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Sonic Continuum Project (Looking for help)

Discussion in 'Fangaming Discussion' started by SonicContinuum, Sep 21, 2017.

  1. SonicContinuum

    SonicContinuum

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    Greetings everyone,


    I am the developer of a Sonic Fan game called "Sonic Continuum". The fan game uses the "Sonic Realm" engine as a base. But I am heavily modifying it to make a full fledged fan game. The game is still early in development. But we already have a lot of concepts being finished as we speak. The idea is to make a Sonic genesis style game that feels like the next logical step in gameplay, rather than something catering to nostalgia only. Not only that, because we are designing the game with easy portable code. We are releasing the game on platforms like the Xbox one (dev mode sideload), and phones. In fact you can try the demo which is in the link below for the pc and the xbox one version.


    I announced the final name of this game two days ago on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tnoSp4b2PA,

    and feel free to check the demo: https://mega.nz/#F!x3BFUJzA!5Nuysvxq5FxEcJCJ7Sgj6w


    And because we want this project to feel relatable to everyone, we started a competition for designing OC characters. The top five winners will be featured in the game, and the top winner will be fully playable.

    So I am posting here for two reasons, because I want to see if you guys would be interested to join the competition.



    The OC competition info can be found here: https://gbatemp.net/threads/sonic-continuum-oc-character-drawing-competition.484391/#post-7588070

    Feel free to tell me of a better way to organize this competition for the community here.

    and I personally want to thank the devs of Sonic Realm, and Sega for having an open mind about fan games.
     
  2. GerbilSoft

    GerbilSoft

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    You mentioned both 3DS via homebrew and Unity. I have not read the licensing agreement in full, but I believe that using Unity to target 3DS would require you to sign the Nintendo NDA, and doing so would prevent you from releasing Unity 3DS titles as homebrew.

    You should double-check this just in case.
     
  3. SonicContinuum

    SonicContinuum

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    Yeah, I need to re-check the agreement. but I thought it was ok since it is not via the store. But let me read it again, and if there is a problem I will reconsider that version
     
  4. SonicContinuum

    SonicContinuum

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    I know that piracy is wrong, and it is something I would never promote. but I thought that just homebrew game is fine since a lot of people already released homebrew on 3ds. Is there anyone reliable I could ask about this? I certainly do not want to do anything that would anger Sega or Nintendo.
     
  5. Using official tools to make a program for the 3DS requires signing that agreement with Nintendo. For all intents and purposes, you're agreeing to only distribute your projects through the eShop and through Nintendo, meaning that anything you make has to be approved by them in the end, and you're hit with all of the issues you would have if you were trying to commercially sell your game since you don't have the rights to anything having to do with Sonic.

    Homebrew programs for the 3DS are generally made using an UNOFFICIAL development kit and programming that was created by homebrew developers. This means that Unity is not an option for you. You would have to find each function and port everything manually using the function calls that the homebrew developers have come up with. The tools are all there, but you'll have to put a lot more work into it all on your end.

    Personally, I was rather surprised when you first said that you were doing a 3DS port of your project. I figured that if it was any good, it would be the first really good high-quality homebrew game for the 3DS, or at least the first one that I've seen personally. Everything else that I've seen is some sort of program to add functionality (use your 3DS as a PC controller, stream to your 3DS, etc.) or some sort of emulator.
     
  6. SonicContinuum

    SonicContinuum

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    Ok, I am willing to do the necessary research for it, but until then, I think I will hold on the 3ds port until I figure how to do it. But thank you guys for pointing this out. I think I thought of it similar to android. but yeah other than that, everything else still applies, and I will research how to port to the 3ds without SDK.

    Once again thank you for pointing out, I do not want to piss off Sega or Nintendo
     
  7. Overlord

    Overlord

    Now playable in Smash Bros Ultimate Moderator
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    Also sidenote we don't approve of "PLS HELP WITH MY PROJECT" threads.
     
