Pastelland Forum

That's why I say we don't give a specific date, we could just imply that the game is taking place in the near future. I agree that making it realistic would give it better effect, but why would it be difficult, aside from any extra aspects it might bring to the plot?

(Wrote this before babylon)

Well, the point with the term "Near", or even better, "Not too distant" future, is that there are no dates or other mathemathical values involved. Furthermore, if we are going for a suitable version of the conspiracy, then we should have all the technology we need to make a good game without making the setting unrealistic.

As for the puzzles, I defenitely agree, though the massive damage will be useful for handwaving somewhat odd, limited or with a top-security facility inconsistent behaviour of the equippment. As for the bouncy balls, yes, they shouldn't turn on any machinery, but they should have some sort of function.

Notes, yes, but prefferably mostly on computer screens. We must also be careful with the expobot, and not end too close to the Portal series.

Good.
Idea for amalgamating crystal and sublevels's ideas...
The 'dark forces' that they are studying...they are attempting to tap into a source that has been described far back in history...maybe the player experiences this place where the source comes from?

Regarding conspiracy: Gov announces that they will look into the past to solve current crisis. Scientists find it but betray the government. Or perhaps a rogue takes over? And if they are found out, the gov gets the blame.

So what exactly is the source? A way of getting free energy?

Regarding Conspiracy: The current crisis is the energy crisis right? Running out of oil? And I'm a little confused, are the scientist actually sent back in time, or are they just using methods from the past?

No, they are looking into the ancient rumors of dark forces to see if they have any basis in potentially useful truth. i think. As for the energy crisis, running out of oil isn't a crisis, it's having to get out of your couch.

And as usual, I suggest the conspiracy should be controlled by outside interests and be a rather old thing.

Okay. Sussed until the storyboards, i guess?

How about we make the player come to their own ends on the time and setting of the game? Try to avoid names of places if we can altogether?
(To be honest though, I kinda would prefer an alternate universe setting )

An alternate universe or timeline would be pretty cool, but it would take a lot of work to pull it off. We'd have to come up with a whole history, geography, social order, governments, etc. If we could do it (And I wouldn't mind working for it) it could be pretty good, because it gives us more leeway with things.

Babylon wrote:An alternate universe or timeline would be pretty cool, but it would take a lot of work to pull it off. We'd have to come up with a whole history, geography, social order, governments, etc.

Well, not necessaily. The scope of most of the stories seem to be limited to inside one building, the character won't probably remember anything (or won't need to remember in the game), so we could set it in another universe without worrying too much about every detail right now.

The scope of most of the stories seem to be limited to inside one building

I think it was discussed before that this game is part of a series, so do you mean the sequels would be in one building as well? I remember something about a morgue, in one of the back stories, but apart from that I don't think we have discussed any plans for the sequels?

Babylon wrote:

The scope of most of the stories seem to be limited to inside one building

I think it was discussed before that this game is part of a series, so do you mean the sequels would be in one building as well? I remember something about a morgue, in one of the back stories, but apart from that I don't think we have discussed any plans for the sequels?

since at the end of most stories the character escaped, we assumed that the sequels would happen outside (or at least inside another building).
but in reality there are no plans yet, since we don't know the story yet.