Starfall

Title: Starfall

Genre: Action Adventure

Role: Storyboard, Game Design


Starfall is a project I was apart of in my fourth year of college, fall semester. It was developed in my Computer Game Programming class. We used the Torque 3D Engine to build this game. I worked on the lore, story, and characters. It is still in development so this information may change. We were given the choice of extra credit if we could make this game educational. Thus, I based all characters and locations on constellations and the seasons they appear in.

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Plot: Since ancient times, the People of the World worshiped the lights in the sky. The Constellations offered guidance, art, and history in return. Both parties were happy with the arrangement. But as time wore on, the People discovered they could make their own lights. They soon forgot about the Constellations and their praise fell to their own invention. For a time, the Constellations waited patiently, hoping that one day the People would once more look up at their glory. Yet, the People did not. Their lights grew more and more powerful and began to outshine the Stars. Many Constellations took this as the final insult and decided to remove the problem as to bring the World back into their own golden age. They fell to the World and stole the lights from the People, consuming each light to make themselves brighter. When they returned to the sky, the stars were so bright that night and day become one. The World fell out of balance and the People suffered. Only the oldest Constellations saw the dangers of this act and banded together to return the light to the People.

Characters:

Orion - Known very well as The Hunter, Orion was an obvious choice to be the dagger of the Auroeons. He takes his charge proudly to bring balance back to the world and to satisfy his lust for the hunt.

Pegasus – Eager to help his kin, Pegasus allows Orion passage through the Celestial Expanse.

Polaris the North Star – One of the oldest Stars, Polaris foresaw the jealousy and anger in his fellows. He banded like-minded Constellations into forming the Auroeons in hopes to combat the Fallen. Found in the Hub.

Hercules – Hercules was ever eager to join the Auroeons and show off his mighty strengths. Though he was jealous that Orion was chosen in his stead to lead the fight, he was determined to eventually outdo Orion and earn a greater place in the minds’ of the People. Found in Desert.

Cepheus – At his daughter’s word, Cepheus leads the army of the Auroeons to battle the Fallen. A bit of a coward, it is truly a wonder how he is able to win any battle. Found in White Tiger Area.

Andromeda – Daughter of Cepheus and Cassiopeia, Andromeda is more known for her brains than brawn. She is currently the leader of the Auroeon’s fighting force and forms brilliant strategies to combat the Fallen. Found in Hub.

Cassiopeia – Cassiopeia finds it far beneath her to get her beautiful hands dirty. As her husband and daughter enjoy combat, she gives aid to Polaris in whatever task he is doing. Found in the Hub. NPC Shopkeeper.

Perseus – The youthful adventurer, Perseus joined the fight in hopes of wooing his love, Andromeda. A bit naïve and boastful, he is an experienced fighter and great help to the needs of the Auroeons. Found in Tundra.

Items

Polaris’s Journal – Entry 18

Even from the safety of my dwelling, I can feel the bite of the Black Tortoise’s chilling winds blowing from the north. I honestly cannot see why some constellations prefer to stay in that wintery plane. All of that dreadful snow and its dreadful inhabitants, such as Fornax and Taurus, simply make the place uninhabitable for such weary Stars like myself. But if such a harsh place can breed such heroic constellations as Orion and Perseus, perhaps the plane does have its worth after all.

Polaris’s Journal – Entry 24

As beautiful as the forests of the Azure Dragon are, I cannot help but to cringe at the thought of walking through those woods alone. I can hear the cries and shouts of Hydra and Leo as they engage in another scuffle over territory. Even if Leo brings all of his Minors with him, though he would not as I know Hercules has had his own scuffle with a few of them, he could never hope to drag Hydra from his river. I must consult with Andromeda about Hydra soon. He is a formidable Fallen and would cause us great distress if he should expand his river to our home.

Polaris’s Journal – Entry 5

I have sent Hercules into the desert of the Vermilion Bird to see why all has grown quiet on the southern front. I advised him to keep to what little shadows he could find. But, knowing him, he probably has already alerted Draco to his presence and is in no doubt a fight as I, err, as Cassiopeia writes. Perhaps not all will be for loss. Maybe Hercules can strangle out a few bits of information from Lupus or Sagittarius about the mysteries of the desert plane.

Polaris’s Journal – Entry 41

Two weeks and yet not a single report from Cepheus’s group. I regret sending him into the desolate wasteland of the White Tiger but Andromeda assures me that her father is more than capable of handling the autumn plane. Their entire family hails from said region and Cepheus knows the land like he knows his own star pattern. I do not fear out of Cepheus’s experience for I know that despite his yellow nature, he always pulls through. I worry about Phoenix and his sharpen talons, of Pavo and his hypnotizing feathers. I cannot lose a good constellation like Cepheus, not like Antinous.

Vermilion Bird’s Stone Puzzle

Stone 1

The stone resembles a feline creature, muscular and ready to pounce. You can feel its sharp claws dig into your skin.

Stone 2

The stone is smooth and long, snakelike in appearance. Even though it is clearly inanimate, you still feel like it is slithering among your belongings.

Stone 3

With wings spread out as if it was about to attack, the stone bird is almost realistic. You feel that it might fly away if you don’t hold onto it tightly.

Pedestal 1

“With my fangs, I tear my enemies into pieces.” It looks like a stone figure can be placed upon the pedestal.

Pedestal 2

“With my body, I crush my enemies into dust.” It looks like a stone figure can be placed upon the pedestal.

Pedestal 3

“With my appendages, I rip and soar over my enemies.” It looks like a stone figure can be placed upon the pedestal.

Correct Answer: Stone 1 -> Pedestal 2:: Stone 2 -> Pedestal 1:: Stone 3 -> Pedestal 3

Pegasus Boots

You feel as light as a feather when you wear these boots. You are certain you can jump over anything, at least for a while.

Little Dipper

This refreshing drink refreshes your stars a little bit.

Big Dipper

This refreshing drink refreshes your stars a lot.

Dialogue

:Hercules:

Never trust anyone who carries a great weight on their shoulders. You never know when they’ll drop it on yours.

Did I ever tell you how I slew a lion and a bear at the same time? I’m not lion, it was unbearable! Ah ha ha ha ha!

Why does everyone talk about the stables story? I do not like that one.

Don’t tell anyone but I have a weakness for puppy dogs. Especially ones with three heads!

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Design: The engine we were allowed to use was Torque 3D so we were given the chance of creating a 3D action adventure game. It could be played in either 1st person or 3rd. Players controlling Orion would start with a sword for hack-n-slash action but through play would be given a bow and a mallet to differ their attacks. Health would be determined by the "glow" of the player. As players take more and more damage, the glow of Orion's stars begin to dim. When Orion's stars have gone out, the game would be over.

At the start of the game, players would be placed at the hub and given the choice of which area they would like to venture in first. They can go to any area they so desired but some parts of the area would not be accessible until some items have been found. If players were stuck, they can return to the hub and ask Polaris for advice.

The world is divided into five areas: the hub, the winterland of the Black Tortoise, the forest of the Azure Dragon, the desert of the Vermilion Bird, and the wasteland of the White Tiger. Each area, excluding the hub, would have enemies unique to that area. The main objective of each area was to defeat the boss and retrieve the light the bosses have stolen. Within each area are hidden weapons that Orion can use for future fights but are not technically needed to win the game.