Fragments [Early Development]

[NnsNightshade]

An RPG Maker XP Game under development.

** Note: This game as only been in development for around 2-3 days. Please give us some time before asking for screenshots, as we are making our graphics custom.

Title: Fragments
Genre: Action-Adventure/Paranormal
Rating: N/A
Developer: White Circle Studios (A fraction of the team, anyway.)
Release date TBA (In basically pre-development.)

---

Story

Content Hidden

Death is not the end....

In the world between, a soul's elements of purity and darkness are divided and sent to the eternal resting places by a natural process. The goodness flows into the heavens, becoming the beings one call Angels. The evil portions are cast into the pit where they become the beings widely known as Demons. These Angels and Demons maintain the balance and order of the Human world.

However, things are not always so simple. At times the process of splitting souls malfunctions, causing the new being to retain some of the human properties. These individuals become hollow shells of their former selves and reside in the in-between purgatory world. Angels that retain some human properties transform into creatures called Kourin, and Demons who do the same are labeled as Makka.

Consequently, these spirits cause a severe imbalance in the world in-between, and sometimes influence or interrupt a dead soul's splitting process. When a Kourin or Makka interfere in the division, it is called Fragmenting. The result of Fragmenting are dead humans who's memories and soul shards are shattered and spread about Purgatory. These humans are called Fragments, and live in civilizations within the Purgatory. Fragments are sometimes called "ghosts" by those in the Human world, as Fragments can often influence reality in the realm of the living.

If a Fragment has enough determination, he or she can collect the pieces of themselves that are scattered about and earn another chance at live through the process of Reincarnation. However, most Fragments retain no recollection of their former lives and so eke out their existence in the Purgatory for eternity.

In the game Fragments, you will play as a cast of characters who seek their second chance at a life among the living. Though this is the surface plot, sub-plots will develop as the game progresses, throwing the entire cast into an unforgettable journey that transcends life and death.

---

Characters

Content Hidden

IBARA

Gender: Male
Age: 20
Height: 166 cm
Weight: 60 kg

Ibara is the main character of Fragments. After his fragmentation he has held onto a grudge against all Kourin and Makka, making it his point of living to slay those who interrupt the dividing process. Unlike most others of his kind, Ibara has very strong flashbacks of his former life which drives him to seek a second chance via reincarnation. His soul resonates to his missing pieces so that he can find them easily. In personality, Ibara can be quite rude and standoffish towards others. He also possesses a terrible temper and can be moody. However, he has a strong sense of justice and a will to protect others from harm, making him a good ally. Because he is easily provoked, Ibara sometimes rushes into dangerous situations without considering the consequences. He also believes that hard work earns a living. He is quite demanding of others and even more demanding of himself. Ibara never stays in one place for too long, preferring to keep on the move at all times. This makes him perfect for a daring adventure.

-----

(in-game sprite not available)

MIN

Gender: Female
Age: 15
Height: 144 cm
Weight: 37 kg

Don't let her cute appearance fool you! Min has a sharp attitude that is twice the size of her small, lithe body. Being short and agile has its perks: Min is a self-trained thief and pickpocket. She knows how to fib her way out of trouble and uses her childlike charm to avoid danger though she is capable of defending herself in battle. While she often gives into her selfish, demanding ways, Min's true self is just a lost girl in need of a few friends. However, not even Ibara will trust her as far as he can throw her.

-----

Coming next.

Notarou and Suzu, the remaining party members. Stay tuned.

ENEMIES

KOURIN are angel-like beings that are the result of an Angel retaining some human properties as a result of a malfunction in the dividing process. They despise the Makka and are at a constant war with them, although they share some of the same ideals in wanting to create Fragments. Kourin want to fill the Purgatory world with Fragments in order to start a new Earth that is under their direct control. These beings are one of the causes of Soul Fragmentation. Kourin work under a single faction (and are supposedly part of a single mind), and those who oppose and are of Kourin race are dealt with in harsh punishment or even death.

MAKKA are the counterparts to Kourin in that they are demons who retained human properties. They are typically violent in nature and prefer to work in smaller groups called Legions, as opposed to Kourin who work as a single body altogether. The purpose for their Fragmenting souls is completely based on survival, as the energy and power they receive in the process keeps them alive. They're not outside of eating the remainders of Fragments left over, though, if they are unstable enough. Makka can sometimes crave more power than what they need to sustain themselves.

>> In the game, each of the four characters will be able to transform themselves by some means (under planning) into Kourin or Makka forms with enhanced capabilities.

Both Kourin and Makka are considered dangerous beings who severely upset the balance between the worlds. Fragments, although a result of these, sometimes have the ability to 'PURGE' Kourin and Makka, splitting the human parts from them and sending them to the correct locations. It is unknown why or how Kourin and Makka came into being (why the malfunction took place) or what determines if a Fragment can purge them. More details on these and other systems will be available soon as we plan and knock out the rough edges.

