Author Topic: NANY 2010 Release: Twigatelle (Read 200441 times)

Cyeb · « **Reply #75 on:** January 16, 2010, 07:52 AM »

I can modify my existing button, but I can't make bumpers. Do you like any other color? Obviously, I wouldn't make a new button for every color, but here's just how other colors look like.

*Edit* I'm too busy right now, but I really can. I might make bumpers after next week when I'm not studying my butt off for the SAT, or my writing assignment (which is, so far, 10 pages long).

timns · « **Reply #76 on:** January 16, 2010, 03:39 PM »

I can modify my existing button, but I can't make bumpers. Do you like any other color? Obviously, I wouldn't make a new button for every color, but here's just how other colors look like.

*Edit* I'm too busy right now, but I really can. I might make bumpers after next week when I'm not studying my butt off for the SAT, or my writing assignment (which is, so far, 10 pages long).
-Cyeb (January 16, 2010, 07:52 AM)

Sweeet buttons. I shall definitely use these.

Good luck with the SATs, and thanks for making some time to comment and join in with the game

Cyeb · « **Reply #77 on:** January 16, 2010, 05:01 PM »

No problem. I've always wanted to help out on a game!

timns · « **Reply #78 on:** January 16, 2010, 05:49 PM »

So I finally made it to level 3 and a respectable score of 889,000, and I feel better about myself. But having got this far, I really feel like the game could be made easier, or at least have options to be so, as I was missing out on a good portion of the interest and fun for lack of ability to advance. Adding things like control of the paddle at bottom and additional peg hit effects/modes would also extend enjoyment a lot.

Anyway, I hope this is encouraging and doesn't seem like bellyaching. I really like this type of game and hope this continues to develop.

- Oshyan
-JavaJones (January 15, 2010, 10:28 PM)

No bellyaching detected, just useful comments from you and several other folks which I do appreciate, and shall try to take on-board!

JavaJones · « **Reply #79 on:** January 16, 2010, 09:04 PM »

Cool, it's great to be able to have input on a game one enjoys. Off to try to get to level 5...

- Oshyan

Cyeb · « **Reply #80 on:** January 16, 2010, 09:14 PM »

Cool, it's great to be able to have input on a game one enjoys. Off to try to get to level 5...

- Oshyan
-JavaJones (January 16, 2010, 09:04 PM)

I can't get past level 4! Soo hardddd... I think the ones containing the blocks should be first, as they are larger targets, and very easy to beat. Here's my highest score.

timns · « **Reply #81 on:** January 18, 2010, 09:32 PM »

Ok the new build is in place gang - I hope you enjoy. I've seen the assassin ball bug for myself now, and know what to do, so I'll fix that next.

Main thing with this release is a couple of new levels - good luck with them. I also have some new bonuses in the offing, and a prettier way to have them show up. Watch out!

By the way, has anyone seen any particularly good / bad backgrounds? They're all totally random and every now and then I get a pretty nice one.

kwacky1 · « **Reply #82 on:** January 19, 2010, 06:19 AM »

NANY 2010 Release: Twigatelle

I do like this new version!

Is it my imagination or is the ball a little bit 'bouncier'.

Good work on level 4, it was chaos with a ball trio, can't wait to see a ball frenzy on that level. I haven't been able to get past level 5 yet, this game was the closest i got, 1 red peg left.

Thanks for all your great work timns.

timns · « **Reply #83 on:** January 19, 2010, 11:18 AM »

Corking good score too! Thank you Kwacky1. The ball had been twiddled a tiny, tiny amount. Good eye!

One of the things I'll be doing soon is to add a level selector. Once you've gotten to a certain level, you should probably be allowed to jump straight there.

JavaJones · « **Reply #84 on:** January 19, 2010, 03:16 PM »

I dug the new level 4 as well. The "wheel" bumpers are fun since you get more ball interaction with them, and there's less room for the ball to fall between at first.

