| Overview| Story| Team Members | Awards | Credits |
Unlike the typical RPGs, <Quintessence - The Blighted Venom> has a primary focus on its story through the mass usage of attempted pseudo cinematic cut-scenes. But as of the new recent release, game-play is also starting to be showcased from the very beginning.
From the very start, an episodic experience is attempted through the animated title screen. This video [OUTDATED] captures the sequence, as well as the "music intro video" following it. [OUTDATED]
Speaking of which, Quintessence TBV utilizes an original soundtrack of over 50 songs, composed by James Q. Zhang, and Kan Gao. Such musical freedom also allows a musical influence to the story, as will be seen in later chapters.
[Disclaimer: One obvious parody song is intentionally used within the game that does not fall into the OST.]
Quintessence utilizes an exclusive evented real-time battle system that crosses between an instanced battle ground and action-based controls.
Sample video here. [OUTDATED]
Linked to the story itself, characterization is also an important aspect of Quintessence. A combined total of over 400 character face pictures are used to portray emotions for notable characters.
In the past, Quintessence has been a strictly story-oriented experience. But as of this new recent release, it has attempted to round itself in all aspects, to suit a larger range of audiences.
The vase met the ground with a loud clash as the young man rushed by. With trembling hands, he reached under his grass-sewn bed sheet and retrieved a notebook, a quill pen and a bottle of clear oily liquid. Dampening the quill in the bottle, he flipped to the blank page, fleetly trotting down the words as sweat dripped down from his forehead onto the tawny pages.
1327, Month 3, day 5
I knew something was out of place, but not like this...
And if this is so, then where is the real her? And even worse, what if she. . .
What does it mean? No, I cannot state this here, for it is not safe.
But it is still her. If not the real her, she's been her for some time now... And nothing has yet happened. Perhaps I still have time.
Perhaps, just perhaps, I still have a chance.
He took a deep breath and wiped the sweat off his forehead. After redampening his quill in the crude bottle, he signed briefly at the bottom of the page as the rough handwriting above gradually faded into the thin air.
Somewhat relieved that he has gotten it out of his head, he sighed and carefully placed the notepad, quill and ink back under the bed sheet.
The exhausted figure pushed himself up and darted through the opening of the leathery tent. He paused and stared into the calm night abyss for a moment, only to hear the wind whistling through the trebled leaves. Dim, silvery moonlight sprayed upon the rustling branches, brushing gently against the thin, autumn night's air. With another sigh he began to saunter silently onward, but the sound of soft footsteps upon the grass made him stop in his track and turn around.
Turn around to face the familiar figure that was now a stranger.
"Why are you still up at this nightly hour?" The figure spoke softly, with a tone that Reivier had embraced countless times. "Do you not wish to have a restful sleep?" It added after a brief pause.
Reivier's brows lowered as he took a small step back. His trembling hand instinctively reached behind his belt for his hunting knife, but it was too late.
Under the cloaking shadows, the figure swiftly lashed out something colorless, yet shimmered in the reflection of the guiding moonlight.
Powders, perhaps.
But that was the last thing he saw.
Project Director
Story & Game Design
Secondary Composer
Graphic Editor/Creator
James Q. Zhang
Primary Composer
Kevin McCullough (Retired)
Supporting Composer
RM Inter-Community Misaos awards 2007:
Overview:
Unlike the typical RPGs, <Quintessence - The Blighted Venom> has a primary focus on its story through the mass usage of attempted pseudo cinematic cut-scenes. But as of the new recent release, game-play is also starting to be showcased from the very beginning.
From the very start, an episodic experience is attempted through the animated title screen. This video [OUTDATED] captures the sequence, as well as the "music intro video" following it. [OUTDATED]
Speaking of which, Quintessence TBV utilizes an original soundtrack of over 50 songs, composed by James Q. Zhang, and Kan Gao. Such musical freedom also allows a musical influence to the story, as will be seen in later chapters.
[Disclaimer: One obvious parody song is intentionally used within the game that does not fall into the OST.]
Quintessence utilizes an exclusive evented real-time battle system that crosses between an instanced battle ground and action-based controls.
Sample video here. [OUTDATED]
Linked to the story itself, characterization is also an important aspect of Quintessence. A combined total of over 400 character face pictures are used to portray emotions for notable characters.
In the past, Quintessence has been a strictly story-oriented experience. But as of this new recent release, it has attempted to round itself in all aspects, to suit a larger range of audiences.
Story:
Before Quintessence - TBV became a story oriented RPG, it was an incomplete amateur written story of a bit over 100 pages. However, that being said, I do not wish to reveal much of the story here due to spoilers and the game's high dependency on storytelling.
The following is the first segment of the written story, posted in hope to arise some interest. While this scene was not directly implemented in the actual game, every event that caused it and its aftermath is still present in the RPG implementation, as well as its core story.
Act I
1327, 3rd month, day 5
Second hour and seventeen minutes past midnight
1327, 3rd month, day 5
Second hour and seventeen minutes past midnight
The vase met the ground with a loud clash as the young man rushed by. With trembling hands, he reached under his grass-sewn bed sheet and retrieved a notebook, a quill pen and a bottle of clear oily liquid. Dampening the quill in the bottle, he flipped to the blank page, fleetly trotting down the words as sweat dripped down from his forehead onto the tawny pages.
1327, Month 3, day 5
I knew something was out of place, but not like this...
And if this is so, then where is the real her? And even worse, what if she. . .
What does it mean? No, I cannot state this here, for it is not safe.
But it is still her. If not the real her, she's been her for some time now... And nothing has yet happened. Perhaps I still have time.
Perhaps, just perhaps, I still have a chance.
