Actual Sunlight - DEMO

[NeonCowboy 1]

Actual Sunlight - Demo
 
Hey guys,
 
The game is actually 'finished' from a writing and development perspective, but I'm in the process of trying to raise funds for original art and additional music. I don't know if linking to IndieGoGo campaigns and the like is kosher here, so I'll just give you guys a direct link to the game download:

ACTUAL SUNLIGHT - DOWNLOAD: http://www.actualsunlight.com
 
Would love to know what you guys think of my first outing with RPG Maker VX ACE... I know it's not a traditional game, but I hope that the story and the experience will interest you. Please provide me with any feedback that you can... Thanks!

WARNING: This game contains profanity and mature themes. It is not appropriate for children, and player discretion is advised.
 
STORY SYNOPSIS
 
Actual Sunlight is a short, interactive story about love, depression and the corporation.
 
In the story, you take control of the main character during three distinct points of his life as a young professional. You struggle with relationships, addictions, and try to deal with your problems through anger and imagination.
 
WORLD DEVELOPMENT
 
The setting of Actual Sunlight is in downtown Toronto, and is set in the present day.
 
SCREENSHOTS
 
  
 
CHARACTER BIOS
 

EVAN WINTER - The protagonist of Actual Sunlight. 31, male, single, office worker.
 
CREDITS
 
Scripts by Niclas, MelosX and FenixFyreX
Extra tilesets by Lunearea
Additional sound FX by as3sfxr and from freesound.org

Edited February 8, 2013 by NeonCowboy

[Dorian Tokici 6]

Cons, and pros as always.

 

- the main character appears for a brief second bottom right when you start a new game (you could remedy this by going into the database and changing the character graphic to nothing to start)

- you can't check the toilet?

- noise used to answer phone at start of game in kitchen was strange

- the girl playing hopscotch, after talking to her, she will continue her hop-scotch routine on the spot, which, if you talk to her while she is closer to the right, will cause her to continue moving right-ward

- the use of the wall tiles is strange at places, like there is just the black border but no wall

- you can walk through the dresser in the ceo's office, and through the wall behind the cashier at the store

- when you walk back into the bedroom during the "breaking shit" phase, the wake up scene plays again, and the game stalls as the character tries to move towards the alarm clock but gets stuck in the wall (my game ended here for obvious reasons)

 

+ holy philosophy batman! I know this game won't be for everyone but it's certainly nice to see something of an alternative topic covered so ... thoroughly

+ lol Canadian references! I remember when high-speed internet was first coming out, and Shaw was the provider and how cheap, awesome and fast it was! And how ridiculously overpriced and shitty it is today!

+ there seems to be a strong focus on relationships, or the desire to engage in one, as if that would somewhat repair a lot of the brokeness and despair in Evan's life. I am guessing that is your point? Since in reality, a relationship, doesn't solve these kinds of personal woes. And I find it interesting how he doesn't associate or even want to talk to, and at times looks down VERY harshly towards, transient and vagrant people. In his situation, he could connect to these people on the level of an outcast, which he seems to see himself as.

+ I have to be honest, the story moved me at points, certain situations and pieces of story or dialogue, I could identify with. That's a powerful position

to be in as a writer, and when the game resonates with the player, on any level, you know the writing is well done and effective.

 

I think it's smart to move towards custom graphics. I would personally make the sprites about twice the height, and go for a more realistic look and approach. After all, they serve as a vehicle for the story.

[NeonCowboy 1]

Dorian,

I really appreciate your feedback - that bug you tripped over was a game killer, and I've added a thank-you in the credits to reflect that. Absolutely kicking myself over it. I've also implemented other pieces of feedback you gave me, which I will elaborate on below.

Basically, however, if you check the OP, you'll see that there's now an updated download link! I hope you'll give the game another shot and get through to the ending - you weren't far off.

 

- the main character appears for a brief second bottom right when you start a new game (you could remedy this by going into the database and changing the character graphic to nothing to start)

I kind of liked the quick fade-in and fade-out in a Tyler Durden sort of way, but you're right - it really added nothing. Fixed!
 

- you can't check the toilet?

You can, but not until later...! I'm a Silent Hill fan too, remember. Still, I know what you mean - it was weird for there to be just one object that was totally nothing, so I added something there as well... 
 

- noise used to answer phone at start of game in kitchen was strange

Good point... That was a stock sound, I've added a more ringtone-y ringtone. 
 

- the girl playing hopscotch, after talking to her, she will continue her hop-scotch routine on the spot, which, if you talk to her while she is closer to the right, will cause her to continue moving right-ward

This is the one thing that I could not fix. I tried making the objects impassable, putting events there, but to no avail... I think it's because she's using the 'jump' animation, which ignores the usual obstacles for movement that you setup... If anyone knows how to fix this, great, but otherwise I'm OK to assume that little kids sometimes just jump into bushes.
 

- the use of the wall tiles is strange at places, like there is just the black border but no wall

I didn't even notice it until you said it, but you're right - there were two walls in the office where this was this case! Fixed those.... One place that I didn't add a wall tile where I ordinarily might was anywhere that I'm trying to denote an entrance or exit... I feel like there it made sense to denote those as special... 
 

- you can walk through the dresser in the ceo's office, and through the wall behind the cashier at the store

You are one hell of a tester. Fixed! 
 

- when you walk back into the bedroom during the "breaking shit" phase, the wake up scene plays again, and the game stalls as the character tries to move towards the alarm clock but gets stuck in the wall (my game ended here for obvious reasons)

This was a big, dumb, mistake, and it is fixed. I was also dismayed that you might have given up at this point because you didn't have any saved games... So I've also added in several points within the game where you are prompted to save.

