NANY 2014 Release: Blasteroids

[Deozaan]

NANY 2014 Entry Information

Application Name	Blasteroids
Version	1.141104.9 - Check the website below for more recent versions in case I forget to update this page.
Short Description	Destroy the asteroids before you're overwhelmed.
Supported OSes	PC/Mac/Linux/Web/Android
Web Page	http://blasteroids.deozaan.com/
Download Link	Downloads hosted on itch.io
System Requirements	Windows XP or later; Mac OS X 10.5 or later. Android 2.2 or later Pretty much any 3D graphics card. WebPlayer runs on all browsers, including IE, Firefox, Safari, and Chrome, among others.
Version History	View most recent updates here: http://blog.deozaan.com/category/blasteroids/ NANY version history 1.140106.0 NANY Quitting while in-game now takes you back to the main menu. Death explosions no longer affect bullets. Extra life awarded for ever increasing score amounts. 1.140101.0 NANY Initial release for NANY 2014
Author	Deozaan
Donate to Author	DonationCredits Send DonationCredits to Deozaan Itch.io http://deozaan.itch.io/blasteroids

Description
You control a point defense turret in space that is being bombarded with asteroids. Destroy them before they destroy you!

Features
Amazing asteroid blasting action!
Infinite levels of increasing difficulty!
Compete against yourself and others with a (local) high score table.
The awarded score is based on how well you play.

Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RU7fxhYgUww

Screenshots
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Usage
Installation
Unzip and run the executable. At least on Windows, and probably similar for OSX.
On Linux you'll need to set the permissions for the x86 or x86_64 files to allow them to run as executables before you can play.

Using the Application
Click the mouse to aim and shoot.
You can also press the spacebar instead of clicking.
Press Escape while in game to bring up the menu.

Uninstallation
Delete the directory containing the game files (and all subdirectories).
Some information (high scores, volume settings, etc.) is saved to registry or equivalent, which on Windows is: HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Deozaan/Blasteroids

Tips
You get an extra life as your score increases. Lives are score multipliers, so try not to die much to maximize your score!
Try not to blast asteroids all willy nilly! Use some strategy. Each time you break a larger asteroid down into smaller ones, try to quickly destroy the smaller ones before breaking down more larger asteroids.
Don't die.

Known Issues
None

[TaoPhoenix]

Heh we need a LITTLE more info than that!

"Game"

Four Dimensional Chess in the Alice in Wonderland Universe?

Hackers 5 where Professor Falken's system takes on Tron's MCP for the computer world domination championships?

"See who can annoy Mouser the most?"

[Deozaan]

Heh we need a LITTLE more info than that!

It will be a shmup.

I've taken a few screenshots and videos while working out some things so far. Maybe I'll share them. Just know that none of this is actually gameplay. It's just trying to get things up and running.

It will be something else.

[kyrathaba]

Like the screenshots!

[Deozaan]

If any artists want to be of service, I could use a logo/title image. The game is going to be called Blasteroids, and I thought it would be neat if the "o" was a spiral galaxy. Kind of like this:

[attachimg=#]

The font can be whatever you want, but it would be nice if it fit the sci-fi/space theme and if it was something I could use throughout the game (i.e. a free/open font). And if you're up for it, I could use help with other promotional art, such as an icon, feature images (for listing on my website, the Google Play store, or itch.io), achievement/leaderboards icons/images, etc.

[Deozaan]

Well, I really am not good at art stuff. I managed to whip up these images here. Anyone got an opinion on which one looks better?

[attachimg=#] [attachimg=#]

[ewemoa]

Anyone got an opinion on which one looks better?

The left one.

[Ath]

For me, the left one too. Much brighter and to the point.

[Deozaan]

I've asked around and it does indeed seem to be the consensus that the left one is the better of the two. Several people have said the left one is best, yet only one person has said the right one was better.

Thanks!

[tomos]

The cannon is better bigger (on the left). I like the dark background on the right as well (not sure which background I prefer).
Is that meant to be a smiley in the shot out area?
I'd try making the shot out area darker (maybe with fading edge?) if that's possible.

[Deozaan]

The cannon is better bigger (on the left). I like the dark background on the right as well (not sure which background I prefer).
Is that meant to be a smiley in the shot out area?
I'd try making the shot out area darker (maybe with fading edge?) if that's possible.

It's not meant to be a smiley. The image is made up of 4 parts:

1. The turret.
2. The title "Blasteroids"
3. An asteroid.
4. An explosion (flame/smoke).
5. Space background, if you want to count that.

But hearing you refer to a "shot out area" makes me wonder if you and others are seeing something else. Does the asteroid look like a concave indentation that's been blasted out of something else?

[tomos]

Sorry for the delayed response:

tbh I wasn't sure what it was, but I *thought* it was a nebula that had been shot through.
If it is an asteroid, I would give it more shading, probably on the right and lower sides, to give it a more three-dimensional look.

Of course, how an asteroid looks that has just been blasted, is uncertain...

[Deozaan]

Testers needed!

The game is about ready to transition from Alpha to Beta (meaning the game is nearly feature complete). But one major feature that will determine where I take the rest of the game still needs to be decided. I know what my opinion is on the matter (shared below), but sometimes it's best to get some feedback from fresh eyes to see what the consensus is for the people who will actually be playing the game.