  8. winterhell

    winterhell

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    For the record, Unity3D is super heavy as it is even on desktop, let alone on mobile, especially an old console like 3DS.
    I cant imagine how can you run anything made with Unity on 3DS.
     
  9. SonicContinuum

    SonicContinuum

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    What should I do? I removed the part of the announcement related to asking for help.

    also Where can I ask for help on Sonic Retro, and I am sorry if I missed the rule for this.
     
  10. winterhell

    winterhell

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    You don't ask for people to do work for you or join your project.

    What you do is you post screenshots of what you've done and people get wowed, and private message you that they want to join.
    Or you google how to program and learn to program/use a game maker engine, and *then* make the screenshots that you post.

    That being said, please don't post garbage. A palette swap of Green Hill Zone is not going to cut it.
     
  11. SonicContinuum

    SonicContinuum

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    you haven't played the demo have you? I already know coding, and I already have a demo uploaded with a new level (in addition to the greenhill zone test level). The fact that you say it is just a palette swap of green hill zone makes me think you haven't even played it. I also posted the video. So why do you need screenshots?

    Update: if you are talking about the second level of the demo, All I did was use the background from a website that offers free art, and I used it as a background. all the other art assets are from previous sonic games. Because I am not an artist.
     
  12. Xiao Hayes

    Xiao Hayes

    Classic Eggman art Member
    Finally, someone answers this question. I was wondering the same every time I saw a thread closing for this reason. I understand there are reasons to not have recruitment or "do this for me" topics, but no one telling which is the standard alternative was killing me.

    Anyway, that method itself looks a bit unreliable, it's hard for a single person to do enough work to show enought to attract collaborators unless they have direct relationships with the one showing their projects. I don't have the chance to start my fan game projects right now, but I was thinking on making a full game with reused music as some sort of a curriculum and use that to ask for help through PMs for more serious and professional projects that would come later. Not that I like to do things that way, but I couldn't figure a good way to form a dev team with people I know so little about. I thought other people used discord or something like that to know other people better and get some reference on who to recruit or whose project to join. I think there should be a begginer's q&a topic for this matter or anything similar if that's possible within the forum rules.

    P.D.: I'd never post screenshots about a chamaleonic green hill zone, don't worry about that.

    Edit: Forgot to actually talk about the game:

    I've watched that video and, while physics look quite functional, I really hope nothing of that level art and design will be in the actual final game; I wouldn't say this if only the test zone was there, because it's supposed to be a test zone, after all, but the other zone works the same way. Also, if you're gonna make just a classic style 2D game, I'd try something strictly 2D, not Unity. I plan to make mine on C++.
     
  13. SonicContinuum

    SonicContinuum

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    then why does Nintendo have an sdk for 3ds if you cant run unity at all on 3ds?


    The only rule I saw about this thread is that you need to be only talking about sonic fan games. The other rules I saw were about how to become a member, If there are other rules I am not aware of, tell me where to look. I hate posting something that goes against the guidelines.

    Also why is this guy calling my demo garbage, and why is he assuming that I do not know coding. I agree that I am not experienced with 3ds, but other than that, I already ported the demo to android and ios and pc and xbox one.

    The reason why, my " demo is garbage" is that I barely have any art support. The only art I used are open art until I can get an artist. That is why I asked here, but I didn't know it was wrong.

    But I already know coding
     
  14. SonicContinuum

    SonicContinuum

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    Otherwise, I am in a cycle:

    1. You can't ask artist to join you until you wow them with game.

    2. I can't wow people with game until I can find an artist otherwise people call my game garbage for not having new art.

    That is all, I didn't mean to piss off anyone.
     
  15. Xiao Hayes

    Xiao Hayes

    Classic Eggman art Member
    Since you ninja'ed my edit, please check that. I supposed the art is just a placeholder, but scaling it or using it in a way that clashes with the original use for it (that suddenly cut vine ramp from mushroom hill, for example) doesn't look good. I'm not sure if the green hill garbage was directly referring to your work or it was just an example of what not to post, but, sorry to say you this, that video is still a bad presentation card.
     
