Hi.
Seriously an awesome game. I might pre-ordre it or buy it when the full version comes out. Better sounds would be great, but well, I care more about the game play which I really like.
The only thing which really frustrated me is I can't find out how to save the game. Each time I load my saved game by pressing the control key, I'm in my house, and I can't move.
I can't wait to play the mac version. It's going to be awesome. Keep up the good work, and I'll go back to the demo.

Well, finally got around to trying this one, and very pleased I am.

it's lovely to see a game in audio ala zelda or secret of mana, ie, an action rpg, and to all those who question this genre's strategic bennifit, well by the time you have multiple attacks, weapon ranges, armour, resistance and goodness knows what you have a very complex type of game going.

I understand that this is a fairly rough demo and matters such as the synth speech acting and some of the sfx are thus far place holders (I'd be glad to help with voice acting myself, I have had experience in other games, and indeed on stage too).

As regards the game generally a few observations.

Firstly, I love the bickering with scout, really makes scout an actual character in the game, ---- in fact just you might even considder keeping scout with a synth voice sinse for him/her/it sounding robotic and over excited sort of works ;D.

I also gather there is actual story in this game, which deffinately gets my vote.

On to other matters though.

My two biggest concerns at the moment are the problem of enemies and the problem of audio.

Thus far, there really aren't enough enemies to see how combat works, or whether you can here where they are before they attack you. If factors such as attack range are to be added later, with enemies who fire arrows, you'll need some sort of spacially positioned sound to identify them, especially if the plan is to have enough enemies to make the spin attack worth while.

I didn't notice much sterrio pan used in the game, either for enemies, attacks or obstacles accept for the boss's bombs, and I stil need to work out that boss myself, sinse I seemed to get hit rather a lot even though the bombs weren't near me, as it sounded as if I got punched I presume I was too close, ---- though I don't object to this sinse any boss who is beatable first time isn't worth their evil speeches ;D.

So, that's my thought on panning audio.

You might also considder addng some audio ambience, eg, wind sounds of varying levels to show space around the character.

Entombed for instance uses wind from the left or right speakers to show space west or east, and high or low pitched wind to show space north or south.

While I'm not suggesting this directly, some distinguishing features for the various areas and the space around you (particularly in dungeons with many rooms), would be deffinately appreciated as both a navigation aide and to increase ambience of the game.

My second issue, is all the speech. The jumps thus far feel more mechanical than anything, in fact the hole game has far more the feeling of a top down rpg than a platform game. Part of the reason for this is all the speech saying "dangerous drop" etc.

Perhaps, if you want platforming to be any sort of major element, you might considder an alternative system which automates the process less or gives the player more control, and also a system where by dangerous vs none dangerous dropoffs can be heard by sound, rather than simply described (this imho does take away from the atmosphere).

The cut scenes and speech are very well written, and I don't mind the identifying of obstacles such as cave walls by speech (though having consistancy here as has been said so that steps to temples don't suddenly turn into walls for no reason would be appreciated), but to have the platform sections work in this way just feels as if the game is being simplified for vi players, ---- which is obviously not your intention.

I'd therefore suggest either removing platforming rather the way a game like zelda didn't have any, and replacing it with bridges, stair cases and the like, or making it more free form with the ability to jump in four directions, and some more sound based indications of when your approaching a drop off, edge, climblable platform etc.

I also did notice the find and speech system was a litle buggy, particularly when being interupted, and also encountered the problem with the guards sinse I talked to the guard by the bridge first, then decided to explore the area (which effectively got me stuck and meant I had to start again), but sinse people have already mentioned these issues I won't repeat them here.

All in all very nice game, as I said, I'll be glad to help (particularly with voice acting), and will certainly considder buying or preordering the game, ---- probably after the next update of the demo.

It's really fantastic someone is developing a game of this sort, sinse we don't currently have an action rpg game at all, so best of luck to you with the project.

Icks, I still can't find all of the crystals. I think the most I've gotten is 14, but I usually can only find 13.

(Oy, I suppose I should set the JFIMA to actually have an ending and put up a Beta, since the genre is similar but the mechanics are pretty different).

Even if the voice was specifically that of scout, that would stil strike me as a litle too Vi specialist, eg, giving you vocal instructions just with an in game explanation, ---- coolthough scout undoubtedly is in the cutscenes.

Spoilage possibly ahoy!

As to the crystals Cae, well I'm not sure sinse I found all 15 myself, but I do wonder if you found all of the ones outside the entrance to the cave sinse if you go streight from the river bridge to the entrance you'll miss a couple.

Actually finding the crystals and doing those switch puzles was for me one of the best points of the game, ---- though I would've liked some more enemies to play with while doing that.

Finally found them all.
The bossfight is certainly tricky at first, but I definitely like the puzzly nature of it.

I actually like the current sound quality; it helps create the feel of something from the Legend of Zelda era. Actually, it makes me think of something that would run on Windows95.

I'm certainly interested in the full version; might look into preordering this weekend.

(Someone asked for a recording? I don't know if I can get it to work, since it doesn't really like having other programs open, but I wanna try, so let's see what happens. )
[edit] Well, this is what I wound up with: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/16520690/airekdemo.mp3 
; I couldn't really change the settings when I saved it, so I think it wound up in mono. [/edit]

I wonder how many areas will the full game have?
also has anyone else noted it says there was a wall or there was the person to talk to almost like they are dead now lol

If you pre-order the full version, you are essentially purchasing all versions of the game. Aside from Airik the Cleric 2, which is technically a sequel to be released in the late Fall, and that's a totally separate game, so that would need to be repurchased,
but once Airik the Cleric is pre-ordered, then you will not have to order it again, both mac and windows versions will be available to you, although the mac version releases slightly after the windows version, it will not have to be re-purchased.
This also includes any new updates and expansions to the game's world or quality. They will not have to be repurchased.
The price will always be very affordable too, but will increase slightly after the release so it is a better idea to reserve it for less.

For those asking previously, the game doesn't assist jumping as a way of over-assisting the accessibility, but rather
because it's a known feature from the Zelda games (automatic jumping) which, in Airik the Cleric, is assisted in the same way, but requires the jump button to be pressed, which is better than simply walking off the edge to make the character jump, but both are useful and good.

Unless I'm very much mistaken, this game's platforming isn't all that close to Zelda-style. In Zelda, you can freely run off an edge and, if you fall too far, get hurt or whatnot. In Airik the Cleric, you're warned every time you come to an edge, so as long as both edge and platform are static, there is essentially zero risk of being hurt. Now, if the game ever involves moving platforms (stuff that rises and sinks, or moves on tracks/moves in specific patterns in relation to where you have to get), that's a little different, but still. I'm not criticizing either, but the only way I actually got hurt in the demo was by enemies hitting me. I'd rather hear a sound than hear text when approaching a gap, whether it's jumpable, a drop-off or something else, but that's me. I'm fully aware that as the game's still just a demo, there are lots of things to potentially look forward to.

I'm with Dark where pre-ordering is concerned. I want to, but I don't know how much difference to expect, so hopefully we can see another demo with a little more playability involved. I may pre-order anyway, but it'd definitely be nice to see a bit more of the complexities of the engine beforehand.

how many areas will the game have? how long do you hope for it to be before the macintosh version is out?
It would be good to see another demo particularly with voice actors etc.

Hi dark,
thank you very much for explaining how it works. So, I tried it but if I want to send the money it says error but I can't see what it is. Do you know what that could be?

Janagirl!

Hi Dark,
OK, I found out that the error is. I'll try it again. Thanks for helping again.

Janagirl!