimes in a world increasingly dominated by machinery, it's not hard to get lost in the sea of steel. Marcus, however, is taking that idea to an entire new level.

Imagine waking up in a cold, dark room. You are greeted by a strange computerized voice that seems to be inside of your head. It's rambling off information about you: Your age, weight, first and last name. You have no idea what's going on, and it's only made worse by some mention of an Operation... What is going on here?

Well, you play the role of Marcus on his adventure to find out what happened to him and how he ended up in this place. You are guided along by a computerized voice bossing you around and manipulating you for "Some Tests?" - pretty creepy. After almost being poisoned by arsenic in your cell, you escape only to find that you are no where close to getting out of this mess. Forced into an extreme operation, you become part robotic and you use the power of the human mind combined with the power of machinery to find your way out of this place.

Marcus must venture through several levels of twisted intentions and dangerous situations at the whim of a mysterious voice, only because he wants to live. You grow stronger and master your new robotic aspects and eventually challenge whoever did this to you. But in the end, you're still only human. Will you find mercy from the cold heart of Artificial Intelligence? (Probably not) - but you can sure try to make your way through this one. Best of luck ~

Overview

Genre: Single Player RPG

Main Character: Marcus

Weapons: 2 Required, 1 Secret

Abilities: Each weapons has 3 unique abilities that you can use. In addition, special mechanical augments can be acquired from weapons, if you master the use of them.

Play time: Expect anywhere from 1-2 Hours of action packed gameplay.





Gameplay Mechanics

This game will revolve heavily around strategy and action. You will have to do things such as solve puzzles, decide which weapon is best for the situation, and manage limited resources to try to survive the harsh environment. Remember to save often!! Abilities are used by building a unit in the Gateway. Each Weapon has a total of 3 Abilities, +2-3 Passive Abilities. You will level up your weapons instead of your guy, because his weapons are what give him his power.

To power up weapons you can do a few things:

1. Find Weapon Stabilizers - These increase the Overheating capacity of a weapon. When using abilities, your weapon will overheat if you're not careful. However, the more Weapon Stabilizers you add onto the weapon, the more abuse it can take before it overheats.

1. Find Vitality Augments - You're obviously not indestructible. To be honest, without your mechanical enhancements, you'd be Robot food. Vitality Augments will increase the amount of a beating that you can take from enemies, so that you don't die as easily.

1. Learn Passive Abilities - As you power your weapon up, you can discover new passive abilities that will make your life a lot easier. The first 2 weapons have 3 additional passive abilities you can learn for them, and the secret weapon has 2 passive abilities. You can view which abilities you have learned by opening up the menu (F2).

1. Stat points - Minerals that you can use to upgrade damage or armor. Pretty basic stuff.

You will also be trying to find some Items laying around that will help you out. The following list covers most of the stuff you should be on the lookout for:

Vitality Augment - Increases your Maximum HP by 4%

Weapon Stabilizers - This will enhance your current weapon by increasing it's overheating capacity. More overheat capacity = more ability use = you survive more.

Weapons Terminals - This will allow you to change what weapon you have equipped. These are scattered throughout the levels, so if you get lucky you can use them in good situations. After one use however, they will be destroyed, so switch your weapons wisely.

Medical Chambers - These things heal you.

Switches - Used for opening paths or unlocking hidden objects.

Stat points- These aren't too common, so get excited when you earn one.

The storyline is broken up into 5 Chapters. There will be 2-3 bosses in this game, so don't worry about them too much until the time comes. Bosses will have custom spells and the like, so watch out for that. I'll give you a breakdown of the chapters and what they do now:

I : BIRTH

Well, this chapter is the introduction to the game. While you're learning the basics of the game, you will also be getting familiar with the situation, and trying to figure out what's going on. Try to keep Marcus alive. The theme of this chapter is the birth, not specifically of a life, but of a change, of a situation or a problem. Similar to a birth in nature, this chapter is a struggle to figure out how to survive.

II : REASONS

This is a chapter that's theme is motives. You'll be asking yourself how Marcus got himself into this mess. Why the voice acts the way it does. Why do they even bother with keeping Marcus alive. You'll also learn about Marcus's character and figure out what his reasons for trying to survive are.

III : POWER

Power is something that humans strive to achieve throughout their entire life. This chapter is about becoming powerful, and finding purpose and a use for that power. There "might" be a new weapon and a boss fight in this level because that symbolizes power.

IV : HUMAN

Here is where you discover what Marcus thinks it means to be a human. Perhaps ask yourself what really is the difference between a human and an artificial intelligence. There is emphasis on this chapter for things such as struggle to stay alive and hold on to morals. Humanity is subjective, especially in the eyes of a machine.

V : DEATH

Decisions. We learn what death means to different people and different things. What can die? Who doesn't die? Are some things immortal? Marcus must make some serious decisions in this chapter, and he is pushed to the edge trying to find a way out...

Things that you fight

Marionette - A mysterious cyborg creature that attacks with a quick dual-blade strike. If you let these things get too close to you, you can become tangled in their strings - this will slow down you movement speed and make it difficult to micro or run away.

Guard Sentry - A 4-legged mobile robot that destroys living things (including yourself). It has a special ability that prevents your weapon from cooling down while you are too close to it.

