Heart Score abstract shmup WIP

[chessish]

Here is what i have done so far, the first two levels of my game.
Move the ship (yellow square) with AWSD. Aim at objects with your "scanner" floating in front of your "ship". Slow down with the space key.
Game ends when pressing escape.

I am constantly working on this game so i started this devlog.     

No animations yet. No score saving

I am looking for general feedback just to see if my ideas are any good and will keep this thread updated.

Below are some screenshots and the download link:

[Xerra]

I've had a play with your game today so thought I'd give you a bit of feedback.

The idea is interesting but there definitely needs to be more feedback when your scanner is over objects so you get a feeling that you're breaking it down. At the moment you seem to have random words which do suggest place-holders so I'm assuming you already have this in mind.

I do like the large boss-type ships coming down even if I'm not sure how we're supposed to be taking them down as there's no real clue.

Only discovered you collect the yellow gems that are thrown out from enemies randomly are actually collectable. I assumed they were shots and avoided them for a while.

Question on the graphics, though. I'm not a fan of the visual style you're using. I do think this would work a lot better with simulated metal using whatever machine you are trying to emulates grey colours with white and black. To add to this, what machine are you simulating here? I didn't look very closely but this doesn't seem to be a game that could be running on one of the 8 bit computers the competition is about.

Last thing I really thought while playing: Everything could be moving quicker. Not sure it's possible to die in your game yet but i didn't when playing it and I think I reached the end. Making it faster would be much more exciting as long as the scanner update speed matches, of course.

Good luck with finishing it.

[Xerra]

Actually, I just noticed you haven't said if this is a competition game. Apologies if it's not. I just made an assumption based on the date you posted the worklog. Ignore all my comments about the graphics and palette if so.

[chessish]

Thank you for your feedback.

it is possible to die in this it is playing a sound when hit.
Game is over when you reach 0 lives.

Well the game is not for the competition, i just felt about posting it.
About the graphical style: i think only a few people like abstract graphics
did you at least have a bit of fun playing it?

[round157]

chessish wrote:

Here is what i have done so far,

Hello....

I am busy and don't have time to try this nice game. I may download and play this game next week. Please continue to tell us the progress of this nice game in the future. Thanks. The game looks like an exciting and attractive shooting game! May I ask a question? What language(or game creation software) is used in developing this game? Bye....

[chessish]

Thank you for liking my project!
This game is coded in blitz max.

well a friend of mine visited me yesterday an tested the game.... he
Mentioned that the speed of the game might be too slow
I will try and increase the pace.

i would like more feedback if possible

[round157]

Thank you for liking my project!

This game looks interesting and exciting!

This game is coded in blitz max.
well a friend of mine visited me yesterday an tested the game.... he
Mentioned that the speed of the game might be too slow

The CPU of my computer is very old. However, ordinary BlitzMax examples or games are quite fast on my computer.

i would like more feedback if possible

Ok, no problem. I will download your game today. (I mean "within 24 hours".) I will give you my comments or opinions.

On the other hand, I am surprised that only Xerra gave the opinions to you. Why? Perhaps this forum is special. Members are only interested in games made for competitions. Right? If your game is an entry of competition, you can obtain a lot of feedbacks.

[round157]

i would like more feedback if possible

Hello, I have played your game finally.

Is the pace of the game slow? I don't think so. The pace is quite okay. The gameplay is not too complicated for players. 
This game has potential and it is a nice try.

If you continue to improve the gameplay, I believe that your game will become an addictive game.

I hope that you will create many attractive and great levels based on this simple first level.

[jonza]

I think the game is missing some visual and auditory feedback. I have no idea what is happening or what i'm trying to do or how it should work. Maybe add some audio-visual thing to the attacks. Attacks are not projectile? Maybe add a noise that comes from attacking, a different noise from when the enemy ship takes damage, and some visual thing between the ship and the target -- maybe a lightning/electric arc kind of thing? Maybe something that takes inspiration from tornadoes, whirlwinds etc. The words are really good idea, they make the game seem little mysterious and deep. Maybe make them react to attacks too: shaking, make them grow bigger, change colour with more damage, or almost anything you can think of.

It definitely needs to make the player feel some sense of purpose to make it interesting. Maybe you can add some weird and abstract story telling in there.

[round157]

I think the game is missing some visual and auditory feedback. I have no idea what is happening or what i'm trying to do or how it should work. Maybe add some audio-visual thing to the attacks. Attacks are not projectile? Maybe add a noise that comes from attacking, a different noise from when the enemy ship takes damage, and some visual thing between the ship and the target -- maybe a lightning/electric arc kind of thing? Maybe something that takes inspiration from tornadoes, whirlwinds etc. The words are really good idea, they make the game seem little mysterious and deep. Maybe make them react to attacks too: shaking, make them grow bigger, change colour with more damage, or almost anything you can think of.

It definitely needs to make the player feel some sense of purpose to make it interesting. Maybe you can add some weird and abstract story telling in there.

A lot of high-quality ideas are in your post.

[chessish]

As i mentioned in my first post, there are no animations yet.
you are completely right with your ideas!

at the moment i do not have any animations in progress
but will add some of my own ideas when the time is right.

Already i programmed a little counter that will show enemy hp.
i will upload a newerr version of the game when i finished
Working on the second level.

[chessish]

Finally i finished the second level of my shmup.

I added a small counter to the scanner.
It shows enemy's hp when aiming at them.

I added some background music to the game too.
                                                   
I would appreciate some positive and/or constructive feedback.

[3DzForMe]

I Like the look and style of your graphics from the screen grab - sorry I don't have time to try the exectuable at the mo.

[chessish]

Thanks for the nice comment