[CTP, Beta] zBreak

[laurens]

I've been thinking about the level engine in this game. Right now it's hard to implement custom levels when one has no coding experience. Lot's of things can go wrong. So I've been thinking about a solution.

I came up with something that is used more often, bitmaps.
Like this we could make levels as if they are images.
So lets say there is a pixel of the color #FF0000 at position (1,5) would been there is a red block (#FF0000) at row 1, column 5.
Following this trial, a white pixel (#FFFFFF) at position (2,2) would mean a blank space at row 2, column 2.
Got the point? (or shall I say, pixel?)
Anyhow, using this method it's easy to add a level by just adding a image to the build. (I don't know if it's possible like this though)


Another option could be using a XML file. A level could look like this then:

<level name="Apple" number="1" rows="15">
 0,0,0,0,0,4,3,0,0,0,0
 0,0,0,0,0,4,3,0,0,0,0
 0,0,0,0,0,4,0,0,0,0,0
 0,0,0,0,2,2,2,0,0,0,0
 0,0,0,2,2,2,2,2,0,0,0
 0,0,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,0,0
 0,0,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,0,0
 0,0,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,0,0
 0,0,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,0,0
 0,0,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,0,0
 0,0,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,0,0
 0,0,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,0,0
 0,0,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,0,0
 0,0,0,2,2,2,2,2,0,0,0
 0,0,0,0,2,2,2,0,0,0,0
</level>

This makes it also easy to add levels using a simple (online) application.



Both of these ideas are easy to do with my level editor, and also allows the possibility of a level previewer by simply uploading the image or XML tree.

[ZuneMan4]

Cool, touch support is working pretty well. One complaint, I think that you should make it so that the paddle moves faster with the touch support. Also, right now the paddle moves faster going to the right than it does for the left. Thanks strongbad for helping out LedZepp.

[MehStrongBadMeh]

Believe or not everybody, I made another mod of zbreak.
This one uses a modification of LedZepp's touch scheme with my suggestion.

• Now the paddle doesn't jitter when it hits the left (or right) side of the screen when using buttons or touch controls.
• My custom game thumbnail is actually included in the game this time (I checked twice ).
• And custom levels made using the most recent version of the level editor are included (Thanks to those who made them) leaving a total of 23 levels!

So what are you waiting for?
Download zBreak 009 MSBM Mod v2 with jitter correction

[LedZepp]

Thanks strongbad, in my original 0.0.9 there was no jitter just when the touch support was added, I have over 30 levels in the upcoming release, which will feature the red block as being a bomb block, it will "blow" up the surround blocks, gun powerup will be added as well as the multiple ball powerup. This version wont be released until this weekend.

Laurens, when I redo the whole game(after i get my next version out) i will try to redo the level implementation to use xml.

Thanks for everyones support for this game!

[mediatech]

cool i'm looking forward to the new version... great game!

[MehStrongBadMeh]

Originally Posted by LedZepp

Thanks strongbad, in my original 0.0.9 there was no jitter just when the touch support was added, I have over 30 levels in the upcoming release, which will feature the red block as being a bomb block, it will "blow" up the surround blocks, gun powerup will be added as well as the multiple ball powerup. This version wont be released until this weekend.

Laurens, when I redo the whole game(after i get my next version out) i will try to redo the level implementation to use xml.

Thanks for everyones support for this game!

Your welcome LedZepp (and anyone else who said thank you to me)!

I was just thinking about a bomb block.
Actually a bomb block would make cool game thumbnail.
I'll make it after the new version is released.

[ZuneMan4]

Sweet, more levels, bomb block, gun, multi ball, this game will be incredible!

[wiisrock]

I found a glitch, items will sometimes fall out of those black solid blocks that you can't break and the very top of the level if you hit it.

[ShotgunSnipist]

Originally Posted by LedZepp

Thanks strongbad, in my original 0.0.9 there was no jitter just when the touch support was added, I have over 30 levels in the upcoming release, which will feature the red block as being a bomb block, it will "blow" up the surround blocks, gun powerup will be added as well as the multiple ball powerup. This version wont be released until this weekend.

Laurens, when I redo the whole game(after i get my next version out) i will try to redo the level implementation to use xml.

Thanks for everyones support for this game!

So when is that coming out? and has anyone fixed the V. 0.0.9 Touch Edition?
Cause there is still no link...

