VA-11 Hall-A -Cyberpunk Bartender Action AT LAST is RELEASED!!!!

[SweetShark]

I just found out about this yesterday.

I might pick this up, just to scratch the cyberpunk itch that Read Only Memories left behind when I finished it. XD

Just make sure you put the recipe in VA-11 HAll-A at some point which you can find in ROM.
Also ROM get a new update in 23rd of June, so maybe something new is also inside.

 

[SweetShark]

You make quite a valid point, there. Many games have a lot of mechanic overlap.
I'll put something up more once I revisit/refine my game design document but the basic gist is a combination dialogue based game with a casual mini-game style drink making mechanic. You could also choose just how strong you make the drinks, incidentally. The key would be finding the right balance between dialogue and performance as well as who you choose to serve or ban. The presence or absence of particular types of patrons influences the type of denizens the bar attracts. i was also going to split it into a coffee shop and a bar. With the dialogues and themes explored in the bar being much darker and more complex than the lighthearted gossip.
I'm wondering if the extra power of Unity is worth the time and energy to learn it or if RPG maker would allow a sufficiently complex mini-game to work for the bartending/coffee shop mechanic.

So the game you want to make is still on paper and planning? Very interesting as far as I understand myself.
If you have plans to make it look like a Visual Novel, I can suggest you both Engines. Specifically a game with the name "Lamia's Game Room" use for its 2D art in Unity just fine, without problem.
And of course you can always use RPG maker which I think is more simpler to put full portraits of the characters when they speak with the main character.

For your information the prototype game of VA-11 HAll-A used at first Ren'Py, a free engine for VN. However because it was very limited with its fuctions, they decided for the best to change it with Game Maker.
In other words I suggest you either RPG Maker or Ren'Py if you want to create a simple game or Game Maker if you want something more complex. Your choice of course.

Btw it have Anime Theme like VA-11 HAll-A s well right?

 

[aegix drakan_v1legacy]

I just found out about this yesterday.

I might pick this up, just to scratch the cyberpunk itch that Read Only Memories left behind when I finished it. XD

Just make sure you put the recipe in VA-11 HAll-A at some point which you find in ROM.
Also ROM get a new update in 23rd of June, so maybe something is also inside.

Yeah, WHICH recipe? There's like 50 different ones in ROM. Unless you mean look for a recipe in ROM's bar that's called "Vallhalla" or something. XD

 

[SweetShark]

I just found out about this yesterday.

I might pick this up, just to scratch the cyberpunk itch that Read Only Memories left behind when I finished it. XD

Just make sure you put the recipe in VA-11 HAll-A at some point which you find in ROM.
Also ROM get a new update in 23rd of June, so maybe something is also inside.

Yeah, WHICH recipe? There's like 50 different ones in ROM. Unless you mean look for a recipe in ROM's bar that's called "Vallhalla" or something. XD

For the people who want to find the secret themselves, DON'T OPEN THE SPOILER. The others, go ahead:

Spoiler

You must speak with a patron with the name Dana in Hassy Bar when you make the weather go nuts with the Weather robot.

If you want just to write down the recipe, just tell me please to do so.

 

[SweetShark]

I also forgot to mention you can buy right now the OST of the game here:

https://garoad.bandcamp.com/album/va-11-hall-a-second-round

90% of the songs you can play them the Music Box of the Bar you are working. So cool.

 

[SweetShark]

That actually looks really interesting. Although I'm not a big fan of anime style that looks bearable, plus I AM a big fan of the Cyberpunk setting and the unique approach to it this game seems to take.

I'll have to keep an eye out for this game, thanks for the heads up.

No problem. I want as many people as possible to help the developers to have success with their game. Maybe with the money which will earn, will have a chance leave Venezuela sooner...

 

[SweetShark]

I have something to say to the people who follow the Thread:

Did you get surprised when you saw Jim Sterling as a customer in VA-11 HALL-A or you don't care so much? I thought because Jim Sterling is popular and was an important figure in Escapist site to make more people excited for the game.

 

[SweetShark]

Just an update from developer's blog for your enjoyment.

Spoiler

Is Jill's T-shirt write "Slut"? Why?

 

[SweetShark]

A user with the name "Inquisitive Ravenclaw" on Steam seach a found all the different gameplay varieties the game will possible include.
Here is a summary of all of them:

Spoiler: Open to see them

4Chan Simulator!!!
From the look of it, you can enter to a Forum with the name "Dangerous opinions" which here are diffrent opinions of other users on different topics. Btw, Australia is gone.

Beer Simulator
It seems when you have a guest to your apartment, you can drink beer with him/her/it/?. Base of how much beer you will trying and the guest, the dialog will change.

2D Shmup
As I said myself, if you have the money, you can buy a "new generation" PC and play different kind of games. This one is one o them. I hope for more.

The Augmented Eye's Daily News
Again as I said, there will be Daily News you can read using your ipad/cellphone/whatever of any kind. Sometimes base the drink you serve to customers, will affect the next news of The Augmented Eye.

Visual Novel Simu...wait
Yes, at some rare moments, it seems the game will be transform into a "normal" Visual Novel. These part o the game are only available when you don't get to work.

 

[SweetShark]

Just to post the last two update of the countdown the developers have for their game:

Spoiler

 

[SweetShark]

6 Days Remain for the release of VA-11 HALL-A

Spoiler

Huh? It is interesting I see a closer look on Alma's hands...

 

[SweetShark]

Right now you can claim your Steam key in your itch.io account if you bought it from here!!!! game unlocks on the 21st!!!!
HYPE HYPE HYPE HYPE!!!!!!

