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Main forum => Announcements => Topic started by: spacefractal on 2015-Jul-05

Title: New little game: Elevation [Prototyping, full source code]
Post by: spacefractal on 2015-Jul-05
Im are planning and coded a just a playable protope of a new game. This time im are doing a little another little "remake" of a old Amiga PD game, named: Elevation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-m1MdypH3Pw

Of course the game mightbeen somewhere crap, but somewhere im liked this game when im was a kid for many years ago and its was also a nice Amos game (Mouse Runner, Greedy Mouse was based on is also a Amos game too of my own, which again was inspirated from the  game, Xor).

Here is what its currectly look like (yes im got killed few times to show it):
(http://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3236515/glbasic/elevation/elevation.png)

Im of course expand it like im did with Karma Miwa on that take on Snokie. Same here. But its wont been that big like Karma Miwa. Currectly its only uses one texture (2048kb for normal version, 4096 for retina) and very few figure sprites (none animated) placeholder graphics as well using Tiled as level editor.

But style can been take in different style, depend if Erico/Ian (examples) want to help here, but still keep it simple as possible (but still fun).

But im do might and want have some help with the graphics in this game, but the game is still in early state, but the game size project would nowhere been big as Karma Miwa or Greedy Mouse, but more a Spot Race kind project (this kind of project, glbasic is still fun to works with, smallere games, but im do also some reuse of previous code of course).
Title: Re: New Project (want help): Elevation (temp name)
Post by: spacefractal on 2015-Jul-05
Another level:
(http://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3236515/glbasic/elevation/elevation2.png)

A Evil Harder Level:
(http://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3236515/glbasic/elevation/elevation3.png)


So somewhere more variation than the original game, when you add spikes and jump to the formula.
Title: Re: New Project (want help): Elevation (temp name)
Post by: Ian Price on 2015-Jul-05
I remember the game very well - more for the music than the actual game, but it is/was fun :)

What exactly do you need help with? Are you after graphics for the characters, the levels, creating the levels?
Title: Re: New Project (want help): Elevation (temp name)
Post by: spacefractal on 2015-Jul-05
Hehe, yes even the samples was stolen, the kid music was great and liked it. But im do different music this, due the graphics style might change very much.

The game does not need so much pixel art graphic and will hold it on a mimimum.

IM thinks its could been do more the Cave Heroes style (http://blog.spacefractal.com/pc-apps/cave-heroes/]Cave Heroes) than Karma Miwa style?

Im thinks its easier to been done me thinks. Cave Heroes was a early BlitzMax game im created before im discovered Glbasic (etc before im began to do music for some HeadSoft games).

So actuelly im want help with graphics, etc:
- One (or more) good ground texture in 2 and 4kb size (used for both wall and using alpha to creating the level its self).
- Characters (there is very few really) + elevators in variours forms (same size, but more variered). Im thinks the might requiere some animations.
- Various Decorating to inside as well outside area (etc plants, pictures, lamps etc). Some pictures could been hidden ads for few games, hehe. For Decoratings, im more using sprites rather than tiles (16x16 pixels). Decoratings does howover not have a high priotity.

For font im will uses the BMfont system again.

PS. Im will later do a downloadable game for testing, so its easier to been seen how its works.
Title: Re: New Project (want help): Elevation (temp name)
Post by: Ian Price on 2015-Jul-05
What size sprites are you looking for for the main character(s)?
Title: Re: New Project (want help): Elevation (temp name)
Post by: spacefractal on 2015-Jul-05
The main hero and the friend to catch is in 47x40 normal size and 94x80 in retina version.

The elevator is 74x114 and the double for the retina version.

spikes and tiles is in 16x16 pixels. Decorating can been used more than one tile of course. So not limited to tiles used.

Im will in few days upload the game here, so its can been tested, even in this very early stage. You can complete the level, and that it.

Due retina support, im generally recommended to do thing in double size and then downscaling.

For textures im have changed them so they only uses 1024x1024px for normal and 2048x2048px for the retina. There was no required to do a 4096x4096px version really.