I think once you reach level 5 it just keeps repeating that level, no?

Can't wait for more levels, effects, modes, etc. I have lots of ideas for this, but don't know if you have time/interest to implement. For example a powerup that actually bumps/moves the bumpers when the ball hits it (they would just move once, not become additional balls and bounce around), or a powerup like Peggle has where it shows you the projected n bounces from your current firing direction (really helps in tricky shots).

Also it would be nice to have more options to customize the game experience. I don't know if the position of bumpers is fixed and has to be created in a level editor, but I'd love to be able to just turn up a dial and get more green, more red, more blue, etc. bumpers to customize game difficulty, or at least have a difficulty slider that adjusted these ratios for you (e.g. turning difficulty down would give you less red, more green, and maybe more balls).

I can also imagine a fun game mode with harder difficulties where you could store up powerups and choose to activate them at a particular time using hotkeys. Maybe this is overkill or going beyond the scope of the game. But I really think this is a great opportunity to take the Peggle-like gameplay and extend it to some innovative concepts.

Thanks again for all the hard work on this one. It's addictive and fun.

- Oshyan

mouser · « **Reply #85 on:** January 19, 2010, 03:29 PM »

How does one get past level 1? I know it can't be that i have to clear every bumper, because i just refuse to believe anyone here is able to accomplish that.

timns · « **Reply #86 on:** January 19, 2010, 03:41 PM »

I dug the new level 4 as well. The "wheel" bumpers are fun since you get more ball interaction with them, and there's less room for the ball to fall between at first.

I think once you reach level 5 it just keeps repeating that level, no?

Can't wait for more levels, effects, modes, etc. I have lots of ideas for this, but don't know if you have time/interest to implement. For example a powerup that actually bumps/moves the bumpers when the ball hits it (they would just move once, not become additional balls and bounce around), or a powerup like Peggle has where it shows you the projected n bounces from your current firing direction (really helps in tricky shots).

Also it would be nice to have more options to customize the game experience. I don't know if the position of bumpers is fixed and has to be created in a level editor, but I'd love to be able to just turn up a dial and get more green, more red, more blue, etc. bumpers to customize game difficulty, or at least have a difficulty slider that adjusted these ratios for you (e.g. turning difficulty down would give you less red, more green, and maybe more balls).

I can also imagine a fun game mode with harder difficulties where you could store up powerups and choose to activate them at a particular time using hotkeys. Maybe this is overkill or going beyond the scope of the game. But I really think this is a great opportunity to take the Peggle-like gameplay and extend it to some innovative concepts.

Thanks again for all the hard work on this one. It's addictive and fun.

- Oshyan
-JavaJones (January 19, 2010, 03:16 PM)

That is a useful and thought-provoking post. I will most definitely implement your idea of scalable difficulty for a start.

As for mobile bumpers - let's say they're moving towards the next release

ps There is a level 6 now - IF you can beat 5

timns · « **Reply #87 on:** January 19, 2010, 03:41 PM »

How does one get past level 1? I know it can't be that i have to clear every bumper, because i just refuse to believe anyone here is able to accomplish that.
-mouser (January 19, 2010, 03:29 PM)

Only certain bumpers have to be cleaRED from the table

JavaJones · « **Reply #88 on:** January 19, 2010, 04:02 PM »

Yeah, it took me a while to figure out certain bumpers are what gets you past the level. Duh me!

- Oshyan

mouser · « **Reply #89 on:** January 19, 2010, 04:16 PM »

oh that's awesome.. i really need to re-do my screencast.. this has suddenly become much more a game of some skill.

JavaJones · « **Reply #90 on:** January 19, 2010, 04:26 PM »

Hah, yeah, I totally thought it was way too luck-oriented at first as well, especially since you can't control the paddle at bottom. Now I get it, and I can advance through it reasonably well.

