J-Rod, the Guide and Informer of Thrive.

So. Way back under the control of Sven the Terrible, we invented a little concept named J-rod. He/she/it/whatever is a guide of sorts, informing you on current events and acting as a sort of encyclopedia. Now, we could double J-rod as a tool for teaching the world's... not-so-intelligent youth by integrating fun gameplay and learning using Mr. Rod here.


Anyway, I haven't read about J-rod in ages, so the concept is a bit rusty in my head. Correct me if I got anything wrong.



Also, it seems I've done your job for you again, Scio.


(The J stands for Joseph. The Rod stands for Rod.)

If you are going to make him, just make sure he can be turned off right at the start. I hate guides that are trying to "help" me when I can figure it out easily.

Why is his name joseph?

But anyway, J-Rod was basically your help system in-game. If you pressed the help button, he would come down from the sky and assist you, in an animaion sort of like a mars lander, with a parachute and landing rockets.

If you know me, you'll know I have stood against this idea from the start of this project (even when it was called Evolutions!) and will continue to do so.

Especially if he just drifts down in front of your creature like a mars lander. Sorry.

Noitulove wrote:

If you know me, you'll know I have stood against this idea from the start of this project (even when it was called Evolutions!) and will continue to do so.

Especially if he just drifts down in front of your creature like a mars lander. Sorry.

I sort of agree with that last bit, no lander. Thats just too much.

"Help, I'm being chased by a T-rex thing. I know, I'll use the help to tell be what to do. Nothing's happening. Hey, miles behind me now, because I've been sprinting, is a lander. Yay, achievement achieved!

I've been eaten! The help failed me !"

I suppose that is a bit of a problem. I still like the Idea of J-rod, it just gives the game a little personality.

But the game should freeze when you press help and he appears.

The Uteen wrote:

But the game should freeze when you press help and he appears.

Sure, why not.

Now that you are talking about freezing time, this J-Rod reminds me of G-Man in Half-Life 2.

That makes two of use Noit. If we make this game right, I can't see why we need a cheesy J-Rod to irritate us in our game. It reminds me of that Belgium paper clip in Word (I think that's where it was). That was just doing my head in.

Also, for the record, the last forum (the one after Evo and Dictator Sven) was the first time I've heard of this J-Rod.

Basically, if a person is totally confused with our game, their either too young or too stupid to play games. (Sorry if I'm being harsh)

ADMIN wrote:

Why is his name joseph?

It was a joke.



'Rod should have:


On-Off switch

Freeze time

NOT come up automatically- must be summoned

Is not represented by any actual object in-game.

Should not have a body.

Should only be text or a voice. Preferably text.

Exactly, Zim. J-Rod is basically the help file. You click help through the game menu, and J-Rod's computer screen will appear. Of course, what makes it more than a help file is that J-Rod will know what situation you are in at that moment and bring that up first, and will also offer hints, strategies, and anything else helpful to the game. Think of him like the Civilopedia and Advisors or Popups in the Civilization games.

Some things J-Rod might say:

"Your people in (SC Name Here) are growing restless. Increase order by improving happiness levels or increasing military presence or you might find yourself with a rebellion on your hands!"

"Your species is learning to use tools! This is a big step on the journey to sapience!"

"Your relations with (Nation Name Here) are rapidly worsening. You might want to consider some diplomacy options or preparing for war."

Words in bold would have links to corresponding articles in J-Rod's file.

J-Rod would NOT be a physical presence in the game, only to the player. He would NOT be annoying or permanent. He WOULD be a helpful way to keep track of your gameplay and it's actions, especially in later stages. He WOULD be more like a notification box than a tutorial.

That's how i see J-Rod.

i think the way to he should be summoned is that there would be a bar or button on your in-game menu, click it and he pops up (idk what he would look like, maybe a floating head of some sort or just a silhouetted shape) and he gives u advice on what your current situation is. although what should his voice sound like? or we could probably just choose text and as a tribute to old video games he could make beeping noises while he talks (or not i guess).

