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Main forum => Announcements => Topic started by: spacefractal on 2014-Nov-24

Title: Catch Out (Another new game)
Post by: spacefractal on 2014-Nov-24
This is my 4th glbasic game, this time its a more or less a smaller project than the previous 3 game:

Catch Out

Screenshots:
(http://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3236515/glbasic/breaker/1.png)
(http://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3236515/glbasic/breaker/2.png)
(http://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3236515/glbasic/breaker/3.png)
(http://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3236515/glbasic/breaker/4.png)
(http://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3236515/glbasic/breaker/5.png)


This game is some sort of a "Breakout" clone, using Fairchild Channel F resolution (hence its lowres chuncy game). But instead you control the bat, you can move all bricks (except those solid once). Also one the same color bricks can been destroyed by the same color ball. There is a timer on the game, so you can get a "miss", if you are too slow to destroy a brick.

By now im have designed 41 levels, include few help based levels (the first of them). The goal is about 48 levels.

Im hope could release the game allready this year since most of the game is done. Only missing Fairchild/Atari 2600 style coverart, some sound and more levels and polish tweeks.

If The game got home ports....

Here is what Spectrum version could look something like (with its limits and resolution in mind):
(http://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3236515/glbasic/breaker/spectrum2.png)

Here is what Commodore 64 version could look something like (with its limits and resolution in mind):
(http://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3236515/glbasic/breaker/commodore64.png)

On Fairchild Channel F, some details and pace would been sligtly changed of course, but gameplay keeps in mind.

The game have slow/normal speed mode as well 4 palette to choice from. One of the mode also uses full chunky mode, include balls and bricks.

PS. Im annonced this game in the bonus section, and rather to move that thread, im instead created a new thread here.
Title: Re: Catch Out (Another new game)
Post by: spacefractal on 2014-Nov-26
42 levels so far, that is the miniium wanted levels, this one:

(http://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3236515/glbasic/breaker/CatchOut_hiScore.png)

Im also plans this game to been free (this game was made with fun in mind), which means im can release this game to been more platforms:
Windows, MacOSx, iOS, Android and a possible Ouya version.

Howover Pandora and other minor platforms is also possible to.
Title: Re: Catch Out (Another new game)
Post by: Ian Price on 2014-Nov-27
Looking forward to seeing this in action :)

I'd be happy to test and give feedback for the Pandora version if required.
Title: Re: Catch Out (Another new game)
Post by: spacefractal on 2014-Dec-07
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3236515/glbasic/breaker/icon_ouya.png)
Title: Re: Catch Out (Another new game)
Post by: erico on 2014-Dec-07
nice...looks quite atarish!
Title: Re: Catch Out (Another new game)
Post by: spacefractal on 2014-Dec-07
haha, im love that! Actuelly its was fully intended =D. Actuelly the coverart was made around a Atari 2600 box art, and Kasper suddently got a idea. Even its a atarish, its could also used on a Fairchild F as well.

But the iOS icon would been something like that as well, which also is MUCH better than that icon im did have before.

(http://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3236515/glbasic/breaker/FullCoverart.png)

The background is still not finished and is property full of spelling. Nice if you could look on that (text only).
Title: Re: Catch Out (Another new game)
Post by: Ian Price on 2014-Dec-07
Awesome box-art :D

There are a couple of English grammar issues in the blurb, but it's still ace :)
Title: Re: Catch Out (Another new game)
Post by: erico on 2014-Dec-07
"Catchout is a simple "breakout" puzzle game based on an old classic."
"The twist is that you don´t control the paddle but you push and pull bricks around to try lead the balls toward them."

This is what I think is ok, but english is not my native language (glbasic is my native language :booze:) so it would be better if someone else also check it
There is probably a way better style to phrase what you need then this.