 

[SweetShark]

You make quite a valid point, there. Many games have a lot of mechanic overlap.
I'll put something up more once I revisit/refine my game design document but the basic gist is a combination dialogue based game with a casual mini-game style drink making mechanic. You could also choose just how strong you make the drinks, incidentally. The key would be finding the right balance between dialogue and performance as well as who you choose to serve or ban. The presence or absence of particular types of patrons influences the type of denizens the bar attracts. i was also going to split it into a coffee shop and a bar. With the dialogues and themes explored in the bar being much darker and more complex than the lighthearted gossip.
I'm wondering if the extra power of Unity is worth the time and energy to learn it or if RPG maker would allow a sufficiently complex mini-game to work for the bartending/coffee shop mechanic.

So the game you want to make is still on paper and planning? Very interesting as far as I understand myself.
If you have plans to make it look like a Visual Novel, I can suggest you both Engines. Specifically a game with the name "Lamia's Game Room" use for its 2D art in Unity just fine, without problem.
And of course you can always use RPG maker which I think is more simpler to put full portraits of the characters when they speak with the main character.

For your information the prototype game of VA-11 HAll-A used at first Ren'Py, a free engine for VN. However because it was very limited with its fuctions, they decided for the best to change it with Game Maker.
In other words I suggest you either RPG Maker or Ren'Py if you want to create a simple game or Game Maker if you want something more complex. Your choice of course.

Btw it have Anime Theme like VA-11 HAll-A s well right?

Thank you f or the suggestions. I had a friend turn me on to ren'py recently but didn't think of it for this purpose- it may be good to get dialogue tree/skeletons out.
The theme wouldn't be anime, though. My art skills are not that advanced. I was thinking of something a bit more simple since I may not get an artist for quite a bit, if at all. (Always start projects with placeholder art then eventually grow acclimated to it) I may do simple cartoonish, anthropomorphic critters or fantasy themed orcs, elves etc. but I was toying around with theme and am not stuck on that. Its just easier to have the bird people not want to drink in a bar that lets cat people in than to make something nuanced I like the idea of RPG maker for character portraits- luckily a lot of assets are easy enough to transfer to gamemaker if needed. Our group project for the game design class ended up using a lot of rpg maker assets that I put together with Tiled (wonderful little program btw.)

Maybe you can create a game with obscure characters with a cartoon style like in game cuphead or somethibg completly abstract which what kind of drink like.
Also the developers of VA-11 HALL-A had paid for the prenium version, GameMaker Studios. Maybe I am wrong of course...
If you need any kind of advice, please ask away.

 

[SweetShark]

Here is an early Review you can read to decide if the game is for you or not.
This game [as may all of you already guessed] is for me.

https://gaminggamma.com/2016/06/17/va-11-hall-a-a-cyberpunk-bartending-action-review-drove-me-wild/

Btw, 3 DAYS until the game is available

Spoiler

 

[SweetShark]

Day!!!!! Just 1 DAY!!!!! Get ready to enjoy the game to the fullest it can offer. Base the review I read it will be Heaven.

 

[SweetShark]

THE.GAME.IS.OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!?!?!? GO, BUY, PLAY!!!!

http://store.steampowered.com/app/447530/

The first reviews are promising!!!!! Need to go home and start playing it!!!!!

 

[Scarim Coral]

So how was the game?

I still too invested with other games to buy it straight away and it's only ?10. I can just take my time to buy it whenever at that price (not in a hurry), even more so if it fall under Steam Sales.

Also yeah I end up not playing Read Only Memories.... yet.

 

[SweetShark]

So how was the game?

I still too invested with other games to buy it straight away and it's only ?10. I can just take my time to buy it whenever at that price (not in a hurry), even more so if it fall under Steam Sales.

Also yeah I end up not playing Read Only Memories.... yet.

Good Timing.
I fill a glass with Johnny on rocks and play the game for 2 hours for the atmosphere. Then I will tell you what I think.
But what I am saying. I played the Prototype, The Prologue, The Pax Demo and the REMASTERED Pax Demo and all of them I gave them 10/10 score. I am very sure I will enjoy it.

 

[SweetShark]

Ok, so I played the first day which take place in the game [duh].
It is as I expected: Glorious.
In one day at work I served a lot of colorful characters which I hope to see them again [most of them] in other days which will come:
- The first one was the Chairman of the newspaper company "The Augmented Eye" who is the classic bossman which act like J. Jonah Jameson from Spiderman universe. Like an asshole in other words. However he is an asshole for good reasons.
- Then I served a pure asshole character, insulting the bar smelling like dog piss and soap. He is right, but still...I will admit he is somehow interesting character, but his lies and his idea to have a hobby only related with sex and bitches to fill his "hole", doesn't scream for a good person...He even paid a hooker to act like being her daughter FOR 3 YEARS!?!?!?. But I digress, maybe he is lying again...
- Also a White Knight came. White Knights are like Judge Dreads, but more reasonable I guess base of what kind of knight you are. She belong to a rescue citizens division, so she is ok for me. She is very sweet and and weird in a good way. She even like the dog piss and soap smell because this remind her the days which helped her mother inside a specific Hospital. Nostalgia in other words...The next time she will bring her friend as well. YES PLEASE!!!
- Last but not least before the day at work get started, Dana, your awesome Boss, brought a unconsious girl inside who found in the street to help her. After some times she awaked only to believe that she will get raped or killed or get her organs to sell them in black market or a combination of those. Gladly after a drink I gave her [which you must guess which drink will calm her. Trust your insticts yo], she told you she work for "The Augmented Eye" and hate her boss obviously. Other than that, she is cool girl.

I hope the next day is the same excited like the first day. ALL OF THEM!!!!!

The only complain I have is the game NEED a skip button!!! If the players want to play the game again to see different branches of the story, it is welcome this function in the future.

Other than that, 10/10. Even if I played 2 hours, it is enough for me to judge it.