SyntaxBomb - Indie Coders

Quote from: Steve Elliott on May 13, 2020, 08:11:02
I always like to wait a few days to see if any bug fixes are required and new versions appear.

I do too - but someone needs to report bugs first...so sometimes this is our duty/task I think.


bye
Ron

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I do too - but someone needs to report bugs first.

I know.   

QuoteI always like to wait a few days to see if any bug fixes are required

Yep, report and "Play Away"...

Quote from: Imerion on May 12, 2020, 21:51:59

Trial Dungeon
I got this to run on Linux using 64 bit Wine, and it starts fine. I can start the game, but after pressing space and getting to level 1 nothing else happens. No input seems to do anything and nothing moves. I like the music though!

Shoot! There is a PureBasic version that allows to create native Linux binaries, but I don't have a Linux box available right now. The source code is available with the Windows binary here. The game can be compiled with the demonstration version of PureBasic. Could someone be kind enough to try it? I'll try to get a Virtual Machine with Linux to create a native linux version. What is the deadline to submit a linux version for the competition?
Thank you, Imerion, for testing the game!

ok I've added links to all the games below, from first to last submission post.

https://www.syntaxbomb.com/index.php/topic,6425.msg31297.html#msg31297

I've had a quick try of all the games, some good stuff here well done!   

No bugs spotted yet and every game ran well.  Just some observations.  Every time you loose??  Surely that should be 'lose' Adam.  Asterocks, I find it uncomfortable to have to reach up for the Page Up and down keys to activate/de-activate the shield, which causes me to die more than I should.  Why not use the Z and X keys for use on the other hand (the same hand you use for firing (the spacebar).  Tiny Tales I had to rename the readme file to a .txt file to be able to read it.  The Ginger Ninja 64, how do you get back to the menu to quit the game?

A few personal notes, I think it's very easy to forget a player has not ever played your game before so you must explain everything to them.  I also personally think games should be immersive, no matter how simple the game.  So having a screen of windows behind the game detracts from the game.  So I always prefer a default of full screen, with an option to switch to a window if required.  Oh, and if you're using a windowed mode you should display the mouse pointer, and in fullscreen mode you generally want to hide it - unless it's using the UI.

Anyway like I said some real nice work here, looking forward to having a proper play of all.   

Only tried Validius so far, defo recommend with an Xbox controller, defo got that 'one more go' appeal - great stuff;

[modify] just seen Steve's post, tried warlock - wow, great presentation, really draws you in, love the UI.

Quote from: 3DzForMe on May 13, 2020, 19:12:25
Only tried Validius so far, defo recommend with an Xbox controller, defo got that 'one more go' appeal - great stuff;

3Dz is spot on here. I mumbled to Adam also about this on the itch comments page about what a difference using a gamepad makes. It was hugely difficult getting any kind of keyboard control system into the game without starting to think I'd have to completely change everything to make it much easier. That's why I even ended up putting on the title screen how much better the game will play using a pad. You can play it with keyboard and mouse for the directional fire but it just doesn't feel as good and the games pretty hard already.

I've had a Parallels session tonight so I could have a go at playing the games that have Windows only builds. I'm happy to report that I was able to run all of them.

I won't give too many comments yet as I intend to play all four again after bug fix week.

Ziberium has a DirectX issue for me, which maybe is just Parallels related, so I won't judge it down for that when voting does start. I updated my Win 7 installation etc, but it still had no audio. I will say the rest of the game works fine, although i'm not a huge fan of the big black borders limiting the scrolling view area when you go into full screen as I was hoping to be able to see more of the cave at once by doing that. I'm currently at Stage 8 of the 20 areas and curious if there are more levels after they are done?

Trial dungeon I think really needed a few instructions in the game but I believe I've got it all figured out now I realised I was picking up power ups and could use them against the cat with the space bar. Display was a bit small for my liking but I'm glad i persevered as there's a game in here that people may not notice at first if they judge it too quickly.

The Ginger Ninja control system is frustrating me something rotten. A game I so want to play through yet I can't make even the simple jumps on platforms to progress as I can't work how the character moves. I think it needs to have the turn keys not move forward as well for me and maybe some way to separate camera movement so I can position myself right. Strafe keys also and probably a double jump because I so suck at trying to play it at present. I've never played the N64 original but presume it was much easier with a controller. I don't know if it's allowed in the rules for extra controls to be added but I'm going to be hassling MrMedia to see if he'll jig a few things after the compo, if he's willing.

Astro rocks works ok but I have some niggles with the way it's presenting itself. Choosing to quit and then being prompted afterwards to press enter to actually quit. The game asking you if you would like to play again and then prompting you to enter a high score name afterwards, which is for the previous game. Very disconcerting. I think the rotation of the ship and its movement speed is also a bit too slow to be practical for a game where you have this many asteroids and more spawning in. A game needs to give you a chance and this one felt a bit too weighted against me. I do like that it's set up for speedy shots and it's always therapeutic shooting asteroids. Also the page up/page down keys are a terrible idea for activating the shield. I died almost every  time because they don't feel right when you're using the cursor keys for controlling the ship. I always have to look away from the screen to activate them - and always die as a result.