If you would like a 3d rendered cartridge with Kaspe´art to use as icon, let me know. :good:
Title: Re: Catch Out (Another new game)
Post by: spacefractal on 2014-Dec-07
breakout is a copyrighted word by Atari, and they in 2008 have seen take down some clones here, which is why im not want to uses "break out". More often use is "ball & paddle" me thinks.

Proprety doing that as a icon can been a very much to been small when both is combo, and its was orignally thinked as a Fairchild game.

So its would been funnier to uses a cartridge from that game console (Search for fairchild channel f cartridges on Google), since they are yellow. Howover its would fun to see them both. Howover in this game you uses touchscreen to move them, not possible on both consoles. But with a game controller im would let all bricks moved by either in row or col for easier gamepad controling or just uses a cursor as seen in the both 8 bits screenshots.

If you still uses dropbox and the shared folder, you can checkout the bigger versions of the image.

Also with this edit, im have just updated the previous coverart. Im do hope the text around it is better. Im do now the "slide" in the first screen is a bit wrong. Its more text that is not in the screenshot...
Title: Re: Catch Out (Another new game)
Post by: erico on 2014-Dec-08
I see, ball & paddle sure sounds better.

Firchild cartridges, the yellow one, I just searched.
They are uncommon in brazil, I think I have never seen one.

Atari cartridges might hit more people nostalgia way and the cartridge is not copyright ;)
Or am I wrong here and fairchield had a great market everywhere but around here?

Text sounds better now on the edit.
I disaprove of the picture of the console, pictures were not possible at that time but illustrations, is there an illustration of the console that could be used instead?
It feels it breaks the art style. :rant:

hehe just some opinion,
I still see the cocoII palette on the 3rd screen shot, nice!


Title: Re: Catch Out (Another new game)
Post by: erico on 2014-Dec-08
hmm, reading a bit more about Channel F, very interesting.

The coco pallete would be like these.
The first one if closer to what you already have, there is where I found them related.
Title: Re: Catch Out (Another new game)
Post by: spacefractal on 2014-Dec-08
I'm remove the picture eventually, no problems at all. IM would just telling this was a retro game and not all known what fair child game console really was. It's was the only reason. I m can do a version without the picture. Also I'm newer owned that console as well, but fun to do that through.

Im have updated the coverart again, and also changed the screenshots as well. Two set of screenshots using Fairchild F palette, and two with a original standard palette, Kasper choiced freely.

The game settings can let user choice 4 palette: "Aqua Blue", "Fairchild", "Plain Simple" and "One Color". Im have still not done the palette editor, but not sure im will do that in the first version. Only "Fairchild" is based on a regular computer palette, rest is not.

(http://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3236515/glbasic/breaker/FullCoverart2.png)

Im is not sure which resolution CoCo used, and then can do a mock for fun in the same way im did with Spectrum and C64 versions designed with thier limits in mind.

EDIT:
After im checking about CoCo screen modes, its look like this game should uses Semigraphics 4 mode, not a full bitmap mode.

Title: Re: Catch Out (Another new game)
Post by: spacefractal on 2014-Dec-10
There was 4 palettes to been choice from, but is now only want to uses the two of them. The third one is "You colors" (something have a better name on max 11 letters?), which can been edited.

Mightbeen something like this, hehe:
(http://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3236515/glbasic/breaker/pink.png)
Title: Re: Catch Out (Another new game)
Post by: Moru on 2014-Dec-10
"Custom" mabe?
Title: Re: Catch Out (Another new game)
Post by: Moru on 2014-Dec-10
Try to stay away from the quote-character unless you are quoting someone that said something. Also don't call your own stuff "simple", gives a simple ring to it :-)

The word "a" needs to be "an" if the next word starts with a vowel sound. (Not vowel character, has to be the sound).

QuoteA Fairchild F retro style game with
a Push & Pull twist on an old classic.

CatchOut is a ball & paddle-game but there is no paddle.

