{"author_name":"Fairyteller","cat":"LD #25","comments":[],"epoch":1355777580,"likes":2,"metadata":{"p_key":"47632","p_author":"Fairyteller","p_authorkey":"0","p_urlkey":"83297","p_title":"May The Base Be Belong To You \u2013 post mortem","p_cat":"LD #25","p_event":"LD25","p_time":"1355777580","p_likes":"2","p_comments":"0","p_status":"UPD5","us_key":null,"us_name":null,"us_username":null,"event_start":"1355443200","event_key":"14","event_name":"LD25"},"text":"

First thing, here’s the source\u00a0https:\/\/github.com\/babebridou\/maythebase<\/a><\/p>\n

and here’s a link to download the game itself\u00a0http:\/\/www.fairyteller.com\/files\/MayTheBaseBeBelongToYou.zip<\/a> (unzip to folder of your choice, double click on the MyGame.jar.<\/p>\n

This game isn’t an official entry for the competition since I couldn’t build it last night (computer crashed).<\/p>\n

\"title<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The game is basically a manic shmup where you can choose between 5 different types of waves to send to the hero, using keys 1-5. There are no other control.<\/p>\n

Of course a true overlord would mash buttons like a psychotic madman to try to swarm the enemy (and sometimes crash the jvm in the process).<\/p>\n

\"Survive<\/a>

Dodge this, hero!<\/p><\/div>\n

The bulk of the trial was spent coding, coding, more coding. I wanted it to be extensible because, you know, there’s nothing wrong with having a fully parametered ballistic system and an engine to produce cannons of various size, firing rate, damage or bullet trajectory, nothing wrong with having homing missiles, homing sinusoidal streams of death\/doom and eventually being able to summon a wave with a new trajectory by swiping a touch screen. That was the goal, anyway.<\/p>\n

It was late yesterday night when I had to add at least something interesting, so I quickly set a scoring system (with totally awesome numbers) and said what the hell and dropped in a boss fight.<\/p>\n

\"OH<\/a>

OH SHI-<\/p><\/div>\n

You don’t see from that screen but the boss player has 5 cannons including two that streams homing spiral lasers of pink doom (only if you squint; in reality it’s more like a straw of bubblegum)<\/p>\n

I called it a night and a compo, my first time \":)\" 3 hours before the limit. JMonkeyEngine SDK had totally crashed and wouldn’t let me run or build anything, whining about a missing jdk on my computer.<\/p>\n

Of all things I need to keep in mind for the next one:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Trust the libraries. No need to reinvent the wheel like I did all week-end, YES collision engines for manic shooters exist and NO they weren’t made in a hurry by some random newbie like I just did.<\/li>\n
  2. Don’t build something too complex. Don’t make an editor or an engine, make a Game! Who will produce the content your game can theoretically handle?<\/li>\n
  3. Have even more fun! Make some sounds, make some music!<\/li>\n <\/ol>\n

    Overall I had a fantastic time over this week-end and I’m super happy to have at least tried to do what everyone else did. My admiration goes to every single one of you who didn’t give up until the end, whether they finished or came up short, you guys are awesome!<\/p>","time":"December 17th, 2012 3:53 pm","title":"May The Base Be Belong To You \u2013 post mortem"}