Animated 'Retro Game' Idea...

[karcreat]

Hey All!
Yes, Im back...;)

Appears the 'Chickens Lair' project is 'on hold' indefinitely (due to some INCREDIBLE bad luck I suffered...long story) but in the meantime, I got an idea for a fully animated, hybrid type game involving animated sequences, as seen in the great Don Bluth games like 'Dragons Lair' and 'Space Ace'...combined with levels that pay tribute to the great arcade classics from the 80s.

I call it 'Retro Rescue'.

Two space heros, Nikki and Nero (from my own 'STARtoons' comics) would be controlled by the player.
They learn that a Super Villian (not sure of the name yet, this is where you all would come in handy, among other areas as the project moves along...maybe 'Retroid' or 'Retronator'....let me know what you come up with!...) obssessed with Retro Gaming, has kidnapped a slew of classic gaming characters...their mission is to rescue them all for the good of Retro Gaming!

The animated sequences play out in full screen (widescreen) and occassionally the game 'cuts' to a sequence fully controlled by the gamer...say, a tribute to 'Galaga' or 'Xevious', etc...where our heros are included in the gameplay...then back to cinematic sequences, etc, etc..

The final animated bit leads into a fully interactive sequence thats like the old school 'fighting games' wherein Nikki must battle the Bad Guy with lightswords...to the DEATH!

What I would like from you guys are suggestions for what you would like to see, sequence concepts, etc...just keep in mind that the animated bits should pay homage to the arcade classics, including the animated Bluth style games and beyond.

Email me at kkarstens@cableone.net (kkarstens@cableone.net)with anything you come up with.

Concept sketch up included below...
Let me know what you think, and thanks for your support!...;)

K

http://www.karcreat.com/retrores01.jpg

[Subarubrat]

So what happened to Chicken's lair?

[karcreat]

So what happened to Chicken's lair?

...Hopefully still doin' it at some future point.

(It aint dead or nuthin'...just restin'!...;)


But this idea sounded more involved, more original...a wider audience that would appreciate the approach factors more than just 'a Family Guy audience'...

K

[Jones]

That sounds like a great idea, i would love to see that. You've got some real talent. Just watch out for the evil copyright lawyers!

[Nectar]

I'd advise you remove the game characters and replace them with developers (David Crane, Miyamoto, ect.). The game characters are copyrighted which may cause problems in the long run. You shouldn't dedicate hours of your life to something that you can't rightly claim to be yours.

[Nectar]

Also, your character "Nikki" is hot so make it adult oriented too.

[karcreat]

Also, your character "Nikki" is hot so make it adult oriented too.


:)
Thanks...maybe an 'R' rated version could be animated at the same time, for my adult audience...

I'd considered the copyright factor, and I gotta say thats the element that sucks for me, as I adore parody.

A good (and sometimes even bad!) parody is incredibly amusing and fun to work with...when done right it can be a slant that makes it brilliant as commentary...and when its done poorly, it can be a grin inducing groaner...:)

What I have to wonder is how outfits like MAD (TV and magazine) get by with THEIR sorts of satire, involving slight changes to the actor/character name and a pun for a title ("Basic Instinct"= "Basically, It Stinks", etc...)

I am guessing a large portion of this is due to a wall of lawyers...but I know that at least some of it is due to the fact that it legally falls under PARODY.

So, my thought was to do parody versions of characters you would no doubt recognize...change Q*berts fur from orange to fellow, call him R*bert, etc (or maybe never call the characters by name)...

What do you think?

K

[BJWanlund]

I liked Chicken's Lair, but this sounds pretty cool. However, I think the fun is in the parodying. Just switch around the names of the characters and you won't have much of a problem.

BJ

[karcreat]

QUICK UPDATE-

I've located a great 3D programmer online to assist me in the animated sequences wherein Nikki and Nero are in a 'virtual reality' based on all the classic arcade games...this guy sent me a KILLER 3D animation (inside the Pacman maze, moving thru the corridors) and I am adding my animation of Nikki 'running' toward the viewer, to see what it will look like as 'controllable animation' (sequences the player interacts with, making split second decisions, etc) so things are progressing!

We are both teaming up to create the storyline (a humorous one with lots of action) so watch for some sample animation/screen grabs here soon...

