Lucretia - Demon Princess (鬼姫の呪い in Japan) NOW IN BETA TESTING

[touko]

ah ok your samples are stored in banks, not in overlay ??

if it's the case i have the same problem

[OldRover]

No, they are stored in overlays. "Sample bank" is just lingo for an organized collection of samples.

[OldMan]

No, they are stored in overlays.

As in #incbin in a HuC program, then extracted when needed?
Or as in bundled together into a binary file, with that file being included as part of the isolink process?

[touko]

No, they are stored in overlays. "Sample bank" is just lingo for an organized collection of samples.

Ok, this not the same problem then  ..

[OldRover]

As in #incbin in a HuC program, then extracted when needed?
Or as in bundled together into a binary file, with that file being included as part of the isolink process?

The latter.

[OldRover]

New video that shows the backstory of the game.

[turboswimbz]

Nicely done, looks like this one is going to have some really fun bits of story/enemies.

[OldRover]

I've only tested in mednafen so far; my Duo is in need of repair so I can't do hardware testing right now.

[Mathius]

Why am I now just seeing this thread?  

I had no idea of Lucretia's existence until an hour ago. When do pre-orders end? I can't afford one now but would really like to pre-order in two weeks.

[Bardoly]

https://youtu.be/RatsCMe-3xg

New video that shows the backstory of the game.

Looks interesting.  I plan to preorder a copy when I can free up some funds.

One thing, could I put in a request that you make Lucretia less scary-looking?  I want for my young children to be able to play and/or watch me play.

Also, I don't remember if it were mentioned earlier, but 2-player simultaneous gameplay would simply be awesome.        

[esteban]

New video that shows the backstory of the game.

Magnificent, truly.

This is going to be a solid shoot-em-up, but the icing on the cake is how the delightfully dark (classic myth-making) storyline weaves everything together.

"Save the children!"

Indeed.

[Mathius]

I am really digging the music during the title screen.

[Bardoly]

One thing, could I put in a request that you make Lucretia less scary-looking?  I want for my young children to be able to play and/or watch me play.

When I watched the video last week, I smiled and thought how nice it was that VG censorship hysteria had moved on, leaving indie 8- and 16-bit developers to do whatever they want and allowing fans to be treated like adults.

I guess that it was a bit jaring to first see cute cartoon witches, then to see less cartoonish and more realistic artwork in a more scary (less cute) vein.  I will still support this project.  I just wanted to make a request.  I didn't need to mention children, so I withdraw that facet of my request, but because I personally do not prefer grotesque and 'scary' stuff, I still request an artwork change.

[ParanoiaDragon]

One thing, could I put in a request that you make Lucretia less scary-looking?  I want for my young children to be able to play and/or watch me play.

When I watched the video last week, I smiled and thought how nice it was that VG censorship hysteria had moved on, leaving indie 8- and 16-bit developers to do whatever they want and allowing fans to be treated like adults.

I guess that it was a bit jaring to first see cute cartoon witches, then to see less cartoonish and more realistic artwork in a more scary (less cute) vein.  I will still support this project.  I just wanted to make a request.  I didn't need to mention children, so I withdraw that facet of my request, but because I personally do not prefer grotesque and 'scary' stuff, I still request an artwork change.

I feel the same way, but there's almost always something I'm not into with anything I like, whether it be games, music, movies, etc.

[esteban]

One thing, could I put in a request that you make Lucretia less scary-looking?  I want for my young children to be able to play and/or watch me play.

When I watched the video last week, I smiled and thought how nice it was that VG censorship hysteria had moved on, leaving indie 8- and 16-bit developers to do whatever they want and allowing fans to be treated like adults.

I guess that it was a bit jaring to first see cute cartoon witches, then to see less cartoonish and more realistic artwork in a more scary (less cute) vein.  I will still support this project.  I just wanted to make a request.  I didn't need to mention children, so I withdraw that facet of my request, but because I personally do not prefer grotesque and 'scary' stuff, I still request an artwork change.

I feel the same way, but there's almost always something I'm not into with anything I like, whether it be games, music, movies, etc. 

