Author Topic: Special Preview & Beta Test !!! (Read 36,616 times)

tinjaw · « **on:** December 22, 2006, 04:38 AM »

I have decided to give you folks a sneak peak into my game submission in return for your help in beta testing.

I will post new versions as I make new builds. All you will need to do is run the EXE. It will ask you to pick a directory for it to install to. (It just unzips into that directory). Then run AsteroidsOfOrion.exe to enjoy the game.

There is a README.TXT included with some information to get you started. I will be adding more as I work on it over the next 24-36 hours in preparation for an official preliminary contest submission. I doubt I will get much sleep during all of this.

So, here we go. ~~The first build can be found here.~~ Get the second build below.

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tinjaw · « **Reply #1 on:** December 23, 2006, 04:22 AM »

Work continues...

I learned a heck of a lot today about Torque GameBuilder. Things like creating dialog boxes aren't even documented, so I had to did into examples and source code. Much of what was built and changed today was behind the scenes. Lots of learning how to do things in code that I had only done through the level builder to date.

Some gameplay highlights:

Ships take damage from collisions with asteroids.
You only get five ships.
Score is now kept.
Almost all of the variables were tweaked after play by my beta testers.
Tightened up the collision polygons
Added camera shake when ship collides with asteroid.
The 'p' key pauses the game.

You can get the new build of Asteroids Of Orion ~~here~~ for the next 24-36 hours. Get the latest build below.

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mouser · « **Reply #2 on:** December 23, 2006, 05:41 AM »

its so damn hard to keep from spinning out of control..
maybe some high friction would help?

CodeTRUCKER · « **Reply #3 on:** December 23, 2006, 10:26 AM »

Hey Tinjaw, I tried it and was able to get everything except the last little tiny asteroid and then (after a dozen bullseyes) I looked a littel closer and saw that it was an undetonated bomb? At least I think that is what it was as it had the central sparkle like the other bombs I launched. Bug? FYI - at one point in the flight I tapped as fast as I could (about 12-15 times a sec). Could this have created the dud?

I don't know if you are looking for ideas at this stage...

As far as the asynchronous thrust, how about using a double-click or some other pattern to toggle left and right thrusters?
Related to the dud, I found I was able to clean out the asteroids by very rapid tapping; in fact the faster the rotation, the faster I was able to clear the asteroids. You may wish to
- set a limit to "prevent overheating" or to allow the "neutron generators" a chance to build up
- set a limit of 10-20 rapid-fires,
- or at least if you fire, say more than 3/sec the effectiveness lessens since the recharging would be ineffective
- perhaps a special "rotating docking station' for replenishment? Once the rotation matched, the docking would "auto-dock?"

Maybe these might go into Ver.2.0, 3.0. etc....
Hope this helps!
Calvin

jgpaiva · « **Reply #4 on:** December 23, 2006, 10:41 AM »

hi tinjaw!!
Congrats! This is a fun game!

I even like it more than the original asteroids

You did an amazing work.
I'd just ask for one small modification: make the game end when there are no asteroids. It happened to me just the same thing that happened to Farmsteader. After the game had ended i didn't notice it and tried to blow up the other bombs.
(also, don't forget to let people choose a resolution in the last version. This one didn't quite fit my screen).

tinjaw · « **Reply #5 on:** December 23, 2006, 02:25 PM »

Farmsteader.

Thank you for trying it out and giving me valuable feedback.

You were right. That was a bomb that you released and was undetonated when you died. That is a known bug.

We are constantly tweaking things. As it is now, releasing a bomb costs you 1 point. So by doing a rapid release of random bombs, you will kill your score.

I do think I'll add a delay in release bombs though. Maybe a bomb bay can hold only five bombs at a time. Any bombs in the bomb bay are available for immediate release. IOW release, detonate, release, detonate, release, detonate, release, detonate, release, detonate. But it takes a second or more reload each of the five stations. So if you shoot off five in a row, quickly, there is a delay as it reloads them. I'll add that and see how it plays out.

Thanks for the ideas. I'll PM you when I have a build that adds the stuff you suggested.

tinjaw · « **Reply #6 on:** December 23, 2006, 02:31 PM »

jgpaiva,

Thanks for playing!

In the current build, as you destroy asteroids they respawn. You get to play until all your ships are dead.

But that isn't going to remain for long.

Today I will be adding "levels" to the game so that instead of one long level

, you will clear one level and move to the next. Each getting more difficult.

tinjaw · « **Reply #7 on:** December 23, 2006, 02:32 PM »

Quote from: mouser on December 23, 2006, 05:41 AM

its so damn hard to keep from spinning out of control..
maybe some high friction would help?

We might add some friction for those less, err, arcade-inclined.

James Sterrett · « **Reply #8 on:** December 23, 2006, 03:23 PM »

Quote from: mouser on December 23, 2006, 05:41 AM

its so damn hard to keep from spinning out of control..
maybe some high friction would help?

It seems to me - the documentation guy for AoO - that you don't entirely "get it" - which is my problem, not yours, because it's my job to help people "get it". (Tinjaw just does that coding stuff.