There is no pixel precision how the level is placed on the main texture, but the tile size is do converted to a INTEGER to avoid artifact lines.
Title: Re: New Project (want help): Elevation (temp name)
Post by: MrPlow on 2015-Jul-06
Would be happy to help too on some small sprites, decorations, etc - are you sticking to small colour pallette?

This looks very good and addictive!

Title: Re: New Project (want help): Elevation (temp name)
Post by: erico on 2015-Jul-06
Count me up too Space! :good:
Title: Re: New Project (want help): Elevation (temp name)
Post by: spacefractal on 2015-Jul-06
color palette as well style is not finished, but im do thinks something like Cave Heroes style (which in the end used websafe 256 colors palette).

So im also take against suggestions, since the graphics style is not 100% locked. But im do personly perfer "Cave Hereos" style and floor textures in black/white me thinks. But im also open to other style as well.

Also Im are going to trying to add a collecable items, which when taken would remove a wall or add a floor (in C64 Jump Man style). There would been possible to add 4 of them in a level, while avoid those annoying elevators.

This is what im doing those moment.....
Title: Re: New Project (want help): Elevation (temp name)
Post by: erico on 2015-Jul-06
What do you mean by HEROS style? You mean the atari2600 version?
Title: Re: New Project (want help): Elevation (temp name)
Post by: spacefractal on 2015-Jul-06
That remake style from cave heroes with 256 we safe colors,  etc something like that or in a different style. I'm tried to do something like that in the screenshots. But I'm so guess you guys is better:-).

But again karma mama got overhaul from the original plan....

So I'm do open to a different style.
Title: Re: New Project (want help): Elevation (temp name)
Post by: spacefractal on 2015-Jul-06
Im just got the "Power Pill" theme to work:
(http://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3236515/glbasic/elevation/elevation4.png)

Here is how the level look in level editor:
(http://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3236515/glbasic/elevation/elevation5.png)

Here there is 3 of them blinking in this level, im took one, the last one is in the bottom right. Those "Power Pill" changes floor/air in somewhere "Jump Man" style (but have not effect polished those at all, just get it working first).


Title: Re: New Project (want help): Elevation (temp name)
Post by: MrTAToad on 2015-Jul-07
Is that a custom editor?
Title: Re: New Project (want help): Elevation (temp name)
Post by: spacefractal on 2015-Jul-07
No, it's Tiled:
http://www.mapeditor.org

This is the third game im use it for. CatchOut used a costume txt file.
Title: Re: New Project (want help): Elevation (temp name)
Post by: spacefractal on 2015-Jul-07
Now the next level can been loaded, when the last one is completed, nothing more happens.....

(http://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3236515/glbasic/elevation/elevation6.png)

This level is more clostly to the Amiga Elevation 1 with not so many changes (except you need to jump by your self here).
Title: Re: New Project (want help): Elevation (temp name)
Post by: spacefractal on 2015-Jul-08
a diffirent graphics style could been a minimalist style something like this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YySpcO7TvYI



ALPHA VERSION (0.02):
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3236515/glbasic/elevation/Elevation0.02.zip
Title: Re: New Project (want help): Elevation (temp name)
Post by: spacefractal on 2015-Jul-09
still not ready to show some code, but here is a video, where im failed on level 3.... Damn the top part, mightbeen too hard.

Since you will got killed a lots in this game (im will use time and kills count up instead of down). Im might limits number of lives in the free version.

http://www.dropbox.com/s/zn79wftp4xg9ubb/Elevation%202015-07-09%2016-23-40-64-1.mp4?dl=0
Title: Re: New Project (want help): Elevation (temp name)
Post by: spacefractal on 2015-Jul-10
(http://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3236515/glbasic/elevation/elevation7.png)

Im do thinks both backgrounds and characters could been minimalist in style.


Title: Re: New Project (want help): Elevation (temp name)
Post by: spacefractal on 2015-Jul-10
Here is a very first 3 level alpha of the game:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3236515/glbasic/elevation/Elevation0.01.zip

see first post for download.
Title: Re: New Project (want help): Elevation (alpha windows 0.01)
Post by: MrTAToad on 2015-Jul-10
Looks very nice!
Title: Re: New Project (want help): Elevation (alpha windows 0.01)
Post by: Ian Price on 2015-Jul-10
I haven't got the time at the moment to try the game or work on graphics etc. but are you wanting to have multiple themes or are you wanting lots of different images so that you can take your pick?

