Once Upon a Time in Japan - Earth.

Dasilva · 01-16-2007, 08:43 AM

I must say this game is what I've been dreaming of! That artwork looks so beautiful and non-generic.

http://www.adventuregamers.com/newsitem.php?id=1361

akane_t · 01-16-2007, 08:56 AM

And one of its creators is none other than our own Once a Villain.

http://forums.adventuregamers.com/member.php?u=4186

Wouter · 01-16-2007, 10:40 AM

Wow! Amazing graphics in these 3 screenshots

PILMAN · 01-16-2007, 10:50 AM

Wow this is a must buy for me.

Panthera · 01-16-2007, 10:50 AM

I agree, the artwork was absolutely stunning! When I clicked in on the third screenshot, my first reaction was "Wow"! and I kept staring at it for a few minutes. I also like the character drawings.

Wouter · 01-16-2007, 10:54 AM

I like the idea of real japanese voice acting aswell. It's daring to say the least but it could work out great and give it real authenticity.

I wonder if these backdrops will be animated. They do look super.

Gabe · 01-16-2007, 11:58 AM

Nice but if there will be only still screens (i like to see wind animation) puts one to sleep easily.(Yawn)

Once A Villain · 01-16-2007, 01:01 PM

Thanks for all the enthusiastic responses!

I notice the main question seems to be about the background animation. Worry no more... The backgrounds are infused with life. For instance, on the Mountain Path screenshot, those birds aren't floating in the same spot, nor are the waterfalls frozen in time. Those things move in the actual game.

Hope that is cleared up now, and thanks again very much for the interest you have all shown in the game.

Wouter · 01-16-2007, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Once A Villain

Thanks for all the enthusiastic responses!

I notice the main question seems to be about the background animation. Worry no more... The backgrounds are infused with life. For instance, on the Mountain Path screenshot, those birds aren't floating in the same spot, nor are the waterfalls frozen in time. Those things move in the actual game.

Hope that is cleared up now, and thanks again very much for the interest you have all shown in the game.

When looking at that screenshot, i was actually wondering if the birds would move and the water would ... well ... fall. Wow, wow! I love this style of art/painting.

kuze · 01-16-2007, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Once A Villain

Thanks for all the enthusiastic responses!

I notice the main question seems to be about the background animation. Worry no more... The backgrounds are infused with life. For instance, on the Mountain Path screenshot, those birds aren't floating in the same spot, nor are the waterfalls frozen in time. Those things move in the actual game.

Hope that is cleared up now, and thanks again very much for the interest you have all shown in the game.

Any chance we get to see a teaser/trailer?

Giligan · 01-16-2007, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kuze

Any chance we get to see a teaser/trailer?

I'm wondering that myself. Those 3 screens are nicely done, but they aren't much to go on.

Kurufinwe · 01-16-2007, 02:25 PM

News from this game hasn't been out for half a day and people are already complaining...

One question for Once A Villain: you've been conducting lots of polls on these forums while designing the game (regarding voices, multiple characters, etc.). Care to tell us which decisions you've finally made? (it seems you went for full Japanese voices, if I understand correctly)

Periglo · 01-16-2007, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wouter

I like the idea of real japanese voice acting aswell.

I now remember Cosmology of Kyoto, which I discovered browsing HOTU (there's another thread on this site). The Japanese voices really added depth to this sort of... educational adventure? I really liked the game, anyway.

Also, Clint Eastwood has just won a price for a movie with good Japanese acting.

Intrepid Homoludens · 01-16-2007, 02:50 PM

The game looks exquisite! Oncesie, please tell your team so, I look forward to more news about your progress.

I have a few questions, though I'm sure upcoming news will cover them. I'm wondering how the gameplay will be, if the puzzles will be the usual conventional adventure game types or if it will diverge in some way from them (i.e. non-poke-bamboo-stick-through-door-to-dislodge-key-onto-rice-paper-on-floor challenges). Personally I'm sick of those traditional kinds of puzzles and would love to experience more unconventional and more inventive obstacles. And how will the dialogue system work? Will the gameworld be 'alive' with interactive hotspots, even if it's only for you find out a little more about the characters and the history of that world before tackling the next puzzle? I love deep, rich worlds where I can stumble onto bits and pieces of information and layers and layers of discoverable sweetnesses.

