SyntaxBomb - Indie Coders

General Category => Worklogs => Topic started by: STEVIE G on February 09, 2019, 20:53:39

Title: Untitled - 8 bit wars comp entry
Post by: STEVIE G on February 09, 2019, 20:53:39
I'm going for a C64 320x180 platform shooter with a minimalist look.  2 colours per 8x8 block was too restrictive so I've settled on a max of 4 (including black) but using the original C64 colours.

A few screens of progress so far ...

(https://www.syntaxbomb.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.steviegoodwin.plus.com%2Fimages%2FUntitled%2FBH1.png&hash=97587c34c08edf9d24022c1b90252027973d5850)

(https://www.syntaxbomb.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.steviegoodwin.plus.com%2Fimages%2FUntitled%2FBH2.png&hash=b2920d4f5e7bdbf2eec365de6042ebbf32a5e3b8)

(https://www.syntaxbomb.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.steviegoodwin.plus.com%2Fimages%2FUntitled%2FBH3.png&hash=d429cad001b680f55f06398839a6b0415e2214c9)



Title: Re: Untitled - 8 bit wars comp entry
Post by: Steve Elliott on February 09, 2019, 21:24:25
Nice clean lines.  Good job.
Title: Re: Untitled - 8 bit wars comp entry
Post by: Qube on February 09, 2019, 22:05:29
Looks cute ;D but I bet landing in that acid at the bottom isn't :o
Title: Re: Untitled - 8 bit wars comp entry
Post by: 3DzForMe on February 10, 2019, 04:42:58
Nice looking style, like how the platforms stand out in a 3D esque way. ;D
Title: Re: Untitled - 8 bit wars comp entry
Post by: MrmediamanX on February 10, 2019, 06:36:54
solid look man. :)
Title: Re: Untitled - 8 bit wars comp entry
Post by: GaborD on February 10, 2019, 07:36:43
Nice clean design. You could make it very action-heavy and the player would never lose focus. Sometimes less is more, I really like it.
Reminded me of Jumpman right away. (yes, totally different colors, no tiny holes in the ground layers, no directional ropes... but still :) )
We used to play that for hours and hours with friends, taking turns, shouting at each other's mistakes. Brings back memories.
Hope you also add different enemies and challenges each level. That was what made it so great. That silly spear throwing level. Or the one where your clones follow every step you take. The disappearing or appearing ladders... Loved it.
Title: Re: Untitled - 8 bit wars comp entry
Post by: therevills on February 10, 2019, 07:54:31
Nice!

Your little guy reminds me of an old game... cant put my finger on it...
Title: Re: Untitled - 8 bit wars comp entry
Post by: STEVIE G on February 14, 2019, 19:34:53
Quote from: GaborD on February 10, 2019, 07:36:43
Nice clean design. You could make it very action-heavy and the player would never lose focus. Sometimes less is more, I really like it.
Reminded me of Jumpman right away. (yes, totally different colors, no tiny holes in the ground layers, no directional ropes... but still :) )
We used to play that for hours and hours with friends, taking turns, shouting at each other's mistakes. Brings back memories.
Hope you also add different enemies and challenges each level. That was what made it so great. That silly spear throwing level. Or the one where your clones follow every step you take. The disappearing or appearing ladders... Loved it.

I checked out Jumpman for the C64 - interesting mechanics and looks fun.  I've looked at countless platformers on retro sites to get some inspiration.  There seems to still be lots of people working on C64 hardware.

Quote from: therevills on February 10, 2019, 07:54:31
Nice!

Your little guy reminds me of an old game... cant put my finger on it...

Lode Runner I suspect?  ;D

I think my wee guy looks better.  I spent more time than I should on the animation - 8 frames for each direction just the running, same for crawling and walking etc...  Just got the shooting, climbing and hit/death ones to do and then on to getting the gameplay working with placeholders for the enemies.

The idea will be simple, start the level on the bottom left/right, kill everything on the level (some are patrolling, some drop from above), don't get killed then exit through a door to the opposite side - eventually reaching a Boss room.  The shooting / killing has to be satisfying and challenging or I won't be satisfied.  Think lots of particle effects, blood and shell casings etc...

Making some decent progress on level tiles to introduce some variety and a bit more detail.  Added a shadow effect on the player character.  Got some 8bit sounds working too. I'm hoping to get a procedural level creation system working but I reckon it'll be tricky to ensure you can reach everything.  I was toying with dropping the climbing and just have you jumping around .. will see what works best.

