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A member registered Apr 23, 2018 · View creator page →
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A 1920s cartoon styled turn-base pun filled narrative roleplaying game
Role Playing
This is a sample VR tour experience created with assets from Synty Studios.
Educational
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This is a test webvr scene that the DVNC team put together to see if webvr content could be played on itch.
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itch.io Community » Game Development » Devlogs · Posted in Monochrome RPG - Berry Punny 1920s Cartoon-styled Turn-based Narrative Adventure
Hi! My name is Lilly Joyce! I’m a current Game Design Intern working at DVNC Tech. It’s been an awesome experience so far, and I’ve been lucky enough to work on the Monochrome RPG level designs! The Monochrome RPG is a berry punny 1920s cartoon-styled narrative game we’re, the Monochrome Workshop an online community supporting the development of the Monochrome RPG, excitedly working on!
Five New Levels!!!
I’ve created five new level layouts for Otto to explore. The Monochrome RPG has continued to evolve as development continues. Each new level will be transformed with stylized assets from the awesome artists in the Workshop!
The 1920s was such a metamorphosis of interior styles, ranging from conservative to extravagant. Each level layout is the framework for an engaging and beautiful gameplay experience of an interior environment. At finalization, they will truly come to life and encourage a unique and distinctive overworld.
For each design, I focused on creating base level sketches, defining major structural areas and types of furniture and decor. These have been separated by their various asset types:
- Background - Assets that create the base floor and boundaries of the world
- Midground - Assets that build out structures and the environment
- Foreground - Assets that will be usable by the player
After the initial sketches, I translated the sketches into the block-based layouts seen below:
Greyshade Farmer’s House
In Greyshade Valley, a spiteful old farmer lives in a small rundown house made of damaged and splintering wood with his always wondering granddaughter. With a knack for pickling, the old farmer lives a life, eager to remain unbothered and safe with his granddaughter. The house consists of two floors, the main floor and basement. Players can explore the living room, bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen of the main floor, and sneak into the basement in search of extra goodies.
Talent Town Inn- Main floor, Second Floor, and Speakeasy
The Talent Town Inn is the main hub of Talent Town, known for its great eats and yummy treats. Characters of all shapes and sizes spend time at the Inn, either mingling in the lounge, having a wine and dine with fine food in the restaurant, or having some much-needed rest and relaxation in the upstairs rooms. Consisting of three floors, there’s something for all Talent Town and Vaudeville toons to enjoy at the Talent Town Inn!
The main floor is home to the cozy lounge and elegant restaurant for visitors of the Inn. Guests can snack on a wide range of food and enjoy some quality social time. The kitchen, bathroom, and main check-in desk are all found on the main floor as well.
Guests who may have traveled from far and wide can take a break from their troubles in the second-floor bedrooms. Consisting of a coat check and six bedrooms, guests can unwind in rooms adorned with all necessities. For guests of a higher status, and a few surprises might be in store...
itch.io Community » Game Development » Devlogs · Created a new topic Monochrome RPG - Berry Punny 1920s Cartoon-styled Turn-based Narrative Adventure
The Monochrome RPG is a berry punny black and white 1920s cartoon-styled comedy narrative adventure!
Play as Otto a, not for long, lone comedian who sets out on the journey of a century after his daily routine is ruined! Head to work after a Maniacal Morning, rush through the Grim Greyshade, deal with the Trouble in Talent Town, try to fix the Broken Barge, and Venture into Vaudeville, the city of entertainment!
Otto is a bit of an oddball loner who lives on the outskirts of Vaudeville, the city of entertainment and smiles. In Vaudevillian society, acting ability is the most important skill to have. Conflicts are solved with staged bouts, money is made through attention and those who can’t wow a crowd are left alone....
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itch.io Community » Game Development » Devlogs · Created a new topic Monochrome RPG Demo (Cartoon Turn-based Comedy RPG) - Feedback super appreciated :)
You can follow the dev log (add it to your collections!) via the RPG's Itch page!
Check out all of the dev logs via the dev log page!
What is the Monochrome RPG???
A Quick Glimpse
Themes: Laughter is the best medicine, Violence doesn’t solve everything
Setting: Roaring 20s Cartoonland, Vaudeville
Genre: Turn-based Comedy RPG
Platforms: PC/Mac (Steam), Mobile, Consoles*
RPG Overview
The Monochrome RPG is a 1920s cartoon style turn-based comedy role-playing game that follows Otto, an isolated citizen of Vaudeville, who must rescue the town. The Bleak Barons have begun to transform Vaudeville’s culture into something so dark and sinister Otto can’t standby and watch.
In Vaudeville citizens try their best to keep society as a whole happy. Vaudevillian society is focused on entertainment and theatrics. This means joking, dancing, singing, all to make others smile. Sounds perfect? Nope, far from it as each citizen sacrifices their personal happiness to make others happy.