Don't answer these right now if you can't, but to be blunt this is the first adventure game I got wind of in a very long time that I'm actually intrigued by. None of the others interest me.

Again, wonderful job!

billy7777 · 01-16-2007, 03:09 PM

Looks good so far! I always wanted to create something similar to this genre. Looks like you beat me to it. (Big fan of "Ninja Scroll") This looks like something very different to the AG world and will probably get nice attention.

Ninth · 01-16-2007, 03:15 PM

These screenshots are so beautiful... I can't remember when was the last time that I liked screenshots that much.

And I haven't played a decent hand-drawn in ages (and please let no one mention Runaway 2). The last one much have been Callahan Crosstime's Saloon. Of course, that's putting the bar waaay high.

D.C. · 01-16-2007, 03:23 PM

Wow, this game looks spiffy! (That's good.

)

*Melanie68* · 01-16-2007, 04:12 PM

Looks lovely.

I really like the setting. I can't think of any games (of the top of my head) that take place in Japan.

Intrepid Homoludens · 01-16-2007, 04:14 PM

No One Lives Forever 2: A Spy In H.A.R.M.'s Way

Well, at least the first few levels take place there.

Bastich · 01-16-2007, 06:42 PM

Having played hundreds of adventure games, just about everything is cliché to me now.

This, however, looks to be a welcome breath of fresh air. Who do I pay, and when do I get my game???

01-16-2007, 08:43 AM	#1
Dasilva Hitch-Hiker Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: The Mediterranean Sea Posts: 4,364	Once Upon a Time in Japan - Earth. I must say this game is what I've been dreaming of! That artwork looks so beautiful and non-generic. http://www.adventuregamers.com/newsitem.php?id=1361 Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ Regards, DaSilva "If you don't get out of the box you've been raised in, you won't understand how much bigger the world is." - Angelina Jolie _ <Susan falls through the floor and gets stuck> <Paco looks at her blankly> "Whats wrong with you?! Lassy would of had a firetruck here by now!" - Susan Mayer, Desperate Housewives

01-16-2007, 08:56 AM	#2
akane_t Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 289	And one of its creators is none other than our own Once a Villain. http://forums.adventuregamers.com/member.php?u=4186 Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ "Maybe we should try it...without the tape." - Akane, Ranma and Juliet

01-16-2007, 10:40 AM	#3
Wouter Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 153	Wow! Amazing graphics in these 3 screenshots Share Share this post on Twitter

01-16-2007, 10:50 AM	#4
PILMAN Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Fort Walton Beach, Florida Posts: 118	Wow this is a must buy for me. Share Share this post on Twitter

01-16-2007, 10:50 AM	#5
Panthera female animal lover Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Norway Posts: 1,480	I agree, the artwork was absolutely stunning! When I clicked in on the third screenshot, my first reaction was "Wow"! and I kept staring at it for a few minutes. I also like the character drawings. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ Pennies are never the healthy end, risk all! The Panthera Effect If you can't beat Panthera, join Panthera.. My sporadically updated blogs: Animation enthusiast, Sci-fi enthusiast and Snark, pedantry and random geekery

01-16-2007, 10:54 AM	#6
Wouter Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 153	I like the idea of real japanese voice acting aswell. It's daring to say the least but it could work out great and give it real authenticity. I wonder if these backdrops will be animated. They do look super. Share Share this post on Twitter

01-16-2007, 11:58 AM	#7
Gabe Schättenjager Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 815	Nice but if there will be only still screens (i like to see wind animation) puts one to sleep easily.(Yawn) Share Share this post on Twitter

01-16-2007, 01:01 PM	#8
Once A Villain OUATIJ Creator Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 1,640	Thanks for all the enthusiastic responses! I notice the main question seems to be about the background animation. Worry no more... The backgrounds are infused with life. For instance, on the Mountain Path screenshot, those birds aren't floating in the same spot, nor are the waterfalls frozen in time. Those things move in the actual game. Hope that is cleared up now, and thanks again very much for the interest you have all shown in the game. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ Ben Co-Founder Abborado Studios Lead Designer - Once Upon a Time in Japan: Earth

