What Does it Take??

[KANSAS]

It's leading up to book 3. It's like waiting for christmas and really having to pee.

I know nothing about gaming. Before Eschalon appeared to me I only ever played Super Mario. But there was something about the aesthetics of Eschalon that appealed to me. I had searched every single game, console etc. because more then anything I believed in the IDEA of video games as an interactive entertainment where story was twice as interesting because you played it, not watched it or sat passively. I myself work in creating media but have no idea what it takes to make a game.

I consider the Eschalon series almost perfect games. The only thing for me (as a completely newb gamer) is the spaces in between where there isn't much happening except killing enemies. The reason I like Eschalon is that it gives you the haunting feeling of being alone in a vast world faced with difficult decisions and also the aesthetics of the game inspire the gamer to have an imagination which makes the game so much more enjoyable.

I guess what I'm asking is how much money would it take (pretend you have no restrictions at all) and just think about the most perfect game ever created. What would it take?? Something so ridiculously in depth and complicated with thousands of decisions, bartering, and moral grey areas where fighting didn't have to be the answer. Is it possible to make this kind of game where you could be a character with almost no fighting at all?

Is this a lost dream? It seems to me the people on these forums who have been touched by your games crave a world so immersive (not in graphics or sound) but in an aesthetic and moral way, that they would do almost anything to help to achieve 'the perfect game'. The reason I ask the brilliant makers of this game what would make all of their dreams come true as far as having no restrictions (and placing a number on that) is that I think it's a healthy thing to be inspired by the idea that this kind of grand speculation can often lead to achievement.

I'll end by saying I know nothing. I'm not a diehard gamer, I just love these games you've made. To people who are well rooted in gaming I may come across as an idiot but hey...I had to ask the people behind the games i love this big weird question.

KANSAS

[Castruccio]

It strikes me that you might like the Elder Scrolls series, which accomplishes much of what you list here. Try Morrowind, Oblivion, or Skyrim (depending on your computer's power). They can be had for cheap on sale on Steam, and they will probably go on sale later this month in the summer sale.

[Agamemnon]

Hi Kansas,
hmm, "lovely" is my first impression of your post.

You have somehow captured my exact experience with the Eschalon series of games.

I was once a die-hard gamer about 20 years ago (Doom, Duke-nukem, all the craze with the whole concept of 'network', but, also Moria - my first real sudo d&d) and then we had kids. Or rather, my ex wife had kids

Eschalon was my first foray into gaming in all that time - last Feb. Played I and II, waiting like a school boy for a kiss for Book III

Its kinda weird, and this is a little left field; (its late here) Dragon Lady keeps popping into my mind at the oddest of times, when ever I come on this site which is about 3 times a week she's the first thing I think of. I always used to read her posts first

Anyhow, back to the present, the level of community on this site is fairly, very inspiring and to use an American term: Awesome! I'm Irish, I'm allowed to slag you guys off
(adjectives - tools of the lazy mind - use them often)

So to answer your question: "What does it take?" the answer is not really money, but you will need a fair wedge of it.
The real answer is: A really good story, and well told. That's "story", not game-plan or a set of linked levels, just a good simple story you can branch off. Warning: Simple in design, complex in execution - i.e. expensive.

Decent Graphics and game-play help an awful lot as well. If you are thinking of setting up a games studio: ...

hmm, Designers, artists, developers x 4... marketing, sales, management..., **Idea**... target platforms, distribution channels, cash flow, explaining the missed pay-checks, all that good stuff

In my experience, once you *believe* the premise of the story, you are hooked.
In story telling parlance, you have the Hook and the Sinker. The Hook gets you interested, the Sinker (hard times) keeps you hooked.
If you can keep it "mixed up" as the younger people say these days, you're sorted!

all the best,
Aga

[Agamemnon]

Apologies about the re-post but re: Castruccio - I just got the elder Scrolls bundle from Steam last week. gonna get to it after my new game Assassins creed 2 - hack and slay The NPC movement in this game is amazing.
Aga