I have some characters that I created for a game a long time ago that might be OK when altered to fit (they are wearing clothes specific to that game, which wouldn't fit with this game). I've also got ideas for a minimalist style that might look good too.
Title: Re: New Project (want help): Elevation (alpha windows 0.01)
Post by: spacefractal on 2015-Jul-11
Those who downloaded im came to include source code for v0.01, but those who have created graphics im do thinks could been fun to shown the code as well. So im dont worry at all  =D.

Im do thinks  minimalist style would fit the game very well. in v0.02 the main hero also choice a random color when killed. its depend on the final hero im will use this feature, or im can use colored polygon (which also kill iOS perforcement).
Title: Re: New Project (want help): Elevation (alpha windows 0.01)
Post by: bigsofty on 2015-Jul-11
Lookin good, keep going!  :good:
Title: Re: New Project (want help): Elevation (alpha windows 0.03)
Post by: spacefractal on 2015-Jul-13
I'm do still want help. I'm still thinking I'm go for minimalist style.
Title: Re: New Project (want help): Elevation (alpha windows 0.03)
Post by: erico on 2015-Jul-13
Haven´t tried yet, do you have the gfx on our drop box folder?
Will look into it this week. :good:
Title: Re: New Project (want help): Elevation (alpha windows 0.03)
Post by: spacefractal on 2015-Jul-13
The game to tryout as well seeing the graphics is in the dropbox. Yes. The download will been in the first post.

Im today soon upload a new release with touch controls as well moving with arrow keys+spacebar (which means on game controllers, its will uses dpad and a button).

This game will of course use GameInput for gamecontroller support.
Title: Re: New Project (want help): Elevation (0.04)
Post by: spacefractal on 2015-Jul-13
im got a draft how the main hero could look like:
(http://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3236515/glbasic/elevation/heroidea1.png)

And yes, its was something like this im have in my head when im created the placeholder. This one is cute and can still been done in the desired two colors (while the colored hopefully can been draw on the top, to give its a random color, but its not a required feature).
Title: Re: New Project (want help): Elevation (0.04)
Post by: spacefractal on 2015-Jul-14
im gonna thinks this game would been splitted up to about 5 worlds with each 8 levels. Unlike my other games, you will allways start from level one, but would been select any unlocked worlds. Each world should take about 5-10min to complete.

Property im >might< do a little mini game after the 8th level, which is based on the lives/times you used to complete those 8 levels, then those would been take account when you need to survival in a little bonus level in the end. Howover something im will look on later on. Just ideas.

Currectly im thinks World one is nearly done and only require tweeks to these 8 levels.

Title: Re: New Project (want help): Elevation (0.04)
Post by: MrPlow on 2015-Jul-14
Looks fun!!

Look forward to trying lastest verison... :)
Title: Re: New Project (want help): Elevation (0.04)
Post by: matchy on 2015-Jul-15
 :coke: Great and, naturally, will test later.
Title: Re: New Project (want help): Elevation (0.04)
Post by: spacefractal on 2015-Jul-21
Using blocky textures as backgrounds seens can also work too:
(http://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3236515/glbasic/elevation/elevation8.png)

Here its just a 256x256px texture upscaled with no smoothing. Eventuelly its could go for 512x512, but zoomed 2x more in, but only show a zoomed in version of it.

Those kind of 256x256px textures is fast to load, and can have many of them (eventuelly im could think using 512x and still can fit very nicely with this game.
Title: Re: New Project (want help): Elevation (0.06)
Post by: spacefractal on 2015-Jul-23
There is now a version 0.06 to test out and play testing (2 worlds with each 9 levels, the first one is a pratice level, which dont add time or lives at all). Download is in the first post.

There is still no menus, howover im do thinks its should been hold simple, somewhere like the original Elevation.

Im also thinks the white friend, should change to some thing like collectable (like gold, diamonds and something like that).