  16. SonicContinuum

    SonicContinuum

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    Sorry I didn't notice your edit.


    I do not mind having criticism with the video. I agree the video doesn't look good, I am just demoing the controls.


    I was only disagreeing with him because he said "learning coding first before you post a screenshot", which I already know coding otherwise there wouldn't be a demo.

    Once again, I was just looking for an artist. and I mean zero disrespect towards him. I sincerely apologize if I said something that angered him


    Is the demo perfect? No

    but again I need to have some way of showing that the game is being taken seriously even though I do not have art.

    In fact, that green hill level, won't even be in the final game. Again it was just a demo for the controls, if you know a good way to demo my game with no art. please pm it to me.

    Also, If you guys know how to change the title of the thread, let me know. So that I remove the looking for help part.
     
  17. Xiao Hayes

    Xiao Hayes

    Classic Eggman art Member
    Not sure if a moderator is necessary for the title thing or you may do that yourself.

    I'm not telling you to show a demo with no art, but I'm sure you can draw some basic shapes with a simple design, that's a part of my project I've already been doing and I'm not a pixel artist or have any professional expertise with general art. I have two sets, one that works as base level art and other one simpler than the first to show the active layer and solidities. It just takes a lot more time when you don't know how to do that.

    Also, I wasn't defending the other guy, I was just giving my own impressions. I mentioned the green hill garbage thing because I understood that in a different way than you, that's all.

    As I said earlier, I don't get how does people get a team for their work in the first place, and I understand your frustration about having to do so much alone before having any chance of recruitment. Anyway, that's the way it works in this forum, and seems it also does in SFGHQ (Sonic fan games headquarters) site, which could seem the other obvious place to try recruiting. I'd suggest to blend better in the community for some time before trying anything else, and work on your demo meanwhile even on the areas you're not skilled on.
     
  18. SonicContinuum

    SonicContinuum

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    ok, I understand and respect that. I apologize if my post was inconvenient.


    next month I will certainly follow your feedback. and I hope you feel much more satisfied from the October update.
     
  19. winterhell

    winterhell

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    Yeah I was not referring to the quality of your work. I didn't even notice that the links lead to something until after I posted. I apologize for the misunderstanding.

    That is a mystery to me as well. As a programmer I cant find an artist that would put more than 30 minutes of drawing on an odd weekend. Even those of 'deviantart quality'. I've tried so many times.
    As for why we don't ask for team members here, its simply that nobody would even try to join. There are 2 scenarios that are quite common

    a) "I have this great ideatext for a game, I want to just talk while everyone else programs, draws, and does the music. I have no experience making games and nothing to show for it."
    However good an idea(really everybody is talking just about the game summary) is depends on the actual execution. 2D Sequel to Sonic & Knuckles sounds like a win win right? Sonic 4, Chaotix and Sonic Advance had bigger budgets, staff and time, but didn't come near close to Mania.

    b) Even projects that are appealing and highly praised have a hard time even having someone apply for them, regardless of skill level.
    Case in point AXSX:" I have this awesome game, but I cannot program and I need just a couple of bug fixes". Result: 0 programmers called the past 5 years

    tl.dr. we are not trying to prevent you from recruiting the artists you want/need/deserve. There simply aren't any free artists on these forums looking for a project to join to begin with.
     
  20. Xiao Hayes

    Xiao Hayes

    Classic Eggman art Member
    Well, I know it's probably a lot harder to find people for projects these days than before, and seems like it was already hard even then, but a single person filling all the roles is too much asking for, moreso if it's not a professional project. It will take me ages to have what I want to show as a proof of my capabilities. I hope it will get easier after achieving that, specially considering how many projects I have and how big are some of them (I plan them in sets so I can give them plot consistency and know everything I'll have to add to the engine in advance). I also get that sometimes no one will join because they want to work on a project of their own, and not on someone else's, but, personally, I need to save every level trope I had in mind for my projects or I could find myself in trouble to make all those levels (over a hundred of them at this moment).