Update #45: IGA finds a publisher

I just checked the Kickstarter campaign and it seems like 33 people will have their portrait in game.

Fantastic progress so far!

We get the first demo in the late of June
And we are in the mind that it could already become the final game itself
And we see a lot of improvements to the game itself, in the spent of 3 to 4 months
That is really a good sign to the game
I really can't wait for the Beta already

Okay,  there is A LOT TO BE SAID about this update. Much more than it meets the eye. Here goes:


ABOUT 505 GAMES AS PUBLISHER

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The work of a video game publisher is, as the name implies, to publish a game. They are responsible for the manufacturing, marketing and advertising. Some publishers also help with the budget and also distribute the games they publish, if they are large enough for that, while smaller ones hire a distribution company.
How much execute meddling a publisher has on the production of a game varies greatly. Some has a vast power, deciding many things, while others simply manufacture, and advertise it. I never heard of 505 games, but as far as i researched, they have a vast selection of games published and they even have a prize for Indie Games, so, they are apparently very competent and safe.
Considering what IGA said, apparently they were looking for a publisher because they wouldn't be able to do it by themselves or they considered that the project is too big to be handled without a publisher backing up. 


ABOUT THE CASTLE ENTRANCE

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This looks really great in general, and i don't think i have anything bad to say about it. I want to break this into smaller parts:

THE HUD

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the hud seems to be the same, with some addictions. We can see a gun with a 0/999 number on it, showing that we will have real-time control of ammo for guns, which is a nice little detail. We can also see a big window on the far right, for the real-time mini map, another good thing that many Igavanias would benefit greatly to have. I think the window is a little too big for my tastes, but it is nothing really bad or anything.

THE GRAPHICS

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Dear Darwin! Look at this! This graphics are gorgeous! And they aren't even fully polished yet, considering what they are talking about the statue wings and such. Look at how asburdly detailed that is, from the blueish/purpleish carpet on the ground to the statues, going to the great gothic walls on the back, to the huge red flags with golden symbols, going far away into the stairs and reaching the windows with purple curtains. It's so overly detailed and the layers move nicely when Miriam walks. The corridor is also nicely detailed. We already know where the backer's portraits will be, but look at those lights on the background and how cool they look. There are chairs, candles and something is at the window, i can't really say what it is. And that's great. Nice little details for us to enjoy calmly.


CLOSING COMMENTS

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I don't know much about 505 games as a publisher, but it seems to be a safe option. The graphics are looking nice and overly detailed and that didn't finished yet. Also, it is interesting to see  how absurdly perfectionist IGA is. He knows he is being recorded for a new update, and even so, he make comments and questions about the entrance (i doubt he is commenting just to show himself off on the video). 
Great soundtrack, solid gameplay, beautiful graphics. And the game still has a long way into development. 

Things really looks promising.

That's all folks!

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Small tip: try seeing the video, at the footage of the entrance, while hearing Luxurious Overture, the music that Miss Michiru confirmed to be of the Castle Entrance. I did it. It's awesome. Someone must get that video, cut it, edit it, and put that music on it.

The entrance looks really beautiful, with great details and overall much more than I expected. I don't like that they are putting those portraits in the entrance hall..it should definitely be in some other hall or a room. They could make it really cool, while preserving the beautiful entrance. These portaits here break the harmony of the beautiful entrance that should be clean and impressive, being the first part of the game.
As for the publisher, I hope they will not have input on the contents of the game. IGA should complete his vision exactly as he intended and promised. I have faith in him, so I don't have doubts.

I don't think it's unreasonable for some people to think it's a bit off putting. It's the entrance of the castle. I mean, it's a big moment in the game and to draw attention to it being a KICKSTARTER campaign within the very beginning of the castle takes me out of it a bit. Especially if the portraits are tonally not fitting which they typically are in these sorta things. I think they do deserve recognition but I don't see why there can't be a portrait room with cascading portraits all around much like in Harry Potter.

Imagine if you yourself were a portrait contributor, this update would be incredibly exciting for you. I'm sure they're going to feel that way from this, and changing it/downgrading it to much less would be a disappointment.

It's pretty much just having artwork in a hallway, which isn't uncommon for Igavania games as it is. This time, rather than just being random original designs of unnamed people, they're paintings of actual people from the campaign. I think it would be cool to spread them out more, though, so the hallway isn't -that- long.

This is one of those extremely rare, almost mythical, moments when I actually agree with CastleDan .

Portraits shouldn't be right in the beginning unless they're are extremely well done and blend perfectly with the rest of the scenery.

Oh, I totally get what you mean, Dan, and I think that's another reason why it might be wise to spread them out some. Put some in a marble gallery equivalent, guest house, library, etc. There are several other design elements going on in the entrance to not draw too much attention to the paintings so that it encroaches too much on our "castle beginning" experience, which is important to me as well. This might be later on in the entrance area, too, and it being as long as it is may mean it serves as more of a connector to something else rather than our first impression of the game/the stage.

The first impression of the game would be from the Minerva anyway, though.