Today, just found this software:
http://www.spiralgraphics.biz/index.htm

Im will have a play tomorrow or this weekend. Seen its a right tool doing wall/cave textures for this game (is not free, but there is a 30 day trail), but to late now.
Title: Re: New Project (want help): Elevation (0.06)
Post by: MrPlow on 2015-Jul-24
V nice!

What kind of items (artwise) do you need sprites for ?

I can try do a few for early next week.
Title: Re: New Project (want help): Elevation (0.06)
Post by: spacefractal on 2015-Jul-24
take a look for the images in the game. Im have not protected them in anyway.

Im really liked the main/zombie sprites from your zombie game (they awesome), and me thinks something similar could also works here. This game also uses a square as the main hero (which is still not animated), while the friend as previous said should been various collectable items something.

Also here is how the main menu can look (and is just programmed in, but you cant select world/Chapter and Options yet):
(http://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3236515/glbasic/elevation/menu2.png)

Im wait how backgrounds should change and works after the main sprites. Im do thinks the engine behind it is finished and useable.

There might come a background, but is not really required. Its depend the style the background finally.




Title: Re: New Project (want help): Elevation (0.06)
Post by: erico on 2015-Jul-24
"Elevation Action"? :D

Nice about the block background.
I haven´t got around to figure out what would be cool to draw for it yet, but the blocks sure help. :good:
Title: Re: New Project (want help): Elevation (0.06)
Post by: spacefractal on 2015-Jul-24
Yes the block background can give somewhere a retro fell, but remember this game does not use virtual screen, so sprites does not follow it at all and can still using higher resolution.

Today im did most of the menus finished and hiscore now even works and saved locally.

Title: Re: New Project (want help): Elevation (0.06)
Post by: erico on 2015-Jul-25
I see, so even if it looks retro, it will be running on higher resolution native screens.
I´m not sure pixeling is the best call for gfx cause of its surreal nature, maybe 3d cartoon heads could work out?
I will try a shoot when I get a set of free time, should be sometime this next week.
Title: Re: New Project (want help): Elevation (0.06)
Post by: spacefractal on 2015-Jul-25
Yes it's or course style used in the end. Currently it'd 256x256px, but can been higher resolution without issue.
Title: Re: New Project (want help): Elevation (0.10)
Post by: spacefractal on 2015-Aug-01
v10 uploaded for testing, there is include menu, but touch controls in the menu not working as well the options. But there is 3 areas with each 9 levels (include the practice level) playable in both causel and in pro mode.

Textures here is random wall textues for testing loading. They are here in 512x512.

Using black foreground as minimalist design does not work really at all. Im have tried various amtemps, and seen its was too ugly this time. So im property more perfer that style im used in the H.E.R.O. remake (Cave Heroes). That might or might not require a background. Its depend final texture.
Title: Re: New Project (want help): Elevation (0.10)
Post by: MrPlow on 2015-Aug-03
A sample of something to start u off?

You could animate the shield and pigtails for effect in the cells (each is 90 x 80)

I thought the hero should look like a hero with shield and helm and the damsel like medieval lady

Could also have a construction themed char - hardhat and lunchbox/toolbelt


Title: Re: New Project (want help): Elevation (0.10)
Post by: Hemlos on 2015-Aug-03
Awesome, SF, is this like miner49er?

PS. im moving this thread to beta section
Title: Re: New Project (want help): Elevation (0.10)
Post by: spacefractal on 2015-Aug-03
Please DO NOT move threads without asking first. Im putted this in the bonus section for asking for help for the graphics (internally). When more thing is more, then im will move the thread.

This was why im asked MrPlow first, before im moved his Zombie game, because he allready annonced it in the public.

Its a reason we have a little bonus section. Im move the thread or create a new one when the game is ready to been shown.
Title: Re: New Project (want help): Elevation (0.10)
Post by: spacefractal on 2015-Aug-03
This  game is nothing lile miner49er at all, its based on a Amiga PD game with same name. The game also only using two input (turn and jump) for the whole gameplay.

MrPlow:
First at all, im really like both sprites very much!

