View Full Version : Alpha Snake
UntouchableOne
04-09-2007, 12:43 PM
Final Release for Comp 16 (http://www.gamedev.za.net/filecloset/download.php?id=217) . This was a fun project, the text rule was unusual but allowed for a great flow of ideas. Thanks Dis for the comp, I really enjoyed it!
cairnswm
04-09-2007, 12:51 PM
I think thats a great game concept. So if you misspell words the snake gets longer.
Of course you have to have lots of letters around the screen. Also could have opposite color letters that remove those letters from the snakes body.
FuzzYspo0N
04-09-2007, 12:54 PM
lol this is a cool concept i agree,
having a backspace block that makes you recharge up to remove the block, lets call it a pit stop " " in the "side" of the playing area, so you have to dock in to get it removed, and it takes time and make it a race to get the whole word with obstacles
Fengol
04-09-2007, 01:18 PM
I would say if you eat the wrong letter you have to eat a backspace before getting the right letter again. Eating multiple wrong letters not only makes you longer but slower too until you're so long you explode. You can eat multiple wrong letters but you need to eat just as many backspaces to get back to the word you're supposed to spell. Also, eating a backspace could remove a correct letter.
This sounds like an awesome game!
UntouchableOne
04-09-2007, 01:25 PM
Great guys. I like the extra ideas alot. I didn't think this game would appeal to you guys due to the "edu" part but it looks like it could work, be fun and stimulate the players mind at the same time.
FuzzYspo0N
04-09-2007, 01:33 PM
Ha, all games are win, especially if you are making it cos thats +1 to you , so we always shud try encourage either way :)
I think ur idea is great!
dislekcia
04-09-2007, 02:20 PM
Great idea for a game!
I'm not overly keen on forcing the player to eat multiple backspaces, I'd rather that backspace was a special character that you could sometimes eat if you'd made a mistake...
You've got a lot of options for gameplay here. You could create the initial playing field and fill it with all the required letters for a specific word, then people have to eat each letter in the right order. Or you could start off by spawning 2 letters, one correct and one wrong, each time the player ate a letter, you'd spawn an extra wrong one to go with the new correct letter, etc. You could even just give people a random field of letters and see what they can spell in their snake: Each time they spell a word (by checking against a dictionary) that word is pulled out of their snake and they get shorter, you could turn that mode into a timed-survival game for high scores.
-D
UntouchableOne
04-09-2007, 03:05 PM
Cool ideas dis. Thanks. I was also thinking of having different modes in the game but different to what you suggested. I'll decided soon enough what to include. By not using any hectic graphics it allows you to get right into the gameplay, and I'm all done with the games basis. I just need to implement the game rules and stuff. Amazing! What would be cool is if I made "alpha snake" with "python", get it?!? :)
FuzzYspo0N
04-09-2007, 03:13 PM
hahaha ^5
What to be careful of is implementing a huge game at first attempt,
make your v1 and get it done, then, continue to make more and more versions and see how far you can get by closing date, that way you are pretty much not making your plate too full (as i did since comp 10 even) cos of my busy schedules
:)
Cyberninja
04-09-2007, 03:26 PM
Very cool idea Untouchable. Simple but effective. Good luck with your game. :)
UntouchableOne
04-09-2007, 03:46 PM
I'm somewhat puzzled. I don't know what type of rules to apply to the game. Dis mentioned a few but I can't choose one. Well I'm going with the survival mode but what do you guys think about the other mode? Collect the letters in order or choose the correct letter out of a few? I should have my 1st demo up later tonight.
dislekcia
04-09-2007, 03:55 PM
I'm somewhat puzzled. I don't know what type of rules to apply to the game. Dis mentioned a few but I can't choose one. Well I'm going with the survival mode but what do you guys think about the other mode? Collect the letters in order or choose the correct letter out of a few? I should have my 1st demo up later tonight.
Prototype all of them and see which ones are fun :)
-D
UntouchableOne
04-09-2007, 07:40 PM
Unfortunately I was summoned to do something besides working on my pc. Expect the demo some time this week. I'll try release all game types(previously mentioned) in 1 prototype.
Thaumaturge
04-09-2007, 08:28 PM
Oooh - I really like this idea! ^_^
Another idea that I might add is making incorrect letters act as walls in normal snake - collision means death. This may be a little ruthless, but it might make for a fun "difficult" mode.
Better yet, perhaps have the letters move as well... >: )
UntouchableOne
05-09-2007, 12:00 AM
New update. Check start of thread :)
Thaumaturge
05-09-2007, 03:50 AM
Interesting...
Ignoring the bugs that you mentioned, I like it - it's a good start. ^_^
As to those bugs, I don't know how you are representing the snake and letters, but might the following suggestions work?
1) For the snake:
Perhaps store the snake as a set of (unidentified) body positions, and then render the word as collected thus far from the start to the end - this seems to me as though it should keep the word in letter-order, when read from head to tail, at least.
2) For the letters:
I would suggest having each letter be an instance of a class (or similar structure), storing a character or numerical representation of the letter that it represents - note that in this system all objects that represent a 'T', for example, should contain identical data. Store the desired word similarly, allowing one to compare the collected letter with the next desired letter, regardless of the exact instance encountered.
