RAM - Code a game competition 5 - May 4th to June 30th

[Matty]

Excellent.   Very unique.

[Xerra]

I've been emailing with the 8bit guy trying to see if he's got any of the rarer old computers that he could possibly take some photo's of for me. Not much luck with most of the ones I'd like a better image of but he did come up with this beauty.

It's in wonderful condition on it's own but just look at some of the stuff 8bit guy has in the background. I'd love to see his museum one day.

[iWasAdam]

not quite...

[Derron]

@Adam

I like the colorchoice on the first screenshot. Subtile / bright fonts on the front face and the backside is using colors similar to the background of the screenshot.



@ Xerra
If you want to have some coding fun, your cards could be slightly animated.

This is from my halloween compo entry "Trick or Sweets":


To achieve that effect I had:
- a background
- an overlay (the "grungy/torn paper"-look)
- a "stripes" image
- the actual image (in that case the lollipop)

drawing was done this way:
- draw background
- set handle of stripes-image to "center"
- set rotation to "(360 * Millisecs()*"slownessFactor-eg.-0.1") mod 360"
- set blend to shade blend (or use low alpha on alphablend)
- draw stripes-image
- reset rotation, alpha, ...
- set handle of actual-image to "center"
- set scale "0.95 + 0.05*sin(Millisecs()*"scaleSlownessFactor-eg.-0.05")"
- draw your actual image
- reset scale
- draw overlay on top

The overlay can eg. be used to slowly fade out to the background etc.

What is all the fuzz about? it removes the "staticness" of the game - it adds a tiny bit of movement. Might not be worth the hassle but if properly done I think it can increase the visual attractivity.

Nonetheless I would really want to see a revisited look of your cards - take Adam's suggestions into consideration. Especially colors need to suit together in the base configuration - it attracts or distracts people right on start. If you need any "PSD" for card design, kindly ask and I (or maybe others like Adam) might create you some stuff.


bye
Ron

[Xerra]

That sunbeam effect behind the cards main image is really subtle. I've got some code that does a similar effect that's pretty configurable but i don't think it works with computer images like it does on yours.

In all honesty, I think I may have spent too long messing about with trying to get cards looking how I want them without having the core game in place first. I've got to leave the visual side completely and crunch just code this weekend as time is ticking.

As it is I'm having to get the game done two days earlier than the deadline as I have to go away that weekend for my god daughters wedding. I've even taken a few days leave near the end to spend more time on the game because I've got so much time going on at weekends right up to past the deadline.

[Derron]

Of course: game play first.

Feel free to come back regarding visuals when you are ready - it will _really_ improve overall "feel" as people tend to enjoy good looking (in the sense of "visually pleasing") stuff :-).


bye
Ron

[Xerra]

Looks better with the logo animation and the matrix-style binary panel moving but you get the idea. Work in progress.

[Xerra]

Hi guys,

Today's the last day I can actually work on my game before the deadline and it's glaringly obvious to me that I can't get it over the line in it's current state so I'm not going to enter it. RAM is around 90% done so I will finish it but it's going to take more time because life just got in the way this last month. I'll be back for the next competition where I won't have so much going on.

Good luck everyone else still entering 

[iWasAdam]