He took a deep breath and wiped the sweat off his forehead. After redampening his quill in the crude bottle, he signed briefly at the bottom of the page as the rough handwriting above gradually faded into the thin air.
Reivier Wirt
Somewhat relieved that he has gotten it out of his head, he sighed and carefully placed the notepad, quill and ink back under the bed sheet.
The exhausted figure pushed himself up and darted through the opening of the leathery tent. He paused and stared into the calm night abyss for a moment, only to hear the wind whistling through the trebled leaves. Dim, silvery moonlight sprayed upon the rustling branches, brushing gently against the thin, autumn night's air. With another sigh he began to saunter silently onward, but the sound of soft footsteps upon the grass made him stop in his track and turn around.
Turn around to face the familiar figure that was now a stranger.
"Why are you still up at this nightly hour?" The figure spoke softly, with a tone that Reivier had embraced countless times. "Do you not wish to have a restful sleep?" It added after a brief pause.
Reivier's brows lowered as he took a small step back. His trembling hand instinctively reached behind his belt for his hunting knife, but it was too late.
Under the cloaking shadows, the figure swiftly lashed out something colorless, yet shimmered in the reflection of the guiding moonlight.
Powders, perhaps.
But that was the last thing he saw.
Team Members:
Kan GaoProject Director
Story & Game Design
Secondary Composer
Graphic Editor/Creator
James Q. Zhang
Primary Composer
Kevin McCullough (Retired)
Supporting Composer
CLICK TO GO BACK TO TOP
Awards:
<Quintessence - The Blighted Venom> has received the following awards and recognitions; note that most of which are voting based:RM Inter-Community Misaos awards 2007:
- Best Atmosphere
- Best Cast of Characters
- Best Introduction
- Best Music
- Best RMXP Game
- Best Storyline
- Best Supporting Character (Vikon)
- Sleeper Hit of the Year
- Project of the Month - May 2007
- Annual RMRK Award: Best RM User [Game] - Creativity: First place
- Annual RMRK Award: Best RM User [Game] - Graphical: Second place
- Project of the Month - July 2007
Credit:
While Quintessence is a personal project, a large amount of open resources are used. Here is a list of full credit for all materials present. [OUTDATED]Project Director
---------------
Kan Gao
Story and Game Design
---------------
Kan Gao
Original Soundtrack
---------------
James Q. Zhang
Kan Gao
Original Graphics and Edits
---------------
Kan Gao (Reives)
Elle Lindgren (Lunarea)
J. Baer (Euphony)
L. Spencer Conrad (Legacyblade)
S. J. Flathers (Rye)
Mapping and Eventing
---------------
Kan Gao
Beta Testers
---------------
Carlo Rey Gibas [Pathbinder]
Abigail Haugen [Abigailian]
L. Spencer Conrad [Legacyblade]
Jessica M. Vazquez [Arwym Starlight]
Ery Diaz [Sablones]
------------------------------
------------------------------
------------------------------
OPEN RESOURCES USED:
------------------------------
Audio Resources
---------------
Enterbrain
C.W.S.
ARMS
Sounddogs
Graphical Resources
---------------
Enterbrain
CompulsoryHero
Rye
Erk
Yuh_Strawberry
Tana
Naramura
[etorie] way
DongHuaBeiJing
ZheZuiJingDian
$t3v0
Mack
Ruruga
Zanyzora
Dark Dragon
Sithjester
The Inquisitor
Zanyzora
Euphony
Venetia
RGSS Scripts
---------------
Ccoa [Swirling Leaves]
Raziel [CT Menu System]
Dubealex [Message System]
Fukuyama [Caterpillar System]
MiDas Mike [Scrolling Credit]
Special Thanks to:
-----------------
James Q. Zhang
Kevin McCullough
***
Parody material from:
Makio-Kuta
Racheal
Artbane
Volrath
Miss Matcha
Lunarea
Titanic*
---------------
Kan Gao
Story and Game Design
---------------
Kan Gao
Original Soundtrack
---------------
James Q. Zhang
Kan Gao
Original Graphics and Edits
---------------
Kan Gao (Reives)
Elle Lindgren (Lunarea)
J. Baer (Euphony)
L. Spencer Conrad (Legacyblade)
S. J. Flathers (Rye)
Mapping and Eventing
---------------
Kan Gao
Beta Testers
---------------
Carlo Rey Gibas [Pathbinder]
Abigail Haugen [Abigailian]
L. Spencer Conrad [Legacyblade]
Jessica M. Vazquez [Arwym Starlight]
Ery Diaz [Sablones]
------------------------------
------------------------------
------------------------------
OPEN RESOURCES USED:
------------------------------
Audio Resources
---------------
Enterbrain
C.W.S.
ARMS
Sounddogs
Graphical Resources
---------------
Enterbrain
CompulsoryHero
Rye
Erk
Yuh_Strawberry
Tana
Naramura
[etorie] way
DongHuaBeiJing
ZheZuiJingDian
$t3v0
Mack
Ruruga
Zanyzora
Dark Dragon
Sithjester
The Inquisitor
Zanyzora
Euphony
Venetia
RGSS Scripts
---------------
Ccoa [Swirling Leaves]
Raziel [CT Menu System]
Dubealex [Message System]
Fukuyama [Caterpillar System]
MiDas Mike [Scrolling Credit]
Special Thanks to:
-----------------
James Q. Zhang
Kevin McCullough
***
Parody material from:
Makio-Kuta
Racheal
Artbane
Volrath
Miss Matcha
Lunarea
Titanic*
Section Description:
Info regarding Quintessence - The Blighted Venom.Click the guide buttons below the main navigation panel to jump to the individual sections of this page.
[*This page contains some out-dated info/videos and the like that are not on-par with the quality of the recent release's. The update to this page will come in the near future.]