The Keys of Krodacia: Revision Discussion

You can discuss anything about fan-made Commander Keen games here.
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Deltamatic
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Post by Deltamatic »

Chandeliers, wall hangings, lots of frills, swirling carved frames around the pictures of enemies from previous episodes. Things can get very elaborate if you want them to.
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Syllypryde
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Post by Syllypryde »

I did mention that I did like a few of the names others came up with for level names, so I will share:

Blue Forest- Blue Forest (For the most part, I do not really think "forest" needs to be taken out of the names. After all, they are forest levels)

Forest Tunnels- Forest Tunnels (although Nosdrill Tunnels has a nice ring to it)

Private Manor- Private Manor (This is one of the few levels where I think Krodacian could be added to the name such as Krodacian Private Manor or just Krodacian Manor)

Mansion- Krodacian Mansion (I do agree that the one-word names do not sound very Keenish at all. Krodacian could be added to those names. But since you did mention you planned on changing this to a fort of some kind, Fort place a derivative of Krodacia here could work fine.)

Complex- Krodacian Complex (same rules apply as above, but Krodacian City Complex has a nice ring to it. I do not like Krodacian Military Complex because the level does not resemble anything military at all.)

Mushroom Forest- Mushroom Forest (I did question Ceilick one time as to why he called it Mushroom Forest when Rotten Raddishes where the primary enemy in the level. But Raddish Forest, or Rotten Raddish Forest do not sound good at all. As stated above I do not see why it is imperitive to take "forest" out of the names. This level name should stay as is.)

Cliff Hanger- Cliff Hanger (although Brombo Bluffs has a nice ring to it. Someone mentioned they did not like adding creature names into the level names, but Ceilick did do that with a couple names in DITD such as Tumbleworm Alley and Cobrit Pit.)

The Underground- The Underground (although I did like the reference to "Keen journeys to the center of Krodacia", but I do not want the level to be called Center of Krodacia. Lower Krodacia sounds too Keen 3. Krodacian Planet Core sounds better or just leave the level name as is.)

Monk's House- Monk's Monastary or leave the level name as is.

Gem Temple- Gem Temple (Temple of... sounds too Keen 4 and it sounds generic to me.)

Forest Skies- Forest Skies (although Magi Metropolis has a nice ring to it. I agree with Ceilick that not only should the name imply "a city in the sky" but should also imply that is where the Magi live.)

Slime Temple- Slime Temple (same rules apply)

Fun House- Fun House (So far no one incuding myself have come up with anything that justifies even the thought of changing this level name).

Stone Temple- Stone Temple
Other names could include Gargoyle Temple, Hiberation Temple (since these Krodacians are in fact in a state of hiberation) or even Magi Training Temple (since according to Ceilick himself, these Stone Krodacians are in fact training to become Krodacian Magi).

Slime Lake- Slime Lake (although Slime Bog is not a bad name. But since the level is presented as a slime lake on the world map and contains several slime lakes throughout the level, I do not see any reason to change the name).

Shoal- ? (I have to take exception to the "one-word level name" rule I made previously because I do not like the name Krodacian Shoal. Although The Trecherous Trench does have a nice ring to it. The other suggested names for this level all sounded corny to me).

Reef- The Great Krodacian Reef


EDIT: As for reshading and revising the in-level backgrounds, I implore you to DO NOT REMOVE the pictures that show all the enemies from the previous Keen games. If they are removed, asses will be kicked! :wormouth
Last edited by Syllypryde on Sat Aug 14, 2010 7:24, edited 1 time in total.
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The Keen Commander
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Post by The Keen Commander »

Green jet thingies instead of fire: yes.
I'd like to get a Futurama mod going. Here's what I've got so far:
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http://www.pckf.com/viewtopic.php?t=2152
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Levellass
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Post by Levellass »

Will there be much patching involved? Some surprise flips and minor alterations to catch people unawares?
What you really need, not what you think you ought to want.
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GameBird
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Post by GameBird »

Hello everyone!
I have just found this forum, and am VERY glad I found this thread.

Long story short, I recently got back into the Keen games and found the mods. I just finished Keen 7 today (the 2009 version), and really wanted to say something to the creator, and to get involved with the mods

You did a fantastic job with the mod. The graphics, level design and story are excellent (although I did notice a few spelling mistakes; no biggie), but as others have said, the music is not so great. I can see what you were going for, but the music is just too short and repetitive.
I would love to help out! I love to write music, and have uploaded a few songs to my youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/TheTotalOverflow
These songs are a few years old, though. I just haven't gotten around to uploading any newer ones.

The Mushroom forest I think has the potential to be THE level that this mod is remembered for. The mental image of a forest made of luminescent giant blue mushrooms is unspeakably cool, and if it had suitable music, it could really be a killer. I actually started composing my own song for this level before I even knew you were revising the mod, but I don't have anything substantial done yet.

