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Design Bible Updates - New PDF Sample Download • April 2022
🕑 Added 2022-04-25 23:07:23 +0000 UTCHi everyone,
Alex here (Lead Designer, Co-Writer, + misc.) with a fresh Design Bible Update hot out of the oven.
New video and music content are above.
The real meat of this post will be in the new Design Bible Sample PDF download at the bottom of this post.
Scroll down. Hit download. Let us know your thoughts.
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WHERE ARE WE AT?:
Short version; around 100 pages into the DB.
That equates to approx 40 pages of the V2 Narrative Script, with artwork, the additional gameplay sections at the start, and some intro pages to come.
The art team (Omri, Joey, Norm, Adam) is currently working on a set schedule to deliver the end-game design and art tasks.
This is all taking place in tandem as I create the DB itself. I am also creating new artwork and game design elements as we go.
IMPROVEMENTS & NEW DB CONTENT:
You'll find some new visual improvements within the new DB PDF.
Some areas are much more refined.
For example, the "Pause Screen" running tally inventory pages between chapters are now fully populated with items (and empty nooks to fill new items).
There is also an overall rework of the page aesthetic and graphic design. This is more in line with some of the UI and UX screen mockups we've seen recently.
New content for gameplay and mechanics have been dropped in place, with more to come.
New artwork for the earlier chapters has also been placed, and we'll be proceeding according to our schedule to complete the bulk of the DB work this calendar year.
There are also interactive URL links that will take you to supplementary video content on American's YouTube channel when clicked.
This is something I will be tapping into more as we go, but for now, you can see the concept in action.
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YOUR FEEDBACK:
Before you dive into the PDF, being a work in progress, some areas still need work.
Namely;
• Anything that says {TBC} or {To Come} regarding artwork or copywriting is self-explanatory.
• If you see gibberish in words, this is "lorem ipsum" placeholder text for the layout and word count for content to come. Do not be alarmed. Content will come.
• Some icons on the enemies and bosses/combat need to be created. Blank spaces are left for now.
So with that in mind, the big question for you, the fans, is;
How does this format look to you?
Does it read well?
Does it look good?
Are you well informed?
Can you follow the story beats and understand the game mechanics?
Is it enjoyable?
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For those new here, I'll copy-paste the key goals for the Design Bible for Alice: Asylum.
This is the rationale shared with the art team on our welcome pack for the new artists.
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We are now focusing on creating a finished, cohesive, informative, art-packed and beautiful “design bible”. This design bible will be our biggest and best tool towards securing a potential $30 million+ USD deal to “fund and create a published videogame.”
The design bible is designed to perform the following tasks:
1. Allow all Alice: Asylum videogame narrative experiences, key art and game mechanics to be easily understood and assessed by potential financiers. (For EA Games, Amazon, Netflix etc.)
2. Allow the Alice: Asylum videogame story to be experienced, enjoyed, and easily understood by anyone who linearly reads the design bible. The audience can experience Alice’s journey in Asylum in its entirety via the Design Bible. (For Alice Fans, Patrons, etc.)
3. Allow the Alice: Asylum videogame technical aspects and mechanics to be easily understood. All core game concepts are communicated for a potential development partner to assess undertaking and build the actual video game we pitch.
(For Epic Games, EA Games etc. or any potential Development Partner)
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So, for this hybrid/comic book/game guide/graphic novel/game design document... I am hoping it ticks all the required boxes so far.
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THE STORY BEHIND THE DESIGN BIBLE:
When American and I first sat down and spoke about creating this document, we both wanted to capture that feeling we shared when we were kids, poring over a magazine, game guide or manual for a game that we loved.
I remember reading the manuals and game guides for all the games I loved as a kid, even reading the old .txt files that came with Doom and the like on MS-DOS games on the PC.
Like a huge nerd.
I took these documents to school, to the dinner table, and read them in bed.
I'd be glued to the pages as I scoured over every detail, text passage, artwork, and design, diving headfirst into that world that existed on the page, on my screen, and in my imagination.
And I loved it. They're good memories.
I hope that a sliver (or more) of that experience is shared by you as well as you read these pages for the Alice: Asylum Design Bible.
Each day I am at my computer, crunching away here, I hope that someone with a truck-load of cash will see this work from the team and back us to make this game happen.
I wish it with all my heart, but sometimes wishes aren't enough, so there's work to be done.
RESPONSE TO THE DESIGN BIBLE WIPs:
From what I've been told by American, every time a WIP of the DB sits on the desk of a global mega-corp, the reaction is favorable, so hopefully, one day, it'll be enough for them to get their checkbook out.
Much more to come as we go this year, but please drop any comments worth noting here or where I can see them, and I'll do what I can to take reasonable feedback into account.