And thanks again for all your support here at Monroeworld!

K

[karcreat]

Hey, All!
Thought ya might like a peek at the animation for this game....heres a still of what Ive done so far in testing the look of the animation w/ the 3D background stuff (Nikki is still in B&W, as I have yet to decide what colors her outfit will be, etc)...

http://www.karcreat.com/mazerun01.jpg

...and if you want to see the animation, heres a link to download it...

http://www.karcreat.com/RetroAni01.ZIP

...Let me know what ya think so far!

Thanks!
K

[karcreat]

...For anyone here still interested, Im still workin' on this project, as time has permitted between commissions...;)

Heres some new stuff...
Nikki has a new look!
Shorter hair, cooler outfit...some stills...

http://www.karcreat.com/STARtoonsRef01b.jpg

...Cell frame from the animated JOUST tribute level...

http://www.karcreat.com/JoustLvl01.jpg

....and finally, our villian, 'The Retronator', a gnome-like alien with delusions of grandeur...

http://www.karcreat.com/retronator04.jpg

...Whaddya think?...;)

K

[Spin]

We speak you name!

[karcreat]

'We speak you name'?...;)

K

[Spin]

Yikes! my praise/humor post now lacks the punch it once had.

We speak your name!

[karcreat]

Yikes! my praise/humor post now lacks the punch it once had.

We speak your name!

Hmmm....praise/humor, eh?...;)

Whats the 'we speak your name' deal?
Sounds like Dalek-ese to me....;)

K

[Spin]

Sorry no Dr Who stuff here.( Not that Dr Who is not worthy that is)
It came from a Howard stern show.
They were goofing on Opera for a tribute show.

Thus the chant "We speak your name" is a praise wrapped with humor.
Look through the forums it's been around.
Simply said it recognizes your talent.

[karcreat]

Sorry no Dr Who stuff here.( Not that Dr Who is not worthy that is)
It came from a Howard stern show.
They were goofing on Opera for a tribute show.

Thus the chant "We speak your name" is a praise wrapped with humor.
Look through the forums it's been around.
Simply said it recognizes your talent.

Hehehehe...good 'ol Howard Stern...I did a portrait for him a few years back, him with bodybuilder Nichole Bass...;)
Thanks for the praise, much appreciated....!

K

[karcreat]

Heres Nikki in the Pacman style maze sequence, animation still frame (3D generated maze behind her!)

http://www.karcreat.com/NikkiMaze001.jpg

...and here's the production art for the Retronators Fortress, a tribute (in appearance, hopefully) to the opening shot of the castle from 'Dragon's Lair'...

http://www.karcreat.com/RetroFortress001.jpg

K

[karcreat]

Heres some pencil test animation of The Retronator attempting to play the easiest home game of all time...PONG.

(He SUCKS at it, of course...;)
http://www.karcreat.com/PongPlay01.gif

More soon!
K

[Jones]

Wow! That's some good stuff. You could be the next Don Bluth.

[karcreat]

...Naaah, I know next to NOTHING about animation...(teaching myself as I go, looking at existing animation frame by frame, etc)...but I CAN tell you that I will always be less SNARKY than Bluth is...;)

(Can ya tell I had a bad experience with him in the past?...;)

Thanks for the kind words, tho!

K

[karcreat]

Hey All!
Just an update on my game so you know Im still attending to it, time permitting between paid gigs (they always have to come first!)

Heres some test footage of the animation Im working on...its for the game trailer.
At this point, the footage is a mix of animatic animation (sketches, rough) and some color footage...sound/music included, altho the music editing will be tighter for the final footage...

Also, none of the FX have been added at this stage (the Retronator's Time Device for example, will have 'blur' affects added to the motion, glow effects added to the lightning, etc)...but I still thought you might get a kick out of it so far...

http://www.karcreat.com/Animatic001.wmv

Let me know what ya think, and thanks for your interest and support!

K

[karcreat]

Hey All!

For those of you that still recall this project (it's been awhile...animation takes time, especially when you can only pay attention to the project when ya have 'free time'...;) I finished the trailer animatic, would love to know what you think...

http://www.karcreat.com/RetResAnimatic2.avi

...Partially sketchwork, partially finished/color bits...

Thanks!

K