01-16-2007, 02:25 PM	#12
Kurufinwe Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Santa Barbara, CA Posts: 3,038	News from this game hasn't been out for half a day and people are already complaining... One question for Once A Villain: you've been conducting lots of polls on these forums while designing the game (regarding voices, multiple characters, etc.). Care to tell us which decisions you've finally made? (it seems you went for full Japanese voices, if I understand correctly) Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ Currently reading: Dune (F. Herbert) Recently finished: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (J. K. Rowling) [++], La Nuit des Temps (R. Barjavel) [+++] Currently playing: Skyrim Recently finished: MCF: Escape from Ravenhearst [+], The Walking Dead, ep. 1 [+++], Gray Matter [++] Last edited by Kurufinwe; 01-16-2007 at 02:31 PM.

01-16-2007, 02:50 PM	#14
Intrepid Homoludens merely human Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Chicago Posts: 22,309	The game looks exquisite! Oncesie, please tell your team so, I look forward to more news about your progress. I have a few questions, though I'm sure upcoming news will cover them. I'm wondering how the gameplay will be, if the puzzles will be the usual conventional adventure game types or if it will diverge in some way from them (i.e. non-poke-bamboo-stick-through-door-to-dislodge-key-onto-rice-paper-on-floor challenges). Personally I'm sick of those traditional kinds of puzzles and would love to experience more unconventional and more inventive obstacles. And how will the dialogue system work? Will the gameworld be 'alive' with interactive hotspots, even if it's only for you find out a little more about the characters and the history of that world before tackling the next puzzle? I love deep, rich worlds where I can stumble onto bits and pieces of information and layers and layers of discoverable sweetnesses. Don't answer these right now if you can't, but to be blunt this is the first adventure game I got wind of in a very long time that I'm actually intrigued by. None of the others interest me. Again, wonderful job! Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ platform: laptop, iPhone 3Gs \| gaming: x360, PS3, psp, iPhone, wii \| blog: a space alien \| book: the moral landscape: how science can determine human values by sam harris \| games: l.a.noire, portal 2, brink, dragon age 2, heavy rain \| sites: NPR, skeptoid, gaygamer \| music: ray lamontagne, adele, washed out, james blake \| twitter: a_space_alien

01-16-2007, 03:09 PM	#15
billy7777 Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 51	Looks good so far! I always wanted to create something similar to this genre. Looks like you beat me to it. (Big fan of "Ninja Scroll") This looks like something very different to the AG world and will probably get nice attention. Share Share this post on Twitter

01-16-2007, 03:15 PM	#16
Ninth Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Paris, France Posts: 6,409	These screenshots are so beautiful... I can't remember when was the last time that I liked screenshots that much. And I haven't played a decent hand-drawn in ages (and please let no one mention Runaway 2). The last one much have been Callahan Crosstime's Saloon. Of course, that's putting the bar waaay high. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ ...It's down there somewhere. Let me have another look.

01-16-2007, 03:23 PM	#17
D.C. Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,773	Wow, this game looks spiffy! (That's good. ) Share Share this post on Twitter

01-16-2007, 04:12 PM	#18
Melanie68 Super Moderator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Ohio Posts: 8,907	Looks lovely. I really like the setting. I can't think of any games (of the top of my head) that take place in Japan. Share Share this post on Twitter Last edited by Melanie68; 01-16-2007 at 04:18 PM.

01-16-2007, 04:14 PM	#19
Intrepid Homoludens merely human Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Chicago Posts: 22,309	No One Lives Forever 2: A Spy In H.A.R.M.'s Way Well, at least the first few levels take place there. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ platform: laptop, iPhone 3Gs \| gaming: x360, PS3, psp, iPhone, wii \| blog: a space alien \| book: the moral landscape: how science can determine human values by sam harris \| games: l.a.noire, portal 2, brink, dragon age 2, heavy rain \| sites: NPR, skeptoid, gaygamer \| music: ray lamontagne, adele, washed out, james blake \| twitter: a_space_alien

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01-16-2007, 06:42 PM	#20
Bastich Iconoclast Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: USA Posts: 1,169	Having played hundreds of adventure games, just about everything is cliché to me now. This, however, looks to be a welcome breath of fresh air. Who do I pay, and when do I get my game??? Share Share this post on Twitter