Re: Retro-Shooter Thread - Star Wars: Jedi Academy MP - Tonight @8pm! - Setup Pg 26! Join us!
Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2024 7:38 pm
by Jenuall
Enjoyed that a lot! Some lovely architectural design going on and I think it's just the right length/size to be enjoyable as well (#nocontext)
I went with the Hard difficulty level and it was a decent challenge I probably would have struggled at the end if it wasn't for the Pentagram!
I captured my play on video if you're interested in seeing how I tackled it:
(there's a couple of cuts in here where I had to pause the game to check something else)
Some specific comments/notes I took during the play through:
Hitting the button on the alter just brings up the message "E"? Is that what the message should be? If there's a specific meaning it was lost on me!
There were a couple of times where I was not entirely sure where to go, not a huge thing as this kind of exploration is part of the experience but maybe one to check with others on to see if more subtle guidance is needed? Biggest example of this was not being clear on where the gold key should be used - I don't know if there were indicators on the two side doors to show they needed the gold key but I didn't spot them, I don't think I had really clocked that those were doors at first! Maybe worth trying to highlight them a little more? Or have a door texture that contrasts against surrounding architecture slightly more?
Linked to that last point - the level seemed just a tad overly dark at times. I hit one switch I couldn't even see for example! Not sure if intended or maybe my gamma settings are just strawberry floated? watching the video back above does look a little brighter than I remember so maybe it is just me
Q: Is there a safe way to get back down from the upper level? I just had to jump it and lost a load of health
Encountered a floating corpse dude at one point, not sure what was going on there!
I assumed that the pentagram of protection was the levels secret but I got that and the end screen still had "Secrets 0/1" so I'm assuming there is something else hidden away...
Oh and I'm not sure about the quasi-dubstep OST. Is that just a track from the rerelease?
Re: Retro-Shooter Thread - Star Wars: Jedi Academy MP - Tonight @8pm! - Setup Pg 26! Join us!
Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2024 10:21 pm
by Cheeky Devlin
Thanks for that Jen.
Nice to get some video feedback, even if I was screaming at the screen a couple of times.
Yeah some of the switches weren't triggering properly. There were a few messages that never flashed up properly, but I've fixed them. There is meant to be a small bit of exploration, at least within each distinct segment. I had already thought about making the Gold Key door more obvious, so that's already in the works as well. In some cases I think I funnel you too well as you went past them originally, and touching them tells you what you need. Same for the roof lifts. You should be able to drop down from the top and it only cost you about 5hp, but I'll make a route down more clear. Floating corpse was a bug and I've fixed it. The Pentagram IS a secret, but I hadn't labelled it as one. Secrets were one of the things I've still to finish off. There's four secrets in total. 1 outside, 1 in the main chamber, 1 in the Chapel of Blood and 1 on the roof. You found the roof one. The music was a track I found on a royalty free music site, Pixabay I think it was. Loads of great stuff there. Basically I was looking for something dark with a bit of a beat to it. Works well with the combat I thought. Though it is a bit "cyberpunky" in sound, which is my only concern with it. It was either that or a dark ambient thing, which would have worked well too, but I like the higher energy of the one I went with.
Re: Retro-Shooter Thread - Star Wars: Jedi Academy MP - Tonight @8pm! - Setup Pg 26! Join us!
Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2024 8:57 am
by Victor Mildew
I don't think I'll make tonight's game. Should be ok for next week though.
Re: Retro-Shooter Thread - Star Wars: Jedi Academy MP - Tonight @8pm! - Setup Pg 26! Join us!
Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2024 9:20 am
by Jenuall
Cheeky Devlin wrote:Thanks for that Jen.
Nice to get some video feedback, even if I was screaming at the screen a couple of times.
Yeah some of the switches weren't triggering properly. There were a few messages that never flashed up properly, but I've fixed them. There is meant to be a small bit of exploration, at least within each distinct segment. I had already thought about making the Gold Key door more obvious, so that's already in the works as well. In some cases I think I funnel you too well as you went past them originally, and touching them tells you what you need. Same for the roof lifts. You should be able to drop down from the top and it only cost you about 5hp, but I'll make a route down more clear. Floating corpse was a bug and I've fixed it. The Pentagram IS a secret, but I hadn't labelled it as one. Secrets were one of the things I've still to finish off. There's four secrets in total. 1 outside, 1 in the main chamber, 1 in the Chapel of Blood and 1 on the roof. You found the roof one. The music was a track I found on a royalty free music site, Pixabay I think it was. Loads of great stuff there. Basically I was looking for something dark with a bit of a beat to it. Works well with the combat I thought. Though it is a bit "cyberpunky" in sound, which is my only concern with it. It was either that or a dark ambient thing, which would have worked well too, but I like the higher energy of the one I went with.