Im came think if the eye and Decoratings could been seperated in own graphics, then they could flies off when they dies. That could also been easier to reuse the eye (eventuelly for blinking) on the lady and if you plans to add more variations of the same figure. Then im could let the game chose one of the variation and random decoratings.

Decoratings can of course been varied from area to area, but with allways the same base figure.

Im will do that to choice random decorations, that suit for the level, instead recolor them as im now does. Also, if lightning is the same on the left or right, you only need to do the right version of it. But if lightning is different, im can change the code to reflect it.

Currectly the hero is 36x36, but im can change it sligtly if required by you. No problemo.
Title: Re: New Project (want help): Elevation (0.10)
Post by: MrPlow on 2015-Aug-03
Glad u liked them SF,
The png is layered so you should be able to separate, but if you need me to I can put them into individual cells

Lighting is 90 deg top down but eye is front to left so you can use the body for both left and right and the nose is layered also...

:)



Title: Re: New Project (want help): Elevation (0.10)
Post by: spacefractal on 2015-Aug-03
png is not layed as im a aware of, also newer seen layed pngs as well. so use PSD format instead (im will change the format my self, so its suit what im need).

Im wish they could been in double in resolution, but no required at all  =D.
Title: Re: New Project (want help): Elevation (0.10)
Post by: MrPlow on 2015-Aug-04
Hi SF,

Does this PSD format work for you...I dont have photoshop myself.

Title: Re: New Project (want help): Elevation (0.10)
Post by: erico on 2015-Aug-04
You can also use TIFF and it preserve layers.
Title: Re: New Project (want help): Elevation (0.10)
Post by: Hemlos on 2015-Aug-04
The bonus section is a section where you can share something with everyone (published, or complete typically), you got it backwards i think.
This is a beta program and it belongs in the beta section.

If you insist on it staying here, thats fine, no need to get upset, just send a pvt msg next time it happens.
Ill move the thread with intentions of properly sorting the subject,
thats what i do as a moderator, because the general public make a mess out of this forums.

Goodluck on your project.
Title: Re: New Project (want help): Elevation (0.10)
Post by: spacefractal on 2015-Aug-04
This bonus section is threated often as a closed beta, so not allways want to move to a public forum. That for now. Im move or create a annonce thread when im ready to show it.

The PSD file working perfectly, there was few open isues, but all graphics seens to been intact (im open with Photoshop CS2)

PS. Im do might clean up the thread moving debate, but its a closed bonus forum, so im dont mind.
Title: Re: New Project (want help): Elevation (0.10)
Post by: spacefractal on 2015-Aug-05
(http://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3236515/glbasic/elevation/newhero.png)

The hero in the normal size seens need to been 45x40 (etc 90x80 complely none scaled without antialasing). Also when he scaling down, then he will do become a little bit blurry and some details got discarded. Can that to been fixed, so he being more clear in that size?

The hero its self could also add that look Lady have on his body eventuelly.

A Another idea could been Erico could recreate the hero extractly as mrPlow have drawn it in 3D, then the hero and lady could been rending in a any size without blurring.




Title: Re: New Project (want help): Elevation (0.10)
Post by: erico on 2015-Aug-05
I sure can do that.

Tell you the truth, I haven´t got around to make proper hero images, it seems a bit hard to me to depict the surreal style like floating heads artwise,
I did try to figure something on this line on Mr.Tatoad´s game SPOT, but it is hard to work it out, maybe it is not quite my style although I like the challenge.
Ian´s Hellowian also has a fantastic head-style, me and my Father play it till this day on the Caanoo.

... but if a layout is there, it is a lot faster to do the required art. :good:
Let me know what you guys think and I can try it out. I may need explanations on what is the circle on the guy´s body and if that over him is hair.
I like Plow´s style, it looks ´cute´ imho and may appeal to a wider range of kids. :good:
Title: Re: New Project (want help): Elevation (0.10)
Post by: MrPlow on 2015-Aug-05
Hi Guys

Sprite looks well in your game!

I am finishing up my IGMC entry changes rest of the week  :)

So, the circular items is a shield, on his is head is cap / helm with spikes...

