In the past week I’ve totally fall in love with Paper by FiftyThree. A drawing application on iPad. It’s simple, nice, get the work done and have a really awesome feeling. So as I wanted to make my game in 2D and use my Bamboo to make all the art. Then I was thinking… why not use this application to make all the art ?

And that the challenge within the challenge that is Ludum Dare (as it’s my first time). So, here’s my useless announcment : I will make all art with Paper by FiftyThree.

Well… not exactly… As I don’t yet have every in-app tool yet I can’t do some things in it (don’t have Outline and Write), and will export the line in Photoshop to colorize. They are taking ideas in consideration so it would also be great to have feature like copy/past sheet (would be great to decompose the character or other for animation) and have at least a second layer before LudumDare. If not, I guess I’ll have to work on photoshop.

As for the animation of all that. I’m considerating using Spriter. If you don’t knoow what is Spriter here’s their KickStarter page. It’s now on beta phase so I must not count on it that much, but it’s really a great software to become. I didn’t yet give anything to them but hope I can (at least $25) before the end of Kickstarter’s founding. You must check it out… now!

Anyway, I’ll say what software I use at the right moment, but that is my plan at the moment.

< Previous post: Here comes a new challenger !

Next post > LD is coming…

Tags: animation, fiftythree, paper, plans, spriter

Ok, almost there guys, my first LD.

I’m excited, but in the same time all stressed out. I have rethough my plans, a lot of things have change now. I’ll probably don’t use Paper or Spriter because some have not pass the test and some are still incomplete (in fact, I haven’t bought every tool for Paper >< my bad).

All I have to do now is waiting (and maybe sleeping for a bit before it start since it will be 3am in France).
But hey ! I’ll be here all the same !

I remind you that I’ll be live here : http://www.twitch.tv/cubertoy
You can come and ask me everything you want and support me. Show me love !

Also, I’ll chat online with some french guys : #ludumdare on irc.philpep.org

Ok so, see you soon and good luck everyone !

< Previous post : Challenge in a challenge !

Ok, now I’m totally freaked out. I spent the last twho hours seeking wherever I can for inspiration or idea. Once I got one, I notice that I wouldn’t be capable of doing it so I have to think of another thing… Have I mention that I’m totally freaked out ? Yeah ? Great…

So at the moment, neither my timelapse or livestream have began (wouldn’t be interesting) and it’s 5am. So I’ll go to sleep and home for the night to bring me inspiration. Because if it don’t, I guess that what could have been my first Ludum Dare will not. I really hope that I can start somthing soon.

Okay, after freking out like a little girl, here’s my first screenshot.
I have already made all the animation (or, I think I did) now I have to make a game with it. Background and props are not final AT ALL.

May I introduce you Dusty. A little ball of dust who love to enjoy his house, but come a day of violent wind… He’s alone, outside, and want to go home !
Okay, that’s the idea. So, I’ve to work now.

And that will be all for today !

So,here’s pretty much what I’ve done the last 10 hours (yeah… 10hours, for that !). Tomorrow, I’ll make somethin that look like a level, sounds and music. Oh, and probably an opening cinematic too, just for fun.

See ya !

So, after a last minute rush, I’m doing sounds effect right now (using object and my voice, in a microphone, in audacity…).
My “game” is not long, not perfect, not really a game, but it’s mys game and I love it !

10pm here, so I still have time to finish and polish it. Hope you’ll enjoy it !

Done !

Here is my game page.

I’m a little bit proud of it. Because it’s my first Ludum Dare, but also my first release “game”. Of course it’s short, and not really a “game” but I’m really proud of some of the work I made to get this.

Thanks everyone, Ludum Dare team, the ones who support me these past 48h or so.

Thanks again !

Tags: adventure, cubertoy, dusty, finished, game, released

Oh guys ! I’m thrill with joy and excitement when I see all the comments on my game page.
As I said in previous posts, It’s my first game and I really appreciate all your review and suggestion. Know that I fell in love with Dusty in the past days while I was giving him life. So I’ve decided to put him on a longer journey.

For the LD version of the game, I use Multimedia Fusion 2. Even if I have little experiences with the software, it show some limits to do what I really wanted to do (like an online version, add particles effect and some tweeks on the gameplay). But figuring that out don’t make a programmer of me, so let’s try another Drag’n’drop gamemaker software. Two choices Game Maker or Construct 2… Construct 2 it is !