Planned Features

Content Hidden

* Completely original graphics and music/sound effects.
* An engaging story with sub-quests and multiple endings to achieve.
* Enthralling battle system with transformations and co-operative techniques.
* Crafting items in various ways to enhance the party.
* Dazzling cutscenes filled with original artwork and animations.
* Extensive amounts of dialogue with voices.
* More to come.

A more in depth view to some skills.

A. Battle Skills - The skills use up a Fragment’s Soul Power which is what they use to perform these skills. There are three types of skills.

- Physical Skills. A Fragment uses his Soul Power to enhance physical capabilities. This might let him attack with a flurry of strikes or some other physical performing art.

- Mental Skills. A Fragment uses his Soul Power to modify the awareness of others. This includes skills such as status boosting or lowering or switching. It alters the state of mind of a character rather than harms or defends for life points.

- Spirit Skills. A Fragment uses his Soul Power to manifest as bursts of energy that can affect his surroundings. This is the game’s “magic.” It is either offensive or constructive. It can damage or heal. Spirit Skills have elemental properties.

B. Co-Operative Skills. I think we should call this ‘Resonance’. When two Fragments are within range of each other’s spiritual states, they resonate and can combine Soul Power to attack an enemy together.

---

Sneak Peeks

Content Hidden

The beginning of the battle GUI.



The current status of our custom window skin.



The current progress on Suzu's portrait.



Testing out environment styles.

---

The Team

Content Hidden

FragmentRonan - Project Leader, Programmer, Sprite Artist
[S.O.U.L.] - 2D Concept artist
Ugaki - Writer, Support Artist
Nightmare Nadia - Composer, Sound Designer

Comments, questions, criticisms, and feedback welcome.

[NnsNightshade]

No comments or questions, yet? Hmmm, okay. XD But Ugaki-san has given me more information for this, so I'll update the first post in a bit~

But he's wanted me to show his new character concept for the game, too so yep.


Quote from Ugaki-san himself: "Roki is not a playable character. You'll be able to visit her in the city she lives in on the game.Roki is a happy go lucky girl as seen from her general expression. I'm not done coloring her."

I'm going to be adding a whole bunch of new story and mechanics info to the first post now because these guys have planned some things out and want to share it~ <3

[Kristovski]

Hey guy, just saw the first post for the first time. Sounds like a cool concept and I really like the graphics. I know you said not to ask for screenshots, but when do you think you'll have a complete scene? I really like the door and I would love to see it on a house and if it will keep in an isometric style.

[NnsNightshade]

Well I'M working on the backgrounds, specifically so its basically my fault that there isn't screenshots ^^;;; The game isn't isometric really, but will have sort of pre-rendered looking maps of various angles, with a character being able to walk 8-directions I think on top of them. I've just been deathly ill so my part of the game making deal is making them sink a little further behind >_>. The first screenshots you'll see will be of a beach-like area, though, instead of a town. Or so that's what they have me working on. The backgrounds are somewhat animated too, so I'm having to make frames for those like the wave tides coming and going, etc. The main developer has a few sprites he's waiting to test. I guess they're really just waiting on me to hurry it up.

[MetalRenard]

Looks and sounds like a sexeh project, I hope you can pull through because you and your team have a lot of talent.
Best of luck!

[NnsNightshade]

Ugaki-san says:

FragmentRonan is still focusing more on completing some animation sprites for Ibara than setting up the other character sprites, so I haven't got much to add by way of that. We may have to find another musician due to technical difficulties with the one we have now.... Ah so I will announce if it comes down to that. I have written a lot more but I will need to pick it all apart and organize it here in orderly fashion which will be done ASAP. I've already moved on to writing the actual game script now. My girlfriend is still musing over the terms for the map locations.

We've been contacted by someone who may want to program the game with C++ and a possible 3D animator to render the cut scenes into 3D instead of 2D anime like it was planned in the original. If anything changes for certain I will announce it.

Three game endings have been confirmed and scripted. We have the game beginning and endings planned, and are working on filling in the middle. This will be turned into a game design document in the case of having the game made or re-made into another engine.

We will try to have an animated introduction to the game on You Tube soon. It has been planned and we are just waiting on the music to be completed for it now. It will showcase some of the plot, voice acting, and the title.

For those who aren't afraid of game spoilers, we would like some critique on the major plot twist and end sequence of our game. Please only click the spoiler below if you want to be spoiled to the game's secrets. It is only a basic overview and some of the detail is left out.

Content Hidden

During part of a dungeon, Ibara and Notarou are separated from Min and Suzu by the enemy. The player will alternate between the parties to make it through the final area.

During the last stretch of the dungeon, you will not hear from Ibara or Notarou at all and you can only assume something has happened to them. The enemy has a location called Reactor where certain Fragments who possess the abilities to transform into Makka and Kourin are held. The prisoners are held in containers of fluids and subtances that break down the physical and spiritual components and turn them into a more concentrated form of power that can be used by the enemy. When this happens, a Fragment actually dies death over....They cease to exist.