- Oshyan

timns · « **Reply #91 on:** January 19, 2010, 04:44 PM »

oh that's awesome.. i really need to re-do my screencast.. this has suddenly become much more a game of some skill.
-mouser (January 19, 2010, 04:16 PM)

I really should give out more information - I remember the same thing happened with the old Deductoid game

kwacky1 · « **Reply #92 on:** January 20, 2010, 06:21 AM »

I think once you reach level 5 it just keeps repeating that level, no?
-JavaJones (January 19, 2010, 03:16 PM)
ps There is a level 6 now - IF you can beat 5
-timns (January 19, 2010, 03:41 PM)

Well I did beat level 5, and got myself a new high score

However there was no level 6?

[attachthumb=#1][/attachthumb]

Also..

1) the high scores table is wrong [attachurl=#2][/attachurl]
2) can the username and high scores be saved?

timns · « **Reply #93 on:** January 20, 2010, 09:53 AM »

I think once you reach level 5 it just keeps repeating that level, no?
-JavaJones (January 19, 2010, 03:16 PM)
ps There is a level 6 now - IF you can beat 5
-timns (January 19, 2010, 03:41 PM)

Well I did beat level 5, and got myself a new high score

However there was no level 6?
(see attachment in previous post)
Also..

1) the high scores table is wrong (see attachment in previous post)2) can the username and high scores be saved?

-kwacky1 (January 20, 2010, 06:21 AM)

Nice one. There IS a six, but I may have not enabled it yet

Names and scores should be saved, works here, but we all know that don't mean much. I'll try and make sure the stuff gets written somewhere friendlier.

And finally: oh @#$@#$! Other folks had noticed the highscore table was wrong, and I had forgotten about it.

I'll get to work.

Cyeb · « **Reply #94 on:** January 20, 2010, 04:52 PM »

There are just a few minor bugs...And they are that when you're aiming with the dotted white line, towards the sides, it becomes inaccurate. Also, the bumpers still do not start off-screen..

Edit: I've also found that the assassin balls only target red ones. It hit the last red one, and would not move away to the blue ones. Plus, I have a suggestion, and the powerup that reverses the gravity should have the top "roof" a bit more bouncier, as it only hits the top row after a while.

timns · « **Reply #95 on:** January 20, 2010, 09:37 PM »

There are just a few minor bugs...And they are that when you're aiming with the dotted white line, towards the sides, it becomes inaccurate. Also, the bumpers still do not start off-screen..

Edit: I've also found that the assassin balls only target red ones. It hit the last red one, and would not move away to the blue ones. Plus, I have a suggestion, and the powerup that reverses the gravity should have the top "roof" a bit more bouncier, as it only hits the top row after a while.
-Cyeb (January 20, 2010, 04:52 PM)

Useful comments indeed - thank you. I have started a todo list in my Pagico for all this stuff!

timns · « **Reply #96 on:** January 20, 2010, 09:38 PM »

Ok folks, new release in place:

1. Highscores are fixed! What you score is what is recorded

2. Level 6 is now reachable $:-\$

3. Can someone who was unable to save their name and hi-scores let me know if this is also ok by now?

Thanks all.

kwacky1 · « **Reply #97 on:** January 21, 2010, 07:48 AM »

Cool, can't wait to test! Am away from home so won't get a chance tonight

Hey I don't know if this is the default behaviour of a java web app, but I find that when you release an update I have to load twigatelle twice, and the update downloads on the second run.

That is, run twiggles.jnlp -> game loads as per normal, exit, run twiggles.jnlp -> update downloads, new version runs

timns · « **Reply #98 on:** January 21, 2010, 11:22 AM »

Strange! I wonder if it gets cached somehow. There's no explicit version numbering in the jnlp - but I'll take a look and see if I can set something up to force a fresh download.

JavaJones · « **Reply #99 on:** January 21, 2010, 03:40 PM »

I reached level 6 and broke the 2 million barrier last night. Good stuff.

- Oshyan