Also, for pure insurance, I set all my various move routes to 'Skip if impossible' or whatever it's called... 
 

+ holy philosophy batman! I know this game won't be for everyone but it's certainly nice to see something of an alternative topic covered so ... thoroughly

Thanks! It's definitely not for everyone, you're right, but I'm good with niche appeal.
 

+ lol Canadian references! I remember when high-speed internet was first coming out, and Shaw was the provider and how cheap, awesome and fast it was! And how ridiculously overpriced and shitty it is today!

You should've seen earlier iterations - it used to be even *more* Canadian, but I decided to go for a more universal appeal.
 

+ there seems to be a strong focus on relationships, or the desire to engage in one, as if that would somewhat repair a lot of the brokeness and despair in Evan's life. I am guessing that is your point? Since in reality, a relationship, doesn't solve these kinds of personal woes. And I find it interesting how he doesn't associate or even want to talk to, and at times looks down VERY harshly towards, transient and vagrant people. In his situation, he could connect to these people on the level of an outcast, which he seems to see himself as.

My only point is to convey that this is what Evan believes about relationships... His rightness or wrongness about it can be something that players consider for themselves. If somebody is totally unsympathetic to that point of view, the game may be hard for them to understand, but I think most people know what it's like to think that something like that would fix their problems... Or at least have made them into a fuller, richer person.

As for the vagrant people issue, I think I may look at tweaking some of that content. Really, I'm trying to show Evan's sympathy in decline about that over the course of the game... I think the point is that he totally misses exactly what you're saying. There's also a layer to this game that has to do with money and class, as well, and this relates to that theme also, but this post is long enough.
 

+ I have to be honest, the story moved me at points, certain situations and pieces of story or dialogue, I could identify with. That's a powerful position
to be in as a writer, and when the game resonates with the player, on any level, you know the writing is well done and effective.

Thank you! I hope your kind words will encourage other people to check the game out as well... 
 

I think it's smart to move towards custom graphics. I would personally make the sprites about twice the height, and go for a more realistic look and approach. After all, they serve as a vehicle for the story.

I agree with you. I love your 2x height sprites in Darkblood Chronicles. It really does add to the feeling of detail and realism within a story... My initial idea with the traditional RPG look is that it reflects Evan's longtime video gaming career, and his 'worldview' in a weird way... But I think it may be undermining the story...

Edited December 30, 2012 by NeonCowboy

[Dorian Tokici 6]

Alright, completed it just now. Total play time, counting the first version I played, was somewhere around 30 minutes I would figure. Just one note, and that's one of the benches on the roof are missing the top part of the tile.

 

Regarding the story,

 

 

It was both amusing and eerie how checking the apartment at the end just told the player to go to the roof and jump off, and how every option led to it.

 

 

Well, I am not really sure what to say. It's a story that really couldn't have existed except for today. You seem to be riding the current wave of people's pent up indictment of modern society. Of course, the voice is still very small, but not any less profound. I would recommend the game to people who are open to an alternate perspective. So kudos to you sir, you've definitely written something that the RM community has probably never seen. And so well written at that.

Edited December 31, 2012 by Dorian Tokici

[NeonCowboy 1]

Hi everyone,

 

Just want to let you know that I've now created a standalone website for the game - I would've just edited the OP, but for some reason I can't...?

 

Anyways, I've been getting lots of great feedback on the game, so I hope you will check it out at:

 

http://www.actualsunlight.com

[NeonCowboy 1]

Hi everyone,

 

Just wanted to quickly update everyone with a great review that the game got at Kotaku:

 

http://kotaku.com/5982325/the-biggest-challenge-in-this-game-is-preventing-your-character-from-committing-suicide

 

Hope this encourages anyone who has been on the fence about checking it out to give it a shot! Thanks.

[Ocedic 249]

I downloaded this and gave it a shot, posted my review in the critique:

 

http://www.rpgmakervxace.net/topic/12329-review-actual-sunlight/

[NeonCowboy 1]

I downloaded this and gave it a shot, posted my review in the critique:

 

http://www.rpgmakervxace.net/topic/12329-review-actual-sunlight/

 

Ocedic,

 

This was an excellent review, and I thank you for it! Not only were your criticisms spot on, but I appreciate you pointing out a bug or two as well, and I agree with you completely about the improvements that the game still needs in terms of graphics. I'm in the process of doing that. I'll also take a look at the weather script you mention as well...

 

Very much appreciate you taking the time to not only play it, but to write about it as well. Thanks again.

[NeonCowboy 1]

Just wanted to give a quick update on Actual Sunlight: It made its IndieGoGo goal, and has now been launched on Steam Greenlight! Check it out here:

 

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=132375295

 

I hope those of you who played and enjoyed it will take a minute to consider giving it an upvote or a positive comment.

 

Thanks!

[Ocedic 249]

Grats on your success; I feel this project deserves it. Glad to see you've found someone to do art for you it seems; I love the new graphics! The writing is still the best I've ever seen in an RPG Maker title (hell, it rivals a lot of literature.) I really recommend people give this a shot and judge for yourselves.

[amerk 1,122]

Locking this since it's been inactive for 4+ months. However, if you want this re-opened you need to update your main post per the rules in regards to commercial games:

 

http://www.rpgmakervxace.net/topic/9650-the-gaming-lounge-rules/

 

Areas in bold:

 

Commercial Projects
We do allow commercial game topics to be included here as well, however, we will not be liable or responsible for any disputes between the developer and buyer. The same posting rules apply as listed above. However, before it can be approved and/or moved to Completed Games, you need to have listed in the main post that the game is commercial and included the price and a link to where the game can be purchased. You can include a demo as well, if you want, which helps buyers to decide if a certain game is right for them, but that is entirely your choice and not required.