)

So I'm curious how I can improve:

Section 1:

Assumption in Section 1: Controlling the ship is the major challenge of the game, followed by getting the bombs on target on rocks.

- Did you read the readme? If so, was it clear? (If not, where not? What was missing?) Should it have included a Tips section on controlling the ship?

- Would Tips on startup be useful?

- Would an easier mode earlier on (easier to kill the asteroids) be a good thing?

- Would you want to be able to select your initial rate of spin? (A planned feature.

)

- Should the documentation, or startup tips, spend more time pointing out this is intended to be a vector-driven game and explaining the implications of this? (I assumed everybody remembers Asteroids... not necessarily a valid assumption!)

Section 2 (Adding Friction) :

Can you be clearer on what you want in terms of "friction" - the ship slowly slowing down, the rate of spin changing, ???

How fast should this change take place?

Should friction affect the rocks and bombs as well?

Apologies if this is not a fair question for you to answer for a contest submission....

mouser · « **Reply #9 on:** December 23, 2006, 04:40 PM »

i encourage everyone entering to get feedback and suggestions before final judgement.

my suggestion about friction was relating to ship movement not rotation. so you wouldnt keep drifting, just a bit.

as far as being able to choose options.. nah i think you should just set it.. though it might be interesting to have a series of levels where each level had different settings..

James Sterrett · « **Reply #10 on:** December 26, 2006, 01:18 AM »

Thanks, Mouser.

We do have plans for some different levels types - no idea if they'll be completed in time, but they include race/navigation levels, and a secret "pool table" level in which you have to sink the asteroids....

tinjaw · « **Reply #11 on:** December 29, 2006, 08:14 PM »

~~Beta version 1.0.4~~ Get the latest build below.

I have implemented rudimentary levels.

[attachimg=#1]

tinjaw · « **Reply #12 on:** December 30, 2006, 12:02 AM »

~~Beta version 0.2~~ is now available. Get latest version below.

-Asteroids split in two when destroyed.
- (just for mouser) the 'd' key will toggle damping. When a new ship is spawned it is reset to off.

mouser · « **Reply #13 on:** December 30, 2006, 03:31 AM »

download url is broken.

Deozaan · « **Reply #14 on:** December 30, 2006, 02:32 PM »

Quote from: tinjaw on December 30, 2006, 12:02 AM

~~Beta version 0.2 is now available.~~

Quote from: mouser on December 30, 2006, 03:31 AM

download url is broken.

I want to play.

tinjaw · « **Reply #15 on:** December 30, 2006, 03:18 PM »

I have version ~~beta 0.2.3~~ now up. Get latest build below.

Note that you need to unpause with the 'p' key when starting a new level. (bug)

Deozaan · « **Reply #16 on:** December 30, 2006, 03:37 PM »

Wow that's a lot of fun! I find it highly effective to press the spacebar somewhat quickly to launch myself and any nearby asteroids into oblivion. Kind of funny how it comes out of the end of the ship and explodes. It makes me feel like I'm farting my way to freedom.

Should be called: Captain Flatulence and the Asteroid Cream from Uranus!

Another bug you may not be aware of: When I get blown up I'm still able to lay mines in the time between when I explode and when my ship reappears in the center.

Oh carp I forgot to try D for drag/damping.

tinjaw · « **Reply #17 on:** December 30, 2006, 03:57 PM »

Thanks for the bug report Deozann. I'm glad you find it fun. Maybe I will make a CF&tACfU MOD after the contest for you.

~~New build~~ (Get latest build below) up has dampening working properly and set to 0.3. You guys let me know if I need to turn it up or down.

tinjaw · « **Reply #18 on:** December 30, 2006, 05:23 PM »

New build ~~beta v 0.3~~ (Get the latest build below.)

Now with 1.618% fewer calories!!

Asteroids now get tougher to destroy starting at level three. (You are at least getting to level three, right?)

tinjaw · « **Reply #19 on:** December 30, 2006, 06:16 PM »

I couldn't resist. There is a function in TGB to produce screenshots. So, although it isn't there as part of the "official" game, I have added it for fun. If you press the 's' key, Asteroids of Orion will produce a screen capture in its own directory. They are PNG images and will be named something like AoOScreenShot315843078.png.

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You will need (at least) build ~~Beta v 0.3.1~~ for this capability. Get the latest build below.

tinjaw · « **Reply #20 on:** December 31, 2006, 06:53 AM »

We're getting down to the last day here and I admit I am not as far as I would like to be. -- I did lose 12 hours to food poisoning though, so give me a bit of a break here folks.

hamradio helped me out again with some stellar graphic work on the life icons and the hitpoint icons. I've also got place holders in there for a splashscreen and an about screen.

I can still use some bug testers. Especially as I throw in some surprises over these last few hours.

Build Beta v. 0.4.2 is now available for download.

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Oh. The pressure.

CodeTRUCKER · « **Reply #21 on:** December 31, 2006, 07:02 AM »

Top of the line, Tinjaw! Looks great!

Hang in there, we're burning some midnight oil over here too! We'll make it, just keep on keeping on!

tinjaw · « **Reply #22 on:** January 02, 2007, 05:13 PM »

Thanks to all of you that helped out. I have submitted my entry.