<!> [G] Platformer for Zune HD (with PC version!)

[stampede247]

Hey guys I'm back. I haven't been on in a couple of months because I've been making another game for PC called "The Towers"

YouTube - The Towers Preview.wmv

YouTube - The Towers Preview.wmv

Anyways as I was making that game I had the urge to try and port it to the Zune. After some attempts I figured out my code was too inefficient and ran the Zune really slow. To fix that I would have to redo the whole thing. So I decided to just make a 2d platform with the best smoothness and efficient code possible. And here it is. Everything was initially built for computer so I could test and make levels for it and then ported to the HD. There are few things to note though before you test.

Controls
The first thing you might notice or question in the game is the controls. This is the main thing I struggle with. After trial and error of different ways of controlling the character I eventually came up with this. The basic concept is the the screen is devided into four triangles. As shown in diagram:

Basically each triangle is the button for the corrisponding direction, making for the most subconcious controls out of all my tests. At first I found the controls very VERY hard but with practice from testing I got good very fast and suddenly liked these controls better than the others. One thing with these controls that is hard the how to place your fingers. There are many ways but try and find one that works good and feels good. As far as I go I usually place my fingers like this:

Lastly I want to make it clear that there will be an option in the final game for tilt control. I know if I didn't many people would immediately complain. I personally don't like it but some people do so I'm saying it right here so I don't get 50 posts on it. Oh and tap the screen with 4 fingers to restart.

Level Design
Um first off let me talk about the level currently on the beta. I designed it to increasingly test the skills of the player more and more. I know this will frustrate many people but keep trying it is possible. After some practice you should be able to get a hang of the controls. If your still struggling pretty bad with the controls after about ten minutes then I'd be happy to hear a reply. But don't just immediately pass it off as a crappy game and throw it away. That's all I ask. Secondly I want to talk about the level editor. I do currently have a level editor for the computer but it is very detached from the game itself. It's in a whole separate project. Therefore I am not going to release it in this beta. It's simply too hard to implement it into the Zune at the moment. Don't get your hopes down though because the final game (for Zune and PC) will have a level editor build in. Plus if you have any ideas on how i should make levels feel free to post them.

Download
Zune Game
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/3824891/Game...tformer.ccgame
PC Game
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/3824891/Game...tformer.ccgame

Screenshots

Looks cool, imma download

[just4me]

great downloading...why does the screenshots look a lot more color ful then the video

[stampede247]

The video is of a completely different game I was working on. Does anybody read what I write?

[XMR1]

Awwwwh, I was so hoping it would look the same as in your video.
Anyway, I played it, though you should add a tip that 4 finger press = reset, it took me a while to figure out.
2. Add a description and an icon to the Zune.
3. Rename it. "Plateformer 1" just isn't good as a name.
4. Is this currently the only level (because I can't seem to end it, even though I am by the words).
Edit: 5. You may want to allow for landscape mode, too. It is kinda hard to know whether you can go further to the right/left (on the Zune). I played it on the pc before, so I knew that another platform would be coming, but the Zune screen just is not wide enough for that. If you'd add the landscape option, one could "sneak peak" to the left/right in order to know whether he can jump there or not.

[dooglehead]

I didn't try it yet because I don't have my zune with me, but it looks like a very fun game.

[HDRobot]

In my opinion, the controls for this game are not that easy(and yes, I have played for atleast 30minutes). I think the best control scheme would be to use the accelerometer and press the screen to jump.

Another alternative to changing up the game style could be that however you tilt the zune the gravity of the game changes(Ex. Tilt left, box falls left). After changing this to a landscape mode game and adding a map, it could turn out to be quite a fun experience.

[Food]

umm im fine with the controls but landscape would be nice. You also may want to include check points like either if the player passes it he'll respawn there or the player will be able to place checkpoints with a button or double touch ect. Overall great game tho

[Carpe Diem]

Originally Posted by XMR1

3. Rename it. "Plateformer 1" just isn't good as a name.

Also rename it because there's another game called "Platformer."

Originally Posted by HDRobot

In my opinion, the controls for this game are not that easy(and yes, I have played for atleast 30minutes). I think the best control scheme would be to use the accelerometer and press the screen to jump.

I support this.

Originally Posted by xray

umm im fine with the controls but landscape would be nice. You also may want to include check points like either if the player passes it he'll respawn there or the player will be able to place checkpoints with a button or double touch ect. Overall great game tho

I don't think placing your own checkpoint makes much sense. But definitely have checkpoints.

This is an awesome game and I can't wait until there are more levels. The controls aren't hard to get used to; they just feel pretty awkward. Good work!

[stampede247]

Thanks for all the feedback guys it's great. So far on my list of stuff to do is:
1.Landscape mode
2. Tilt Control
3. Level Editor
4. More Levels
5. Possibly gravity changes
6. Checkpoints
7. Rename Project
8. Description and Icon
9. Bigger blocks or smaller player
10. Zooming control / minimap
I will get to work right away. Any more suggestions?

EDIT: Oh as far as the video goes I will eventually create a game like that for the zune, that one just ran really slow on the zune so I'm going to have to make a completely new one.

[omair1995]

Yes. add an app picture lol. it makes it look so much more clean. but i gues you were already gonna do that. Great game! keep working on it.

[stampede247]

One thing I want to point out though is that this was a beta, not an official game. I wasn't trying for completion I was mainly looking for feedback on game play and controls so far. All the essential stuff for the app will eventually be added in. Try not to focus on the little things like the icon it will come along eventually.

[omair1995]

oh yeah maybe make the gaps a bit lager cuz right now they are exactly the same size as the player so sometimes you gotta move back and forth until you fall in.

Edit: and maybe add a zoom function to zoom out and see the whole map.

[KawaCoder]

For the controls, why not use my 4-button layout for your game? See my thread for info:
http://www.zuneboards.com/forums/dev...t-zune-hd.html

[stampede247]

Originally Posted by KawaCoder

For the controls, why not use my 4-button layout for your game? See my thread for info:
http://www.zuneboards.com/forums/dev...t-zune-hd.html

Ya that's a possibility. I think I will just add an option to change the controls between 3-4 layouts. This will probably be one of them.

[incedio456]

Awww why'd you post the video? I thought it would look like that xD

Originally Posted by omair1995

oh yeah maybe make the gaps a bit lager cuz right now they are exactly the same size as the player so sometimes you gotta move back and forth until you fall in.

Edit: and maybe add a zoom function to zoom out and see the whole map.

Isn't the point of the game for it to be a maze? Not much of a point if you can just zoom out and cheat.

[stampede247]

No it's not supposed to be a maze game. I am eventually going to add enemies and stuff like that. Maybe some of the levels will be mazes but not very many. Sorry for the video that seems to be fooling people. Maybe I should take it off. Don't loose all hope though I will make that type of game sometime in the near future.

[dooglehead]

I still haven't tried this yet, but looking at the screenshots, I think it would look better (and save battery life) if the background was slightly darker.

[HDRobot]

Talking about enemies in the future, A good add-on might be moving platforms and a timer which keeps track of your scores of each level and you try to beat them each time. The default layout should be the accelerometer though because it gives the game a more of a feel, and you also would be able to change gravity. You could add barriers in which you can't jump but have to spin the zune around and walk above them. It would feel like a more inclusive game. Great job so far by the way!

[DiNoGames]

Originally Posted by dooglehead

I think it would look better (and save battery life) if the background was slightly darker.

Yeah, a white background on an OLED screen is a battery killer. In comparison to TFT displays, OLEDs are only battery friendlier on darker pixels. White pixels eat battery life even more than on a TFT.