US_of_Alaska wrote:

Exactly, Zim. J-Rod is basically the help file. You click help through the game menu, and J-Rod's computer screen will appear. Of course, what makes it more than a help file is that J-Rod will know what situation you are in at that moment and bring that up first, and will also offer hints, strategies, and anything else helpful to the game. Think of him like the Civilopedia and Advisors or Popups in the Civilization games.

Some things J-Rod might say:

"Your people in (SC Name Here) are growing restless. Increase order by improving happiness levels or increasing military presence or you might find yourself with a rebellion on your hands!"

"Your species is learning to use tools! This is a big step on the journey to sapience!"

"Your relations with (Nation Name Here) are rapidly worsening. You might want to consider some diplomacy options or preparing for war."

Words in bold would have links to corresponding articles in J-Rod's file.

J-Rod would NOT be a physical presence in the game, only to the player. He would NOT be annoying or permanent. He WOULD be a helpful way to keep track of your gameplay and it's actions, especially in later stages. He WOULD be more like a notification box than a tutorial.

That's how i see J-Rod.

I think that's a good idea, J-rod basically being a help file that tracks your gameplay.

~sciocont wrote:

US_of_Alaska wrote:

Exactly, Zim. J-Rod is basically the help file. You click help through the game menu, and J-Rod's computer screen will appear. Of course, what makes it more than a help file is that J-Rod will know what situation you are in at that moment and bring that up first, and will also offer hints, strategies, and anything else helpful to the game. Think of him like the Civilopedia and Advisors or Popups in the Civilization games.

Some things J-Rod might say:

"Your people in (SC Name Here) are growing restless. Increase order by improving happiness levels or increasing military presence or you might find yourself with a rebellion on your hands!"

"Your species is learning to use tools! This is a big step on the journey to sapience!"

"Your relations with (Nation Name Here) are rapidly worsening. You might want to consider some diplomacy options or preparing for war."

Words in bold would have links to corresponding articles in J-Rod's file.

J-Rod would NOT be a physical presence in the game, only to the player. He would NOT be annoying or permanent. He WOULD be a helpful way to keep track of your gameplay and it's actions, especially in later stages. He WOULD be more like a notification box than a tutorial.

That's how i see J-Rod.

I think that's a good idea, J-rod basically being a help file that tracks your gameplay.

Well, a help button wouldn't hurt. But I just don't think a lot of our players will use it.

YourBreakfast wrote:

~sciocont wrote:

I think that's a good idea, J-rod basically being a help file that tracks your gameplay.

Well, a help button wouldn't hurt. But I just don't think a lot of our players will use it.

I know i will. I couldn't live without my notification box and the civilopedia on Civ IV.

He needs a better name.

J-Rod? Maybe Can He Take Form Of Your Conscience and help you When Confused Like How The Gameplay Works etc.

Loner wrote:

J-Rod? Maybe Can He Take Form Of Your Conscience and help you When Confused Like How The Gameplay Works etc.

Um...conscience? No, I think we were going for more of just a help-thing, rather than J-Rod conflicting with your consience.

I'm forgetting what consience means, anyway. Oh, and please learn about capitalization.

Sorry. Just some idea

How about an ominous fade in window that narrates the game?

Everyone should remember

Clippy.

roadkillguy wrote:

How about an ominous fade in window that narrates the game?

Everyone should remember

Clippy.

Yeah, I mentioned that Spore (new cuss) on the first page. I HATE CLIPPY!!!

What a spore he is.. haha that's fun!

Or Maybe he can be a manifestation (Looks like your creature or microbe) of your creature like in the society stage he or whatever could be your advisor

He needs a new name. I will list some.


Minerva (Greek godess of wisdom)
Help Screen
Atlas (Reference spam)
The All-Knowing Mind
Jeff
Help-o-tron
The Mind
Martha, your assistant
Any other normal name.
Chuck Norris



...At this point I'm just typing to make the list longer...

EDIT: Scio, I thought you replaced Belgium with Spore!