Team Notion (Wii U, PC, Mac, Linux)

Looks really good! That crouch pose is great, full of character...wish I could draw like that... <img src="smileys/smiley20.gif" border="0" align="middle" />

BTW, NotionGames, how are things running on the Wii U? Or, have you done any of that yet? The info is scarce from those who've actually been working with the Wii...would be interesting to hear some comments on performance, quirks, etc...

This game will definitely be finding its way to any and all consoles I can get my hands on.

TiAm Thanks a lot! We were actually up last night trying to figure things out with the whole process. It sucks because I cannot say much at all about it becase of the NDA. But we are toying around with it to see how things work on it. I'll release more information as video gameplay to show an example of things that work later on.

Rhindon thank you sir! That means a lot to us because we are working hard to bring you something that we hope you guys will enjoy :)

Hey guys, I have a question. I'm really thinking about the cartoon aspect of Team Notion, and trying to get the games we make a bigger audience (we do need to eat haha). So, I am wondering about rehauling Team Notion the game as a whole. I redesigned Sandy with a more "edgy" design.

Please let me know your thoughts on this. Should I stick with my gut and go with the fun cartoony style of the current version, or the more "cool" feeling style of an older Sandy? (Sandy is 10 in the cartoon version and she is 17 in the newer version)

<img src="http://i.imgur.com/dbQmjyQ.jpg" border="0" />

I think you have 2 age styles there ...

I'm guessing the first is aimed teens / pre-teens, while the second, is more aimed for teens / young adolescents.

My guess is if your aiming for the Nickelodeon thing, go with your first style, as that is more the style for nickelodeon audience.

Personally, I like the smaller chars better too for this type of game.

The bigger ones look more serious and likely less friendly/acceptable for younger players.

Loving the work :)

NotionGames - Well, bro, just like everyone's saying on you Facebook page, both are great. There's no real either/or here. If you don't use one, you can use it in a later game. I actually am going back on my original idea (using young Sandy in a prequel) and agree with the suggestion that you use BOTH incarnations in the same game. That is, parts of the game will be in the past/future, and the other will be in the present. Heck, you could even have part of the plot be where young/old Sandy gets zapped and is affected in age. Maybe she can later manipulate that and age/de-age herself to make use of different abilities accordingly (now that I think of it, that's very much a Zelda:OoT feature...but, you could make it work). Anyway, like I said, I really do not think this is strictly an either/or option. :) Both are great and both will be used to the best of their own unique qualities. I think you'll really NOT have a problem with the audience. Don't worry about age groups. Trust me... Team Notion will thrive with virtually everyone. Just trust me on this. :) You'll do amazingly.

NotionGames

I was thinking pretty much the same thing as — Like what was done in Oot. With younger Link, the world took on the more colorful and childlike aspects of Zelda lore. Once older Link came into the picture, the world got a little darker, the stakes a little higher, the edges a little sharper, and danger was at last apparent.

There's a number of terms for this: to reference TV Tropes, it's somewhere between 'Growing the Beard', 'Shoo Out the Clowns', and the 'Cerebus Syndrome'. Also, and perhaps most accurately, there's the classic concept of the bildungsroman; or, the quest of the child to becoming the adult. Anime does this a lot -- Evangelion, Full Metal Alchemist, etc, ad infinitum...<img src="smileys/smiley2.gif" border="0" align="middle" />

Ultimately, you have a concept worth exploring, but in the end, the best thing you can do is go with your gut. If you don't like the direction you are taking things, it'll be hard to get your fans to go for it.

Just bought Super Ubie - looks great! Can't wait to see Team Notion. Fantastic artwork!

NotionGames , i personally like the B version (Older Sandy) better.

Maybe because im not a fan of the art style from the A version ;)

I really love the "Cooler" way of Sandy.

But anyway, like some said, if you go for the Nickelodeon thing, choose A.

But the idea from Rhindon also sounds great :)

Good luck choosing.

Thanks, — & —

Alternatively, or a variation of the old/young Sandy... Have Sandy B be the main character, but have Sandy A be the "unlockable" character where aspects of her past can be played in-game and detail parts of her story only hinted at in the main game. Like, let's say her main story hints at why she got into the superhero business... Well, somehow you can unlock a special level that lets you play as Sandy A to explore that sub-plot, thus adding replay to the game - finding hidden stuff - which also opens up deeper content of the character. People - like me - will eat it up like Cap'n Crunch on Saturday morning while watching cartoons in my pajamas.

Hey Drew,

It's been a while since I last looked in, and everything is looking really good!

As far as Sandy goes, I'd lean towards the style used for character A. I think this offers a nice contrast to the Agent Red character.

Good luck, I look forward to seeing how things progress :)

Pure Nintendo magazine and Notion Games LLC are teaming up to bring you the Team Notion exclusive developer diary! Readers will get access to exclusive concept art/ sketches, soundtrack downloads, wallpapers, interviews and more! It'll be in EVERY issue of Pure Nintendo Magazine starting April until the game is complete. Subscribe to Pure Nintendo Magazine by heading to purenintendo.com/magazine!

<img src="http://i.imgur.com/3Fi1K2C.jpg" border="0" />

It's been a while since I've posted on here. I've finally gotten out of my little apartment and into a studio space

Team Notion's development is being documented in EVERY issue of Pure Nintendo magazine. It's pretty amazing to have the project in each issue til completion.

The game has also found it's final form... a 2d beat em up metroidvania. Story is mostly written out and things are moving along nicely.

(This is just a concept image not representing the actual in game art)

Wow, every issue? Awesome.

I know you said the concept pictures aren't supposed to represent how it looks in game, but I hope you can get it close to that, because those would look terrific in motion!