Now, I have no experience with modding and wouldn't be able to help with any of that, but if you let me know what the restrictions are for music in this mod, I would be more than happy to help you if I'm capable.
By restrictions I of course mean file size, song length, number of tracks and file format. I can certainly do MIDI. Hopefully that's what you use.

Anyways, I know I'm really late to this thread but I would really like to get involved with the project.
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Right here:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jX6YbNIvUFg
Soundtrack Composer for:
-- Botfloria is Out of Flowers! -- The Atroxian Realm --
-- Mystery of Isis II
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GameBird
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Post by GameBird »

Update: I finished my song idea for The Mushroom Forest. Here it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPAuA5pYLns
I put it to footage of me playing that level so you could get an idea of what it would be like.

Now I made sure to keep the song short and simple, with only a few audio tracks. It's also a loop as you'll hear, but of course, YouTube compressed it a lot and it sounds really muffled. If you're interested in an MP3 of it, I'll get you one, and I can also start work on converting it to MIDI if you like it (And if the Mod uses MIDI.)

Anyways I hope you guys like it :o

Edit: Actually, now that the video is finished being processed, it sounds a LOT better, but still not how it really sounds.
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Right here:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jX6YbNIvUFg
Soundtrack Composer for:
-- Botfloria is Out of Flowers! -- The Atroxian Realm --
-- Mystery of Isis II
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Post by Ceilick »

Hi and welcome, Overflow :)

Keen uses the IMF format. You can convert midi to imf with this program: http://winwolf3d.dugtrio17.com/download/IMFCreator

Your song might work out, it'll depend on imf conversion and what other songs get used. My impression at the moment is that it would fit better in a high fantasy setting, but its a possible musical direction for the mod.

Actual work on the keen7 revision won't begin until later this year probably.
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GameBird
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Post by GameBird »

http://host-a.net/Overflow/Mushroom3.imf

Wow. My first .imf experience :p
Man, working with the restrictions are tricky, but kind of fun at the same time.

Anyways, it's just an idea. You don't have to use it, but I am more than happy to volunteer my time to submit some music. If you give me some direction, I could get something more in line with what you want. After all, it is your project ;)
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Right here:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jX6YbNIvUFg
Soundtrack Composer for:
-- Botfloria is Out of Flowers! -- The Atroxian Realm --
-- Mystery of Isis II
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The Keen Commander
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Post by The Keen Commander »

@ Overflow: I really like the music. Its really well done, sounds more or less Keenish, and fits the level really well. Good job! :D Also, welcome to the forums!
I'd like to get a Futurama mod going. Here's what I've got so far:
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http://www.pckf.com/viewtopic.php?t=2152
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Keenfan
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Post by Keenfan »

Yes, it sounds great! I'd love to see it in the new version.
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Roobar
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Post by Roobar »

The song itself is cool, but imo it doesn't fit too much in the keen universe. Especially as a music for a playable level.

I think the "echo" is too much and it must sound more cheering and happy. I know the mushrooms doesn't look very happy, but the game itself is not in such a dark tone to use such melancholic songs. As it it is now, it gives me an impression of something sad maybe, lost. Or sounds like a music for end credits. Or a farewell song. Or something (love) that's lost or far away.
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GameBird
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Post by GameBird »

Well, it doesn't have to be used in that level. Plus, the song that's there now isn't very happy either, lol.
Also, the echo is only present in the MP3 version. The IMF version sounds totally different and much more keenish, although without the IMF player you won't be able to hear it.

I'm actually revising the song right now. I was never too happy with the chorded section at the end, and I'm changing it up. Should have a new version up in a while.
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Right here:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jX6YbNIvUFg
Soundtrack Composer for:
-- Botfloria is Out of Flowers! -- The Atroxian Realm --
-- Mystery of Isis II
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Nospike
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Post by Nospike »

The IMF version sounds awesome!
wish I could compose music like that...
because it would be such a brilliant worldmap music for my mod... :o
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GameBird
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Post by GameBird »

Alright... here's version 2.0 (well, technically version 5) of my song.
http://host-a.net/Overflow/Mushroom5.imf

I fixed it up a bit and I think it sounds more Keenish.

Oh, yeah, and if you do decide to use it, I'd love to get mentioned in the credits :o
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Right here:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jX6YbNIvUFg
Soundtrack Composer for:
-- Botfloria is Out of Flowers! -- The Atroxian Realm --
-- Mystery of Isis II
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The Keen Commander
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Post by The Keen Commander »

What program can I use to play that file? I tried downloading a plugin for winamp, but I can't seem to get it to work... :bloody
I'd like to get a Futurama mod going. Here's what I've got so far:
Image
http://www.pckf.com/viewtopic.php?t=2152
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