Otto becomes the target of public ridicule, due to the difference in Vaudevillian values and Otto’s core values, up to the point where he must move to an island outside of Vaudeville.
Otto stays on the island until rumors about strange events happening in Vaudeville start spreading. These events have the name Bleak Barons attached to them. Otto’s few friends get dragged into weirdly, dangerous situations, leading him to leave the island and head back to Vaudeville!
Interested in how the game plays?
Try the latest demo on Itch.io!
In the Monochrome RPG, battle foes with the power of entertainment! The forces of Comedy and Tragedy can be used to heal or hurt enemies! Will you focus on Comedy and joke your way to victory? Or will you use the Tragedy to move enemies to tears? Or will you become a master of both forms of entertainment?
No matter what you choose, use your abilities to help rebuild the devastated Vaudeville back to the glorious city it once was!
What’s the Team been up to?
Hi! We’re the Monochrome Workshop a community of artists and technologists working together to create the Monochrome RPG.
Earlier in the year, we finished a Demo version of the RPG and took it to a game convention, GEXCon, where we were able to test it with more than 100 testers.
Overall testers rated the demo version of the game a 4 out of 5 saying that they loved the art and potential world. However, they thought that the gameplay and content could be greatly expanded.
After receiving the feedback we began planning more content and designing how a more cohesive gameplay loop could be formed. We realized from watching testers play that we could give the players more context and provide more guidance to onboard them into the world.
Testers said that they liked the idea of having to heal enemies to have them join your party, but the system was too basic making it difficult to play for long. We were happy that the majority of people who played liked the mechanic and were intrigued by its potential.
What we’ve been working on
An overview of our current Game Loop (Story – Battle – Troupe – Story)
Recently we released an updated version of the Demo that’s the first step to a new version of the game called the Demo+, a vertical slice or upgraded prototype. In this version we’ve updated and added:
Story
In the July Demo, we were focused on showcasing the art and world that had been created. Testers loved how the world felt through the art, however, they felt there wasn’t much depth to the world.
After showcasing the Demo we decided to rewrite the main story to build more depth into the world and characters which interested testers. We’ve provided players more information about the world to help make them more aware of their surroundings.
New Art Assets
Since opening up the Monochrome Workshop we’ve received more than 20+ submissions from various artists.
These assets and more will be added to the final version of the Demo+ to help build out the world while also giving more depth to Otto, the main character.
Battle Loop Update (Thank you Unity Timeline!)
We’ve cleaned up the flow of battles so that animations and events trigger more in sequence.
If you’re going to make a battle system in Unity we highly recommend using the Timeline to help with triggering events such as code, text, animations, sounds, etc. Before this update we were using a Coroutine system we had developed but switching it over to Timeline was super easy and completely worth it as now designers and programmers can work with the battle sequences.
Part of the reason why adding Timeline to the Battle System wasn’t hard is because the core system is programmed using a finite state machine. Replacing the current code with play and stop commands for timelines made the code much cleaner.
While integrating the Unity Timeline we also added new art to battles to help with feedback and setting. We made sure to include a custom battle start similar to how Pokemon-battles start, but with stage curtains and signs!
In the July Demo when players had Otto tell a joke they read a joke and watched how it affected enemies. We’ve updated Otto’s jokes to allow for user choice and engagement by including a time-based interaction. This interaction helps to determine how effective jokes are.
Finally, we’ve added a battle summary screen that makes players more aware of how well they did during battles.
How has the update been received so far?
Earlier this week we had a Design meeting where we reviewed the latest version of the Demo with members of the Workshop who had the chance to test it. Everyone at the meeting agreed that they liked the progress that was made on the Demo though it felt like there were slightly more bugs than in the previous build.
Feedback on Story
Overall, suggestions for how to make the story flow better and give more information to the player were brought up. Ideas for text functionality that would allow for better testing were also discussed.
Feedback on the Battle System
Everyone at the Design meeting agreed they liked a lot of the stylistic updates that were made to the battle. Though the time-based interaction for Otto’s joke was a bit harder than expected. A delay will have to be added to it to make it easier to get a perfect joke.
The battle summary menu at the end of battles was said to be nice as it provided information and context to the battle, but the information provided may have to be updated a bit.
What’s up Next
In between now and when we release the next update for the Demo we will be fixing bugs that were brought to our attention by Workshop members such as not being able to progress through the whole story. We will also be adding the remaining foundational part of Otto’s Story up to the end of the Demo+.
We hope that by getting the sequences for the Demo+ finished early we can go back and figure out how we can:
-Teach the player the core systems while moving them steadily through the story
-Have the player feel a better sense of progression and reward
-Polish the core systems that interest players so they shine better
We’ll also be continuing to integrate assets made by members of the Workshop!
