Making an Escape Game...

[Dejinx]

I've been making random escape games for a while now, never actually completing one or really putting much into it. The coding seems really basic and I find them fun, myself. But the one problem that I keep constantly having when I try to design games is how things look. I'm not very good with artistic stuff, yet I'm into animation and love making fun ideas for games.

Usually I'd use Macromedia Fireworks to create things, so since this is Flash, I'm finding things much harder do to the lack of tools in comparison. I used to create rooms and other images by downloading random pics of rooms off the internet and tracing them in Fireworks, simplifying the colours. It looked okay, but still nothing I'd really want to put in a good game. I ended up reading a point-perspective tutorial, which helped quite a bit... But I still reckon it doesn't look as good as it should do. I see escape games that look amazing. They even seem to use some 3D methods of placing objects. I've seen some of the best and worst of these games. So I hope to at least get somewhere near the middle.

I'm wondering if anyone has any tips on how to create good rooms/objects ect. Or if anyone who's good at that would maybe want to help. I'd be greatful.

[MintPaw]

Well you can easily import fireWorks pictures into Flash, although I would suggest importing AI or PS objects instead.

[Innermike]

At 10/18/09 06:55 PM, Dejinx wrote: stuff

Draw everything yourself, seriously im not trying to be mean , i mean it .

You get to practice your drawing and you can make everything look just as you like

[Dejinx]

mmm... thanks? But no tips at all? Surely someone knows of a good way to create simple objects.

I'm trying to go for something kinda like the Terminal series... http://terminalhouse.com/

But less sci-fi and more psy-fi, lol. I'm good with code, but not with drawing anything above a 4-year old level. Trust me, I've been to many art classses and they still couldn't even get me to write my own name neatly. I reckon I have some sort of brain disfunction when it comes to artistic stuff...

[Innermike]

At 10/19/09 11:01 AM, Dejinx wrote: I reckon I have some sort of brain dysfunction when it comes to artistic stuff...

Its possible , or maybe your just lazy :D

Walk around the house looking at things artistically trace them in your head a couple times and try and recreate it in flash

Imagine your self being an awesome artist , then you will be :D

[xKiRiLLx]

You might want to use a 3d software to create rooms/objects/etc...
Like blender, or google sketchup.

That's what I'm going to use anyway :3

[JKR]

The easiest way would be to trace a photo you want to use as inspiration with the pen tool. That may be what they did for the example you posted, which was very cool by the way.

I got stuck though and had no idea what to do next. Maybe include a hint system in your game? I found the DVD but couldn't play it, and the camera hooked up to the computer had no data. Boo.

[Dejinx]

At 10/19/09 12:10 PM, JKR wrote: The easiest way would be to trace a photo you want to use as inspiration with the pen tool. That may be what they did for the example you posted, which was very cool by the way.

I got stuck though and had no idea what to do next. Maybe include a hint system in your game? I found the DVD but couldn't play it, and the camera hooked up to the computer had no data. Boo.

<spoiler>Put the DVD in the DVD player, you should be able to find a plug to connect the player to the wall outlet nearby. When the player is switched on, the projection will play and you must use the projection to help you get past the computer...</spoiler>

At 10/19/09 11:59 AM, xKiRiLLx wrote: You might want to use a 3d software to create rooms/objects/etc...
Like blender, or google sketchup.

That's what I'm going to use anyway :3

Aha! I have 3D Software that I never use! I find that 3D Modelling is easier than drawing an image. In which I have to worry about perspective and stuff. Wheras here I can just rotate the finished object (or just create whole room in 3D, screenshot and import to flash. Thanks, I'll give it a go. Now I just need to remember how to use my damn software.