TLSOE Released! Build 1 Rev 7

[TheLostSecret]

THE LOST SECRET OF EGYPT

Created by Mehrbod

Build 1 Revision 7

Builders: Mehrbod - Wolf 7 - MagPlus

After 2.5 years of adding features and a bunch of cool new stuff taken from LAU trilogy and brought to TRNG thanks to the power of plugin development, this project has been publically released on TRLE.NET on 18th of December 2019.

Plugin_Mehrbod_TRUFX is the main reason why I wanted to create a thread for my game. This plugin is in charge of processing almost everything in this TRLE game, and all of the new features from LAU trilogy that you see in this game is powered by this plugin I have written. As soon as the plugin has finished being tested and played by the kind players of TRLE community, I have a few plans for the future.

1. I have the plan you make this project OPEN SOURCE, both script and plugin code, so whoever is interested in TRNG scripting can also hone their skills in that aspect. Since I can tell you even the script of the game is powerful, I have the plan to share it with everyone after a specific period of time, for both players and programmers.

2. I also have the plan to publically share all of the relevant trigger data and my plugin SDK for plugin developers to let me know about the issues, bugs and recommendations they have in their mind related to this plugin.

The second reason why I wanted to make this thread is that since the game is a bit different in terms of lots of things, especially technically, it needs a lot of support, so if anyone has found any unreported bugs, glitches or has something in his mind to tell me, please feel free to write it down here. I will always be available to give support as much as I can.
Also, since I had very few beta testers ( only 3 ), I will be extremely grateful to know about minor issues or bugs inside the game. If you have questions about the gameplay, feel free to ask me at any time!

IMPORTANT NOTE: The game might receive an update in the future, so I will announce it here and also on TRLE.NET Forums if I updated it.

Link to TRLE.NET forums thread about the game (FAQ)http://forum.trle.net/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=31999

If you are wondering what things has this plugin brought from LAU in terms of UI, here are a few screenshots to see! Hope you like them! (Some images are externally linked due to making this thread smaller in size.)

https://i.imgur.com/2ujbvE6.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/3mgN4hn.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/psVZ9gs.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/zqQIuoq.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/TBKIZ9V.jpg

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For more information, please read Help_TLSOE.rtf included within the game's package.

Hope you like the new features and have a very nice Christmas.

[TombRaiderTim]

The new features that have been imported into this game is really interesting as I have given them a go myself but I need to be honest though with a couple of things:

1.) Although the new features are nice to see, they are incredibly tedious to use, with not much explanation given.

2.) For such a big hype as the game is installed, in terms of level design, it is pretty poorly developed, with how things are placed.

3.) The game in regards to story plot as I can see is a simplified version of Revelation but replaced with Kurtis.

4.) In my opinion to those who may be interested, I don't think its worth the download of almost 2 GB to play.

I'm not trying to sound harsh but I think you may have been better off starting out with a much smaller level set and creating something that Kurtis would have fitted into better as all I can say about numerous things is that it is cringe worthy during certain moments.

[Teone]

Originally Posted by TombRaiderTim

a simplified version of Revelation but replaced with Kurtis.

Kurtis is only in the tutorial. It seems you didn't go further than that, so you are not speaking about the game but about something it is in your mind.
I'm playing it right now and it's amazing. Finally someone who dares to do something new.

[Kubsy]

Hi.

I found a bug in your level: if you kill an enemy with explosive arrow or grenade gun then it won't give you money.

[TheLostSecret]

Originally Posted by Kubsy

Hi.

I found a bug in your level: if you kill an enemy with explosive arrow or grenade gun then it won't give you money.

Hi Kubsy! Thanks a lot for your report! It is not a bug.. the point is when you kill an enemy using an explosive gun, since you haven't tried soooo hard to kill that, the game acts harsh a little and won't give you money!
Just kidding! It is a problem of TRNG Game System that can't detect when an enemy is exploded or not and the state is determined as an ACTIVE enemy quite frankly... but thanks!

Originally Posted by Teone

Kurtis is only in the tutorial. It seems you didn't go further than that, so you are not speaking about the game but about something it is in your mind.
I'm playing it right now and it's amazing. Finally someone who dares to do something new.

Thank you so much for your warm words!

