48 replies to this topic

[MichaelTheCrow]

Recently I have started developing an Indie Action/RPG Game. Inspired by games such as Neutopia and Golden Axe Warrior, sharing a similar yet different vibe from the Zelda series. I hope to make a fully playable game out of it, most likely a Freeware title. As I update its progress I will post significant changes here including new demos and screenshots. All resources are 100% original and all created by me, any tips and suggestions with my artwork would be greatly appreciated.

Screenshot:


Download:
Tech Demo v1.11(1.70MB)

Previous versions:
Tech Demo v1.1(1.70MB)
Tech Demo v1.0(1.69MB)
A very basic tech demo of my unnamed project, there is only one room and slimes are the only enemy. Requires Windows XP or later.

Controls:
Arrow Keys - Walk
A - Attack
R - Restart
F4 - Full screen
F5 - Quick Save
F6 - Quick Load
Esc - Exit game

Notable changes:
v1.11
- Enemies now get knocked back when hit!
- FIXED THE MOVEMENT BUG when changing screens where the hero would only move if the last key released was also the last key pressed! (Very happy about resolving the main issue )
- Screen no longer shows only two blank hearts if you die by red slime when having quarter of last heart remaining
- Sprite is no longer stuck in still swinging animation When an enemy hits you the same time you attack and miss

v1.1
- New 3x3 Map
- Added Red Slimes
- Hero and enemies now appear semi-transparent when hurt
- Hero is invincible for a small period of time after being hurt

Any bug reports or suggestions would also be greatly appreciated .

Edited by MichaelTheCrow, 09 August 2011 - 07:57 PM.

[auriplane]

I killed all the blobs!!

What are you doing for sound and music? Have you checked out sfxr?

[MichaelTheCrow]

I killed all the blobs!!

What are you doing for sound and music? Have you checked out sfxr?

I was thinking about that program but forgot what it was called, thanks! Will definitely use it.

Also 1.1 is up, got a few more features added as well as tougher slimes .

[Tackle]

what language are you programming this in?
any libraries used, etc?

I'm curious, since I only have experience developing flash games, but would like to learn more about "standard" programming. C++, I assume?

[Kain Xiorcal]

It's C++ now, but by the end, it's gonna be A+++.









Ok, haven't tried it yet, but I want to (probably at home).
Good luck with the project!

[auriplane]

A definite improvement! I don't like that I have to press directions again when I switch screens, though. (Though you only release the key that was used to cross the screen, so if I'm holding diagonally up+right, and move a screen to the right, I'll end up walking up along the left side of the screen. Bug!)

I want an option to make it bigger on my screen. My screen is already low res and giant, because I have bad eyesight, but it's still tiny.

Sometimes slimes who are bounded on either side try to move sideways over and over, and they vibrate in place. They should probably move on the other axis in those situations, or just rest against the wall until they pick a new direction, instead of bouncing.

...hehe. Now I want to start another game :-)

[MichaelTheCrow]

what language are you programming this in?
any libraries used, etc?

I'm curious, since I only have experience developing flash games, but would like to learn more about "standard" programming. C++, I assume?

Nope, it's been done with Game Maker 8.1. I could never grasp C or C++, I used to mess around in GM but not to this extent, some people have beef with it though, usually programmers(apparently you can pick up some bad coding habits that could interfere when learning a proper coding language).

A definite improvement! I don't like that I have to press directions again when I switch screens, though. (Though you only release the key that was used to cross the screen, so if I'm holding diagonally up+right, and move a screen to the right, I'll end up walking up along the left side of the screen. Bug!)

I want an option to make it bigger on my screen. My screen is already low res and giant, because I have bad eyesight, but it's still tiny.

Sometimes slimes who are bounded on either side try to move sideways over and over, and they vibrate in place. They should probably move on the other axis in those situations, or just rest against the wall until they pick a new direction, instead of bouncing.

...hehe. Now I want to start another game :-)

Yes, I noticed how you have to re-press the arrow keys when you switch screens, not sure why it does this because the code constantly checks when keys are held and so this shouldn't occur. I'll have to try out that bug you mentioned.

The slimes just bounce around, definitely going to re-program their AI movement. Does F4 bring it into full screen mode and stretch the image to cover the screen(while still in aspect ratio)?
Got a few barriers to overcome so the next version will probably take longer to release.

Thanks for the feedback guys!

[auriplane]

Oh cool! Yeah, you should put F4 in the instructions (unless I missed it and it's already there)! Much cooler fullscreen :-D

EDIT: Yup, aspect ratio is preserved.

*encourage encourage*

[tibone]

Looks neat. The artwork style is cool. Light-years better than anything i can do, for sure.

GM is not bad, but indeed, it's not the most "programmers" friendly" tool. However i have seen some pretty cool stuff made in it.


Good luck with the project and keep us posted.

[auriplane]

Are you going to write music for it?

[MichaelTheCrow]

Are you going to write music for it?

Most likely, I've never made a soundtrack before, currently debating whether it should be chiptune or symphonic, both might work...but then again, simplicity .

[Kain Xiorcal]

symphonic chiptune

16 tracks of soaring square waves!

[norg]

symphonic chiptune

16 tracks of soaring square waves!

if any of you are familiar with Jeroen Tel (WAVE of Maniacs of Noise), he's done similar things to that. 16 track songs with nothing but a single sine wave. he used that single sine wave and a whole bunch of trigger and cut-off effects and envelopes to make a full soundscape of textures and percussion and it's probably not the only time he's done it. if i could ever find that track i'll link it here. brilliant.

[Kain Xiorcal]

Tried the game last night, and the controls are tight (aside the little thing that auriplane mentioned).
My suggestion (kinda depends on what you want from the game though) would be that the enemies are either knocked back when attacked (à la Zelda 1) or they freeze very briefly (à la Castlevania), this way the player doesn't have to step back while ditching one hit at a time to make sure that the unstaggering slimes doesn't hit them. Heck, you could even make it so that the first two hits does the brief freeze and a 3rd would knock back (kinda like a combo).

Norg, that's cool. I listened to a track, it was good chip tune, but either it wasn't one of those 16 tracks one, or, the "16 tracks" thing cheats by doing the Jordan-Rudess-saw-lead of overlapping different sounds playing the same thing just to have a more full sound.

I was talking about 16 tracks of counter-melodies and harmonies! (sweet "real" delays and lazy octave-harmonies are fine too)

[arise_shine]

D3D.CreateDevice() Error: Please check that your graphics card meets the minimum requirements and that your drivers are up-to-date. If your graphics card has little memory, try switching your computer to a lower resolution. (Error: -2005530516)