| Sounds of King City Part 1 - Hidden From The Sun |
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| 7/27/2009 08:34:00 PM | By Rene -
0 comments |
Even the broadest reach of blinding sunlight fails to penetrate the deepest recesses of King City's shady past. And yet here we are; nothing more than silly, bored people, without a past.
-Bella Strange
Whenever I begin writing a track for Bijoux Red, I often start with what I call a simple 'Guitar Sketch'. This helps me to envision the structure of the song, and to imagine what sort of accompaniment I'd like to hear.
I don't always do this when writing music, but something about the exotic King City made me want to try to write as much of the music as I could on guitar first. There's something about that acoustic flavour illustrating this world that I'm really hoping to convey!
Attached underneath, I've included both the 'Sketchbook' version and the 'Original Soundtrack' version of a song introduced early in the first episode called 'Hidden From The Sun' - just to sort of emphasize the benefits of this working method.
Music Sketchbook
Beneath the World, Hidden from the Sun - Underground Theme
Bijoux Red OST Preview
Hidden From The Sun - Beldan Woods Arrangement
Rene Shible
Director - Bijoux RedLabels: music, OST, preview |
| Sprite Works - Sabina |
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| 7/21/2009 12:23:00 AM | By Rene -
4 comments |
You say you want me to stop 'itting you? Ze nerve! You are a man, oui? Start acting like one!
-Sabina du Mer
Rene Shible
Director - Bijoux RedLabels: animation, preview, sabina |
| ARC Combat! Part 1 - ARC Combat Basics |
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| 7/08/2009 04:41:00 PM | By Rene -
0 comments |
The boys of Southwall Crew sure have got a lot of enemies... there they sit, alone, with no escape, their backs against the sea. On any side, they're surrounded by allies of the Blood Lord, their sworn enemy, with no friends in sight. But their backs, hardened by the load they carry, are strong and their senses, sharper for all their confrontations, are keen.
Here in this remote sea-side town, the boys of Southwall Crew do their righteous work in solitude, awaiting the day that they might receive that sign; the light of revolution from the base of August Hill. And they will not die before that day, for their leader is clever and guides their arms in battle, and their purpose, clear as the emerald sea, guides their hearts through the coldest nights.
As is standard fare for Tactical RPGs, strategic combat in Bijoux Red is not only central to gameplay, but also to the unique flavour of our story! It's for this purpose that we've designed our own battle system called ARC Combat - which stands for Action, Reaction, Charge!
ARC Combat is designed around giving players more control in an otherwise traditionally turn-based, one-on-one active-time battle. To illustrate the idea, we're currently preparing a series of posts dedicated to the features of ARC Combat, as well as a playable demo that will allow players to take the time to develop a unique unit's abilities and to test them out in combat!
When enemy units engage in combat, the player is brought to the Combat Screen, where the main battle plays out. From the Combat Screen, you will have access to your unit's vital information, such as HP, SP and the circular Impulse Gauge. As can be expected, the battle is over when either unit's HP drops to zero!
When the Impulse Gauge is completely filled, your unit's Command Menu appears. Any abilities that you've equipped to your unit will appear here! Each unit can equip up to four Action Commands, one Reaction Command and one Charge Command.
Selecting an action from the Command Menu, such as Swift Punch, will cause your unit to attack the enemy! But watch out for your SP (Stamina Points)! Every action has an SP Cost, and with no SP, your unit will be left defenseless!
Watch your opponent closely. As they're readying their attacks, you'll often see a ring appear around them that will become smaller as they inch closer to actually executing their command. This period is referred to as the command's Casting Time, and is much longer on some commands, typically stronger commands, than on others.
Selecting the Reaction Icon (the top of the two lower-left icons on the Command Menu) with the right timing will cause your unit to use their equipped Reaction Command! Here, Ander is using the Defense command to shield himself from Sabina's attack. Don't forget that Reaction Commands cost SP as well! If you spend too much energy reacting to your opponent, then your unit will run out of SP too quickly!
Timing is key! Leave yourself open and you're gonna get hit!
As the battle wages on, units are sure to get exhausted! Hold down the Charge Icon (the bottom of the two lower-left icons on the Command Menu) to activate your equipped Charge Command! The longer you hold it, the more SP your unit will restore! But be careful! Charging in this manner will leave you wide open for attack!
Oh? What's this? Looks like a big one!
Some units can equip special Technique actions! Pulling these moves off is really the bread and butter of ARC Combat! Leave yourself open for these ones and you'll receive some devastating damage!
Rene Shible
Director - Bijoux RedLabels: arc combat, demo, gameplay, playable, tutorial |
| WIP Character Design #1 - Coyote |
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| 7/06/2009 04:49:00 PM | By Rene -
0 comments |
Coyote
Music Sketchbook
I'm Not A Stranger, I'm A Coyote - Coyote's Theme/Freegrove Theme
COYOTE
Hey, kid, come on! Don't you wanna buy something?
ANDER
Who are you...?
COYOTE
What, you don't know me?
ANDER
How could I know you? You're a complete stranger...
COYOTE
Relax, kid. I'm not a stranger! Now you gonna buy something?
ANDER
Sorry, old man... I don't do handouts...
COYOTE
You must make plenty of friends with an attitude like that.
ANDER
I'm not looking for friends.
COYOTE
Oh, good! Then you have nothing to worry about.
Rene Shible
Director - Bijoux RedLabels: artwork, coyote, music, WIP |
| Managing Your Units! Part 2 - The Unit Profile |
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| 7/01/2009 05:28:00 AM | By Rene -
0 comments |
In King City, Gangsters live by a code called the Law of Dogs. Though the decrees of this criminal covenant are few and brief, they justly define the character and conflict of the Gang War that has engulfed the city.
Of these Laws, the fourth is considered by some to be the most important one, and the Law that will prove the true worth of a soul in King City. That Law is read as such - PROTECT YOUR OWN - and is a reminder to Gangsters to be true to their allies.
In King City, understanding your units and their capabilities is the key to staying alive. By visiting a unit's profile, you can view their stats and outfit them for combat!
From inside the Unit Profile, you will be able to access the Command List. Each unit learns their own commands, which can be equipped for use in combat. Be mindful however of the Power and SP Cost of these commands! Units will exhaust quickly in combat if their commands are too draining!
Given the opportunity, allow your units to rest regularly by accessing Rest from the Profile Window. This will allow them to restore their strength and morale. Units can also spend their Experience Points while resting, allowing them to become stronger!
Units can spend Experience Points to raise their attributes. Depending on which attributes you choose to raise, your units may learn new commands!
As expected, any new commands can be equipped from the Command List after a unit has learned it. If you take the time to get to know your units, and to experiment with their attributes, then combat will be a breeze!
Rene Shible
Director - Bijoux RedLabels: gameplay, preview |