[Kubsy]

Originally Posted by TheLostSecret

Hi Kubsy! Thanks a lot for your report! It is not a bug.. the point is when you kill an enemy using an explosive gun, since you haven't tried soooo hard to kill that, the game acts harsh a little and won't give you money!
Just kidding! It is a problem of TRNG Game System that can't detect when an enemy is exploded or not and the state is determined as an ACTIVE enemy quite frankly... but thanks!

Ahh, ok I see

[Ceamonks890]

Originally Posted by TombRaiderTim

The new features that have been imported into this game is really interesting as I have given them a go myself but I need to be honest though with a couple of things:

1.) Although the new features are nice to see, they are incredibly tedious to use, with not much explanation given.

2.) For such a big hype as the game is installed, in terms of level design, it is pretty poorly developed, with how things are placed.

3.) The game in regards to story plot as I can see is a simplified version of Revelation but replaced with Kurtis.

4.) In my opinion to those who may be interested, I don't think its worth the download of almost 2 GB to play.

I'm not trying to sound harsh but I think you may have been better off starting out with a much smaller level set and creating something that Kurtis would have fitted into better as all I can say about numerous things is that it is cringe worthy during certain moments.

I agree completely with all these points. And the fact Mehrbod conveniently chooses to not acknowledge what you have to say is incredibly telling.

I was actually asked by Mehrbod many months back if I could provide some voice acting for this project (which I ultimately refused to go any further with, on account of him shamelessly copy/pasting a good chunk of TR4's script and hardly making any real changes to it beyond making the dialogue/characterization sound and look worse, effectively being uncomfortable plagiarism).

Kurtis only appears in the first two levels for the record and is never brought up again, with Lara being the protagonist from then on. Mehrbod only did this to half-heartedly hide the fact that this is literally just TR4 if it were crafted by someone who has no idea how to write decent dialogue or design properly engaging areas to explore.

Originally Posted by Teone

I'm playing it right now and it's amazing. Finally someone who dares to do something new.

Except that doesn't matter if all these fancy features are either completely broken, very unclear or utterly inferior to the default setup that most custom levels utilize. And all for what? To demonstrate some so-called sense of technical advancement? The overall execution is terribly handled from the get-go and generally worse compared to the original setup. So that pale attempt at damage control means nothing

Psiko's HyperSquare series, matrix54's Tomb Raider Battle Arena, Max's TR Above the Horizon, Richard Lawther's Shalebridge Murder Mystery, King Arthur Project... these are all just a few levelsets that genuinely innovate the classic TR gameplay formula in creative and ingenious ways while being well-designed in their own right. And while I may not always agree with decisions made with some of these listed works, I can at least respect every single one of these builders for trying to be ambitious and successfully accomplish something different from the norm (which I cannot say in good conscious for Mehrbod's work).

At the end of the day, this is just shameless plagiarism of TR4 with none of the charm or soul it originally had (with amateurish boxy level design that's incredibly empty from what videos I've watched on YouTube, questionable voiceover & writing quality, poorly-implemented gameplay features, unfitting music choices, flat lighting, uninspired texturing, out-of-place objects in places and is generally a buggy mess according to reports from other players).

Nothing here justifies this release desperately needing its own custom installer or the 2GB download when there are so many other levels out there that are not only more reasonable in filesize, but arguably more fun to play too than this drivel.

I don't care if this is Mehrbod's first release. There is absolutely no excuse for Lost Secret of Egypt to be in the state it's currently in (especially if it apparently took three whole years to develop).

[Teone]

Originally Posted by Ceamonks890

@Ceamonks890

I also have some criticisms to make to this game but I'll write my opinions when I'm finished playing. You didn't start to play yet. You are waiting Mehrbod to give you back your beloved "J" key, this is what makes you so upset.
Meanwhile, play the Xmas levels! Those are a kind of works more comprehensible for you.

[Kevin]

Psiko's HyperSquare series, matrix54's Tomb Raider Battle Arena, Max's TR Above the Horizon, Richard Lawther's Shalebridge Murder Mystery, King Arthur Project...

Comparing someone's first level with these pro builders is just unfair. I wanna see your first level and people have a go at you like that. Having an opinion is one thing but you act like Mehrbod insulted you personally. Seriously get a grip... and merry Chrismas.

[MBog]

My guess is that the important part of the game is the plugin, not so much the level itself which is just a way of showcasing the new implemetations.