What type of Intro should we Use for elemental

from Elemental Forums

Now that people discussed in the journal what were their favorite intro, what should be the type of intro that would fit best for elemental. Here is an attempt to make a list of intro types:

 

1- Everyday story where something spectacular happens: Ex: Master of orion 2, starcraft.

Pros: Leave the players in suspense. Could build up the player before playing.

Cons: Does not show anything about the game.

 

2- Expose the background story: Ex: Super Metroid, Age of wonders,

Pros: Player knows for what they fight for. Build up the players before playing.

Cons: Does not show much about the game play.

 

3-Trailer type: Combination of movies and game play extracts:

Pros: Give an idea of the world and game play. Attract the interest of the players

Cons: All these chains of images makes no sense and confuse the players.

 

4-Extract of a piece of story: Ex: Tie Fighter

Simillar to type 2

 

5-Extract of a piece of game play:

Pros: Gives an idea of game play. Can incite the players to play.

Cons: Less spectacular since more fun when playing, looks more like a tutorial.

 

Questions?

1-Can you think of other types of intro?

2-Which one would you prefer for elemental.

 

Personally I like method 2 and 5.

 

10,820 views 22 replies
Reply #1 from Elemental Forums Top

I'd just go with the current one.

Reply #2 from Elemental Forums Top

Why should we change it? If it's not broke don't fix it.

After all you wanna be memorable what better way to stand out then to use old ANSI gfx for an intro on a modern game. ;)

Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion
Reply #3 from Elemental Forums Top

On a very serious note, I'd absolutely love if we could keep something reminiscent of what we have going right now, with the obvious changes, since it wouldn't be beta anymore. Something completely retro, with a good MIDI soundtrack.

Other than that, I propose something between or mixed between "1" and "2". Something that gives a general outline of what's going on, without actually telling you exactly what's going on.

Reply #4 from Elemental Forums Top

Ya, the game is quite stylized as far as graphics; the ANSI intro is somewhat fitting. It hearkens back to the good ol' days when games were about more than just shiny particle effects. At the very least, it should be the end of the intro (after the actual intro video while waiting for the player to click to continue).

As for a video...

Start with a view of a sovereign in the wasteland. Sovereign then casts a massive spell, healing the lands around him. Skip forward in time to that same area with a big city with lots of construction going on in it. Then flash to a seige: darkness and storms swirl all around, as an undead horde lead by a dark sovereign attack the city. The dark sovereign casts a spell, blasting a hole in the enemy wall, undead horde swarms in. Skip to an epic battle between the attacking dark sovereign and the first sovereign who healed the land, spells and swords flying everywhere. Then end inconclusively. A good balance of awesomeness and gameplay.

Reply #5 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting alway, reply 4
[...]

As for a video...

Start with a view of a sovereign in the wasteland. Sovereign then casts a massive spell, healing the lands around him. Skip forward in time to that same area with a big city with lots of construction going on in it. Then flash to a seige: darkness and storms swirl all around, as an undead horde lead by a dark sovereign attack the city. The dark sovereign casts a spell, blasting a hole in the enemy wall, undead horde swarms in. Skip to an epic battle between the attacking dark sovereign and the first sovereign who healed the land, spells and swords flying everywhere. Then end inconclusively. A good balance of awesomeness and gameplay.

End of alway's quote
Now, make all that in old 8-bit pixilated style, to the tunes of a good MIDI.

:grin:

Reply #6 from Elemental Forums Top

So yea ... I think the first 20 seconds (5-30) should be in 8 bit Classic Style, and then it changes (after the time or if you click on the screen) to a livelier opening with better graphics and a fuller/orchestral style background music. Have the Music be similar to the 8-bit only more in depth (current opening is similar)

Other than that, make the livelier intro some mix of Options 1 and 2. (Or simply option 1)

Reply #7 from Elemental Forums Top

Why should we change it? If it's not broke don't fix it.

After all you wanna be memorable what better way to stand out then to use old ANSI gfx for an intro on a modern game.

 

I don't have the beta, did not know there was an actual intro. But the way people peaks about it, it should be temporary. Still, even if 8 bit, it has to be simillar one of the style explained above.

