It has been a long journey of game development, just as much as the long journey awaiting in this new epic co-op adventure!

Kickstarter is live on May 5th!

To watch the trailer, go to the kickstarter page:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/marc477/the-last-crystal-an-epic-co-op-adventure?utm_source=website

TEAM UP OR PERISH

From early on in the game’s conception, we wanted to create an experience that can be enjoyed by two players in couch co-op mode. Our mission is to deliver a true co-op adventure in which team work is required to succeed.

The Last Crystal is a collaborative game that emphasizes the equal importance of both players. Each character is to be customized to fit different play-styles, but both players have essential roles to play to succeed in the game. Puzzles can only be solved when both players are alive. Some weapons only work when both characters are using it. Protecting and keeping each other alive is necessary to progress through the game. All boss fights also require collaboration.

We have designed novel game elements that are sure to tease your minds and test your skills (and test the strength of your relationship… just kidding!).

TWO-PLAYER WIELDED WEAPONS, AND ITEM-SHARING

One of the unique points about The Last Crystal is its two-player weapon design. There are some weapons that can only be used when both players have it equipped. One of these is the Staff of Elements. This staff has two parts: the Sun Staff and the Moon Staff. When both characters equip one staff each, they can pass a ball of elemental energy between them. For example, the Wind element operates switches and moves boxes when the energy passes through the characters, and the Fire element can damage enemies and set things on fire.

Players share the items found in the game. When one player has an item equipped, the other player can take that item from them by simply selecting it from their inventory (so make sure you agree on how things will be shared). This mechanic can be used to solve puzzles, so that you can use the item that you need when you are separated, but it can also cause some unintended (or intended?) chaos when players grab them at an inopportune time. Have fun, but remember that your partner too needs to stay alive for you to progress!

ACQUIRE UNIQUE ABILITIES TO HELP EACH OTHER

Both players can unlock abilities by spending crystal shards at a Guardian Stone. The shards are collected throughout your journey when you successfully solve puzzles. There are various abilities for you to choose from, and you will need to discuss with your partner which set of skills work well together to help with your journey. For example, one of you can acquire Camouflage to become invisible so that the other can execute a Spin Attack to destroy multiple enemies at once. Or you can acquire Slow Soul while your partner gets Healing Touch, so that you can deliberately enter spirit form to slow down enemies, and your partner can revive you after. Build a unique strategy based on your own play styles and preferences.

OPEN EXPLORATION

After finishing the very first part of the game, the world open up to non-linear gameplay, after this point players may choose which corner of the map they wish to explore first. Inspired by the Metroidvania genre and by the Zelda series, some items or abilities will allow you to gain access to new areas, to collect new weapons, or shards to gain abilities.

TRIALS WILL TEST YOUR SKILLS

Trials are the ultimate challenge to test your skills. They don’t let you bring your weapons in! So you have to enter an area full of monsters bare hands. Weapons can be found inside the trial, but unlike the ones you find during your main adventure, trial weapons usually break after several hits. Find the best way to survive for as long as possible in each of those trials.

GET THE FREE DEMO ON STEAM AND ENJOY IT WITH FRIENDS & FAMILIES

The Last Crystal’s demo is available to download for free Steam and on Itch now. Team up with your roommates and families to explore a dangerous magic temple with its lively forest and dark caves, defeat epic foes, join helpful allies, acquire unique powers and solve enigmatic puzzles to unravel the secrets behind the last and most powerful crystal.

https://fallingflames.itch.io/the-last-crystal

https://store.steampowered.com/app/858640/The_Last_Crystal/

SUPPORT OUR KICKSTARTER CAMPAIGN ON 05–05–2020

If you enjoy the game and want to support the developers, take a look at our upcoming Kickstarter campaign, which will be launched on May 5th.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/marc477/the-last-crystal-an-epic-co-op-adventure?utm_source=website

The Last Crystal is being developed by Falling Flames Games, an indie studio based in Vancouver, Canada, since 2017. We have completed 60% of the base game up to this point, and want to bring it to Kickstarter for the community help to make it larger and better, with many more features. We plan to deliver the full game in 2021.

The post The Last Crystal — Co-op Adventure Game — Kickstarter and demo release! appeared first on Indie Marc.

The Last Crystal is a co-op adventure game for 1 or 2 players. Players team up to explore a dangerous magic temple with its lively forests and dark caves, defeat epic foes, join helpful allies, acquire unique powers and solve enigmatic puzzles to unravel the secrets behind the last and most powerful crystal.

We have been working on this game for over 3 years. It started as a school project for our Master’s Degree and we liked the game too much to abandon it after the class ended. Instead, we continue developing it in our free time and now we’re ready to show you a part of our work. The upcoming Demo consists of 3 main areas to explore: the temple, the forest and the cave, hundreds of enemies to fight and secrets to discover.

Here are some highlights of the game:

Unique co-op mechanics: Team up with a friend and work together to solve challenging puzzles and fight epic monsters. For a challenge, you can play solo by controlling both characters at once.

Many open areas to explore: the ancient temple, the dark caves, the gleaming forest, the snake pit, the death valley, the mummy sanctum, and more.