(I like the idea of using sounds in the style of old console games, by the way! ^_^)
UntouchableOne
05-09-2007, 11:23 AM
I'm really into this game. I'm thinking of making a series of game types relating to Alpha Snake. Number Snake, Pac Snake. What do ya think? Make for a good series???
UntouchableOne
05-09-2007, 12:42 PM
I need a good dictionary with most words of the English language. Anyone know where I can get 1. Preferably in .txt or similar
CiNiMoDZA
05-09-2007, 12:46 PM
Look in spelltris, someone posted a dictionary there!
Fengol
05-09-2007, 12:59 PM
@UntouchableOne: Please, in future, can you give the direct link to your file on FileCloset (in this case http://gamedev.openhazel.co.za/filecloset/download.php?id=179). As your post gets older and more people add games to FileCloset, the file you're refering to gets lost in the history pages; and it becomes harder to find when I do a write up of the competition after the results are announced a month later.
UntouchableOne
05-09-2007, 01:10 PM
Ok, sorry about that...
Gazza_N
05-09-2007, 10:03 PM
Neat and cool. Cool and neat. Next version please!
UntouchableOne
08-09-2007, 10:24 PM
New Update!!! Check out the first thread... :)
Oh...Dis, did anyone think of making a text version of the famous Monochrome???
Cyberninja
08-09-2007, 10:31 PM
Awesome! ^_^ Nice work!
Thaumaturge
09-09-2007, 04:06 AM
Very nice indeed! I really like the new "survival mode", and I'm glad that, if I'm not mistaken, the game now treats duplicate letters as being identical. ^_^
I did find a bug, however: in the "survival" mode, I found that after deleting a letter or two subsequent visits to the delete spot resulted in the creation of a new letter on the playing field, but did not remove the then-last letter in my word.
Oh, and a word to add to your game's dictionary: hoar (http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=hoar) ^_^
As for a third mode... what about a mode that calls for the player to navigate an invisible maze, making turns based on the presence of letters taken from a word? (This mode is probably a bit on the evil side. *grins*)
Or perhaps a mode in which the entire playing field is filled with letters - but in which only the letters of the given word (read in order from the snake's starting position) are safe to traverse?
Whatever you decide on, keep up the good work! ^_^
UntouchableOne
09-09-2007, 07:05 PM
@gazza_n. Thanks..try out the new version and when can we expect a demo of your game. "Nudge".
@cyberninja. Thanks. Cant wait for t.a.o.
@thaumaturge. Thanks for the feedback. I'm aware of the back space issue..should fix it soon. I think I have a cool idea that might replace survival mode. The current survival mode will become a "time attack" mode.
@Dislekcia. Would it be against the "text game comp" rules to have coloured tiles as a background that have different effects???
dislekcia
09-09-2007, 10:52 PM
Might be stretching it a bit. As long as they're flat coloured tiles though you should be ok... Bonus points for spelling out words with them ;)
-D
UntouchableOne
10-09-2007, 10:36 AM
Ok, thanks D. I was thinking though, since it's a text game I think I should leave out all "graphics" except text built "graphics". I might add a background thats just text. It would be more appropriete.
CiNiMoDZA
10-09-2007, 10:49 AM
Hey, Im loving this game, just out of interest, what are you using to make this game?
UntouchableOne
10-09-2007, 12:23 PM
@ cinimodza. Thanks. Your game is quite sweet too. I'm using the BASIC programming language for this game.
CiNiMoDZA
10-09-2007, 05:09 PM
No frikking ways bru!?!*@# VB? What is it like for Game development!!!
UntouchableOne
10-09-2007, 06:32 PM
@ cinimodza. Well, Its the same as any other language I guess. I know delphi, python and basic. Due to the nature of this comp, I decided to use basic as it is "basic". I choose different languages for different projects so I stay fluent in them all. I should settle down with c++ in the future but I also want to learn the GM lang. If you're comfortable in the tool you use, I don't think you should change especially not to a lang like vb. In my opinion vb is outdated. Btw does anyone know where I can get some docs on the GM lang, just the basic syntax and things?
SkinkLizzard
10-09-2007, 08:12 PM
the gm help file, contains everything gml
Gazza_N
10-09-2007, 08:18 PM
Skink is right: The GM help file decimates all. If you can't find what you want in there, it doesn't exist.
Oddly enough, I also considered using QBASIC for this, but I've become so used to OOP that I don't think I could go back anymore! That and it's literally been a decade since I last wrote in QBASIC.
UntouchableOne
10-09-2007, 09:12 PM
"feels like a complete retard". Thanks guys. I should have thought the help file would be a good place to start but I havn't started using GM yet so forgive me. What are you using for your game gazza_n?