Mech Hound - These things are quick, and can take you out pretty fast if you're not paying attention. It is especially easy for these things to catch you if a Marionette slows you down beforehand. (Meaning you should be really careful when dealing with Marionettes and Mech Hounds at the same time.)

Mutant - A creature that is most likely the byproduct of another experiment going on in this facility. It has developed organs that allow it to spit acid onto anything that threatens it. Basic mutants won't have any special abilities, but as you progress through the game, you might find them pulling some tricks out of their sleeves.

Virtual Terror - This thing is a suicide artist of sorts. It's programmed to reach you by whatever means possible, and once it gets close, it will paralyze you. Watch out for these sneaky guys especially when you're in a dangerous situation.

Viral Jammer - This thing will jam your abilities when you try to fight it, so you're going to have to rely on not using abilities >< It also hurts quite a bit if it lands a hit on you, so watch out for that.

Additional Features

Ranking System: You shall be ranked on a D - S scale based on your overall performance during the RPG. There are 3 separate endings that you can get depending on your rank. Obviously, getting an S rank will result in the best possible ending.

Weapon Cooldown system: Neat little thing I'm doing that will change things up from the standard Gas = Mana ordeal. You will see this in work later, I don't want to give away my plans though for now.

Secrets: Does anyone like exploring and finding stuff to make your strong? If you do, then we got that here

Bosses with abilities: Keepin the fights interesting.

Screenshots


Updates

8/17/09 Hi everyone. Please support me in the making of this map. This will 100% surely be my last map, so I hope everyone can enjoy it. This will FOR SURE get completed. I ALWAYS complete my maps. So, count me in for this RPG Contest. I really want a lot of people to ask questions, leave comments, anything. I will frequently update my progress because I am a man who gets shit done. I also plan on releasing a Demo with the first chapter complete sometime this week, so look out for that.

8/23/09 Hello again =). So, I'm finishing up the touches on the first two chapters with more details mostly, and some balance with unit placements. I've also begun work on the 3rd chapter. RPG9 is the demo that you guys can test if you want to, but if you test it, plz gimme some feedback- It really is appreciated, no matter what you have to say. I've updated some information with new enemy types that you guys can expect to see in Chapter3.

Attachments:

Post has been edited 7 time(s), last time on Aug 24 2009, 1:34 am by Norm.

So it's like The Matrix?

Intro sounds more like Portal.

Haha, It's not directly based on anything. You're guy is / was a normal person until he wound up stuck in this machinery complex. The computerized voice serves as a motivation for you to continue with the game, that is- basically it will kill you if you don't cooperate.

So it's like Dark City?

I dunno what dark city is, I guess you'll have to play the Demo when I get one out and judge what it's like for yourself.

oo In the screeny of the arm replacement, you even have him damaged showing his arm red! What a nice effect! That alone made me anxious to play this RPG

its a lot like portal, you got bossed around by a computerized voice and if you dont obey you're trapped in a room for 2 hours until you figure out how to do a extra huge jump

Haha, thanks, I'll pretend that I did that on purpose. Epic observation. But 22 HP is how much you would have if you played flawlessly up until that scene, it's merely a coincidence that his arm is red =/. I hope you're still anxious anyway.

Buhaha! That's still rather epic man! Yeah, can't wait to try the demo =p

Hmm.. I should get a thread for my RPG up soon, since I will have a demo out anytime

[Edit]Now that you know you can make the arm red, why don't you rig a trigger to do so?

Well, for one the arm replacement actually benefits Marcus a lot by increasing his strength, and of course giving him the power of machinery. It only hurts because the procedure is hooking the new arm up to his nervous system to integrate it into his body, therefore he becomes part cyborg. This is very painful. So in all actuality, after the actual procedure is done the arm should be green because it's a lot stronger than what his human arm was.

Also, It's important that I keep the health according to my calculations to make balancing easy. Still was an epic observation though...

Marcus is also the name of the guy from Terminator: Salvation.

Ooh. There's another comparison I didn't even think of....it could be like Terminator.

... ><

On a side note, Added some new sexy pics.

Even though I hate you, I have to admit that this map looks pretty cool.

Thank you, I'm sorry to hear that you hate me though, I don't hate you =(

Anyway, today I nearly completed the storyline for Chapter 1. I've completed the health system in it's entirety and began work on the Weapons overload System. I've begun massive brainstorming for abilities. I need a total of 8 passive abilities (Nearly completely thought of), 9 active abilities (attacks and such, needs some brainstorming still), and a couple secondary abilities that you can learn to combo with your active abilities.

Unfortunately, I am being forced to visit the GF for the next day or two, but I PROMISE to have a Demo with Chapter 1 completed by the end of the week. (I'll work hard on this once I get back)

Thanks for the interest everyone - peace out for now.

EDIT: And i'll address any comments or questions when I return.

Wow, this looks sweet...just one question: single player, isn't it?


I'll visit her for you ;o

Pretty cool design all around, my only gripe is that the healing shrine probably shouldn't be called a healing shrine, maybe a "surgical bed" or something.
Good luck with the rest of development.

Yes, it's single player. And I already visited her, so It's time to get back to work it would seem.


Thanks, I think that perhaps Healing Shrine isn't the best name for it, okay, I am open for suggestions on a better name for it then. Surgical bed = no thanks.

How about Recharge Station?