Why ?
Simply because I want to, since the LD ends. And some of you seems to appreciate the game, enough to wish it was longer, and so do I. Let’s make it happen!
Know that it could take some times since I have no experiences with Construct 2. Plus, I only have the trial version (since I can’t afford the pro one yet, one day maybe, would be cool if I notice I like it a lot). I’ve began setting up the basics but there is still some “meh” point (but I’ll sort it out). Construct 2 seems to have strong bases and export to html5 (wich is great for online game, but not so on potecting my sprite… do I need to protect them ?).

First screenshot !

Thanks again for everything. Such a blast, I think it’s the first time I ever feel that way.

If you haven’t played the LD version, here it is : Dusty’s Adventure

Thanks !!! Ten thousand times ! Thank you !

EDIT : Bonus, the Timelapse of the past week end 😉

Dusty’s Adventure – Timelapse

EDIT 2 : POST MORTEM

Almost forgot that part. So…

Good part :
– Release somthing (it wasn’t so sure during the last 5 hours).
– Did some animation, and I’m really proud of the Spider.
– Did a character and a narrative line to go with it.
– Sounds and Music came out not so bad after all.

Bad part :
– Too much time pass on making the animations and arts, forgot to think about levels. My game is really short, it’s not even a game.
– Almost eat and drink nothing during this time.
– MMF2 is really frustrating in his conception.

Bottom line, I draw, animate, make stuff since… well… forever. But this Ludum Dare was not just a competition but a real challenge. Just because even if Ido a lot, I never show anything. With the LD, I had to release it and it was a first. Most of all, it’s one of the first time that I’m proud of something. Maybe that gives a bad image of me, but, I’m just proud of it even with the bugs and shortness of it.

Tags: adventure, afterward, cubertoy, dusty, first, game, remake, sequel

And I think I’m in this time again.

Thing is, for the past few days, I highly doubt I would participate to this one since I’m not that motivated, for many reasons. Though, the past one (LD23) was my first time doing something like this and believe it or not, I had a GREAT time. So, why skip this one if I can be in really ?

This time, I’ll be using pretty much the same tools than last time, although it will not be Multimedia Fusion 2 but Construct 2 for the development part (still not a programer and proud of it). I’m a bit nervous now cause I haven’t used Construct 2 that much, in fact I only know some basics and I guess I will have to discover it during the Ludum Dare.

How exciting !

Anyway, see you around, I’ll be posting during the week end and certainly be live on twitch.

Voilà !

So, last time I challenge myself during the LD, two hour after beginning, I had no idea of what to do with “Tiny World”… I started to panic and that was absolutely NOT helpfull.
This time I have a precise idea of what to do with “Evolution”. Funny thing is it seems to me like a too complicated thing to do in 48 hours. I may try it… or not…
Anyway for now I’m just going to sleep, because it’s 4:58 in France, and I will be much more productive after a good night.

Exciting !

Voilà !

So, I had an idea, really thought it was great… but 48h is not enough to make it happen. One week would not be enough. I can’t sleep, I can’t think of something easier to make and I can’t bare the idea of giving up. I had a really great experience the first time and was looking forward to this LD and I feel like I just have to give up right now.

I really hope this will not be without me, but at one moment during the day, I might have to face the fact that nothing will come out my mind and that my skills are kinda weak. We’ll see, but for now, that pretty much sums up what will happens soon.

Keep you in touch.

Voilà!

So, just a little post to say that… I’m in !

In the past I have entered the LD twice. The first one was the 23th, finished it, really happy about it. Then, came 24th… one year ago. The mistake I made for 24th, is to see big, too big for what I’m capable of. So I quit really quickly, in a fex hours after it began in fact. This year, I promess myself not to do the same mistakes, and not to look at the themes before the chosen one. So, here I am, waiting for these new exciting 48hours…

Voilà !

EDIT : I’ll be streaming live on twitch too !

And I’m still in !

You can follow me live : http://www.twitch.tv/cubertoy
I talk mainly in french, but I won’t talk a lot anyway, for the moment (just woke up) I’m brainstorming on paper so there’s not much action but it will come 😉

So I wake up five hours after the theme release. Started to work right away since I found my idea.
Please welcome The Bucket List.