PD and Bardoly are gonna hate me, but I want animated blood/rotting flesh added to all the static images in the backstory! MORE DRIPPING BLOOD.

 

[Lochlan]

Please don't change anything about the art style, it's great and needs no modifications.

If anything, I'd like it to be more grotesque/scary, but I'll leave it up to the talented developers and artists to make their own decisions regarding the art style of their project.

[Nando]

Please don't change anything about the art style, it's great and needs no modifications.

If anything, I'd like it to be more grotesque/scary, but I'll leave it up to the talented developers and artists to make their own decisions regarding the art style of their project.

Thanks!

It's all a WIP, I'm pretty much a N00b at pixeling. As for the Gore; we'll see. If it fits the lvl and the characters it will happen. This is my first quasi homage to Paul Robertson and all things JP and pixel.

A very tiny preview of things to come:

[Nando]

gore in a cute em up ?

You can't do both.  You have to pick one.  Is it a cute em up, or is it a gore-fest with vampires and hell and shit.

;)

[Nando]

Yeah but that's not really a "cute" movie .  

Cute can be the design, not just the theme. The Japanese do it all the time, but it would need a new classification, at least benefit from it  

[esteban]

Either style works for me, but you can't argue it's consistent.  The sprites and character portraits are colorful, cutesy, big eyed girls and the other stuff is drab colored, more realistically detailed, and proportioned like real humans - pick one and run with it!

I ALREADY PROPOSED THE SOLUTION: cute, animated dripping blood/guts added to the stock horror photos! BEST OF BOTH WORLDS.

PRIORITY: the game itself (actual stages you play) are the priority, the cutscenes are just a bonus.

Don't worry about the cutscenes, people!  

[ParanoiaDragon]

Meh, just have enemies burst open....& candy & chocolate drips & flies out of em'.

[Nando]

cute, animated dripping blood/guts added to the stock horror photos! BEST OF BOTH WORLDS.

I demand JJ & Jeff fart humor and PS1 load times!

Poop and lag!  You got it!

We be faking it till we make it!

[esteban]

NEW PLAN: Please include, as a mini-boss/boss, a fetus (dripping blood optional). If possible, make fetus "cute as a button".... K, thx.

[Bernie]

[esteban]

NEW PLAN: Please include, as a mini-boss/boss, a fetus (dripping blood optional). If possible, make fetus "cute as a button".... K, thx.

And have the fetus coughed up by a giant laughing Hitler skull mecha brain spider.

Yes, as long as it is a cute "Rudolph Hilter" who bears an uncanny resemblance to a certain historical figure (if he was a National Socialist Reindeer).

NEXT BOSS: ...

[esteban]

Youtube isn't working in my phone browser at the moment, so I can't search for the time it appears in the video,  but take a look at the final boss of Download 2-

Oh, I know  .

Download 2 inspired me, many years ago, to compile a list of games that reference real historical figures...I wasn't interested in boring generals from military simulations (WWII, feudal Japan, etc.), I was interested in fun games with Ronald Reagan, Hitler, Gorbachev, Aerosmith (just kidding), etc.

[esteban]

Youtube isn't working in my phone browser at the moment, so I can't search for the time it appears in the video,  but take a look at the final boss of Download 2-

Oh, I know  .

Download 2 inspired me, many years ago, to compile a list of games that reference real historical figures...I wasn't interested in boring generals from military simulations (WWII, feudal Japan, etc.), I was interested in fun games with Ronald Reagan, Hitler, Gorbachev, Aerosmith (just kidding), etc.

Bad Dudes... Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!

Exactly! And I forget which game has Gorbachev in it!

Hey, have you ever thought about TG-16/PCE games that reference personalities/historical figures/etc.? Are there any Stalins or Reagan's in Photograph Boy?

[Mathius]

I am pretty sure there was a Gorbachev-a-like in Strider.

[Bardoly]

Everything still on-track for this to have a late September release date?   

Playing it at Octurbofest would be awesome!

[OldRover]

Progress has been a little slow lately but we're still on target.

[OldRover]

Just a heads-up... we will be looking for beta testers soon... so, anyone interested, be on the lookout for the official announcement.

