Upcoming Stuff
7 years ago
I've been keeping busy every day with animation and recently learned a program called DVDStyler. I was toying with the idea of making an interactive DVD in which the viewer can choose the outcome on a Super Mega Fox cartoon. Knowing it would be a massive undertaking wasn't so much an issue. I would have to create enough animation to cover every direction or choice that a player might choose. The real problem is after testing some early stages, I realized it was in fact, fucking annoying to have to stop watching to make a decision. It kind of takes the viewer out of the story and forces them back into the real world, only to be thrown back into the story again. So, I'm shelving that idea for now and still working on the next episode (90% complete).
I'm going back to the idea of releasing a standard DVD, hopefully by the end of the year.
I'm going back to the idea of releasing a standard DVD, hopefully by the end of the year.
FA+

You could try doing it Dragon's Lair style.
1) The story segment provides "clues" to the options at the upcoming choice, ex: SMF is running down the street, chased by a supersized PMS. we get an over-the-head shot looking down the street. a storefront door on the left flashes, as does an alley entrance on the right, and a bit of the road further down the street than both.
2) There is an on-screen countdown timer showing the window when the choice can be made, it can be the same style throughout, or vary based on the environment. ex: a shrinking green "progress bar" at the bottom of the screen, or SMF's face turning blue as she holds her breath underwater, waiting for your choice.
3) One of the choices will be set as the 'default' if no valid input is received before time runs out. ex: in the running down the street scene, continuing straight would be the default.
And Dragon's Lair was actually one of the first interactive games for the early DVD player, the controls mapped pretty well, as the DVD remote had four directional arrows and an OK button for 'Sword.'
Not saying you should dive back into the interactive DVD right away, just offering some inspiration and insight. Speaking of insight:
1a) the number of options should be kept small at each branch to keep from confusing the player (and overworking the animator), 2-3 choices should be the norm (set gun to Grow or Shrink) (Dive into the shop on the left, the alley on the right, or keep fleeing straight). 4-5 choices should be rare (aim the gun as PMS's chest (OK)[default] head (UP) hips/ass (DN) the prof hiding behind the bush (Left) or the car mirror, where SMF can see her own face/ aim the shot at yourself (right))