UntouchableOne
24-09-2007, 07:29 PM
Here's the pre-alpha version of Alpha Snake. Final comments, opinions, ideas and complaints must be posted before Thursday. Please notify me about any bugs you find(if any).Download Alpha Snake v0.3 (http://www.gamedev.za.net/filecloset/download.php?id=206)
Regards-TU1
Gazza_N
24-09-2007, 09:00 PM
Looking good, UO, especially for a newcomer to Game Maker. I think the game really looks quite good for a text-only game. :)
A few niggles though:
>Try using the Key Release event for the main menu selection stuff. Your current method makes it very difficult to make a selection, as it often skips options entirely. I struggled with the arrow keys, and when using the number keys (which is,conceptually, Win as an alternate selection method), I didn't even see the difficulty selection screen the first time round because the input method had already skipped me past it. However, the snake handled fine, so that isn't a problem.
>If I crash the snake into anything, or if I miss a letter, I get a Game Over as I rightly should. But that's it. Just Game Over. Nothing else. I tried whacking random keys but nothing happens. Eventually I just restart the game to try again.
These are minor niggles. Overall, as I said, the game is a-lookin' gewd. :D
EDIT: To answer your earlier question, BattleTechst was made in GM as well.
UntouchableOne
24-09-2007, 09:13 PM
Thanks Gazza but my game was not made in GM. I'm using VB to make this. I have very little knowledge in game maker, not enough to successfully make a game. The "game over" will be replaced with a high score board and I think I'll remove the arrow key select thing. The final game wont have those small but irritating point that you mentioned. Oh, the game sleeps for about 5sec after the "game over", that will be removed. Thanks for the feedback :]
Gazza_N
24-09-2007, 09:19 PM
Thanks Gazza but my game was not made in GM. I'm using VB to make this.
...As you mention earlier in the thread... -_-
*Gazza makes yet another red-faced retreat*
UntouchableOne
25-09-2007, 10:43 AM
No worries. Those of you who play the demo, please let me know about the difficulty levels. Is "worm difficulty" too easy? or "anaconda difficulty" too difficult/easy?
SimpleFaith
26-09-2007, 12:28 AM
Nice Untouchable! Desperately needs a way to restart the game without quiting though ;)
UntouchableOne
26-09-2007, 12:23 PM
@SimpleFaith.Yeah. I'm sure that problem will be fixed in the final version.
@Everyone. Please give me some feedback on the games difficulty etc. I need to tweak the game before tomorrow.
Thaumaturge
26-09-2007, 05:10 PM
Very nice indeed, UntouchableOne! You've done a good job with this game, I'd say. ^_^
I love the survival mode - it's a nice cross between Nibbles and Missile Command. ^_^
As to the difficulty settings, I think that they're fine. Challenge mode's Anaconda setting can look a little daunting at first, but I found that once I got used to it it wasn't too difficult.
I did find a few glitches, I'm afraid:
Firstly, in the Time Attack mode, on Worm difficulty I found that moving down just after entering the delete space allowed me to travel through the wall - but that if I then pressed left, hoping to warp to the other side of the field, the game produced an error (an index error, I imagine, since that would probably take me outside of the playfield's data structure).
Secondly, again in the time attack mode, this time on Anaconda difficulty, I found that, having hit a wall and received the "game over" message, after a few moments play seemed to resume (in fact I picked up another letter before my time ran out).
UntouchableOne
26-09-2007, 08:21 PM
Thanks Thau. I fixed the mentioned bugs. In time attack, the player is allowed to guide the snake through the two paths where the "backspace" and "save" chars are supposed to be but this can only be done when they do not appear there. Thanks for the feedback.
UntouchableOne
27-09-2007, 11:43 PM
Here it is! (http://www.gamedev.za.net/filecloset/download.php?id=217) The final game for comp16. It was a rush at the end but I got most features in. Hope you guys like it (",)
Thaumaturge
28-09-2007, 12:41 AM
Wow... I am very impressed indeed!
Another entry with a strong chance of taking a place, I believe!
Very well done indeed, UntouchableOne! ^_^
The only negative that I am inclined to mention is that the menu seems a little unresponsive to me.
Otherwise - very good work. ^_^
UntouchableOne
28-09-2007, 01:21 AM
Thanks a lot Thau. Just push the keys in for about half a sec. The response is not instant, I must have coded something in the wrong place. I was supposed to fix it but I had no time. Sorry about that.
SimpleFaith
30-09-2007, 09:53 PM
I love the Mortal Combat sounds you use! ;)
UntouchableOne
01-10-2007, 02:06 PM
Thanks SimpleFaith. I like them too.
@everyone : sadly, I have my final exams starting on wednesday(starts with programming, yes!) and will be MIA on the forums for about the next month, I will check it out every now and then but I won't be as frequent as normal.
@nandrew : despite my absence , I will try my best to have part 2 of the tutorial done by the deadline.
d-_-b
24-11-2007, 02:15 AM
I can't believe how polished all these games are I tried out! You really took snakes to a whole new level, I'm really going to give this to my small cousin to play :)
Congrats,
UntouchableOne
24-11-2007, 09:33 AM
Thanks d-_-b. I tried to polish it as best I can but I plan on polishing the text version some more and recreating it using some graphics which would make for a cool casual game. Do you guys think I should continue with the alpha snake project and maybe try release it on a casual game site or do you think it's dead and wouldn't make a good casual game at all. I would appreciate your comments
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