Maybe the main menu is a portal itself, where Abe is looking through! :o

I think that's thinking a bit too deep about it haha, personally it reminded me of the intro to The Muppet Show where Kermit opens up the O and speaks to the audience, just like Abe talks to the gamer.

Now you're thinking with portals.

doh ho ho.

But really, thats a clever way of putting it. I like how it looks like the old stone from the main menu. I mean, that kind of stone and stuff was rarely seen anywhere else in the game except for when in some areas. Its more tribal imo and personally it looks really powerful. I cant stop watching the loop lol. Hell yeah im excited.

I think the idea is nice, and, since you mentioned discussing tweaks, I think it's a good idea to make the portal a bit more... ghosty. I mean giving the stones transparency and tinting the whole portal a bit blue. The transparency would make it look less like sci-fi construction like a Stargate and the blue color would fit the spiritual nature of the portal more.

I think the entire point is it does look like a Stargate. If it can transport a bunch of Mudokons, there's no reason a few pounds of stone can't go with them.

Oh God. Stop.

Omg dat portal.

Omg dat cartoon.

Omg Oddworld.

laser plasma security device
 

First off, I'd like to join the chorus in applauding crowbarska's solution for the motion sensor system at the beginning of Stockyard Escape. And props to those who came up with the portal design.

I am left wondering if this same carcass scanner solution will be used for the tower based motion scanners, which appear later on in Stockyard Escape, as well.

Something I'd like to see in Oddworld: Abe's Exoddus -- New 'n' Tasty! is something akin to this Japanese 3D laser plasma display. Lots more details can be found in this pdf.

Greeters, for instance, could use a two stage version of this technology. Low power lasers for creating a "detection" plasma beam and then high power lasers for an "annihilation" beam.

Or, this type of tech might be reserved for a wholly new "toy" for the Magog Cartel. Perhaps, instead of a device merely meant to detect motion, it might be a device meant to detect any mudokon outside of its designated work zone. Once the device detects an errant mudokon, it might need, say, half a minute to charge the second laser plasma system, which would subsequently emit a plasma ball of death. Such a device might yield new kinds of puzzles. To give the tech a little more history, perhaps the device was originally designed for stunning cattle (scrabs and paramites) and subsequently re-purposed for keeping workers in line.

Oh NOW you all like the new portal. I liked it before it was cool.

I liked it before it was anything because I had trust in JAW - and for me, any design change would be refreshing at the very least.

I loved Abe's Oddysee, but this isn't Abe's Oddysee.

Nah, you didn't say you didn't like it before hand, so you're fine.

You're saying you didn't like it because it was good, but because it's new? That's dumb

Winner.

No, what I'm saying is regardless of whether or not the design itself was good I'd like the idea of experiencing something new since this is a new game. Far too many people seem to be forgetting the fact that the people making the game want to make something enjoyable, just as much as we ourselves want to enjoy what we play.

Ooo while @jaw_alex is still here, any chance you could let us know why/what was the reason to make Shrykull moveable? Screen limitations? To make him/her/it more awesome?

Thanks :D

Oh, and will there be easter eggs for us insane fans here lol. I figure if the devs are here, I can pester as much as I can because I cant stay for very long lol.

Shrykull? All the boards around here say he's just a myth! We'll maybe come back to Shrykull nearer launch.

The best thing about finding little hidden treasures in videogames is that you're not told that they're there before you stumble upon them. :)

What boards?

Poor jaw_alex will soon be asked to write up a document about every tiny detail on the damn game soon.

The whiteboards around the office? The ones I got told not to look at. :tard:

Like this one?

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.n...22599531_o.jpg

I would like to read that. No matter what is on there.

I guess jaw_alex is referring to the big LED displays in RuptureFarms.

Oooooh...

Well now I feel dumb. :fuzzle:

AND THEY'D BETTER ADD THEM OR...

If Sam's big 'ole floppy tits aren't in game I'm not buying it.

It was promised to us that AbeHD will be a dating simulator. Can't back that off now.

http://www.oddworld.com/wp-content/u...-shots-ffz.jpg

New comparison. Thoughts?

Beat me to it! :D

Its lookin' good! I like the boombat silhouette and the old tribal sculptures are pretty neato too.

Makes me wonder if the game will have certain parts where a filter will go over the lens for effect. And Ratz bouncing around the joint too. They'd be neat too :)

I kind of dislike how the sky looks like a flat sheet of paper in the new one, like how all the clouds are on the same plane? Apart from that, though, it looks fucking awesome!

I agree about the sky, and the fact that the rest looks pretty neat.

Wow, I think this is the first time anything I've seen in the whole process has bugged me a bit; the screen just seems a bit...busy. Like, look at all those assets that look like they've been plonked down. I think the sky as well looks a bit 'meh', but then because of the fluid camera thing it's not like just this one inanimate screen any more, so I don't know, maybe when you play it it'll be fine. I kinda feel bad for pointing it out now...

Sorry JAW. ):

I agree with your comments. I didn't want to jump in and criticize the photo straight away (because more often than not having an opinion about something on the good ol' Oddworld Forums is strictly prohibited, along with fun and ice-cream) but this screenshot looks rather "meh".

I completely agree about the flatness of the sky, and the whole scene looks rather overcrowded. I'd say the atmosphere's been missed on this one guys.

Hmm. Too much colors...
The red/orange fire + green mushrom + blue sky + white fog/fireflies is way too much.
I think the overall lighting is great, I always felt the original to be too dark to be real, so I like it that it's a little bit brighter now :)

GIF time? GIF time.

http://i.imgur.com/IBmM0mh.gif

My eyes just ejaculated.

That camera pan is ace. Nice to see the sky in motion, really brings the area to life. I think the screenshot just didn't do it much justice.

Also, whilst JAW are doing a lot of thread-viewing, Be aware I'm critical because it's my unofficial job as a die-hard fan. People are gonna love the shit out of this game, regardless of a few extra objects on a screen. I just hope I'm in the game credits as "JAW's chief picky bastard".

Abe is jumping pretty fast....

I'm pretty sure the GIF is sped up...
Same goes for me. Just because we're not ass-kissing like everyone else it doesn't mean we don't love the shit out of the way it's looking right now (hint: we do). Also, holy shit, does that look good in motion.

Wow, thank you jaw_alex, seeing it move changes everything!

The only thing I would say is that for some reason I find that the fire and mushrooms are projecting a bit too much light compared to the original game. In the original you really had this "deep dark night" vibe that is now somewhat lost. And while I have to admit that the glowing shrooms look great, I think it just kind of changes the mood.

But apart from that it looks great :)


Also Pirfsich you can't base yourself on a gif to determine speed as they are not always playing at the same speed depending on the browser you are using.