Here is my entry: Beyond Minimalism

P.S. This post just for participate in potato challenge and lolz =)

Tags: potato, Potato Challenge

As always i’ll use:

For music FLStudio

For Sounds Bfxr and FLStudio

For gfx Photoshop or GameMaker built-in editor

For programming GameMaker8.1Standard or Unity

If GameMaker then also:

SSS3.dll

My mini sound subsystem

My mini branched dialogue system

I prepare my soul for this regular challenge.

GameMakerStudio, I think. Or Unity 3D.

Hi all. At first – I’m bad in english so I’m sorry if someone can’t understand me =(

I made the game for the LD again and ready to tell how to.

My game called “Ordinary Weekdays of Tech Support of Parallel Worlds”.

The main rule is “Be simple”. I well expirienced, so I always knew how meny time I spend on each game component.

As always, I  started with game idea. I spent about 1-2 hours on this. The best practice is to write down all ideas and thinking about “What of them will not realize anyone else”. Then I choose the best idea by criterias: “simple to do” and “interesting to play”.

I like exploration games and made two on last LD. But at this time I had less time so I stopped at simple idea with minimum level design. Yeah, level design – most complex part in exploration games.

In next 2 hours I’ve been programmed game mechanic basis. There is also XBOX gamepad support. And then I started with graphics. It’s easy part for me because I’m expirinced graphical designer. Also wih pixel-art animations. I like animate sprites and can spend slightly more time for this. In time stricitions I always used minimum frames. Often It looks coller than smother ones.

This is example of main character running animation.

Rest of the day I spend on game logic. It’s the portal travel system, port’s connecting, level generating, weapons and bonuses. Also one of complex parts is interface. There are many screen-text which overlay each other. And minimaps on two sides. This idea came to my by a random way when I’ve been thought about screen resolution in my game. At the end of  first day I did the huge part of the game. Except enemies. I prograamed they logic but haven’t time to test it. Only one thing to make in the game at this state was port connecting:

The next day’s morning I stated with enemies. I created four enemy types with special ability, except first dude. First enemy just walking. Here is he:

ONLY FOUR FRAMES!!!
The second enemy was a blob who exploded on eight bullets when die.

Third enemy can shoot. And last one teleports on short distance.
When enemies was ready, the game got second gameplay element. This is PORTS PROTECTING.

When game logic was completed I started with audio. I expirioenced in music creation so it was easy part for me. I made three soundtracks: menu, wrong side and right side. The last one I made from wrong side soundtrack. So they are using same notes =)

The situation with sounds was poor. I had to make ABOUT 50 sounds as total! Then I started to assault BFXR. This is genious tool. I made sounds easily and tested them. About four hours.

The next part is “level design”. I tested the game with “special cases” which I wrote. But game needed gameplay and difficulty curve. So I decided to make few difficulties. The differences was in the map generation algorithm and some stats.

The rest part was menu and spalsh screens (intro, win, fail). I made them within 1 hour. Then I reach my deadline… but plans changed and I’ve got extra few hours! So after small rest I started to polish game with extra sounds, bug catching and visual improving.

That’s all, I haven’t thigs that “went wrong”. But I slightly miss with gameplay. It should bew more ACTION. With many and many enemy waves at the same time. But this needs mpre balancing and another ammunition type.
I’ll expand this game at future to make it as this should be.

I watched this video today:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXaZCdM5i9o

Yeah! That guys are really awesome! But they’re totally didn’t understood how to play my game. So I was inspired to record masterplay of IMPOSSIBLE DIFFICULT:

If you want another try, here is link to my entry: http://www.ludumdare.com/compo/ludum-dare-30/?action=preview&uid=14848

Ok, my compo entry is imbalanced now, because weapons are useless. I working on this project and already re-reviewing gameplay and added useful things. I don’t know when I’ll release new version. Work is going very slow.

Tags: gameplay, gameplay video, playthrough

Hi. Now I tell about development of my LD compo game

Play It here =)

The main concept is “Mind Weapon”. An ability to control creatures by your own mind. I supposed, this type of weapon is corresponded with “unconventional weapon”. But while I’ve been made this game I’ve understood deeper game concept. My purpose was to show “Everyone controlled by something”. Same thing at my game. Player can control other creatures. But actually he controlled by MEDIUM. Actually, player is medium. One of mining of “MEDIUM” is “environment” or “interface between…”. So player is MEDIUM… But what the creature at the end? Who knows…

Anyway game “The Manipulator” isnpired me make something simillar but with my own vision.

http://koti.mbnet.fi/erkkavir/themanipulator.php

One of my favourite games ever. No jokes.

Now about implementation. First thing which I’ve always done is game mechanics. I made character, walls, few enemies. Then the most important part for me is level design. I always trying to create something different. I think about unique game situations. And I should find balance between “what I do” and “how many time it will cost”. But at this point I should make something with interaction between player and enemies. So I decided make stealth game. With my favourite “light system” it should be great! Also with time limits I decided make monochrome graphic. It simplier for me because I’ve been working with monochrome for years. And I added some color with blend mode. Just overlay colored rectangle over the screen with blend mode “add”. Awesome. Colour is changing by random way by rgb components at interval (150,150,150) and (255,255,255). No magic, just experience.

Next step is stealth game mechanics. Lights should be trigger area for enemies. Enemy should follow by the player by timeout and do some actions. Further, player can do same actions while controlling enemy. But how player controls the characters? This may be direct control or transitive control. I decided to make both of them. Direct control I called “Enslave”. Transitive control I called “Illusion”. It’s “Fear” actually. The easy way to manipulate people is fear, right? So I can make gameplay situation called “Fear them to the mines”. Yeah, I like mines. You can meet mines at any of my games!

But I still needed game situations. The next idea is to control someone to break the wall. So “quest with key” was born. Player should control General who shoud drive the car to the “OIL STORAGE”.

Now I can draw the level. I took me about hour.

Ok, it’s ready… After few hours of work I’ve completed whole map at room editor:

Then I made unique gameplay situations step by step. Most difficult part for me was final. I still needed one more enemy type but can’t imagine something… But! The most dangerous enemy for mind-controller should be someone who uncontrollable. More dangerous if he can DEFINE controllable characters. I made mentors. They’re silently stands and patrool some area with their lights. Player should enslave ppe solder and open the backdoor with button. Yeah, final. Time is up. I tired and wants to sleep. So I haven’t time to make intro and outro… Maybe at postcompo release.

As result I can say: “I love what I made”. This is solid game. I’ll done small changes to make this better and will release as final product.

P.S. There are many typos I know. But my native language is Russian. So I hope, anyone can forgive me for this.

Tags: development

My workplace for this LD =)

Tools: GameMaker Studio Professional, FLStudio12, Faber-Castell Art Grip, Kohiboor Mondeluz, Epson perfection 3200 photo, Gimp/Photoshop(?).

I’m ready, I think…

Hi there!

I’m in again. And I have prepared some useful scripts and objects (GMS) for quick-start:

HERE

I am using GameMakerStudio, FLStudio+NES.vst+magical8bitplugin.vst, bfxr, gimp maybe.

Also I will stream development on my twitch chanel, I think, at 7.00 GMT or later