[OldRover]

Here's a new screenie of the game...

frozenutopia.com/lucretia-0123.png

I did a quick check in PSP7 and it seems this image has 71 unique colors. This has ended up being quite a colorful game. This shot is still using the prototype Rhianna sprite, not Nando's new one, but whatever.

[Mathius]

Those backgrounds look amazing! Nice job guys.

I may be able to help with betatesting.

[ParanoiaDragon]

Here's a new screenie of the game...

frozenutopia.com/lucretia-0123.png

I did a quick check in PSP7 and it seems this image has 71 unique colors. This has ended up being quite a colorful game. This shot is still using the prototype Rhianna sprite, not Nando's new one, but whatever.

Holy mackerel!  Looking nice!  Not sure if I want to offer to beta test, or just wait to enjoy it upon release. :/

[esteban]

Here's a new screenie of the game...

frozenutopia.com/lucretia-0123.png

I did a quick check in PSP7 and it seems this image has 71 unique colors. This has ended up being quite a colorful game. This shot is still using the prototype Rhianna sprite, not Nando's new one, but whatever.

ABSOLUTELY FRIGGIN' GORGEOUS.

The surreal landscape evokes the same atmosphere as classic games, such as Shadow of the Beast (whatever one thinks of SotB, the art direction/atmosphere kicks ass).

Now, in Lucretia, a cute-em-up, I know the dramatic rolling hills are not going to emote the somber, brooding tension of, say, SotB, but LUCRETIA'S LANDSCAPES KICK ASS, SOUNDLY AND THOROUGHLY.

I honestly can't stop drooling.   

[Bardoly]

Would the beta testers be playing on emulators or on hardware?

[shubibiman]

Wow, very beautiful bkackground !

[OldRover]

Would the beta testers be playing on emulators or on hardware?

Either/or... real hardware is preferable but correct emulators are also fine. Real hardware will show more of the line timing issue we've been having though... something that might not be resolvable as-is.

[OldRover]

Here is a video that just tests the scrolling in stage 4:

There are graphical messups but that's to be expected. It has the same enemy loop as stage 1, but the VRAM map is slightly different so some of the sprites are wankered.

[OldRover]

Here is the new Stage 1:

frozenutopia.com/lucretia-0151.png

It is missing some elements but they will get added soon. Presently uploading a video of the new Stage 1 as well; it will take some time to upload to youtube but I'll post the URL to it when it's done.

[OldRover]

Stage 1 video:

[esteban]

Stage 1 video:

Gorgeous! 

[Nando]

New backgrounds are looking really nice, who drew them?

Justin.

[ParanoiaDragon]

Here is the new Stage 1:

frozenutopia.com/lucretia-0151.png

It is missing some elements but they will get added soon. Presently uploading a video of the new Stage 1 as well; it will take some time to upload to youtube but I'll post the URL to it when it's done.

I had a thought.  Is it possible to add a few more layers in the mist on the bottom, & give it an effect not unlike the 1st level of Air Zonk ?  I feel like it screams for such an effect, & I assume that's all tiles, as there's no overlapping that I noticed  ? ?

[OldRover]

I had a thought.  Is it possible to add a few more layers in the mist on the bottom, & give it an effect not unlike the 1st level of Air Zonk?  I feel like it screams for such an effect, & I assume that's all tiles, as there's no overlapping that I noticed??

Not as-is. This is still using stock HuC and it's being pushed to its limit. And yeah, this is tiles only; low-priority background sprites haven't been added in yet, since there's still some shuffling to do.

[T2KFreeker]

BOOYAH ROVER! How goes it man! I'm still drooling for this game to release, brother! What hits, my man?

[esteban]

BOOYAH ROVER! How goes it man! I'm still drooling for this game to release, brother! What hits, my man?

Indeed.

[Mathius]

Is there going to be any foreground parallax with the up front grass?

[esteban]

If all goes as planned, this is what the first stage will look like once the background sprites are implemented-



There will also be an additional strip of parallax.

GORGEOUS! Truly.   

[OldRover]

Is there going to be any foreground parallax with the up front grass?

Yes... I just haven't implemented it yet. This level is a real crunch on VRAM so I'm trying to cram as much in there as possible.