I got my sprite sizes a little bit wrong last time...by 20 pixels

Here are 90 x 80 and 45 x 40 in psd

Title: Re: New Project (want help): Elevation (0.10)
Post by: spacefractal on 2015-Aug-05
backgrounds and font is still all placeholder and is more or less random. we should start somewhere. So its the main heroes first. Rest would been easier when first we have a style to work on.

In Karma Miwa the backgrounds and tiles was started first.

originally the main hero was only 36x36 in the game, but can redesign the levels to use the bigger one, but its should not been too big. So nothing problem and sen 45x40 works well, and being a bit easier later one (the game can bee quite hard imo).

Also im do like Mr Plow style and its very cute.

yes, the circle and hair was somewhere to small, property due antialasing. Later im will seperate those decorations to own graphics images, so those decorations can expanded a litte more than in the body size its self. So only body is important to been between 45x40.

The reason, im thinks when he die, those decorations should fly off and fall. Im also thinks eye could blinking, but if eye was in a image its self, im property can do in code.
Title: Re: New Project (want help): Elevation (0.10)
Post by: spacefractal on 2015-Aug-06
(http://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3236515/glbasic/elevation/lady.png)
the size you send was seen to been in 44x36, but im will keep it in that size. Its works wonderfull in that size in the game, and only require very few level tweeks (in normal mode, only one tweek was required in the very last level).

The difficulty is now easier, after tweeks to the BOXCOLL, and the elevator got ghosted out after killed 4 times on that same elevator. Each kill on a elevator will that doing been a bit slower as well. In the Hard mode, its first got removed after 8 kills on that elevator (due its slowdown slower rate).

Im did that so this game dosent to been the "hate game" with too much frustations. So you can actuelly complete Area 1 without toucing a finger on the screen at all! You do get a pretty bad time and got killed about 70 times. But funny to watch.
Title: Re: New Project (want help): Elevation (0.10)
Post by: MrPlow on 2015-Aug-06
Cool! Looking good!

My dims relate to cell size for the sprite boxes not the graphic itself - just the way I do it - but its looking v good - the wall texture is more random now and looks better.

Title: Re: New Project (want help): Elevation (0.10)
Post by: spacefractal on 2015-Aug-06
Im came to thinking today the background/foreground graphics style could do some thing style like Alfred Chicken (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Lwx8wZ3kwc) as inspiration, but in different settings?

Im was thinking after im seen those now heroes this suit of cute graphics could suit the game nicely, now the game have been a bit easier and more kid friendly (except killing a lots).
Title: Re: New Project (want help): Elevation (0.10)
Post by: MrPlow on 2015-Aug-08
Alfred Chicken looks cool!

I had Amiga and had lots of games. even worked in a Games Shop, but never had that one. :)
Title: Re: New Project (want help): Elevation (0.10)
Post by: spacefractal on 2015-Aug-08
Alfred Chicken might not have been a wide spread on Amiga, but im came to think about that game how backgrounds/foreground could look, something like that cartoon style and could fit the two main heros really nicely (why should give them a name).

This could even do something like that in the menu using a light color rather than black.

PS. Im have newer have the original, but im got a demo of it from a cover disc.
Title: Re: New little game: Elevation [Prototyping, full source code]
Post by: spacefractal on 2015-Nov-15
Im have moved this game out of bonus section. Im will property newer finish the game me thinks (Apple TV took over and im forget about this game, which im should redesign a bit). So im dedicated to release the game as its are as a Prototype (and im might do future improve the game) with full Source Code.

This game uses GameInput api, so this  game show off how to uses it in code.

Title: Re: New little game: Elevation [Prototyping, full source code]
Post by: Ian Price on 2015-Nov-15
Cheers SF :)
Title: Re: New little game: Elevation [Prototyping, full source code]
Post by: bigsofty on 2015-Nov-16
Much appreciated! :)
Title: Re: New little game: Elevation [Prototyping, full source code]
Post by: erico on 2015-Nov-16
The game is good SF! I believe you do can commercialize it, it is an exact type of game mobile players(a lot of them) will hit for.
It has the same source power as the ´runner´ genre we see all around, but this is cooler. :good: