Comments on: Review: Aldon's Crossing

The Palm OS RPG market has grown by leaps and bounds, following the processing power of our little machines all the way up. By now, the market is full of many selections, some of which are worth a second look, and others not worth even installing. Aldon's Crossing falls quite solidly into the first category. Read More in this detailed review by PIC forum Moderator Saw9000.

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Palm OS shouldn't be limited like that...

s_n_m @ 11/16/2002 9:26:39 AM #

The Palm OS is good enough for smooth game boy color graphics, why do you think it is choppy?

Ran out of developement time?

Knick knack Cadillac give a dawg a bone.

RE: Palm OS shouldn't be limited like that...

Davy Fields @ 11/16/2002 12:24:11 PM #

Ehh... story wins out over Graphics. I'll take that trade anyday, too many flashy games aren't fun or intresting enough, so a good game doesn't need good graphics. A 320x320 Color version of this would be killer though.

-Davy Fields
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Palm_OS_5/

RE: Palm OS shouldn't be limited like that...

abosco @ 11/16/2002 12:41:50 PM #

"The Palm OS is good enough for smooth game boy color graphics, why do you think it is choppy?

Ran out of developement time?"

I would say it's like this because it is low-res greyscale. It would look really weird if you saw moving legs because it would probably look like a large amoeba walking across the screen instead of a person.

The game seems fun, the graphics seem OK, and it looks like a good role playing game overall.

Great review, Scott!

---
This signature is witty. You like it.

RE: Palm OS shouldn't be limited like that...

mermogoat @ 11/16/2002 1:22:24 PM #

I agree with the comment about trading the graphics for a good story. I miss the old days of Final Fantasy 4, 5, 6, and Chrono Trigger on Super Nintendo :) Simple graphics but the best storys and gameplay ever. I'm kinda sad now that we are in the days of 3D games when it comes to RPG's... I'm old school all the way.

RE: Palm OS shouldn't be limited like that...

saw9000 @ 11/17/2002 2:57:05 PM #

"Ehh... story wins out over Graphics. I'll take that trade anyday, too many flashy games aren't fun or intresting enough, so a good game doesn't need good graphics. "
Quite agreed, Davy. I like a good story line when I play a game. Good graphics wow me the first time, but the wow factor doesn't last.
Scott

HandEra Moderator
Off-Topic Moderator
I'm trying to be PC, I really am, but I'm just too into handhelds.

RE: Palm OS shouldn't be limited like that...

iain.collins @ 11/18/2002 1:53:25 PM #

I would assert that modern good game should have good graphics. Good sound, good gameplay, good graphics are all part of a good game.

If a game has poor sound, poor graphics and good gameplay, it's a poor game (as is a game with good graphics, good sound and poor gameplay). Game developers should not be excused poor graphics in the name of nostalgia. It should also be be noted is 'good' is relative to the the realistic technological possibilities at the time.

Games with truly polished graphics are typically indicative of time and attention spent on the game. Games with poor or rough graphics are typically indicative of little time spent on the game.

The same is broadly true of any software and applies to realms outside of software development entirely. Good presentation indicates that some at least attention was paid to detail. Poor presentation usually demonstrates with certainty that attention to detail was not paid.

In any case, the reality of the software market means that if a piece of software, and this particularly applies to games, does not look appealing then consumers will spend their money elsewhere.

OS 5

ptc @ 11/16/2002 2:42:36 PM #

I emailed the Constant Games website and got a nice reply from the developer Anthony Davis. He said the current version (1.0.5) is OS 5 compatible, and that he is working on a high-res version of the game with new graphics. I've heard so many good things about this game, so I'm really looking forward to a high-res version.

Sounds kind of like Kyle's Quest, which I loved, but nobody seems to be making new adventures for these days.

_________
Paul C.

RE: OS 5

masitti @ 11/17/2002 1:49:02 PM #

I never really play adventure/RPG's on a PDA - I use the games on the PDA to pass a few minutes by - while waiting in school, waiting for haircut, etc. Not to spend hours and hours going deep into a game. :)

------------------------
Mario Masitti
O/T Mod
I Love Tennis :)

PiDirect II

sandbuck @ 11/16/2002 4:41:06 PM #

Does anyone PiTech;s plans (if any) for this product under OS 5?

RE: PiDirect II

rvdw @ 11/16/2002 5:33:07 PM #

See: http://www.palminfocenter.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=8314

I love this game,.

helf @ 11/17/2002 4:12:50 PM #

The best rpg for palm :D

The game looks wonderful in color .

Why didn't you use color pics ryan ?

RE: I love this game,.

saw9000 @ 11/17/2002 6:12:40 PM #

I used the game on my HandEra 330 when I was testing it, so all the screenshots are greyscale.
Scott

HandEra Moderator
Off-Topic Moderator
I'm trying to be PC, I really am, but I'm just too into handhelds.

RE: I love this game,.

helf @ 11/17/2002 7:29:45 PM #

oh.. woops. Don't know why I put ryan :)

RE: I love this game,.

bcombee @ 11/18/2002 3:46:42 AM #

I tried the trial version of the game, and it looks like a pretty standard RPG, with some good elements. However, I wish the programmers had spent a little more time fixing user interface bugs. Its not that the dialogs don't work, but they aren't laid out to follow Palm OS user interface guidelines, and may have some hidden bugs.

1) Dialogs aren't bottom justified and full-width. While Palm OS allows this for a top-level dialog, screen redraws may malfunction if a dialog is popped up over a nonstandard dialog.

2) Buttons aren't spaced nicely in many dialogs.

3) Some places should be using popup triggers rather than buttons.

4) In general, you put your choice text directly in buttons, rather than putting buttons next to choices. This shows up a lot in the "multiple choice" dialogs.

5) Finally, there are buttons that use bold borders -- while supported by Palm OS, the user interface guidelines say your shouldn't use these.

I don't think programmer's should be slaves to the guidelines, but its better to follow them when your alternative isn't any better.

--
Ben Combee, CodeWarrior for Palm OS technical lead
Programming help at www.palmoswerks.com

RE: I love this game,.

iain.collins @ 11/18/2002 2:10:54 PM #

I agree with Ben Combee's comments.

Though I haven't played enough of the game to want to comment on the gameplay in detail, the user interface shows poor alignment in the widgets and poor layout (and would indicate to me the developer needs to spend more time learning about User Interface design, a remarkably important field often overlooked on small software).

Most software has people dedicated to the User Interface design and modern console games, who's entire developer and artist compliment might be 10-20, typically have 3 people dedicated full time (a manager, designer and graphics artist) to such seemingly trivial things like the main menu, the options screen and the on screen HUD.

It's very certainly not the wose I've seen and is all correctable (unlike some games where the entire system is irreparably poor) but it does need more work. In addition to poor layout of widgets, the game does not nearly make good use of the available screen real estate IMO.

I look forward to a re-released hi-resolution version in the hope that UI will also be addressed (though I have some fear it will not be).

PS: Ed, you might want to consider putting color screen shots in reviews. Completely regardless of the reviewers personal views or personal choice of handheld, people focus on visuals first and make snap judgments, it's biological imperative and unavoidable. I believe it's unfair to put the product it it's most unfavorable light when the software does run in color and there is a significant difference (if that were not so we would still be using grayscale monitors, televisions and cameras).

I would also add that, IMO, the users with the most money to throw around (and those most keen on Palm gaming - all in all meaning those most likely to buy the product) will also have a color device...

RE: I love this game,.

helf @ 11/18/2002 2:31:36 PM #

um..no.. The games interface is perfect the way it is.

RE: I love this game,.

saw9000 @ 11/18/2002 3:33:57 PM #

Personally, I'm quite fond of the UI as it stands, as I stated in the review.
Ed doesn't work here any more. I am Scott and I did the review. I used a HandEra 330 to do it, because I had no color device at the time.
Scott

HandEra Moderator
Off-Topic Moderator
I'm trying to be PC, I really am, but I'm just too into handhelds.

RE: I love this game,.

nightslide @ 11/21/2002 12:39:16 AM #

I agree, i liked the UI as well, nicely laid out, and most importantly, customizable.

I also agree that you should add color screenshots, and PLEASE, try out the new graphics, they are very nice.

RE: I love this game,.

thepalmist @ 12/3/2002 7:54:50 PM #

I love this game as well. I am puzzled by the follow up comments concerning the game. IMHO the ui is great. I have played it for some time. It is one thing to contemplate what would be good in games in general but this is a Palm OS game. Many people including me played Kyle's Quest and loved it. It had graphics one step above stick men. This game ups the anti quite a bit on what I now expect out of a Palm OS rpg and I don't buy very many Palm games in spite of the fact that I have a color palm. I bet if you play it for a while you'll like it a lot.

What's also great is the wonderful customer service that the developers provide and the forums on their site where if you get stuck help is easy to get...

http://www.constantgames.com/forums/