The Grand Opening

When it comes to the introductory sequence of events in a video game, there are actually far less restrictions than people might think.  Yet, 99% games begin essentially the exact same way - logo/company screen, title screen with menu - and then you usually start the game.

Those are some sizable claws bubbs.

And it makes sense why most games use this same sequence.  It works.  It's simple.  It's gets players to the action quickly and exactly how they are used to getting there.  But I wouldn't be happy with myself if I didn't at least consider a path less-traveled.   Why can't the game begin before the title screen?  What else could be done to help the player immerse themselves in the game content before they hit "start?"

In Opac's Journey we didn't have a traditional title screen menu.  Players were able to control Opac right after our company logo faded out and the title screen was essentially a playable introduction to the game where you could enter doors that lead to typical menu selections.  It's not the first time this has been done, but it's still quite rare - and we didn't hear anything beside positive feedback.   

Yes that sweet glowy bird can be found in the game too.

But in the context of XBLIG, there's of course risk in delivering an unexpected intro sequence.   Demo time is limited to 8 minutes, so too much content up front can frustrate a player just trying to get to the meat of the game.   Also, my personal feeling is that a good number of gamers on the channel aren't looking for depth or innovation, just something that packs as much fun (and sometimes farts) into the first 60 seconds of gameplay.   Anything that diverts from expectations might also divert a sale.  So things like this, while classically awesome, might now go less appreciated.

That said, we're putting some serious effort into a compelling introductory sequence for Legend of Kilflame, and we might step a little outside of the norms.   Don't worry, you can still press "A" to skip everything. ;)

Let's Get Familiar with Maya (again)

Attitude.

It's with great pleasure that I am reintroducing our premier heroine of Ophidian Wars: Legend of Kilflame, Maya (and no, she is not named after the the 3D modeling tool). 

For those of you who played Opac's Journey, this game will begin just before that story ends.  While Opac is making his way to the surface, Maya is spending her first night alone, banished from her home city.   

For those new to some of the backstory, Maya is of royalty, but accused of treason against her brother, the soon-to-be ruler of their kind.    Her sentencing to banishment is highly controversial but upheld.   Meanwhile, Opac is sent out on his mission to find Maya before another badass does.  He's sort of like Reese from Terminator, I suppose.

So Maya begins the game as an outcast of her people at a time that is especially dangerous to be stranded.   There are other forces, some ancient and some mostly unknown, delving into great conflict.  Legend of Kilflame will follow Maya as she makes new allies, is hunted by infamous mercenaries, and unravels a much bigger story than her own.   

Sexy pose or deadly slide attack to the privates?   

In terms of combat, Maya uses a spear which is the traditional weapon of her people.   For defense, she uses an off-hand gauntlet which is used to block.  The advantage Maya has is that her spear and gauntlet are uniquely powerful items.  Gifted to her by her father, they are "Elder" relics and can harness the power of what is known as "Core."   

"Who wants some ice cream?!"

In the Ophidian Wars universe, Core can sort of be equated to what we think of as a being's soul, only in a solid, tangible form.   We'll talk about Core again at some point, or you can dip into the archives if you're curious to see what Core looks like.

With some help from our talented friend Robbo, we recently polished off Maya's full set of animations (hence some of these pics you see).  It was important to us that Maya get the full treatment, beyond the standard set of required combat/movement animations.  So we've imbued her with some extra life and personality, adding animations that allow her to stretch, claim victory, show boredom, etc.   And I must say, she looks very good doing it all.

Let us know what you think.  Any questions about Maya?  Drop a note in the comments section or post in the forums.

The Indie Community

Releasing Opac's Journey has been exciting in more ways than one.  Not only was it Small Cave Games's first official release, but this was the first time that we've personally delved into another layer of the indie community. 

I've always been active on gaming forums and indie development forums where I met a ton of like-minded individuals and helpful peers.   What I underestimated was just how many people share a common interest in [even the smallest] of indie games and are down with giving them a shout out.  And for that I am very thankful.  

Here's some additional reviews for Opac's Journey:

DIYGamer: "Ophidian Wars: Opac’s Journey is really fantastic stuff. It’s slow yet challenging, and there’s plenty to see and explore. A full playthrough takes only around 45 minutes to complete, but with a price tag of $1 (80 MS points), it’s definitely worth forking out the cash for." "After Shadow Complex, this is the closest to Metroid that the Xbox has got."

Sarcastic Gamer: "There are a couple of cute nods to classic games easter-egged in there – “Eastmost peninsula is the secret” – and the upgrades are actually fun to use for a bit after you obtain them."

GayGamer: "Probably the first thing that drew me in to Opac's Journey was how well done Opac's character sprite was done. He looks and animates like a character straight out of a 2D Castlevania game, with a suit of armor like a cross between Dead Space and Big Bad Beetle Borgs." ("Yay" recommendation)

GamersWithCasts: (really fun podcast here - good hosts who know their stuff) A nice review here.  "Before I started reviewing games, I hadn’t played a lot of indie titles. It’s not that I didn’t want to, it’s just that I wasn’t sure about the quality that was out there. However, if they’re all like Ophidian Wars: Opac’s Journey, I will be playing a lot more."

XboxHornet: "Overall, I greatly enjoyed the albeit-short platformer, and I’m really looking forward to the next installment. If you’re a fan of exploration in platformers (such as the genre-defining Metroidvanias), then you would do well to hop into the beginning of the Ophidian Wars saga."

Pwnem: "Ophidian Wars: Opac's Journey is a memorable one that gets a well deserved recommendation to all retro platforming fans."

CrushFragDestroy: ("Must Play") "What started off as me being a bit bored with what seemed to be a very basic platformer quickly turned to curiosity and then interest when I realized that Ophidian Wars was actually a platformer with Metroidvania-style backtracking and equipment upgrades." "This one gets a thumbs-up."

Armless Octopus: "Ophidian Wars: Opac’s Journey takes that blank slate and fills it in with a bit of retro nostalgia and mixes up the formula just a bit. It is extremely reminiscent of other Metroidvania games such as Metroid and the post-Symphony of the Night Castlevania titles. There are plenty of power-ups that allow Opac to reach new areas, in addition to a number of well-hidden secrets and plenty of reflex-testing chasms to cross."

Reviews have been overwhelmingly positive, which is excellent motivation to continue pressing forward on the Legend of Kilflame.  We're excited to share more soon!