(https://www.syntaxbomb.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.steviegoodwin.plus.com%2Fimages%2FUntitled%2FBH4.png&hash=c6b8ea0e1d3c938f0b116174ea6d7bc897d08417) 


Title: Re: Untitled - 8 bit wars comp entry
Post by: round157 on February 18, 2019, 12:57:37
STEVIE G wrote:

Quote
Lode Runner I suspect?

Perhaps some members don't know what Lode Runner is. Lode Runner is an extremely successful game. It was released in 1983 according to Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lode_Runner

These members may really want to watch this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRhP8Nk0exw
Title: Re: Untitled - 8 bit wars comp entry
Post by: STEVIE G on February 18, 2019, 17:58:52
Quote from: round157 on February 18, 2019, 12:57:37
STEVIE G wrote:

Quote
Lode Runner I suspect?

Perhaps some members don't know what Lode Runner is. Lode Runner is an extremely successful game. It was released in 1983 according to Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lode_Runner

These members may really want to watch this video:

Best to just use google rather than watching a 4hr video.   ;D

Like I said, my game will play nothing like it though.  The only minor resemblance is that both main characters are white stick men. 

Title: Re: Untitled - 8 bit wars comp entry
Post by: therevills on February 18, 2019, 22:56:12
QuoteLode Runner I suspect?

Nah, something more recent... I've got a memory of seeing something like at the time of playing My Wobbly Leg vs the Invaders from Space...
Title: Re: Untitled - 8 bit wars comp entry
Post by: round157 on February 18, 2019, 23:49:58
Quote from: STEVIE G on February 18, 2019, 17:58:52

Like I said, my game will play nothing like it though.  The only minor resemblance is that both main characters are white stick men.

Oh...I see. By the way, your untitled entry looks like a powerful and strong contestant in this competition!

I look forward to an outstanding and unusual name for this nice game. My memory tells me that your old entries were developed in Blitz3D. Is this untitled entry the same?

Good luck to you!
Title: Re: Untitled - 8 bit wars comp entry
Post by: 3DzForMe on February 20, 2019, 06:45:55
Blitz3D, the weapon of choice for the discerning coder  8)
Title: Re: Untitled - 8 bit wars comp entry
Post by: MrmediamanX on February 20, 2019, 12:35:23
Quote from: 3DzForMe on February 20, 2019, 06:45:55
Blitz3D, the weapon of choice for the discerning coder  8)

Amen to that. 8)
Title: Re: Untitled - 8 bit wars comp entry
Post by: STEVIE G on February 20, 2019, 18:25:08
Quote from: MrmediamanX on February 20, 2019, 12:35:23
Quote from: 3DzForMe on February 20, 2019, 06:45:55
Blitz3D, the weapon of choice for the discerning coder  8)

Amen to that. 8)

If it keeps working - I'll keep using it  8)
Title: Re: Untitled - 8 bit wars comp entry
Post by: STEVIE G on March 02, 2019, 18:50:27
Managed to get some free time to work on this.

Decided against the procedural level creation - far too much work involved to check if you can get to every area. 
Below is my test level.  The wooden platforms are one way and can be shot through, the dark grey are the same but can't be shot through and the light gray block movement in all directions.

Added collision mask for pixel perfect collisions
Added shooting, shooting animations etc..
Added some particles effects, muzzle flashes, casings, bullets and smoke added.  Plan to have big explosions and body parts flying around and lots of blood.
Added some enemy limpet guns, there will be Robots, Humans, Flying enemies and maybe some Aliens if I have time.

Had to think of a reason not to shoot your gun so decided that you can only shoot when on the ground or on a ladder and will likely have an overheat meter.  Adds an element of strategy I think. 

Lots still to do!!


A few screenshots ..

(https://www.syntaxbomb.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.steviegoodwin.plus.com%2Fimages%2FUntitled%2FBH6.png&hash=5a4fd853332d5c183e52b49fc9338689b17552f8)

(https://www.syntaxbomb.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.steviegoodwin.plus.com%2Fimages%2FUntitled%2FBH7.png&hash=9fa9c9f1cac7db05600fc76171f91eac82445f74)

Collision Mask debug view ..

(https://www.syntaxbomb.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.steviegoodwin.plus.com%2Fimages%2FUntitled%2FBH8.png&hash=006f0a18f219c7a5f1a2c176196d31fe91eb6feb)





Title: Re: Untitled - 8 bit wars comp entry
Post by: Qube on March 03, 2019, 08:31:27
That looks really cool ;D - Love the shadows of the platforms against the background to give a more 3D effect.