Prologue - Trailer, Hardships, Release Dates, etc

Well, we finished the trailer. Submitted to DieHard GameFAN and ready for the masses.

But, as Farnsworth has taught us, good news doesn't always mean that - because of media/production complications, the trailer will be delayed until November 2nd, 2009. The reason is because they need time to promote and distribute the trailer through their site - and we submitted the thing a little late due to last minute software trouble, which hindered the original release date.

We had a lot of complications going into the trailer. The filming ran everyone's budget into the ground for weeks, making us unable to physically see each other for days. I did a massive 3-day 80+ gameplay/visual bug crunching that left me totally exhausted, and the last night of production I had to compile the thing, the trailer software crashed 4 or 5 times, the game suddenly switched out a vital programming language at the last minute (requiring heavy last minute rewrites), and a few team members quit a week after we finished filming, and less than a week after the video was due [already constrained for time]. It was quite hectic with everyone's crazy schedule and last minute dropouts, and rest assured we are very tired - but we got the initial trailer completed, and are quite happy with the results. A lot of things were done specifically for the trailer, and we tried our best to iron out the rendering/gameplay bugs and make the trailer video run at a smoother framerate. While we had to lower the resolution this time around the video plays really smooth, and you are still able to see all of the neat graphical effects that the regular game has to offer. In my opinion it's framerate>quality. Still, we didn't suffer massive loss as previously thought.

What you will see come the 2nd is the very best of what we have to offer - a year and then some of grueling, suffering, love and tears. It's the ultimate package - all the shit we had to endure over the year+ this project has received, from our ModDB page getting shut down due to fake legal reasons, and to the abuse we've had to take from a deranged software developer - and all of the community drama inbetween. It's been quite a frustrating schedule - but the frustration pushed us harder to make this trailer even better than what we originally thought. And it was fun. =)

What you will experience isn't just Hypertension - it's an extension of who we are as developers and people, all the hard work to make this trailer truly unique and memorable. We feel, as developers, it's not just software - it's life, and it should affect you in the most positive way it can.

We got a lot of feedback from the initial live-action teasers that we released - some of it bad, most of it good. They were there to simply show that this is more than just Blood on steroids - it's a totally new remake inspired by the classic game. We poured more than our wallets into this - we poured an entire generation of 80's and 90's influenced material - when things were original and fun. We know you will love both the original and extended cuts of the trailer*.

We know you will all enjoy it very much come the 2nd. We hope it inspires and pumps you all up for a feat of a lifetime. We loved making it - we know you'll love watching it.

I want to thank Diehard GameFAN for taking on the role of PR and media distribution - hopefully this trailer reaches a wider audience than our underground teaser did and lets them know that "retro is the new black". I want to thank the entire cast and crew for the live-action shots, and of course my TDGMods developers and OST Strike Team crew for being so dedicated and loving. I could not have made this dream a reality without them. Kudos to my brother Kyle, who helped me direct the live-action shots.

We're still a long way off of a release - a year and so to be exact, but these trailers should keep you all entertained for months to come.

Keep your eyes peeled.

We Live Again.

*ATBT Productions will produce/release the extended cut of the trailer, without TDGMods'/DieHard's involvement. It will include all of the live action footage shot [as opposed to what's in the main release] and some gameplay footage not seen in the initial trailer [with some earlier revisions shot inbetween May and October of the game's development], which won't coincide with the main release. They will also be cutting together a "Behind the Making Of" featurette that will include outtakes and alternate footage.*

4 Days!

As promised, here's more media!

You'll find our remodel of the Boomstick to the right - this is to replace the Transfusion boomstick. If you look closely this isn't even the boomstick from the retail Blood but actually another version...

To the right now is the puke particles that the Butcher's emit. These particles were donated from Patrick Pineda (thanks dude!). I love the light that they cast. You can also see vague hints of our new PUFF code in the very, very background.

Few more days left - keep a lookout!!!

Team Member wanted: COAL Programmer!

Due to a departure from a team member (on personal grounds), we're looking for another Heads Up Display/Logic programmer. The language is no longer LUA - let me explain why.

As indicated in the contest post, we were formerly looking for a LUA programmer, but last minute changes in the code resulted in LUA being pulled and us left with no HUD, and only a few days from trailer release. It was replaced by COAL, which you can find limited documentation here. COAL shares similar syntax with LUA but it is completely different.

There is also documentation here.

Since this is a new language we were unable to learn it quickly enough, and our HUD programmer left right before we could implement a simple HUD for the trailer, so as a result, there will be no heads-up display in the game media for a long time. Parts of the trailer will show a HUD - other parts will not.

We are in dire need of a HUD programmer, so if you can fill the slot, please don't hesitate to let us know!

5 day countdown!

The goal here is to post something new every day until the 31st, when our trailer is released. Last night I ended up coding 150 Blood SFX into the engine in under an hour - we mean business. =)

Here's a few shots of the grand map Fiend is working on.


The good thing about the game is that everyone is working hard on what they need to. It's really coming together, as old and new faces join efforts to get this awesome remake out of the door.

Here's hoping for the best. Keep checking back, and visit the forums because we post a lot of updates there that we don't post here!

Official Hypertension theme song!

As the trailer release date approaches, more material will start pouring out. This is one of many new things about the game to be revealed.

Mindburner [Alan Watkins], the most recent artist to join Hypertension's OST Strike Team, has contributed his song, "Your Slave", as the theme song to Hypertension. He will also be writing much new material for the game. Avenpitch is still set to write the other theme song.