But you do not control any paddle in this game,
you have to push and pull bricks to lead the ball.

or a slightly changed erico version:

QuoteCatchout is a ball & paddle puzzle game based on an old classic.
The twist is that you don´t control the paddle but you push and pull bricks around trying to lead the balls towards them.
Title: Re: Catch Out (Another new game)
Post by: spacefractal on 2014-Dec-10
ok im will change that. Im happy to fix eventuelly spelling.

Im was thinking about "Custom" for Palette 3 (which do using rgb444 here). Only its mightbeen a boring name, but still works. Its also now possible to change the border color as well instead its using color 2 (like its does with Fairchild F). Do "Custom", there is no reasons to have 4 different palette. The default one and the Fairchild F one is all needed now.
Title: Re: Catch Out (Prepareing for release)
Post by: spacefractal on 2014-Dec-14
v1.0 is now finished and is now doing the AppStores prepare now, and here is a fixed coverart:
(http://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3236515/glbasic/breaker/FullCoverart3.png)

iOS version is just uploaded and soon to been submit to review, which might take around 3 weeks (if they not found any issues, unlike they did with Spot Race). Now im is now prepare the game to other platforms (Pandora, Windows, MacOSx, Ouya and Android).

Pandora seen was quite easy and only need ads few screenshots. So im release the games for most other platforms in the next week.

PS. Im do mght can do any updates to any my games, except if we can get 64bit glbasic to works. If we can get that to work, then we can port it to Lollipop 64bit as well Windows 64bit of course. So iOS 64bit is a start.
Title: Re: Catch Out (Another new game)
Post by: Ian Price on 2014-Dec-14
Umm, that new boxart - "Inpirated from" should be changed to "Inspired by"

Other than that, good luck. It's a really neat game :)
Title: Re: Catch Out (Another new game)
Post by: spacefractal on 2014-Dec-14
from to by fixed.
Title: Re: Catch Out (Another new game)
Post by: matchy on 2014-Dec-14
That Erico with the coco art.  ;/ :good: :D
Title: Re: Catch Out (Another new game)
Post by: erico on 2014-Dec-14
I can´t help myself but love the gfx restrictions of older tech, specially the ones I owned and struggled to understand.
This game is coming out really good! :good:
Title: Re: Catch Out (Another new game)
Post by: spacefractal on 2014-Dec-15
the game would need some redesign for a coco game (if you want to consider its resolution as well), but you do can do costume palette in this game, if you want to do that. Im do choiced those two palettes by default throught.

Im in this week prepare the game to other platforms as well.
Title: Re: Catch Out (Another new game)
Post by: MrPlow on 2014-Dec-15
Nice - like the retro styled advert!
The cover art looks like a tape cassette inlay   :good:

Can't wait to try the android version...

Title: Re: Catch Out (Another new game)
Post by: spacefractal on 2014-Dec-30
CatchOut got accepted today by Apple (using 32bit code, but im will upload later with 64bit code as well). That means im will prefare the game for other platforms too (Pandora, Android, MacOSx and Windows).

The game is set to free and was made for fun.

PS. Im im wrote before SORTARRAY have still have some issues when a object is used. But its not to been debated here (see glbasic source code t hread).
Title: Re: Catch Out (Another new game)
Post by: erico on 2015-Mar-03
Hey Space, you should have a word with this guy:
http://www.fastcompany.com/3040889/the-untold-story-of-the-invention-of-the-game-cartridge

:booze:
Title: Re: Catch Out (Another new game)
Post by: spacefractal on 2015-Mar-28
The ouya version seen take few tries to get right. Now is third time im submit the game (both rejected was all valid trought).

When the ouya version get accepted, then im will also do a Pandora version.

Since im not using virtual screen in any my games, im should not have those issues yet.
Title: Re: Catch Out (Another new game)
Post by: Ian Price on 2015-Mar-28
The virtual screen is only an issue in v11.00 onwards. It's perfectly fine in v10.