Screaming at the screen - the joys of watching anyone else play something you've made!
There definitely is a Cyberpunk feel to that music track, I don't think it's too bad tbf - not sure how long the loop on it is though, think it maybe repeated a bit too quickly which might have contributed to my feelings. I had the music turned up way too high compared to the sound effects as well so that probably didn't help!
Re: Retro-Shooter Thread - Star Wars: Jedi Academy MP - Tonight @8pm! - Setup Pg 26! Join us!
Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2024 3:41 pm
by Cheeky Devlin
Victor Mildew wrote:I don't think I'll make tonight's game. Should be ok for next week though.
Jenuall wrote:
Cheeky Devlin wrote:Thanks for that Jen.
Nice to get some video feedback, even if I was screaming at the screen a couple of times.
Yeah some of the switches weren't triggering properly. There were a few messages that never flashed up properly, but I've fixed them. There is meant to be a small bit of exploration, at least within each distinct segment. I had already thought about making the Gold Key door more obvious, so that's already in the works as well. In some cases I think I funnel you too well as you went past them originally, and touching them tells you what you need. Same for the roof lifts. You should be able to drop down from the top and it only cost you about 5hp, but I'll make a route down more clear. Floating corpse was a bug and I've fixed it. The Pentagram IS a secret, but I hadn't labelled it as one. Secrets were one of the things I've still to finish off. There's four secrets in total. 1 outside, 1 in the main chamber, 1 in the Chapel of Blood and 1 on the roof. You found the roof one. The music was a track I found on a royalty free music site, Pixabay I think it was. Loads of great stuff there. Basically I was looking for something dark with a bit of a beat to it. Works well with the combat I thought. Though it is a bit "cyberpunky" in sound, which is my only concern with it. It was either that or a dark ambient thing, which would have worked well too, but I like the higher energy of the one I went with.
Screaming at the screen - the joys of watching anyone else play something you've made!
There definitely is a Cyberpunk feel to that music track, I don't think it's too bad tbf - not sure how long the loop on it is though, think it maybe repeated a bit too quickly which might have contributed to my feelings. I had the music turned up way too high compared to the sound effects as well so that probably didn't help!
I had to adjust the music levels in Quake in general as it really does play the music too loud by default.
How did you like the Blood Chapel? I was especially happy with the exploding gibs everytime something dies.
Re: Retro-Shooter Thread - Star Wars: Jedi Academy MP - Tonight @8pm! - Setup Pg 26! Join us!
Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2024 5:47 pm
by Cheeky Devlin
Hmm. Server seems to have stopped working.... Was fine earlier but not now....
I'll report back on this.
Re: Retro-Shooter Thread - Star Wars: Jedi Academy MP - Tonight @8pm! - Setup Pg 26! Join us!
Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2024 6:51 pm
by Dowbocop
Cheeky Devlin wrote:Hmm. Server seems to have stopped working.... Was fine earlier but not now....
I'll report back on this.
Re: Retro-Shooter Thread - Star Wars: Jedi Academy MP - Tonight @8pm! - Setup Pg 26! Join us!
Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2024 6:51 pm
by Jenuall
Cheeky Devlin wrote:
Victor Mildew wrote:I don't think I'll make tonight's game. Should be ok for next week though.
Jenuall wrote:
Cheeky Devlin wrote:Thanks for that Jen.
Nice to get some video feedback, even if I was screaming at the screen a couple of times.