Both of the links below link to the game in exactly the same state, with one very significant difference: One version allows the asteroids to pass through each other (unrealistic, but adds more strategy and is more fun, IMO), the other version has asteroids that collide with each other (realistic, but harms gameplay (IMO) and causes other issues/bugs that will need to be sorted out if we go this route).

Trigger: This one allows asteroids to pass through each other.

Physics: This one has asteroids that collide with each other.

Note that both links go to the WebPlayer version of the game, which works in most browsers on Windows and OSX, but not Linux, sorry. The final builds of the game will be available as standalone executables for Win/Mac/Linux and possibly Android.

Please test and let me know your opinion on whether or not the asteroids should collide with each other.

[Deozaan]

tbh I wasn't sure what it was, but I *thought* it was a nebula that had been shot through.
If it is an asteroid, I would give it more shading, probably on the right and lower sides, to give it a more three-dimensional look.

Of course, how an asteroid looks that has just been blasted, is uncertain...

I guess I'll need to tweak that image some more. Thanks for your feedback.

[tomos]

In the original Asteroids arcade game, the asteroids passed "through" each other. IRL they would mostly pass over each other anyway, so it's not that unrealistic.

Note that both links go to the WebPlayer version of the game, which works in most browsers on Windows and OSX, but not Linux, sorry.

"Unity web player - install now"
that's just a plugin, right?

[Deozaan]

"Unity web player - install now"
that's just a plugin, right?

Correct. It's a browser plugin.

[tomos]

^okay, that installed very easily, didnt even need a browser restart.

I'm not going to be much help with your query - I got so involved in both games that I barely noticed a difference
I'll let you know if that changes - played both twice so far.

Click to aim and shoot

I would request the ability to use a key to shoot if that's possible (my mouse arm/hand is overworked).

[Deozaan]

I'm not going to be much help with your query - I got so involved in both games that I barely noticed a difference
I'll let you know if that changes - played both twice so far.

I find that the one with physics (asteroids collide with each other) is less of a challenge and less fun because:

• Asteroids that are on a collision course with your turret will often collide into another asteroid before reaching you, changing their course so that they are no longer an imminent danger to you.
• Asteroids tend to clump together due to their collisions with each other.
• Asteroids tend to slow down and move in the same direction, due to their collisions with each other, making it easy to pick them off in groups.

Click to aim and shoot

I would request the ability to use a key to shoot if that's possible (my mouse arm/hand is overworked).

How will that work? You still aim with the mouse pointer, but instead of holding down the mouse button to rotate and shoot the turret, you hold down a keyboard key?

[tomos]

I would request the ability to use a key to shoot if that's possible (my mouse arm/hand is overworked).

Part of the problem is that rotating is coupled with shooting  (you may well have be aware of this). As the asteroids increase, this can be problematic - you want to look first, see which is approaching fastest and shoot at that, otherwise you create too many moving parts/particles and things just get too hairy...

[cross-posting]

[tomos]

I find that the one with physics (asteroids collide with each other) is less of a challenge and less fun because:

• Asteroids that are on a collision course with your turret will often collide into another asteroid before reaching you, changing their course so that they are no longer an imminent danger to you.
• Asteroids tend to clump together due to their collisions with each other.
• Asteroids tend to slow down and move in the same direction, due to their collisions with each other, making it easy to pick them off in groups.

as a beginner (okay, I used play asteroids in the arcades a long time ago) these are all advantages - but yes, I take your point that they are less of a challenge.

[tomos]

How will that work?

I've no idea. You're the coder/gamer/designer
I can see that it might be problematic - you cant 'steal' simple mouse movements I guess.
There may be other ways of implementing?
Possibly a bit complex:
Mouse + two keys (say Ctrl+Appskey) = Fire
Mouse + one of the above keys (Ctrl) = Rotate
-
that's problematic too I guess...

Gamewise, as said above, the union of the two is problematic imo. But maybe I should just look at it as a challenge!

Maybe also the option to use Left/right-arrows to rotate - that might be good -
Plus another key to shoot. That could be the keyboard alternative to the mouse.
EDIT// and eventually we could move (?) with the spacebar...

[Deozaan]

I think that having to press 2 buttons as well as move the mouse will just be too confusing. I think what I'll do also allow you to press the spacebar to aim+shoot. Wherever the mouse cursor is pointing is where you'll turn to shoot.

[tomos]

I think that having to press 2 buttons as well as move the mouse will just be too confusing.

-
yes, I agree

I think what I'll do also allow you to press the spacebar to aim+shoot. Wherever the mouse cursor is pointing is where you'll turn to shoot.

-
the spacebar + mouse sounds good

[mouser]

What about simple impulse movement using cursor keys (up, down, left, right)?  That wouldn't be hard for player to do while aiming and shooting.

[Deozaan]

What about simple impulse movement using cursor keys (up, down, left, right)?  That wouldn't be hard for player to do while aiming and shooting.

I'm planning on making this game available for Android, too. Which means I'd like to keep the controls simple enough to use on a touch screen. Personally I'm not a fan of those virtual joysticks. They're hard to use properly without the tactile feedback an actual joystick provides.