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Main forum => Announcements => Topic started by: MrPlow on 2016-Sep-12

Title: New horizontal shooter
Post by: MrPlow on 2016-Sep-12
My Low Rez Jam shooter is out now...

paid
http://goo.gl/UeLp4W (http://goo.gl/UeLp4W)

Free
http://goo.gl/8LGC9j (http://goo.gl/8LGC9j)

Title: Re: New horizontal shooter
Post by: Slydog on 2016-Sep-14
Looks cool, will check it out.

I think your links are reversed - free vs paid.
What's the difference between the two versions?
Title: Re: New horizontal shooter
Post by: MrPlow on 2016-Sep-15
Quote from: Slydog on 2016-Sep-14
Looks cool, will check it out.

I think your links are reversed - free vs paid.
What's the difference between the two versions?

Thanks Slydog, just paid version has no ads - no other difference for now but might add more options to the paid version :)
Title: Re: New horizontal shooter
Post by: GarBenjamin on 2016-Nov-24
This looks like my kind of game. Will you be releasing a Windows desktop version on GameJolt, Itch.IO, Steam or elsewhere?
Title: Re: New horizontal shooter
Post by: erico on 2016-Nov-25
Wasn´t the original for a jam? So there must be a pc version on the likes of itchio me guesses.
This reminds me so much of buzzard bait, we really should make one.
Title: Re: New horizontal shooter
Post by: GarBenjamin on 2016-Nov-28
Quote from: erico on 2016-Nov-25
Wasn´t the original for a jam? So there must be a pc version on the likes of itchio me guesses.
This reminds me so much of buzzard bait, we really should make one.

You're right. I found it on the game jam page and just bought it.

Windows version is here (https://itch.io/jam/lowrezjam2016/rate/60129).
I basically never play mobile games so it always annoys me when people make fun retro style games for mobile and not for desktop. But in this case it is available!

Now gonna have a play or two. :)

Title: Re: New horizontal shooter
Post by: MrPlow on 2016-Nov-28
Hi GarBenjamin,

Thanks for buying it, but the Jam version is not as detailed as the Mobile version so ...
Just for you! I will try to get a copy of the Mobile version ported to Windows and will send you a link!

Title: Re: New horizontal shooter
Post by: erico on 2016-Nov-29
Hey Mr. Plow, I believe you can just update the itchio jam version to final and add a price to it, can´t you? or make a new post-compo payed version.
You can also add to your itchio page that the game now has a payed mobile version and provide a link.
Title: Re: New horizontal shooter
Post by: GarBenjamin on 2016-Nov-29
Quote from: MrPlow on 2016-Nov-28
Hi GarBenjamin,

Thanks for buying it, but the Jam version is not as detailed as the Mobile version so ...
Just for you! I will try to get a copy of the Mobile version ported to Windows and will send you a link!

That's awesome! Thanks. I definitely appreciate it. I went into it with the mindset I was getting a game jam work which is most likely not complete, not polished, probably has bugs and so forth. Only so much a person can do in such a short period of time. :)

I enjoyed it. I found the jetpack control took some getting used to and the screen only scrolls for a ways when I move before it stops. Once I knew those things I was able to get it into it more. Defeated that boss at the right side of the 1st level.
Title: Re: New horizontal shooter
Post by: MrPlow on 2016-Nov-29
So did you play the mobile version too? You mentioned screen controls
Title: Re: New horizontal shooter
Post by: GarBenjamin on 2016-Nov-29
Quote from: MrPlow on 2016-Nov-29
So did you play the mobile version too? You mentioned screen controls

No I don't play mobile games. Well... once in a great while I have played one just to provide feedback for a game dev. In general I think cell phones are just terrible game consoles for the kind of games I enjoy. And I don't have much interest in typical games that work best on mobile.

I played the Windows desktop version. Thrust and gravity were a bit stronger than I expected so it took a bit to get used to that. When moving left or right the screen scrolled a ways then stopped. After flipping around to face other direction then flipping back again the screen scrolled again. Not sure if that is a bug or if the idea was to scroll a ways then stop and clear out that portion of the level. The latter is how I ended up playing it.

Title: Re: New horizontal shooter
Post by: MrPlow on 2016-Nov-30
In the mobile (more recent version) the scrolling stops you at the start and end of the level - it doesnt loop like the jam version...

Updated itch version so you should get an email from them about the update :)

Do you think this might be a good game to try get some interest out on Steam for a more extensive version?

Title: Re: New horizontal shooter
Post by: GarBenjamin on 2016-Dec-02
Quote from: MrPlow on 2016-Nov-30
In the mobile (more recent version) the scrolling stops you at the start and end of the level - it doesnt loop like the jam version...

Updated itch version so you should get an email from them about the update :)

Finally got a chance to try the update. The player controls much better now. The scrolling no longer stops when moving. It's actually pretty fun. Quite challenging too. I find it is best to actually play while watching the radar instead of the playfield.


Quote from: MrPlow on 2016-Nov-30
Do you think this might be a good game to try get some interest out on Steam for a more extensive version?

I think if you added a good amount to it and also made it a little easier it may find an audience on Steam. Steam gets a good number of people who like retro style games. For example, if you look at the games in my Steam library (http://steamcommunity.com/id/GarBenjamin/games/?tab=all) you find a strong preference of retro style games. You'll also see that I recently purchase AGK2 and have been spending most of my time playing around with it. lol

For Steam I'd want more of an experience. The presentation in your game is excellent. The graphics and sounds are very nice. I mean it doesn't need to be some epic experience like Environmental Station Alpha (http://store.steampowered.com/app/350070) (32,000+ sales on Steam) or ORCS (http://store.steampowered.com/app/475240) (6,000+ sales on Steam).

For example Bit Blaster XL (http://store.steampowered.com/app/433950) (120,000+ sales on Steam) is a very nice game. It is very simplistic but very well done. I think the main thing is to provide a good entertaining experience. Make the game easier in general. Start out with a simple level so the player can get the hang of it and that feeling of victory from completing the first level or two. Then throw something different at them. Etc. Maybe give them one other thing to do like collect X things along the way.

Games like ESA, ORCS and BBXL are very much like the kind of games I have an interest in making.

I have these two games on GameJolt (both can be played in web browser or download for Windows): Atlantic Crisis (http://gamejolt.com/games/atlantic-crisis-inspired-by-a-classic/168545) and Treasures of Ali-Gar (http://gamejolt.com/games/treasures-of-ali-gar-inspired-by-vic-20-key-quest/186169). They are fine for free web games but if I was putting them on Steam I'd definitely add more to them. Atlantic Crisis would likely be turned into an adventure of sorts with scrolling screens and just a little more to do in general. Treasures of Ali-Gar I'd probably add some RPG elements to it such as different spells, mana generation and so forth.

Just my opinion. I kind of rambled on there a bit. Sorry about that. ;)
Title: Re: New horizontal shooter
Post by: MrPlow on 2016-Dec-02
Thanks for the detailed reply - definitely going to check out your games...I too am fond of the retro-styled games...and prefer the pixel art graphics to the high res cartoon stuff.