Epic guardian boss fights: The Guardians of the Temple are the deadliest of all enemies you will encounter. Take on these epic challenges with help from your allies, a lot of courage, a little luck, and the power of friendship.

Helpful allies: Players will encounter many unusual temple inhabitants who will aid them in their quests. Befriend the ‘see-in-the-dark’ sheep, the lost panda, the eccentric bird, and the ghost archeologist.

Weapons, upgrades and powers: There are various types of weapons to be discovered and collected. Some can be used individually, while others need to be used cooperatively by both of you. Each character will be able to unlock their own unique skills, making each member of the team valuable. Weapons can be upgraded too, so you will get stronger and better the more you play.

That’s it about the game! Hope you will feel as excited about it as we do. You can wishlist the game on Steam, download the Demo when it’s released next month, play it, and let we know what you think. Your feedback is invaluable to us so we can improve and make a bigger, better game.

If you’re interested in the development process, you can follow us on The Last Crystal Discord. This will be the best place to get updates about the game, suggest improvements, and participate in contests. People that join our Discord will also able to play an extended part of the Demo that would normally only be included in the final game. This “extended Demo” part will be available for free to Discord members until the full game is released.

At the moment, we’re polishing and playtesting the Demo so it can be released next month. We can’t wait for you to play it and tell us what you think. Hope to see you soon in the temple, embarking on a fun and unique quest for the last and most powerful crystal!

https://thelastcrystal.com

The post Announcing The Last Crystal Demo appeared first on Indie Marc.

Work on your skills first

If you don’t have a portfolio, go make a portfolio right now! Having it online is probably a very good idea, there are many template websites available online. If you’re an artist just create an account on ArtStation and post your work there. If you’re doing 3D make sure you render your work with some lighting to make it look professional. If you’re a programmer, make your own website! (And get a template don’t try to design it yourself).
Once you have something you can show online, Ask for feedback! Don’t just sit there and pretend that your portfolio is good. Ask for genuine feedback from other developers and people in the industry (so not your friends or parents that don’t know anything about game dev). Sometimes its just a way to present yourself that could be improved, other times you’ll need to work on more projects!

How to get your first client

Assuming, that you already have a good online portfolio, here are two approaches that work well and that I would recommend if you are looking for your first clients. The first one is to suggest an offer that they can’t refuse. For example, suggest them to do the work and only get paid at the end, and only if they are happy with the result. By taking all the risk it will make it much easier for them to say yes. Of course you may have trouble getting paid for some projects, but you need to get started, your are building your experience. That method is also a good way to build your reviews on a freelancing platform. Some people even just go and offer to do some tasks for free, just to build the reviews, or you could ask some form of ‘optional bonus’.
You have to be careful though, when I say that, I mean that you should do that for small tasks, maybe a few days or a week. Don’t go start working for a huge project for months.
The second method is to team up with someone that already serve your target clients. If you are a programmer, find a freelance artists that already has clients. If you’re an artist, find a freelance programmer that need art assets for their client’s project.

It’s all about expectations

Yes! Set the right expectations right at the start! Have you ever heard the motto “Underpromise, but overdeliver?”, this is exactly what I mean! Make sure you understand the needs of the client and that you also state what is NOT included in each order. What if your client expect you to create all the art assets and sound assets of the game, not knowing that you actually just do the “programming”? This would be a huge misunderstanding. Make a short and clear list of what is included and what is not. Use references if needed.

Keep your orders sustainable.

I usually prefer fixed price per task since I don’t have to count hours and it also helps the client to budget the project. I know some freelancers prefer hourly, but I would say that if you are starting, you probably just want to make it easy for the client. Don’t worry about hours. Just assume the risk and tell them how much it will cost. If you’re not sure about it. Subdivide the order into smaller steps, giving you time to adapt the price as it goes. Never quote for a full game without subdividing it into smaller steps!
That brings me to the next point: size of an order. I personally like to keep my order between $300 to $800 (but go cheaper if you are just starting). Below that makes it hard for you (more delivery, reviewing, quoting, and negotiation to do), and above it may be scary for the client.
Each order should be doable in a few days. Don’t promise anything that could take weeks or months to do, you never know where the project will be after so long. You can check more about the “Agile” mythology, I think it’s a good way to remain flexible and it applies well to game dev.

Learn to work fast

That one may sound funny but one of the best ways to increase your income. If you can produce more work in less time. You’ll be able to be work on more projects and ask a better hourly price. This is another reason why hourly rate doesn’t matter so much in the freelancing world, everyone works at different speed. What matters to the client is how much it will cost for a specific task. That’s why I always prefer to quote by task, it also removes the hassle of counting hours.

Conclusion

In conclusion here are the things you need to do
-Work on your skills first: you need to be very good at what you are doing to be competitive.
-Have an online presence: your own website, social media, and freelance platforms.
-Join groups on Discord or Facebook
-Start with small projects.
-Offer to work for cheap or free to get started if you can’t find a first client.
-Be clear about quality expectations and the tasks you will work on.
-Learn how to be good at selling! (I will write another article on that).

I hope all my advice will help you and your goals. This is what works well for me but you may have to find you own way! If you have any more questions, don’t hesitate to contact me, would be happy to help with more advice.

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