*This post is still in progress*
Making this post just to expand the info on a possible project and to answer questions.
This is to go over ideas. The easiest options to the more difficult. The plus and the negative on what we can go with etc...
Don't treat my ideas as the only ideas. I am open to anything and if a team is formed, I would want everyone to be equal. Please let me know what ideas or concepts you have!
Ideas for the fan game.
I had various ideas, my preference would be to use the Shadow Hearts characters as I feel that it bring the most interest. I fancied looking at Shadow Hearts 1 for various reasons, I came across the script online and with that I feel that it brings some options
Option 1- Extended Story Of Original SH
(Choices/Sidequests to save Alice) (Longer scenes etc...)
An extended version with using the original script, base of the story will be the same but extending it with fanfics etc... Then adding choices or side quests which could determine Alice's fate.
This would be a reasonably easy option, since the script is on gamefaqs and can be adapted to renpy liked seen in my poc with renpy or can do it with rpg maker.
Option 2- Sequel of SH Covenant (Good Ending)
Or make it where it almost acts like a sequel as if Yuri went back in time and maybe have it like only he and (maybe) Alice remembers what happened.
We could start of with a base of the original script and make changes where needed, which may be easier than writing an entire new story.
The amount of work needed depends on what we go with for backgrounds (example I captured images from gameplay of SH 1) if we go too far off the beaten path then we would need to make all original backgrounds etc...
Option 3- Something else but involving SH characters
This could be a sequel or a prequel even a crossover with another franchise who knows. Anything is possible here. More work would be required from script for a story to possibly assets but a group can be formed together then this is more than possible.
Option 4- Loose spiritual successor
Very similar to #3
I feel that it may take things away from the objective of trying to show people what SH is. To make a game which
Type of game.
I feel that there are two options rpg with rpg maker or a visual novel with renpy.
1- Renpy (Visual Novel)
I have done a proof of concept with renpy here. Primarly it would be a VN but we can add and make a rpg game. Plus side is we can finish it as a VN first then add the rpg later.
Renpy supports windows, android, ios and browser. (plus whatever else it adds via updates).
2- RPG Maker
Came across some SH sprites here which can be used for any project.
Something we can make would be like: this
It may be a lot of work if we need to make original assets but there is a lot out there already so I would have to look through what we can use. Or if someone can make sprites and maps etc...
Supported platforms depends on what version we go with all supports pc and possibly android. Yes there is rpg maker for consoles but they have too many limitations compared to the pc program.
NEED ASSISTANCE.
Need help. I am happy with the progress that I have done so far but there is still a massive amount to do especially for one person. Where as 1 person helps with editing the script that is half the work load 2 in thirds 3 in quarters and so on. But also to make this into something special, something of quality the extra help is certainly needed.
If anyone is interested in helping please contact me or leave a comment below!
I can show what is needed to be done.
I tried to cover a lot of things below but if have any additional questions or like to know how to help please contact me!
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*Following below outdated I am more talking about a VN below.*
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Need to do:
- Fixing the script
I got the script from gamefaqs and I managed to get it working with renpy.
Main issues are that in the script there were line breaks in middle of sentences and when a character talks and also only the first line when a character talks is assigned to that character, following lines aren't so will need to do that manually simple but very time consuming just for 1 person to do.
There are also the emotion symbols which needs to be sorted as those are in lines like (h) etc...
don't want to delete them but separate them (to be in their own lines) initially then decide what to do later.
- Background art work.
Main idea to extract images from video of gameplay. The images I extracted so far as a test looks good and with emulators or upscalers it can enhance the picture quality so I find this very interesting.
Granted a good bit hdd space is needed and time to go through and put things in is time consuming but it is simple enough to do and is possible. (Extracted images from video with vlc media player).
- Soundtrack.
Simply take the original soundtrack and put it in. Only decision to make is mp3 or flac. Flac could be better quality but the size of the game would massively increase.
- Videos.
I may consider adding the original cut scene videos from the game into the project as it would probably be quicker and look better and would not need backgrounds for those scenes since it is in the video and would add consistency with the rest of the project as I would not want backgrounds from video and from gameplay mixed in.
- Resolution.
When making a project in Renpy, I need to choose the resolution. There are 3 options but where I am conflicted at is 600, 720p or 1080p. A lot involves in the decision: quality, simplicity, file size, additional artwork and compatibility for as many devices as possible that renpy supports.
Recommended is 720p by renpy, but the video footage I am using to extract images is 1080p so may have to either go with 1080p, resize every image that is used or find another good quality video in 720p.
- Character art work.
What would really but the fresh quality touch on the project would be to have character art to show when a specific character is currently talking like most visual novels. Granted this part everything would have to be done from scratch and is a lot of work not far from 100 characters (Includes non important ones). This is a really important goal as it is linked to quality of the project but not my initial goal. Help would be greatly appreciated with this.
- Renpy cookbook.
Anything that renpy can do, any script that someone made if it fits then I will try to add it. There are very good possibilities like achievements, world map, battles, shops and more. Granted 1st goal would be to get it working as a visual novel script being perfect etc... then I will look into this.
- Playable platforms.
Android, IOS, Browser and PC. (If renpy adds more platforms in future updates then those will be supported too).
- Extending the story and creating choices
I have seen some fanfic that extends certain scenes in the normal story which I hope to include. Also I want to introduce choices at some point which would probably affect the outcome of Alice etc..
This is maybe one area careful planning is needed.
- Feedback & Ideas
I want ideas from anyone anything will be taken in consideration. I have my ideas but sometimes other idea and feedback are really important and to think of what is possible.
Also if you have any questions please ask!
- I will contact Entertainment Universal soon.
I will contact them to see their stance on fan games, just to make sure they will not take it down later.
(I don't see this as an issue since the franchise has been left for over a decade and it is not competing with anything). I will focus on the intro to possibly show it as a demo.
But maybe also to see down the line if it becomes a really good project to maybe make it official for android and ios as it would be a great way to promote the franchise.
- What would happen if a PSN Classic or a HD Remaster gets announced down the line?
The likeliness of that happening is a different conversation but if it does then it would very most likely affect the project since it contains the original script. Although saying if this project would play any part in that happening later on (by bringing the community together and spreading to reach more people) then I consider it to be a huge success even if it has to be taken down in the future.
The goal like mentioned is to spread the love for Shadow Hearts. I would certainly not consider it to be a waste of time, I just have to mention this just in case.
- Donations
I will never take donations for this project, I do not own the ip. It will be free, it is a fan game / remix.
Also I hope to form a small team to make it a team effort rather than just myself.
Even the download link/s will always be free no pay or annoying ads, only thing I may change is the download host as I would like to track downloads to see how well it does once it is in more of proper playable state in order to show how much interest there is in the Shadow Hearts franchise in the hopes of showing this and revive the series.
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