Arcane, Stealth & Power: Mysteries of the Magus - A Facepunch Christmas Present

[Toikka]

I'm really not a festive guy usually but when it's time to reward my internet friends with something I usually do so. The people here in Facepunch are really a good bunch of people so I thought of you mostly.

Here in Finland we celebrate Christmas on the 24th of December, a day before other countries. This is a small present for the support you have given me over the years.

Enjoy my first public game alpha, "Arcane, Stealth & Power: Mysteries of the Magus", where you get to play as the Wizard. I'm planning to release the full game late next year.

[img]http://www.namelezz.net/xmaspresent2009/alphalogo.png[/img]

There are a couple of bugs I couldn't iron out before release time:
- The Deathbeam doesn't work on the elves due to collision box problems.
- The fireball doesn't set elves on fire but instead vanishes them in thin air.
- Sometimes the Deathbeam's HUD icon doesn't work.
- You can't kill yourself with a lighting bolt.
- Thundercloud hates you when you reset the game.

Despite these problems this alpha is quite playable. You'll need a somewhat mediocre computer (pixel shader 2.0 is essential but not required), latest DirectX and a good eye so you'll see all the bugs I might have missed. Oh, and WinRAR to open the archive!

Have a very, very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

[img]http://www.cubeupload.com/files/290800gamepic.png[/img]

[url]http://www.namelezz.net/xmaspresent2009[/url]

[Nikpo]

Heh, looks neat. Trying it out right now.
Also, Merry Christmas!

[Toikka]

Also note that if it's running poorly (low FPS) that would be the snow. It has a pixel shader effect which makes it glow. I'm going to release a patch that will be able to toggle these effects to make it run better on older computers.

[EcksDee]

The effects are fun :D
Merry christmas.

[Wolveras]

DLing it now, looks promising :smile:

Will it be sold or just released for free later on?

[Toikka]

The first volume will definitely be free. For the following volumes they'd cost about 5£ a pop - or free, depends if this game is a success.

There will be free addon packs for each volume but no paid DLC.

[Wolveras]

The game has to have other ways to quickly regenerate mana instead of reset/slow regeneration.
It could use some sound effects, but I'm sure you're aware of that :v:
The game could use some combo's (I.E Frost + fire = melted elf) for those flashy effects!
I really like those fire bolts effects!

[Toikka]

There is a secret effect you can use. First frostbolt an elf then use the Thundercloud on him. Result is quite the shardy one!

I was first planning to have an 8-bit christmas track playing in the background (because our team doesn't have a sound artist yet) but then decided I didn't have time for that and instead polished other aspects of the alpha.

And yes, if I hadn't lost the events needed for the mana potion I would have put it in :v:

[Dragory]

[img]http://www.1337upload.net/files/elves.png[/img]

[j00g0t0wnd!]

[QUOTE=Dragory;19171366][img]http://www.1337upload.net/files/elves.png[/img][/QUOTE]

Haahahah

[Clever-Balls]

Have a fantastic christmas, thanks for the game!

[リア充]

Sweet!

[Dryvnt]

I've found a bug.

If an elf lands on top of you and there is no free space to the left or right, you are pushed down into the abyss.

[Snakess]

Awesome game, Merry Christmas all.

[Toikka]

[QUOTE=Dryvnt;19171719]I've found a bug.

If an elf lands on top of you and there is no free space to the left or right, you are pushed down into the abyss.[/QUOTE]
That's a known bug related to the physics engine. Simply put, your character isn't a physical object and as such is determined to dodge all physics-related things. If so happens, the player would rather kill himself than get mowed down by physical props.

...This will of course be fixed because a key strategy to defeating bigger masses of enemies in the main game is to rain down heavy barrels on them. Or to pour hot oil on their heads.

[Snakess]

What did you use to make this?

I'm intrigued..

[Toikka]

Scirra's Construct. It's a highly flexible program that can be used to make about any kind of a game you like!

[url]www.scirra.com[/url]

[FredFuckstone]

Glad to see this finally released, I hope you guys will enjoy it!

[Toikka]

[QUOTE=Zee!;19174096]Glad to see this finally released, I hope you guys will enjoy it![/QUOTE]
This guy here made all the graphics in the game and is part of our development team (currently consisting of us two). Give him cheers!

[FredFuckstone]

[QUOTE=Namelezz!;19174162]This guy here made all the graphics in the game and is part of our development team (currently consisting of us two). Give him cheers![/QUOTE]

:3:

[Snakess]

[QUOTE=Namelezz!;19172035]Scirra's Construct. It's a highly flexible program that can be used to make about any kind of a game you like!

[url]www.scirra.com[/url][/QUOTE]

Thanks, very nicely done!

[sami-pso]

I feel left out. Doesn't work on a mac. :(

[Toikka]

Sorry about that. Currently supports only Windows computers.

Instead, I give you a pixely cookie as a present!

[img]http://www.namelezz.net/icons/gingerbread-man.png[/img]

Enjoy it, my Mac-using friend!

[sami-pso]

Awesome.

[Toikka]

I won't be able to patch the alpha but please keep the posts coming in. I need constructive criticism on the Wizard's gameplay and abilities.

[HALP Cat]

I can press shift to activate the assassin jumps.

[Toikka]

Oh, right. Thought I fixed that.

[Libertas]

Don't fix it.

It makes cools effects like this:

[img]http://filesmelt.com/downloader/Sex.png[/img]

Looks even cooler when you jump up into the balloon.

[Toikka]

I won't fix anything till I am on my own computer anyway! :v:

So, what do you think about the Wizard and his current abilities? Do you have any ideas for more spells?

[EcksDee]

[QUOTE=Namelezz!;19191692]I won't fix anything till I am on my own computer anyway! :v:

So, what do you think about the Wizard and his current abilities? Do you have any ideas for more spells?[/QUOTE]

Timestop!