View Full Version : Irregular platformer concept
Obi Two Kenobi
09-04-2010, 12:16 AM
Hey all, I am in the process of creating a type of platformer, not too sure what genre it falls in exactly, but it's very similar to a game called 'Frozen Fruits'. I loved that game and recently began playing around with it's concept in Game Maker.
To those unfamiliar with Frozen Fruits, I will explain the concept in simple way. It's a side-scrolling game in which the player controls a ball which bounces up and down all the time. Now the ball can change into 4 different colors (blue, red, green and yellow) by touching 'color changing stones'. On each level there are colored blocks of each of the aforementioned colors. The player needs to destroy all the colored blocks on each level.
The color of the ball depends on the color of blocks it can destroy. For example: A blue ball can ONLY destroy blue blocks and NOT green, yellow and red ones.
When all the colored blocks on a level is destroyed, a door will open through which you must go to complete the level.
It's a simple concept but kind of hard to explain, so I have these two WIP screenies to help carry the idea over.
http://i458.photobucket.com/albums/qq302/sirmalan/screenpic.jpg
http://i458.photobucket.com/albums/qq302/sirmalan/screenie2.jpg
Now what I need is some new/better sprites for the objects. And I would also appreciate some help with my engine as I know it contains a few bugs. There are definitely lots more to learn in GML for me, but I'm pretty proud of myself developing this concept. Also I need to know where to upload my files and provide a link if someone wants to look at my code.
Help/critique/suggestions is always welcome.
Fengol
09-04-2010, 09:11 AM
where's the download link?
Obi Two Kenobi
09-04-2010, 10:33 AM
^ In my post I asked where can I upload a file which you guys can download it from. Can someone please provide me with a site where I can upload to?
dammit
09-04-2010, 10:53 AM
box.net
Fengol
09-04-2010, 11:17 AM
oops, missed that last paragraph. yeah, https://www.box.net is good; sign-up for a free Lite account
Obi Two Kenobi
09-04-2010, 07:50 PM
Okay cool thanks guys. Here's the link (Please let me know if the link works)
Interchange v1.0 Size: 1.4MB
http://www.box.net/shared/cdtlt47f4z
I made some music for the game but removed it for the upload as the size of the file was a bit large with it. As always, hit f1 on how to play and for the controls. Please let me know what you guys think.
Fengol
09-04-2010, 09:12 PM
Had a play through and a fun little puzzle game. My only complaint is that for most of the levels you don't have a colour reset for the starting colour which means if you make a mistake and switch to another colour before destroying all the correct blocks there's no way to change back and you have to kill yourself to restart the level. (just look at the level with the pink background in your first post. There's no way to go back to green and I tried to combine the blue and yellow flags but that didn't work)
Either bury the original colour underneath some other colour or put it in a hard to reach place; but don't make it unsolvable.
Are we going to see moving platforms and other distractions in more levels?
Obi Two Kenobi
09-04-2010, 09:23 PM
Had a play through and a fun little puzzle game. My only complaint is that for most of the levels you don't have a colour reset for the starting colour which means if you make a mistake and switch to another colour before destroying all the correct blocks there's no way to change back and you have to kill yourself to restart the level. (just look at the level with the pink background in your first post. There's no way to go back to green and I tried to combine the blue and yellow flags but that didn't work)
Either bury the original colour underneath some other colour or put it in a hard to reach place; but don't make it unsolvable.
Are we going to see moving platforms and other distractions in more levels?
The idea behind your complaint is to make players think what they should do before just going and hitting blocks. It's a thing that's part of the game. I'm sure you've played games before where you had to restart the current level because you messed something up and can't continue ;)
And yes this is just a sort of demo, I need more inspiration for further levels at the moment though as I think the concept can be largely expanded. More suggestions are always great :)
Shad0wstr1k3
10-04-2010, 12:47 PM
Great game so far, there is just one problem I noticed, which shouldn’t be too hard to fix. When you hit a change colour brick from the side, and keep the arrow key held down (e.g. hit it from the left and keep the left arrow key held down) you stick to it. Once you release the key everything carries on as per normal. Not sure if that is meant to happen, just thought I would mention it.
Still, good job so far.
I decided to play a bit more, and for some reason the ball got stuck on a change colour brick. I did not press anything and it just sat there.
http://i775.photobucket.com/albums/yy34/Shad0wstr1k3/Game%20Testing/Stuckonbrick.png
Not sure how a picture of something that is ment to be moving but isn't is ment to help, but still...
Obi Two Kenobi
10-04-2010, 01:37 PM
Hmm yes I also saw that recently thanks. I have to think of a way to get rid of this. Will mess around with some code and see what's the issue. Thanks again.
Ruandre
10-04-2010, 04:10 PM
I created some sprites for you:
http://www.box.net/shared/7tylxq5q8g (zip)
http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n239/skullhozer/preview.png
Obi Two Kenobi
10-04-2010, 04:18 PM
Wow that's really nice thanks a lot Ruan. Awesome stuff. I feel like I have to repay you somehow :D
Ruandre
10-04-2010, 04:27 PM
I feel like I have to repay you somehow :DNo! It's a pleasure, really. I wanted to help out :)
I'll get cracking on the menu items and some stuff I missed, like the level-exit sprite.