Of these Four games, one of them has impressed me very much, and I can't see it not making my top three. Just not saying which one yet

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Also the page up/page down keys are a terrible idea for activating the shield. I died almost every  time because they don't feel right when you're using the cursor keys for controlling the ship. I always have to look away from the screen to activate them - and always die as a result.

Yes I mentioned this too.

It's up to Qube to decide, but as well as bug fixes maybe allow button changes to be allowed because they are such a minor change but can really effect gameplay?

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I think the rotation of the ship and its movement speed is also a bit too slow to be practical for a game where you have this many asteroids and more spawning in. A game needs to give you a chance and this one felt a bit too weighted against me.

No I think it's a fact you don't have a full Windows System that runs at a decent speed or the Delta timing is off.  It runs plenty fast enough here, I would also hate a weighted Asteroid clone, and it certainly isn't.

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Ziberium has a DirectX issue for me.

I must say it's a bit annoying people without a proper Windows System complaining a Windows game has faults, when it's probably their own system that is at fault.  So far I have *only* tried Windows versions of the games and *all* ran smoothly, fast and were very responsive.  I'll try the Mac and Linux versions tomorrow for those that have produced versions on those systems.

Yes.  It does amuse me when users run a windows build under emulation in linux and then submit bug reports. 

I too have also found using my friends eye glasses causes my eyes to hurt so I'm going to complain to their optometrist about them ;-)

QuoteThe Ginger Ninja control system is frustrating me something rotten.

I went with a standard control scheme, common with N64 games of that era.
if it's possible to use a key to joy setup that could work. My pc gamepad died a while back and setting up ps4/ps3 game pads are just a tad bit tedious. although I have functional usb gamepad code, it would be a blind trail.

Quoteand probably a double jump because I so suck at trying to play it at present.

I'm all anti double jump now as jumping is a skill based action. not knocking ya Xerra it's cool.
it's certainly not a presion platformer, but i'll see what I can do to remedy the issues,timing,glitches,bugs,ease
heck there's a place holder track I thought I replaced, also there's base code for auto centering of the camera I need to apply, so I'll wait for a bit for more feedback before upping an update. 
 

QuoteI must say it's a bit annoying people without a proper Windows System complaining a Windows game has faults

Tis an odd one, we always have to keep in mind architecture,libraries,runtimes even for windows based systems ... etc I have multiple systems so there's generally no issues for me.

All the game's function just fine, granted adams crashed a few times prior the update but it's fine now.

Quote from: MrmediamanX on May 14, 2020, 04:50:45

QuoteThe Ginger Ninja control system is frustrating me something rotten.

I went with a standard control scheme, common with games of that era.
if it's possible to use a key to joy setup that could work. My pc gamepad died a while back and setting up ps4/ps3 game pads are just a tad bit tedious. although I have functional usb gamepad code, it would be a blind trail.

Very possible it's just me that can't get to grips with it. I really just couldn't play it working like that on a keyboard. Perhaps I'm just too used to being a Playstation gamer. The only Nintendo system I've ever owned was a Wii so never played Mario on the N64.

Quote from: Steve Elliott on May 13, 2020, 23:49:35
I think the rotation of the ship and its movement speed is also a bit too slow to be practical for a game where you have this many asteroids and more spawning in. A game needs to give you a chance and this one felt a bit too weighted against me.

Quote from: Steve Elliott on May 13, 2020, 23:49:35
No I think it's a fact you don't have a full Windows System that runs at a decent speed or the Delta timing is off.  It runs plenty fast enough here, I would also hate a weighted Asteroid clone, and it certainly isn't.

Then that's just a difference of opinion. Sure, you don't like the idea that I'm running these games on Parallels but there's no point me going out to buy a PC I don't want just to play them, when Parallels works. You seem to think I'm taking a pop at the game with a DirectX issue even though I point out that it's likely my issue and I wouldn't be judging against it. All the games work fine speed-wise and I stand by my comment about the ship speed in AsterRocks.

If I was to only play the games I could actually play from not having access to a gaming PC then I don't think it would be fair for me to vote at all because I wouldn't be able to play all of them. As is these are all games that aren't huge system resources then I will try them again on my stick PC, because it's still a Windows 10 machine, and should run them with no problems.

Before someone says I should have done that in the first place, I couldn't do that yesterday, as I left it in the office Monday afternoon.

QuoteThe Ginger Ninja 64, how do you get back to the menu to quit the game?

[P] - key to pause dude, the rest is self explanatory
It's part of the controls I'm adamant had added to every drop done thus far.

QuoteVery possible it's just me that can't get to grips with it.

it's cool, I'm all for the feed back, I should have opted for a croc or spyro control setup from the jump.
The only method of analog feasible for me would be WASD+mouse and i'm stuck with a darn tiny track pad.
I had to dev with a GPDWIN pocket note 2 ... nuts. at least I can debug while taking dump though so that's a plus.
all & all let's get fixing.