Dear FE-Friends,
This post is about the creation of a legal, standard high-quality content pack and other assets for the newly published Tactile Engine from BwdYeti.
Because this will probably take some years, I also included a project to keep this goal alive. In the end it should contain every important asset for the creation of a great FE-like fangame. But: 100% legal.
Tactile Engine and FEXNA Content Pack here
ANB Toolbox download down below.
Thank you for your support!
After many years of waiting, Tactile (FEXNA) it is finally here! But I think the recent FEXNA (Tactile) leak showed us all that this powerful engine is looking for its proper place. My hope is that Tactile can be used especially for legal FE-like fangames. This could mark “A New Beginning” of such FE-related games! Community collaboration seems to me to be essential for this to work.
That is why I would like to start a community driven project to gather the required high-quality resources and assets which will all be available to all. While the resources will be developed with Tactile in mind, resources will most probably also be very useful for GBA hacking and other engines. Let us be honest: Original content is always great!
A new game with the name “A New Beginning” will be developed to give us a goal to work towards.
Even though I have not a lot to show so far, I want to provide everything that is usable. In this case there are some time-consuming layout changes:
Obviously it shows characters (and classes) taken from FE7x. Who doesn’t know the game yet should definitely have a look at it! These are only there as placeholders (hope you don’t mind me doing that BwdYeti).
More Screenshots
New simple battle HUD
Objective Screen (bg WIP)
New movement arrow and cursor
Layout changes
Color options (WIP)
As you can see, there is a lot possible already. And there are parts that really need some creative work done (tilesets, ect.). But it is possible.
Why Tactile?
Compared to the competing platforms (GBA and Lex Talionis), it turns out that Tactile doesn’t have too many advantages anymore. Especially compared to modern romhacking, there are some disadvantages:
- Availability: GBA patch files are very easy to use and have many potential users– Tactile will need some XNA Libraries to make it work. It’s not always “hustle-free” if you are used to patching your ROM.
- Usability: It is easy to jump into GBA romhacking with 7743`s awesome, lightweight FEBuilder – for Tactile you will have to install programs like Visual Studio and XNA libraries. Once it runs it is a bit up to taste – while FEBuilder comes with many available patches already.
- Support: There is a massive community working on GBA hacks; “support” is granted. Up to this point there is hardly any support for Tactile. But this might very well change.
- Compression: Let us be honest: There is a beauty in the fact that the whole game requires only a few MB. You will easily use over 150MB for Tactile projects.
But there are also very important advantages:
- Gorgeous graphics and beautiful format (320x192) - It really does make a difference!
- Detailed implementation and continuation of FE8 mechanisms.
- No technical limits: Basically, almost anything can be programmed.
- Responsive mobile version technically possible.
- And the most important: A game development without infringement of intellectual property is possible! While this can be said for some GBA patches, at least Nintendo’s EULA is “violated” there.
Non-copyright reasons
I was looking for a way to tell a story as beautifully and excitingly as possible for a long time. The way that the FE series engages you in the action is perfect for me. To this day, I remember the sweeping stories of these games. And I think many of you feel the same way.
However, I was a bit more reluctant at first, knowing of Nintendo’s position and their handling of copyrights. It’s a shame that many a fan project has had to disappear. Unfortunately, there is little we can do about this company’s attitude.
While GBA patches (which contain little protected material) are probably hardly in danger of getting a supression order, this can basically happen with popular fangames if such legally protected material is included.
Exposing oneself to this danger is an unattractive thorn in the side of every fan developer. Only the use of non-protected material protects from such a lawsuit in the end.
Goal
I am convinced that we all come furthest when we help each other. The world cannot be conquered alone! At the same time, a project also needs goals so that goal-oriented work is possible.
I would like to combine these two aspects here:
The goal is to use assets contributed by the community to develop a game that does not violate any copyrights. I have already spent a lot of time writing a story. I would like to use this script as a template for this project (ANB). The name “A New Beginning” has been the working title for a long time - very fitting in my opinion.
I would like to invite you all to contribute to this project. Everything of high quality that is contributed to this project will be offered as an asset collection preferably as F2E (free to edit) or as F2U (free to use). This includes also and especially Mugs.
To give credit for every awesome contributor that adds to this project, I will add the name to the credit list (with description of the contribution). For me, I am fine with just “ANB” as an umbrella term for the community. You are also welcome to let me know how you prefer it.
Since so far only my own stuff is included in the package, “ANB” in the credits is enough (for anyone who wants to use this still very incomplete package).
A list of things to work on will eventually released in the 2nd post.
About me
Ok, the bad thing right away: Basically, I am not a real gamer. I have only played FE7, 8 and 13 - and all that many years ago. But my fascination for this genre has always remained.
My time possibilities are also quite limited due to professional reasons. But I am happy to give this project the time it needs. But nobody should expect a project that will be finished in 1 or 2 years. Slow but steady is my motto here.
From my background I have a lot of experience with project management. This is another reason why I trust myself with this task. ANB will be developed in three languages: English, Italian and German (because I am blessed to know these three languages well enough). However, the focus will be on the English version.
I see myself primarily as a writer of this project.
As you can imagine, I can really use some help in almost every area: mapmaking, balancing, eventing, spriting and so on. Again: We will take the time it needs. And thank you for your help!
Story
… no I will not spoiler it yet
Special thanks
First of all I would like to thank snek (snakey1) for his help with my buildfile! Even if I now “move” with my project: This great wizard is really always available and humanly great!
Also from my buildfile time I want to thank Leonarth for his help with small tweaks.
Also I want to thank BwdYeti for Tactile and his decision, I am confident that this is the future!
Download ANB Toolbox (includes Assets etc.):
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/c4nr0m0y2e53mgh/AABtLRuvM0Q6JrpS_WAcN02qa?dl=0
So, now I have really said enough. What do you think about this? What is your opinion? Are you willing to contribute things?
Merry Christmas from Europe!
Poridur