Thank you for reading this Dev Log! We hope to release at least 2 dev logs a month on Saturdays! Look out for more content!
If you want to follow development the best way would be to join our Discord Server!
Also if you have 5-10min we’d greatly appreciate it if you could give our latest Demo a try and submit feedback on our feedback form if you have any ideas, comments, or questions!
itch.io Community » Game Development » Get Feedback · Created a new topic Monochrome RPG Demo (Cartoon Turn-based Comedy RPG)Feedback super appreciated :)
The Monochrome RPG is a turn-based comedy RPG styled in a 1920s cartoon theme! Any feedback on the latest version is super appreciated!
Try out the latest Demo of the Monochrome RPG.
If you have any issues, ideas, or suggestions with/about the Demo let us know by filling out our feedback form or joining our Discord Server!
New Content
Story: Otto’s Morning
The first section of the Demo’s updated story has been implemented! Follow along as Otto starts his morning and strange events begin to occur in his house!
Workshop Art: Otto’s Cuisine and Decor
The Workshop has been creating new art assets to help flesh out Otto’s house and give players different objects to interact with. In this version, we’ve added more of the latest art (interaction to come)!
UI Art: Updated Main Menu & Battle Menu
We’ve also found a strong direction for the user interface art. The Main Menu and Battle Menu now feature updated art with a theatre direction
New Features
Interaction: Otto’s Jokes
We’ve added a time-based interaction for Otto’s joke ability which determines how effective the joke is!
Feedback: Troupe Members Attacks
Troupe members now come out onto the stage to perform their attacks!
What’s Next?
Next, we’ll be focused on implementing more of the story leading up to before Otto goes downstairs to his basement to talk to Gackle! We’ll also be adding progression features to help players get a better sense of what’s happening in the world and to Otto as they move through the story. We’re thinking towards: an Inventory System and Quest Notifications.
Thanks for reading!
If you’d like to help test new versions of the game and be a part of designing the game join the discord!
We’re looking forward to adding more to the demo as we get closer to the end of the year. Make sure to keep checking back to hear more about the project, the workshop, and the latest features!
Issues?
Let us know by filling out our feedback form for this version of the game!
itch.io Community » Game Development » Help Wanted or Offered · Created a new topic [Art][Paid][Position Filled]Opportunity for Commision based Entry-Level Concept Artist
DVNC Tech LLC is currently looking to hire a passionate Entry-Level Concept Artist. This artist would be paid on a commission basis and would work with the DVNC team to create rough world designs for an upcoming VR Action Platformer, SuperHero in Training.
If interested you can email dvnc.interactive@gmail.com with a link to your portfolio.
Qualifications:
- Ability to Sketch, Shade, and Color Concept pieces of art for world building and/or character designs
- Solid understanding of human anatomy, color/lighting theory, and visual communication
- Experience drawing sci-fi or space-related content
- Interest in storytelling
- Passionate about video games (bonus points for VR)
Job Tasks:
- Drawing outlined, shaded, and potentially colored sketches for helping with the world and character design
- Communicating with the DVNC Team 2-3 times a week (potentially more if needed)
Game Story:
The Intergalactic League of Superheroes has never before seen humans as potential hero candidates, however, with recent advancements in Hero Gear technology humans for the first time have the opportunity to become heroes and join the ILS. You’ve signed up to train with the ILS to become the first human hero.
After leaving Earth and being transported to a remote base in the outskirts of the galaxy you’ve been given your Hero Gear, an Anti-Force Suit and EQ Gauntlets. The Anti-Force Suit increases your resistances and gives you alerts on your EQ Gauntlets. Your EQ Gauntlets enable you to swing using a magnetic hook and fly using hand thrusters.
Your first step on your path to becoming a hero is to complete the training courses within the ILS’s base using your new Hero Gear. Can you rise to the challenge and become the first human hero within the Intergalactic League of SuperHeroes?
Screenshots of Game
itch.io Community » General » General Discussion · Created a new topic Would a VR Action Platformer make a good game???
Hi All,
My team is about to start development on a VR Action Platformer. We created a survey to see if people would be interested in the idea before we started active development. If you'd like to hear more about the project or just want to share your thoughts on a VR Action Platformer we'd really appreciate it if you could fill out the survey. We also didn't just want to put out the survey without giving back so included at the end of the survey is a link to a 4k wallpaper from a level mockup we did. Thank you for taking the time to help us out and we hope to share more with the community soon.
Also if you'd rather skip the survey please let us know what you think here.
Thanks!
itch.io Community » General » General Discussion · Replied to Micho in Marketing Guide for Indie Developers
itch.io Community » General » General Discussion · Replied to Micho in Marketing Guide for Indie Developers
itch.io Community » General » General Discussion · Created a new topic Marketing Guide for Indie Developers