Shad0wstr1k3
10-04-2010, 05:25 PM
What program did you use to make those sprites? They look great!
Shad0wstr1k3
10-04-2010, 07:05 PM
Um, not sure if you knew this, but if you play one level multiple times, it will unlock all the levels. If you play level 1 twice it will unlock level 3, if you play it four times you get to level 5.
Just thought I would mention
Ruandre
10-04-2010, 07:24 PM
The other sprites (includes a level-exit animation):
http://www.box.net/shared/habp88i5zj
I noticed that on level 2, if you change to green or yellow, you're stuck and you can't complete the level, maybe include a "retry" option like shown in the image below?
http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n239/skullhozer/preview_retry.png
What program did you use to make those sprites? They look great!Thanks! I used good ol' photoshop.
Obi Two Kenobi
10-04-2010, 07:44 PM
Um, not sure if you knew this, but if you play one level multiple times, it will unlock all the levels. If you play level 1 twice it will unlock level 3, if you play it four times you get to level 5.
Just thought I would mention
Oh yeah, I quickly made the score counter and didn't think about that. Will sort it out with the other issues and get a new version up and running.
Obi Two Kenobi
10-04-2010, 07:47 PM
The other sprites (includes a level-exit animation):
http://www.box.net/shared/habp88i5zj
I noticed that on level 2, if you change to green or yellow, you're stuck and you can't complete the level, maybe include a "retry" option like shown in the image below?
Yep it's meant to be like that. And 'R' resets the level ;)
Ruandre
10-04-2010, 07:51 PM
Okay, I made the changes you requested:
http://www.box.net/shared/n79asbqvou
http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n239/skullhozer/request.png
And 'R' resets the level ;)D'oh, my bad :D
-
Nandrew
12-04-2010, 03:21 PM
Here's a suggestion: try fit in a key that will accelerate the ball and make it bounce faster while held in.
Particularly on the simpler levels (or levels which I fluffed up on and had to restart) I was quite confident in what I was doing, but had to rather laboriously wait for the ball to go up and down. This selective "speedup" would streamline the game for confident players and reduce the complaints of having to restart a level due to some or other mistake. :)
The Dash
12-04-2010, 04:43 PM
Not bad. Im a major fan of frozen fruits. This made me redownload it and play it again. Looking forward to something cool coming from this project
For those interested:
Frozen Fruits (http://www.blueskied.com/fruits.htm)
>1mb
Obi Two Kenobi
12-04-2010, 08:15 PM
@ Nadrew. I have actually included this idea. The numpad will allow you to move faster than the arrow keys allow you to for the very reason you speak of, Thanks.
@ Dash. Thanks! I'm really hoping to add some interesting features into this project, and yes, Frozen Fruits is quite an awesome little game.
Shad0wstr1k3
14-04-2010, 06:40 PM
When can we expect an update?
If you need some level designs I could try to help, but they are not garunteed to be THEBESTTHINGEVER tm
In fact, clever money is on them not being great.
Obi Two Kenobi
14-04-2010, 07:53 PM
Well I'm starting up with my college work again soon and it's going to take quite a bit of my time but I will try to put as much into the game as I possibly can. As for the level designs, shad0w, I will be more than happy to accept contributions as my inspiration for umm.. more intelligent levels are lacking as is.
Ruandre
14-04-2010, 07:57 PM
I took a stab at creating two difficult levels :D
http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n239/skullhozer/level_alien.png
http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n239/skullhozer/level_bumps.png
Obi Two Kenobi
14-04-2010, 08:19 PM
Looks great, very interesting Ruan. You have mail :)
Fengol
14-04-2010, 08:29 PM
I still think it's silly that you don't put colour setter for the initial colour. Why keep the other other colours around then? You might as well remove them when the player hits them cause you're only making it difficult for the first colour, the others I can switch between happily.
Obi Two Kenobi
14-04-2010, 10:21 PM
I still think it's silly that you don't put colour setter for the initial colour. Why keep the other other colours around then? You might as well remove them when the player hits them cause you're only making it difficult for the first colour, the others I can switch between happily.
Well it's how the game is suppose to be. It needs to be difficult, you need to think before you go bashing blocks. Take a look at Frozen Fruits, The Dash provided a link.
I hope I'm understanding you correctly here, or could you rephrase your post, it's a bit deurmekaar
Shad0wstr1k3
15-04-2010, 06:18 PM
I think what Fengol is trying to say is that one you have collided with a colour change block it should disappear.
That would certainly make the game more chalenging
Obi Two Kenobi
16-04-2010, 08:15 PM
I think what Fengol is trying to say is that one you have collided with a colour change block it should disappear.
That would certainly make the game more chalenging
Oh I see, thanks.
I have actually thought about that. There is a feature kinda like that in FF where you touch a certain block and whatever block you hit next will be destroyed. Not really the same as Fengol's idea but I'll try to make it difficult to avoid for the player.
Shad0wstr1k3
28-04-2010, 07:47 PM
How's progress, I'm looking foreward to the next version.
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