The reason we chose this is simple - the lyrics completely connect Hypertension's main points together. Caleb's personality and the overall atmosphere is perfectly captured in the song. As one of the lyrics say, "Slave to Love in a Pitch Black Grave to Love", is Caleb's life story. The beat, tempo, vocals are absolutely spot-on.


I have uploaded the theme song to the music player, so go check it out now!

A little background about Mindburner,

Mindburner, AKA Alan Watkins, has been producing electronic music for the past 15 years. He owns several vintage synthesizers and enjoys playing them very much. He involves various styles in his music, and incorporates influences from early 1980s electronic pioneers such as John Foxx, Gary Numan, and others. His music generally ends up being about the darker side of life: the half shadow, the unanswered question, or the hidden fear. These emotions drive him to write and produce.

"Your Slave" is Mindburner's latest album, and this free download contains seven new tracks. Despite his music being about "the darker side of life," "Your Slave" is not a dreary, plodding exercise in introspection. Instead, it's a catchy electronic album with just a hint of the darkness. You can feel a bit of it in the music, but unless you listen closely to the lyrics, you won't notice just how dark the themes of the album are.

Without delay - march your ass to the music player (middle of the page)!

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The Ice Brutalizes the Scotch...

Nothing like a little alcohol to lift your spirits! (or maybe your Spirit Armor?) ;)

Just grinding, working as fast as we can to make sure the game is going to run just right for the footage capture.

Full speed ahead!

We're still moving forward! Remember to keep in touch at our forums!

Here's a shot to soothe the nerves. Nothing like a Gargoyle blowing in through the glass of that shot! As you can see...he was promptly taken care of ;)

So we're really grinding down here, as DieHard GameFAN is going to release our still unfinished Hypertension Trailer worldwide. There is even more stuff to check out and we know the gameplay will leave you all wanting more. It's truly different, yet the same, from Blood. But I'll let the video talk.

Budgeting for the live action shots went waaayyy over budget and, as a result, the video quality will suffer as we have less time in post-production.

Here's hoping for the best. Look for the worldwide debut of the Hypertension 2009 Trailer, coming to a gaming platform near you!!

Discuss this story at our forums!

Game moving forward

As usual, just letting you all know that the game is moving forward, as planned. October 31st is still the Trailer Release Date, so hopefully we'll get on that soon.

Remember, stay in touch and visit the forums!
-CA

Hypertension Teaser Trailers released! Two of them!!

In honor of the blog's 200th post, and all the crap that finally turned into gold the last few weeks, I present you with none other than...





Enjoy!!

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Production shots

I'm releasing two production shots for Hypertension. I hope you enjoy!

Main server went down

For some reason our main server went down. We're working to restore it. So I guess it's back to posting developmental tidbits here until the forums come back online.

Here's a shot that I think really lets you know what we're aiming for in Hypertension. Dark, ambient, moody. What is really out there to get you? Do you want to know?

This is the Boggy Creek level that we redid in the game, btw.

Heads Up Display Contest! Free stuff for 1st Prize!

Well, we're in that phase people!

Since Hypertension allows for an almost infinite amount of HUD selections (with only 3 selectable in-game: classic Blood, Hypertension, and another), we're opening a contest to the public. That's right - your design can show up in this awesome game, and we'll even put the HUD as the default in the game's logic upon startup!

Whoever can come up with the coolest and most innovative HUD design will receive a free, working Sega Genesis (model 2 only) or a Sega Game Gear*! That's right, one of the most awesome game consoles of all time (with a free game** and controller, with cords!), and an exclusive sneak-peek trailer of Hypertension! A breakthrough gaming console for its generation, for a few hours of awesomeness! Interested yet?

The rules? Here ya go:

1) Your submission must be original. Inspirational designs are fine.
2) You MUST include a mock-up of the HUD submitted. We have a screenshot here that you can use as a template. You can either use modern designs, or blast us into the past with a 90's inspired HUD (think Hexen, Blood, Duke3d, etc). Nothing too simplistic looking, though. Creativity is a huge plus here.
3) You MUST describe your HUD in absolute detail, so we can program it in as closely as possible. Please, no submissions like, "Here's my HUD. Have fun." How are we supposed to work with that? ;)
4) We use LUA to program our HUD. For a simple manual on how LUA ties into the Doom engine's game logic (if you want), visit this link.
5) All submissions will be heavily reviewed. There might be a few cases where we'll get a really awesome HUD, but it's so complex that we can't program it. Aw, shucks!
6) You can also increase your chances of winning by submitting HUD effects, such as rain hitting the player, or the player getting shot or axed in the face. We can also animate static HUD effects.
7) All submissions must be true alpha transparent PNG images only. You can use JPG to submit but the actual graphics will have to already be transparent PNG, tested. We do not limit scale since we can do that in the game engine. Please, nothing muddy looking.

8) This contest will only be available to residents in North America. We cannot prize submitters from overseas, although if you think your HUD can make it in the game, we'll include it in (with appropriate credits)!

The consoles are NTSC, not PAL.

*The Sega Game Gear will not come with a power cord, the battery unit cover, or a game. Just the stock unit.
*The Sega Genesis will come with one game, one controller, and power/TV cords. Sorry, we only have the old-school screw-in RF unit, but I think TV's still come with this.
**Both Sega gaming units are used, and might look worn (nothing too horrible), but otherwise work fine. Come on, early 90's gaming never tried to look pretty like the new stuff. ^^
**The Game selection: Sonic the Hedgehog, Batman Forever, Sonic 3 (!), Alien 3, or Mortal Kombat. Sorry for the lack of selection but one is better than none! Whichever game you choose will come with a small cheat sheet (mAyBe thAt blood Code will come in hAndy, Because Blood rules! ;)

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