First Screenshot

I’m not, at all, a level designer so my “game” may not be a game, just multiple scene to pass with my main character.
A girl who’s dying and have to acheive ten things in her life, in ten second… by cheating death. Well, that the idea.

To give you an idea, you’ll be only able to go right. No turning back, no jumping, no running for all that matter. Just go slowly right, wounded, with one arm down.

Now, where am I right now ? I’ve completed the girl and Death animation, as well as some other items. A huge lot left to do but hey, I’ll finish it !.. Maybe…

Voilà !

Here’s a quick preview, there’s everythin that I’ve done today…
http://cubertoy.fr/stuff/LD27/

It’s way not finished… A lot of stuff remains but I take a pause now, I’m kinda tired and nothing good is coming.

Tags: 10 seconds, tech demo

It was quite exhausting really. I did expect that, it was like that the first time. I’ve done some animations and stuff (not a game, will it ever be a game ? I don’t know in fact), and when I woke up, I spent immediatly twelve straight hours doing just that, not eating or anything… So, I have the base of my “game”. Tomorrow it must be big, bigger, I have to work hard to make a game from that (or even something to show). Plus, the event limitation on the free Construct 2 is killing me. I guess I can do with it, we’ll see (I have like… 30 events right now, even if there’s no game at all, just for basic movements).

Voilà !

See you tomorrow !

PS : You can see the “proof of concept” here : http://cubertoy.fr/stuff/LD27/

So this is pretty simple, I have no game at all, nothing playable and this :

So… there it is…

Several hours ago, I gave up. Construct2 wouldn’t allow me to continue… And I started to write a post saying precisely :

"First I have to say that I had huge support, and would like to thank you for that (well, maybe not directly you though :p) So I HAD to give up, and I'm pretty angry with the decision, even now. Construct 2 (free edition) is limited, as you all know, and it turns out that I have exceed the limit... so it seems (the event indicator is at 30 though, so I guess there's some kind of bug or something).
 Anyway, buying Construct2 is in my plans for quite some years now, I just can't afford it right now."

Then the awesome jerombd helped me… it was almost nothing, like I was trying to find a way to give up. I’ve lost something like 2 hours or so. But then I jumped into it again and found a gameplay mecanics. If you’ve read my older posts, you’ve notice than I wasn’t sur to make a game, because I’m mostly doing graphics, not thinking like a level designer. But seeing the time that I had left, I had to think of a complete new idea. The Bucket List was dead, and A Question of Time & Death was born. A “simple” scoring minigame that demands skills and attention.

So, what does it worth, is it good, or bad ? Is it good looking ? Is it fun ? Full of bugs ? Well… you tell me !

So head to the entry page : http://www.ludumdare.com/compo/ludum-dare-27/?action=preview&uid=10985
And if you’re curious, here’s the timelapse (~1 i/minutes) : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwxqRWuAGzg

I may post something tomorrow, the aftermath… Until then I would like to thank my gf, for being “there”. And Musica, Jerom, Xandines, Gawam, Skywilly, Toshiro, Canardu57 and everyone who came during the Twitch live for their HUGE support. That was really 48 exhausting hours !
Voilà !

Bonus : Some of my sprites in .gif format

So here is my ratings

I’m very pleased with it, I knew what was my weakness so I’m not surprised. Last (and first) time I entered an LD, the 23rd, I was 26th on Graphics, and even if I really think to have done a better job this time, the competition was really stronger. So congratulation everyone ! I’m ready to do the next one and try do be better.

Never played it ? Here it is : http://www.ludumdare.com/compo/ludum-dare-27/?action=preview&uid=10985

Tags: graphics, LD #27 - 10 Seconds, question, ratings

Hey there !

So, first post for the third LD I do… well in fact I tempted five before and quit two for lacking ideas.
This time though, I’m definitely in !

I’ll be using :

– Photoshop (with FRENDEN Brush Tools I think)
– Spriter
– Audacity
– Music Studio 2 (maybe, not sure yet)
– And most of all Construct 2

My concept for “Connected Worlds” ? Here it is :

Interesting isn’t it ? (Yeah you can’t see nothing, that’s what so interesting. Plus it’s in french…)
For the moment, it’s time to sleep, a good night on it will surely help.

I’ll be live on twitch during the all process, and making a timelapse of it too… ’cause timelapses are cool.