Thanks as always for your continued support as we try and make this happen together.
Cheers,
Alex
Comments
I loved all of of this. It was super informative and the over all design is great!! I cant wait for the finished product.
Lucas Severin
it all looks amazing
And yes to all your questions, it’s very clear, very easy to understand, very enjoyable, very well thought out. Awesome all around! Cheers to you team!
This is so lovely! Aww it would be so awesome to have a copy of something like this, just like the old game manuals you mentioned, once the game is finally financed. I believe! Something this good has to come true !
Karma Chameleon
I do have a question and it may contain spoilers if you haven't read the script fully. . . . On Page 21 of the Design Bible, playing as Alice as she escapes her home during the fire.... is this supposed to be her perspective? Or more of the events, as they unfolded and she is 'witnessing' them for the first time? As it states that she can hear her family, but I thought we learned that her sister couldn't have been coughing or banging on the door trying to escape? Unless it is only meant to be Alice's perception of the events. Having survivor's guilt she would surely envision their deaths horribly and wouldn't know her sister's fate yet. I just thought I would mention it. It makes more sense being a perspective thing to me though.
Karma Chameleon
I know they have sold the design bible for Alice: Madness Returns so I am sure they would release this one when finished as well.
Karma Chameleon
OMG I LOVE IT!!! I was too excited at first to read it, I just looked at the breathtaking artwork until I could focus on words, haha. It is very easy to read/follow the plot and game mechanics being explained. I am sooo excited for the mechanics and game in general! This is the only project I ever latched onto so deeply and the only reason I joined patreon at all, and the only one I have on patreon haha. If I could, I would write a check today for it haha. But it wouldn't be a very big check! (just kidding, I don't even have checks) But I really hope it gets the financing it needs to continue. It is such a beautifully wounded story. Okay, other notes... it reads very well, the balance of pictures, quoted text and readable text ... this is my favorite format and hard to pull off but I think it is perfect. It reads quickly but you aren't left asking "why" for anything, other than the things you should be asking why to! I feel like I could play the game based on reading this, mechanic wise and understanding the direction. I also think the pace flows well, not too quickly that you get overrun or lost, but just quick enough to keep your eyes hopping from one paragraph to a picture to a quote, back to the picture cos it was awesome! Ahhh. This game series is the only thing to make me fan girl out lol.
遊戲人生 Mhchan
After reviewing your youtube video and I immediate join the program , looking forward to the game and PDF ( seems cannot find the link to download ) . Also , I know it is still in developement and it is hard to confirm in current stage , but is it possible to add Traditional Chinese support in the language support ? Coz It is quite essential for whether player to buy a game . And as a TC gamer , really want to enjoy this game with TC support . Anyway , looking forward to the game ~ add oil ~~
遊戲人生 Mhchan
Same !! I want a physical one ~~
No detailed feedback from me yet... Just a general one after skipping through everything... If this is not made into a game, I'm going to be super angry!!! Lots of love from me! You did a brilliant job so far! 😊
I'd back a kickstarter for a the real too :)
It did thank you! Reading it now, absolutely in love with the concepts so far. The new mechanics and weaponry look to be nice additions too. Can’t wait to see where it goes❤️
Alex Crowley
Hi Alice, welcome! If you scroll to the very bottom of the Patreon Post, there should be a file download link for the PDF, indicated by underlined text. It’s best viewed on a desktop computer, but if you click the preview on your phone, a preview should load up too. Let us know if that helps you out.
I’m looking for the place to download it but I’m new to this platform and I’m not sure how, can anyone help?
Agree with that ! I will participate in the kickstarter if there's one, I want a real book not just a pdf
AniFae Kusanagi
I am loving this! Indeed the colours used help make things stand out and be highlighted perfectly (contrast), the choice of language technique's used make it easy to follow and understand, and information is given when relevant rather than overloading. Pacing and flow is perfect to keep your interest (Especially, i think, from the view of new readers to the series - including investors). Finally the overall presentation is stellar Alex, and a true reflection of strong teamwork!! As others have stated, id love a physical book, maybe for Patron only members? Funded in-part by pre-orders? I just think it would be incredible to see the fruits of your love and labour as some tangible physical form. Loving what im seeing, and if i had that truck full of cash, i'd send you a fleet.
Please, make this available as a hardcover when its finished, pretty please.
I was reading the section about the weapon wheel and i was thinking maybe you could do like a small 360 ground burst like a stomp or something that pushes enemies back a little when exciting the weapon wheel incase an enemy gets to close while you are changing weapons or the enemy happnes to charge right before you open the weapon wheel. Kinda like the stomp in Madness returns when alice is big
