During the creation of the intro and tech demo for the teamoftwo contest here on the steem network we realised both the value of what we were created, and the impossibility of finishing any large portion of it within the two weeks allotted for the contest. So with the out pouring of support from those that read our post. Plans began to be laid out for the next installment of the project. Our plan is to given an update on our progress every two to three weeks as well as having the occasional contest. No launch date or a timeline has been set for release, but as with all community funded endeavors (which this will largely be) speed is dependent on the enthusiasm of our peers, and the up votes and comments we receive.

For those wanting to catch up with the project thus far:

"Death in Absentia"

The original post by @torico at the end of the two week team of two contest

Tech Demo

Please note that the tech demo is designed for desktop browsers with webGL support. As it is with all webapps the experience is dependent on your browser.

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Basic Plot

In this Gothic tale we take the role of a young woman, as she arrives at her brothers newly acquired manor. It is here that a mysterious chain of events leads the woman into an ever changing world where the past, present, seem to coexist. As the player you must help the character find her way back to the present and hopefully save everyone that has been trapped with in Ravensgaer Manor.

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Game Play

Similar to classic games like Riven or Myst you see through the characters eyes. Forced to remember clues and solve puzzles in the game to progress. At the moment we will be focusing more on the cerebral aspects of the game instead of jump scares. However, as we continue to work on the title, we hope the manor will come alive and immerse the players in the story creating a sense of tension from story telling instead of boogie men hiding in the shadows. (no promises that their won't be things lurking though)

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Art Style

During the two week contest little was considered when it came to a "style" for the work. The simple textures and flat colors used in the demo were due to time saving more than artistic inspiration. That being said, with the story now being written and the mood set we can begin to explore the color palettes and lighting used within the rooms as well as the surrounding grounds.

However, good set pieces only goes so far, and it is choice of color and the character design that really sets the stage for any great work. For that we draw inspiration from Tim Burton's Corpse Bride.

Screencapture from Corpse Bride copyright 2005
(used for reference only)

With the muted colors and the simple yet exaggerated details the style lends it self to the eerie, and Gothic style we are trying to capture. The almost perpetual fog of reality, and the vibrant colors of the surreal fit perfectly with our story as we travel back in forth between the real, the imagined, and that amazing place that falls just between the two.

Take a moment to imagine our heroine. She moves from dark and dilapidated corridors to a once locked door light now emanates from the cracks in the ancient wood. She enters. Now she is engulfed by a world of yellows and golds everything almost painful in its splendor, yet for her, and those that don't belong, light and warmth seem to miss their skin. Pale as a ghost they can interact with this world of color, but can not truly be a part of it..or can they?

We are hoping to work with the steem community in finding a concept artist that can help us with character design. We know what we are looking for, but as it is with most projects if we try to do it all ourselves we are missing out on our chance to discover even more amazing talent here on steem. -- @bflanagin

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Organization

As stated briefly above we will attempt to create a post about the project every two to three weeks. Highlighting our progress and/or giving the community a chance to be a part of the process. Posts created by this account @v-entertainment will share the proceeds it receives to all active members of the team that contributed during the time between posts. No contributor to this project is to be considered contractually obligated to stay with the project or to contribute to the project any more that they are able. Contributors are also allowed to write their own posts on their own accounts if they so choose, keeping in mind that anything that might be considered a "spoiler" is frowned upon, and may result in public shaming, and or harshly worded comments.

Here are the contributors that will receive the proceeds of this post.

Contributor	Position	Contribution
@torico	Writer	Wrote the intro, currently working on the story.
@bflanagin	Developer	Created 3D scene and coded the interactive elements.

Vague Entertainment

This account is used for projects that are created by @bflanagin or another contributor that wishes to fly under the VE banner. A full list of plans for this account and VE as a whole can be found by clicking the link above.

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Disclaimer

Given how new this project is nothing is set in stone. Plot points, game engine, even the art style may change between now and the final release. There is no connection between our game and the steem blockchain beyond distribution of information, and possible funding through fundition and/or readers like you.

The story is meant for entertainment purposes only. Any resemblance to people living or dead or any connection to other works is unintentional. Any damage done to your computer, your psyche, or your understanding of the universe is by no means the fault of VE, or its contributors. Connection to other worldly planes of existence,emotional responses (good or bad,or feelings of personal enlightenment from playing our game is completely on us.

Data charges you may incur from playing a web-based video game are also on you.

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Getting in touch

Of course we are always thrilled to get comments here on steem and will try to field any questions or comments you post on the chain. For more complex inquiries you can hop on our discord server here. We love to hear your thoughts and help resolve any issues you may have.