[LedZepp]

So when is that coming out?

This version wont be released until this weekend.

and has anyone fixed the V. 0.0.9 Touch Edition?
Cause there is still no link...

Believe or not everybody, I made another mod of zbreak.
This one uses a modification of LedZepp's touch scheme with my suggestion.

* Now the paddle doesn't jitter when it hits the left (or right) side of the screen when using buttons or touch controls.
* My custom game thumbnail is actually included in the game this time (I checked twice ).
* And custom levels made using the most recent version of the level editor are included (Thanks to those who made them) leaving a total of 23 levels!


So what are you waiting for?
Download zBreak 009 MSBM Mod v2 with jitter correction

[ShotgunSnipist]

Oh okay... I feel stupid now...
So why isn't that link on the main page?

[MehStrongBadMeh]

Originally Posted by ShotgunSnipist

Oh okay... I feel stupid now...
So why isn't that link on the main page?

Probably because it is a mod I made and not a true build of zBreak.

[LedZepp]

It would be StrongBad, except i cant edit my first post anymore(only allowed to edit first 10 days), so hopefully zb will change that, I will put new links in my signature with my next version.

Edit
Nvm they changed it already, itll be up there soon

[MehStrongBadMeh]

Originally Posted by LedZepp

Thanks too MehStrongBadMeh, Touch Support is now added

lol: too

Thanks for making my my mod an official build. I'm going to brag to my friends.

[LedZepp]

I dont know what your talking about,
Ive never seen that in my life

[Dibbles]

I love this game!

[LedZepp]

I have a Question for you all.
Right now, the number of each of the powerups are generated randomly based on how many blocks there are in the level.
For random levels:
Ultra balls = Total Blocks/6
Paddle Shrink = Total Blocks/5
Paddle Extend = Total Blocks/5

For normal levels:
Ultra balls = Total Blocks/4
Paddle Shrink = Total Blocks/3
Paddle Extend = Total Blocks/3

I was wondering if you guys would rather have a set number for every level(i was thinking 3 shrinks, 2 extends, 2 ultras, 2 fire, 2 multi balls)(for normal levels, i would increase them for random ones)

Would you guys rather have it the way it is(random) or a set number of each?

[Chunky]

I think it would be better random but idk that's just me

[lunchables]

damn, man. lol. i downloaded this through the games pack so i never saw this thread. so i started modding it myself because this is my favorite game EVER!

i only added speed power ups (one makes you go faster, and one makes you go slower), The song is listed in-game now, fixed the scoring text rendering bug, and repositioned it. I also fixed the math on the collision detection on the paddle so there is no longer a posibility for the ball to keep going straight up and down (which is not possible in the real games). Also, if you are already big, and get another big powerup, you get even bigger (but not 3). but same goes if you get 2 small ones... so it adds a little to the game.

But that was before I saw your touch support, so i may have to check that out and see what you added and fixed.

I was going to redo the menu's but i guess ill wait now and see what you characters have gotten done so far since .0.0.9 release. I guess i should look on the interwebs more often before i start things.

but your game doesnt support cyrillic characters, so it crashes a lot for me (or i think that is what happens) so i need to make an exception for that, (lol, does C# handle try catch or something like that?) :P

PS, i just remembered i fixed your bug on the pause menu when displaying the song name, made it so it would limit character count.

Also, i will look into what the others do for upgrade distrubution.

PSS. I think ill wait until i get the more updated copy or talk to LedZepp before I send out these changes.

[LedZepp]

Wow, lunchables, sounds like you modded the hell out of the game (i cant believe you knew what to change, i constantly forget what i need to do to add new things lol, thats why im going to be redoing it)
I am pretty much done with my next version
It has a gun power up, and "explodable" block(i say "explodable" because all they do is disappear for now), I did not include the multiple ball power up because with the way my code is now it is impossible.
I will start rewriting my code starting tomorrow(dont expect it to be out until at least a week or 2 after i start, i have at least 1500 lines of code and im probably going to be adding more).
When I rewrite my code alot of things will get fixed and added:
-Block collision will be fixed
-More power ups added
-right now only 1 power up is allow to "fall" on the screen at a time, that will get fixed
-Menu's will get a serious remodeling
-Theme chooser will be added
-Level implementation will get redone
-Many more things I cant think of right now

Once i polish what i have right now up i will release version 0.1

Btw, random amount of power ups or set amount??