Ibara and Notarou are the Fragments of a single person who has inherited the Makka and Kourin transfiguration abilities. Min and Suzu are also one person, but due to their Fragmenting process, are flawed and seen as disposable rather than as of use. Well you reach the final door and enter and a cut scene appears. And Min runs in, out of breath and Suzu follows behind her. They stop in because the room is so dark. Then we see a button flash on and the place lights up and you'll see these tube containers with the Fragment souls in them. Min spots Ibara in one of the chambers and Suzu and Min run forward to meet him. Notarou is also with him, but unresponsive due to a struggle, which Ibara explains.

While Suzu searches for a way to release Ibara and Notarou, Ibara has a final conversation with Min, who doesn't yet understand the weight of the entire situationm but their souls have already started breaking down. And with Min on one side of the glass and Ibara on the other, they share a bit of powerful scene with Min making a speech and a song playing that will be called 'Min's Tears.' Though Suzu returns with no news of how they can be set free, the two suddenly Resonate enough to bond their spirits together and a series of flashbacks begin as sprite animations and pictures.

Depending on the events you followed, the lives they remember will be different. Min and Suzu as a human and Ibara and Notarou as a human both knew each other in the Human world while they were alive. They were both in their mid to late forties(the sum of each ages as we will change the age of Min slightly). They will have different standings on how they were related depending on the events a player takes. All endings have them dying at the same time in the same way or accident. But now we will put all the puzzle pieces together to show you the life they once had. After this, Ibara and Notarou will actually die leaving a devastated Min and Suzu, but this is what makes them go to the final bosses.

The last boss you will face is with Min and Suzu alone, but with new powers because of the spiritual bonding between them and Ibara and Notarou. At the end of the game, Suzu and Min are reincarnated and the ending scenes and credits are scenes of them in their new life, with flashbacks of their memories as a Fragment, which were retained after their Reincarnation. This ending sequence is very different as well depending on the ending you received.

And I liek cut out the part where he complains about me being sick and not finishing the beach map >_> xD

[NnsNightshade]

Just got the theme and voice lines to animate to! YAY! Animations ahoy! (Most of the team is on Holiday vacations, sadly, but I'll be trying to hold up until they're back with us <3 )

You can hear the epicness here:


Music: The amazing and wonderfully talented Gotchi
Ibara's Voice Actor: The equally amazing and wonderfully talented JarvisTheNinth

FOR THE WIN! :D

[NnsNightshade]

And we've got someone else helping with the environment art now. Renji returns from vacation to sprite more animations on the 26th of this month and Ugaki-san and [S.O.U.L.] will be back with us on the 7th of next month.

We're currently working on the artwork for our short demo and teaser trailer. Sorry that I'm keeping things mostly secretive. XD I'm more busy working on things than making updates all of the time, but demos are cominggggg. We have more nice music too actually, which I'll show off probably next week sometime.

A sample of the new artist's work here for promotional purposes. He isn't finished with this piece but when he does, this banner will be used to promote the Fragments music and other things~:

[NnsNightshade]

Battle demo is coming along goooood~~~ Unfortunately, we lost Ugaki-san to complications from his injuries. >_> I was appointed to take over designing the character art for the game. I'm trying very hard to keep most of his style although you can see mine creeping up in there. With help from the forum members I've mimicked Ugaki-san's colouring pretty well. And I've started with the main character, Ibara.

You can see my progress: http://k-u-r-u-i.deviantart.com/art/Ibar...-279161112 o3o

I'm also done with some of the intro sketching, finally. >_> Its going slow, I've been sick, though my health has improved for the past few days due to going to a completely nutrient shake diet again. I'm going to draw all of the main protagonists (4 of them) first, though before continuing, since we had a few set backs with Ugaki-san's death. Then i will continue with the animation. We should have our battle demo test out.....eh, sometime or other. The programmers are working on it with still dummy sprites until we can make the real animations and all. I'm re-designing some of the GUI: The battle has been turned into a Tactical Battle System:

Players will issue Fragment Troops, shards that contain elemental properties (sections of the field can be turned into elemental status that will effect various things), skills (players will need to be within a range of the shard to use certain skills), and other effects. We've also coded some field traps, secret areas, and more bells and whistles into the system, so that the battles won't get stale. We were afraid at first that our small bestiary would put people off. But if we decorate the battles with some challenging aspects and let the player control certain environmental factors to try to gain advantages in various ways, we think we've overcome that.

You'll be hearing some fully voiced/sang musics soon too, and get your first listen at a battle theme.

This game will probably be a long time in the making, but worth it in the end and I hope whoever is following will follow through until its completed and then buy it to play. :3

[Kain Nobel]

What has been presented so far reads, looks and sounds pro. I believe this is the first RM game to have a voice over introduction that I actually liked :D

While its stylistically awesome, the logo is somewhat hard to read, I'm not sure if I would've known it said "Fragments" if I didn't see the title in plain text first. It looks like "Ragnents". You normally don't see people write an F on top of an R, but I guess that's cool. The A has an unusual loop-de-loop in it, the connection of G to M is short so it looks like an N. Does any of this matter much? Probably not, it still looks pretty fancy, but it wouldn't hurt to clean it up a little bit.

Take care of yourselves, I'm looking forward to watching this project become something awesome :D