Yeah some of the switches weren't triggering properly. There were a few messages that never flashed up properly, but I've fixed them. There is meant to be a small bit of exploration, at least within each distinct segment. I had already thought about making the Gold Key door more obvious, so that's already in the works as well. In some cases I think I funnel you too well as you went past them originally, and touching them tells you what you need. Same for the roof lifts. You should be able to drop down from the top and it only cost you about 5hp, but I'll make a route down more clear. Floating corpse was a bug and I've fixed it. The Pentagram IS a secret, but I hadn't labelled it as one. Secrets were one of the things I've still to finish off. There's four secrets in total. 1 outside, 1 in the main chamber, 1 in the Chapel of Blood and 1 on the roof. You found the roof one. The music was a track I found on a royalty free music site, Pixabay I think it was. Loads of great stuff there. Basically I was looking for something dark with a bit of a beat to it. Works well with the combat I thought. Though it is a bit "cyberpunky" in sound, which is my only concern with it. It was either that or a dark ambient thing, which would have worked well too, but I like the higher energy of the one I went with.
Screaming at the screen - the joys of watching anyone else play something you've made!
There definitely is a Cyberpunk feel to that music track, I don't think it's too bad tbf - not sure how long the loop on it is though, think it maybe repeated a bit too quickly which might have contributed to my feelings. I had the music turned up way too high compared to the sound effects as well so that probably didn't help!
I had to adjust the music levels in Quake in general as it really does play the music too loud by default.
How did you like the Blood Chapel? I was especially happy with the exploding gibs everytime something dies.
I really liked the blood chapel! Wasn't sure what was happening at first but it definitely fit the vibe!
Not sure I'll make it on tonight (assuming the server recovers!) only just realised that it's world book day tomorrow and now have to cobble together a last minute outfit for one of my kids...
Re: Retro-Shooter Thread - Star Wars: Jedi Academy MP - Tonight @8pm! - Setup Pg 26! Join us!
Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2024 7:17 pm
by Cheeky Devlin
Seems to be working now.
Moved it over to running on my main PC and it seems to be working again. No idea why the other one just decided to stop, but hopefully we can figure that out.
Anyway, same as last week, except with more duels included. See you in there at 8ish!
Re: Retro-Shooter Thread - Star Wars: Jedi Academy MP - Tonight @8pm! - Setup Pg 26! Join us!
Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2024 7:30 pm
by Jenuall
Re: Retro-Shooter Thread - Star Wars: Jedi Academy MP - Tonight @8pm! - Setup Pg 26! Join us!
Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2024 7:43 pm
by Cheeky Devlin
Jenuall wrote:
EDIT: Looks like the IP will be different so your saved favourite might not work. Server should appear in the lnternet source lists.
Re: Retro-Shooter Thread - Star Wars: Jedi Academy MP - Tonight @8pm! - Setup Pg 26! Join us!
Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2024 9:48 pm
by Cheeky Devlin
Server crashed and I can't get it running again.....
Re: Retro-Shooter Thread - Star Wars: Jedi Academy MP - Tonight @8pm! - Setup Pg 26! Join us!
Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2024 9:55 pm
by Dowbocop
Cheeky Devlin wrote:Server crashed and I can't get it running again.....
Shame it was curtailed tonight but was nice to have a little chat with everyone!
Re: Retro-Shooter Thread - Star Wars: Jedi Academy MP - Tonight @8pm! - Setup Pg 26! Join us!
Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2024 11:10 pm
by Cheeky Devlin
Dowbocop wrote:
Cheeky Devlin wrote:Server crashed and I can't get it running again.....
Shame it was curtailed tonight but was nice to have a little chat with everyone!
Yeah I'm sorry you never got a chance to play. Timing of the crash sucked.
We had some great games as well. I don't think I've laughed at a game as much in a while. It was nice to switch up tactics as people reacted to the force powers I was using. Force choking someone and then dropping them off a ledge will never not be hilarious to me.
Re: Retro-Shooter Thread - Star Wars: Jedi Academy MP - Tonight @8pm! - Setup Pg 26! Join us!
Ooh very interesting! Will definitely take a proper look at this.
The door problem as they describe it is a timeless one for sure, some interesting discussion in there and it's definitely something I considered quite a lot in my level, often along the same lines as the solutions suggested which is cool. It's definitely one that can be difficult to wrestle with!
Rather than have everyone add everone on Gamepass, if you can all make sure you at least have me on your friend list, we'll be able to work it out from there.
Mines is "Cheeky Devlin" if you don't already have me.
I'll post more details about the games tomorrow night.
