Yeah, this is my first time in a contest such as LD… I honestly don’t know what I’m doing using Game Maker… But I really wanna do it this once, to get used to it and all.

Don’t plan on seeing “Game Maker” connected with my username next time I enter… I AM learning C++, and will use it if I know enough of it… Yeah… Don’t plan on doing great really.

Platform: GML

IDE: Game Maker

Libraries: Uhhh… Supersound?

Graphics: Paint/Built-in sprite editor

Audio: SFXR

I’ve been aspiring to be a game developer for 5 years now, and uhh… Don’t plan on doing the best this first time around.

So… Yeah, I’m going into Ludum Dare, but while it’s going on, my first day back to school comes RIGHT IN THE WAY. Technically, I can’t compete my hardest, so I’m simply going to take my time for now…

So my “Battle Plan” to survive Ludum Dare AND my first day of school (Taking 6 hours out of the final day :/) is simple:

TONIGHT: Competition starts > Take a few minutes to come up with a basic idea, work up from there > Start an engine > Go to bed late

TOMORROW: Wake up early > WORK WORK WORK > Lunch > WORK WORK WORK > Dinner > WORK WORK WORK > Go to bed late again.

SUNDAY: Wake up early > WORK WORK WORK > Lunch, > WORK WORK WORK > Dinner > WORK WORK WORK > Go to bed earlier than before for school.

MONDAY: Wake up an hour or two early to work a little > School > WORK WORK WORK > Dinner > WORK WORK WORK until the end of the competition.

I barely see myself finishing…

I’m going with a platformer/RPG.

I’m not gonna focus on sprites or music or anything YET. Instead it’s time I just got a nice little engine together…

Isn’t he cute!?

… Wow… My entry sucks!

But feel free to check it out HERE: My entry: Matt’s Trial Dungeon

Well, 6 days to go, guys. Voting’s started, so I guess it’s a good time to say that I am IN.

Last LD I was entering the Jam with Game Maker.

Well, this year, I’m still in the Jam, but this time I’m entering armed ‘n ready with Visual C++ Express 2010 and the SDL library.

I wish everyone luck (Especially dem first-timers) and can’t wait to see the theme, hopefully it’s better than last time.

Coding: Visual C++ Express 2010

SFX: SFXR

Music: Famitracker/FLStudio, I’m not sure

Just thought I would post my… progress…

Anyway, about 3 and a half hour’s work and I have…

– Collision

– Camera + Scrolling

– The ability to have more than one level (That chances are, I will not use)

So. I encountered a bug. You can jump once in mid-air ONLY if you WALK off the platform. And that’s the only way to get past the spike trap shown here:

I obviously plan on telling the player this in the final build, but I haven’t added a way of doing that…

YET.

So uhh… yeah. Message systems rule, rite? Well mine won’t have annoying textboxes ^-^

It may look simple, but dear GOD this is a hard boss D:

Well… The title is based on the inspiration for the story (Well… Apparently. I haven’t watched it).

It really doesn’t need much explaining.

And I don’t have a timelapse or story or anything, I just worked on it, learned some new things, found that I do REALLY bad under pressure, but anyway, here it is: http://www.ludumdare.com/compo/ludum-dare-21/?action=rate&uid=4220

Oh, well, time’s been flying by lately. It’s insane.

Anyway, I’ll be taking part in LD 22, probably not going to finish, I have a concert on the 17th, and school on the 19th. Yay.

Going to be using C++ with the SDL library, Famitracker for sound/music, and GraphicsGale mostly for art.

“So Matt, you spent the first 2 hours of Ludum Dare 22 working on your intro and title screen?”

Of COURSE not.

I spent the first hour on a basic engine… THEN another hour on my PLACEHOLDER intro and title screen.

What? My last two games never had a title screen D:<

So. Learned how to load a level better than hard coding… Every. Single. Tile. And I taught myself.

It’s such a tiny feat, yet I feel like a boss.

Yeah, I just woke up after staying up ’til 4:30 AM coding.

I feel like crap.

But day 2 of Ludum Dare 22! BRING IT ON!

Okay. That’s ABOUT the 17-hour mark. And all I can say is that I’ll be entering the jam. Definitely.

So, the differences between the screenshot I posted last night aren’t much, but here they are:

• Finished character sprites. Sleeveless tuxedos. I like them.
• Added some tiles that the character can walk on. I’d like to use these as a guide to a helpful starting item
• Started working on treasure chests, which aren’t visible in the screenie

So, 22.5 hours in. What progress have I made? Well, just the ability to add more floors. And stairways leading to these floors.

On the other side of the wall there is going to be the stairway to floor 3.

But now all I have to do is just polish up the room designs for both floors, then it’s off to the enemies.

Just to recap, what I plan on adding before the day is done:

• Finished room designs
• Text that tells you which floor you’re on
• Kittens
• Enemies (At least get started)

I’m either REALLY good at making mazes, or hopelessly retarded. I had trouble getting out of my own maze.

Anyway, I lost track of time. I haven’t checked the clock since I woke up. And I refuse to do s — Aww, it’s 3:40 PM.

Anyway, here’s what I have to make now:

• Some kind of weapon
• Ending
• Kitten easter egg

• Collectibles
• Cutscenes or some other form of storytelling…

Okay, so I’m in for this one as well. Same plan as before. Entering the Jam, hopefully next time I’ll enter the comp.

What tools I’ll be using:

Programming: Microsoft Visual C++ Express/Microsoft Visual Studio 11 Dev Preview (Depends on which one I open when the comp starts xD)

Graphics: For the most part, MS Paint or Paint.NET

Sound: Not sure yet

Other tools: Steam for social interaction, music for motivation, and a fork to eat 😀

I decided to go with the hardest of the basic features (In my opinion, at least) and do that first.

So, I coded level loading, and already have my first basic room ready. My idea is pretty simple this time!

I also have the soothing soundtrack of Pink Floyd’s The Wall playing in the background.

I’m set!

Yup. I’m absolutely CRUSHED.

But I realized that I have WAY too much going on this weekend, as well as a few projects for school that won’t finish themselves. Next Dare is this Summer. I’ll have time then.

Oh well… And I didn’t even have enough to be able to give a decent “Here’s what I had so far”

I WILL, however, try to pick at this project and see if I can get something at least playable finished for the Jam?