SyntaxBomb - Indie Coders

I'm about 80% done for the game itself. It's fully playable now but there's quite a lot of placeholder systems in there just to pad out the areas that I can polish later on. I've built a nice array system for level data that is relatively simple for changing elements to get some variety in the levels but I've only fully created five of the (currently planned) twenty, as I'm still expanding what can be configurable, so getting that settled comes first before I get all 20 done.

I should probably show something off by now but I've still got some placeholder vic 20 char graphics that I've not redrawn or replaced as yet, so I'm giving it a few more days before I do anything like a worklog and video.

I changed how I worked on this game compared to how I normally put them together and it seems to be working well for me. 2-3 hour sessions every day, not just the odd long session whenever I feel like it, for starters. Also I consciously avoid any scenario where I finish a session with something major unfinished, or leave out a tricky part for next time. It helps massively if you're loading up to work on your game and you're not disheartened at having to start off straight away with a particularly tricky problem.

Another thing I'm doing is always close out on a win. You've always got an ever-evolving list of things you want to add, or update, and some of these are often quick five or ten minute jobs. Removing one of the many items on the work list is a big motivation plus, so I've got just as many little tweaks on my list as major elements.

Quote from: Xerra on September 28, 2023, 22:24:17I'm about 80% done for the game itself.

Say what?  I'm still in the concept stage in what I want to do  I need to get mouse clicking and key tapping faster.

It's true. Actually, probably 82.5% now, after last nights marathon. I've stepped up my productivity massively this time, as I've screwed up at least four efforts to make a competition deadline previously. 

I'm determined to remain the person who's submitted the most entries for SyntaxBomb game competitions since they started

If I was entering I'd do a version of Defender  ...Using graphics I bought from playniax.

@Steve Elliott Nice.
Me being me I'm practically done, just doing a bit of T T[tidy up and testing] but if I still have time, I may add some secrets or cheats to it as the game is arcade hard mode just like Wardner/Pyros and ghosts and goblins so it's certainly not a cake walk.

Very cool! Loved Ghost and Goblins as a kid!

QuoteIf I was entering I'd do

why do you never participate ?

give it a shot... it is just for fun...

Quote from: RemiD on September 30, 2023, 11:30:10

QuoteIf I was entering I'd do

why do you never participate ?

give it a shot... it is just for fun...

In Steve's defence he does often start. He just doesn't finish

Quote from: MrmediamanX on September 30, 2023, 02:36:06@Steve Elliott Nice.
Me being me I'm practically done, just doing a bit of T T[tidy up and testing] but if I still have time, I may add some secrets or cheats to it as the game is arcade hard mode just like Wardner/Pyros and ghosts and goblins so it's certainly not a cake walk.

I should have known you'd be almost finished. There's me thinking I'm doing ok for time - for a change

Video time?

QuoteI should have known you'd be almost finished. There's me thinking I'm doing ok for time - for a change

Video time?

Soon, just need to test out these post processing fx so things blend more cohesively and do a massive cleanup. I kind of want to drop it around Halloween just like last time.

Here's what I'm doing. A hybrid of both Gridrunner and Matrix - based on the Vic 20 versions, as everyone knows the others were nowhere near as good

@Xerra Looking mighty rad

Some great looking entries - even at this early stage!   

I didn't say I was definitely in or out, it depends if I get some free time or not!

Gridrunner is looking (and sounding) great. The 'Gridrunner' text doesn't fit with the low res 80's look the rest of the game has though.

Quote from: Steve Elliott on September 30, 2023, 16:07:21Some great looking entries - even at this early stage! 

I didn't say I was definitely in or out, it depends if I get some free time or not!

Gridrunner is looking (and sounding) great. The 'Gridrunner' text doesn't fit with the low res 80's look the rest of the game has though.

Nope. I'll be removing some of the low res stuff, and I'll bump up that logo into the main screen anyway. Jeff Minter has already said anyone can do anything they want with his old games but I don't want to look just like it, as I'll be adding some stuff that those games didn't have anyway. A lot of things in there are just placeholders. Plan to have a proper menu eventually, for starters. And I don't have the x/y grid zappers or snitch in yet. So much to still do.

Quote from: MrmediamanX on September 30, 2023, 02:36:06@Steve Elliott Nice.
Me being me I'm practically done, just doing a bit of T T[tidy up and testing] but if I still have time, I may add some secrets or cheats to it as the game is arcade hard mode just like Wardner/Pyros and ghosts and goblins so it's certainly not a cake walk.

 You gotten this far in 20 days?    Graphics drawn from fresh or media you already had?