Good luck BTW. :)
Title: Re: Catch Out (Another new game)
Post by: spacefractal on 2015-Mar-28
also im found two issues with virtual screen why im not using them:

- Alpha Multiply issue.
- Slowdown by around half.

The later one was the reason im a week after tried to uses that back in Greedy Mouse, then im dropped the virtual screen again and allways drawing the graphics directly (even this game). Instead im scaling the graphics directly and imply fullscreen for most games created.

CatchOut run nicely in 60 fps on my Ouya, same possible with Karma Miwa (using low graphics details), but of course some what fells slowere with chunky pixels on (due resolution). Greedy Mouse did do a lots of slowdown in 60fps (where im used a slower framskips measure).

Im do bet CatchOut should run 60 fps on Pandora too.
Title: Re: Catch Out (Another new game)
Post by: Ian Price on 2015-Mar-28
Virtual screen doesn't have to affect CPU overheads - it depends how it's used and how often.
Title: Re: Catch Out (Another new game)
Post by: spacefractal on 2015-Mar-28
Both Karma Miwa and Greedy Mouse uses heavy graphics with many tiles and layers. so framerate on those games was halve, so its out of options. Soon the graphics uses alpha edges, then virtual screen cant been using at all, due the multiply bug.

Im newer used virtual screen in either Spot Race, which im also wanted to uses the full screen with no borders (which also utility retina graphics as well).

This game howover, could have used virtual screen, but im diddent do that. Im guess the main reason wass the balls its self, when they moving smooth without chunky mode on.
Title: Re: Catch Out (Another new game)
Post by: spacefractal on 2015-Apr-08
This game have been rejected three time, due control issue, and now thinking im dropping this game for Ouya:

"Unfortunately the right stick continues to have no function once I get into gameplay on the OUYA making it impossible to play. Please feel free to peruse the developer forums or to contact developer support if you continue to have issues diagnosing and fixing this issue."

Im thinks its not a programmering bug, but more confuction how the game actuelly works, so level one text needs to been changed to the better. On Ouya im trying to uses the both analoge stick, where you move the curser with the left stick, mark it, and then move the bricks with the right stick. Im thinks they dont get the right stick in game correctly. So im gonna thinks im need to retext or redesign it a bit.

im have this text:
   drawtext(-1, 3, "Push bricks by", 0)
   drawtext(-1, 9, "right stick", 0)
   drawtext(-1, 14, "", 0)
   drawtext(-1, 18, "Release Balls", 2)


Title: Re: Catch Out (Another new game)
Post by: Ian Price on 2015-Apr-08
That's a shame, but it's quite often the case that reviewers don't understand the game they're reviewing. I had similar issues with the reviewers for the HP TouchPad and Pam Pre series.

You just have to make it as clear and obvious as possible.
Title: Re: Catch Out (Another new game)
Post by: spacefractal on 2015-Apr-08
im diddent have those kind of issues in Karma Miwa and Greedy Mouse. All rejections was techincal issues, which is of course ok.

im contacting them and see what happens. Im trying to change the text.

Im property see they dosent understand the game, which is a dual stick game, but in a breakout game?

Once also said its worked on Mojo, but not on Ouya, which is even more weird and catch me out.

Propoty im might need to drop the right stick idea and using a button instead (while keeping the right stick of course)?
Title: Re: Catch Out (Another new game)
Post by: erico on 2015-Apr-09
Just a quick chip in...
I had a bunch of kids play the glbasic games I have on my android a few days ago.
I´m glad to say that Catch Out was the preferable one, they seemed immersed on the puzzle/action . :good:
Title: Re: Catch Out (Another new game)
Post by: spacefractal on 2015-Apr-13
Game got finally approved on Ouya and should been very soon to been download able (it's free).

Now I'm head toward Pandora version this week after I'm got GameInput api to support it.

It's also play wonderfully with my new Mogo game controller for iOS and have supported the button pressure as well on it.

Thank Erico for the comment.