 

Start with a view of a sovereign in the wasteland. Sovereign then casts a massive spell, healing the lands around him. Skip forward in time to that same area with a big city with lots of construction going on in it. Then flash to a seige: darkness and storms swirl all around, as an undead horde lead by a dark sovereign attack the city. The dark sovereign casts a spell, blasting a hole in the enemy wall, undead horde swarms in. Skip to an epic battle between the attacking dark sovereign and the first sovereign who healed the land, spells and swords flying everywhere. Then end inconclusively. A good balance of awesomeness and gameplay.

This kind of intro reminds me of civilization where they always try to make a contrast between the start of the game (antiquity) and the end of the game (modern).

Reply #8 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting larienna, reply 7

Why should we change it? If it's not broke don't fix it.


After all you wanna be memorable what better way to stand out then to use old ANSI gfx for an intro on a modern game.
 

I don't have the beta, did not know there was an actual intro. But the way people peaks about it, it should be temporary. Still, even if 8 bit, it has to be simillar one of the style explained above.
End of larienna's quote

Well besides the fact that it says Beta in the intro it also... Well best see for yourself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAgEPCltF2Q

Reply #9 from Elemental Forums Top

Perhaps some 8-bit homage at the beginning, and then break into the graphics (during the intro)

although I think I have already said this ...

 

Reply #10 from Elemental Forums Top

We're having this debate internally as well.

We will have a "proper" intro for War of Magic but this will be a button in the main menu:

[Introduction]

[New Game]

[Load Game]

..

But the intro for Elemental itself (i.e. the one that comes after the load screen) is something we're really going back and forth about.

There is a considerable camp for doing a 4-bit (16 color) style intro with SID chip (C-64) style music.  There's also a camp for doing a proper impressive intro as well.

 

Reply #11 from Elemental Forums Top

Hmm ... so this "Indroduction" that is a buton in the Main Menu ... is it like, a CGI anime about the past and present of Elemental? Somewhat reminiscent of Matrix: The Rennaisance?

Personally, my opinion for the pre-menu intro should either be full impressive or a hybrid of commodore blending into impressive.

 

Ironically Commodore was my nick-name while I was Co-captain of a highschool sporting team ... heh

Reply #12 from Elemental Forums Top

Start with a view of a sovereign in the wasteland. Sovereign then casts a massive spell, healing the lands around him. Skip forward in time to that same area with a big city with lots of construction going on in it. Then flash to a seige: darkness and storms swirl all around, as an undead horde lead by a dark sovereign attack the city. The dark sovereign casts a spell, blasting a hole in the enemy wall, undead horde swarms in. Skip to an epic battle between the attacking dark sovereign and the first sovereign who healed the land, spells and swords flying everywhere.
End of quote

Then start again with a sovereign in the wasteland.

Reply #13 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Frogboy, reply 10
We're having this debate internally as well.

We will have a "proper" intro for War of Magic but this will be a button in the main menu:

[Introduction]

[New Game]

[Load Game]

..

But the intro for Elemental itself (i.e. the one that comes after the load screen) is something we're really going back and forth about.

There is a considerable camp for doing a 4-bit (16 color) style intro with SID chip (C-64) style music.  There's also a camp for doing a proper impressive intro as well.

 
End of Frogboy's quote

That could be awesomely good or awesomely bad. Given the art style I would have thought the overt homage to old-school games would be implicit as it is, what with the cloth map and 'illustrative' art style. Games with flashy 3D graphics need to show off but I dunno about Elemental until I see the engine. Plus it might turn off potential buyers.

Reply #14 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Frogboy, reply 10


There is a considerable camp for doing a 4-bit (16 color) style intro with SID chip (C-64) style music.  There's also a camp for doing a proper impressive intro as well.

 
End of Frogboy's quote

Offer both, though personally speaking the C64 version is really for the 'ubernerds' amongst us. I'd rather see a slick, polished and epic intro that does the game justice.

Reply #15 from Elemental Forums Top

"There is a considerable camp for doing a 4-bit (16 color) style intro with SID chip (C-64) style music.  There's also a camp for doing a proper impressive intro as well."
End of quote

I would vote for a short 4-bit (old school) snippet that quickly morphs into a Proper (in-Game representation) Intro. Once the game hits a HDD, then it matters way less, but one has to assume that the Opening Scene will at some point be part of the Advertising campaign as well perhaps?

I don't have to tell anyone this but "First Impressions" especially with today's somewhat more finicky buyers, can and will make all the difference.

Reply #16 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Frogboy, reply 10

There is a considerable camp for doing a 4-bit (16 color) style intro with SID chip (C-64) style music.  There's also a camp for doing a proper impressive intro as well.

 
End of Frogboy's quote

Why not do both? A lot of games have an story/dialog intro that explains some of the history before it cuts to some full CGI or ingame rendering of present events playing out. The 4-bit color mode could be the story book history of the world followed a transition into something more modern about the SOV rising to power and the chanllenges you will face as SOV.

It all depends on how the story intro goes that you want to show. But I think it would be great to show "ancient times" in old 4-bit as the text or voice over talks about "long ago". :)

Reply #17 from Elemental Forums Top

I think the intro should be incorporated into the new avatar/game setup.  In the spirit of Ultima IV's fortune teller but with modern day graphics and storytelling.  It could be very interesting to have the lore delivered to the player as they make decisions about their "background", their "people", and the world around them.  Decisions would seem impactful when driven home by graphics, animation, and voiceover.

Just a thought but you have to admit it beats check boxes.

Reply #18 from Elemental Forums Top

Oh and the low-bit "classic" intro should be an easter egg accessable through the title screen. 

Reply #19 from Elemental Forums Top

After thinking about it I believe that 4bit intro is way to go. Especially if there will be another intro after pressing introduction button. But even if you will end with just 1 intro 4bit is better choice!

 

Why?

 

Because doing really nice high end intro seems to be privilege of few (were it blizzard intros/short movies for W3 or WoW which were really impressive?) and probably consumes lot of resources. These intros really works well, get people attention and leaves player with mouth open. However, most of the intros looks really unpolished (to say at least), especially if they aspire to be high-end. It really is easy to see, that artists were in the hurry, didn’t have enough time etc... and result is insta-spacebar-hit

 

One way around is do stylized, „cartoonish“  intro. Well, these usually works (at least  I like them :) ), but it is nothing new, it may be nice and so on, but it will most certainly „be forgotten“.

 

Here you have very nice opportunity to do something „new“ (or so old, that it is new). So original, that it will really get attention in the „game world“. It might be slightly controversial, probably between younger players, but on the other hand you will catch older gamers by their hearts :)  It is quite probable that just this intro alone will get decent amount of youtube view, attention in gamezins and some „diggs“. All thanks to its original form and definitely with fewer resources consumed than high-end intro. And saved people-hours can be invested in the game itself instead.

Reply #20 from Elemental Forums Top

I am not very enthusiast to have an 8 bit only intro. If it start as 8 bit (MOM like game) and then evolves as something better, it might not be so bad.

it reminds me of the bionic commando preview that shows the old nes game, then the 2D game remake and then the 3d game.

4 bit graphics is just too much. 8 bit like in the original MOM should be acceptable.

Another idea: You could also have a series of contrast like for ex:

You show a walking 8 bit archer that shoot and then you show the high quality graphic archer that shoot.

Repeat the process during the whole intro.

 

Reply #21 from Elemental Forums Top

Intro should be a BSOD mockup.

"And the heroes defeated the Titans but provoked a BSOD that destroyed the world. Now the beings know as Sovereigns reboot the world and..."

More seriously (note the use of "More"), I'd say snippets of gameplay in form of images/animations. If the game has Legends, it could be the tale of that Legend about two code monkeys, one of to save the land and the other to plague it with bugs. And stuff.

I vote anime because it's as good option as any, having only really against it the horde of antianime zealots.:P The anime can be 4 bits too. ;P

Reply #22 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Wintersong, reply 21
Intro should be a BSOD mockup.

[...]

End of Wintersong's quote
Man, that'd have some unintended consequences. I get so many BSODs that I'd instantly and casually restart my computer right away.

It could take days of "Why am I getting a BSOD on launch"-threads come launch!

:(O