Making a Video Game...
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- mantrakid0
Love that movie. Was mad fuel to my fire to get off my ass.
- prophetone0
mantrakid, massively inspiring and encouraging to read thru your experiences. so thank you. and a very cool game - luv the art style.
i myself am finally getting my ass off the couch, have begun shifting gears as fast as i can into a proper game dev workflow, learning as i go. been sponging as much as i can in recent months as far as cocos2d, sprite kit, best practices, etc.
i feel like all the design/tech skills i've developed over the years founded on a rich foundation of 80/90's arcade game knowledge and an extensive library of general pop culture nonsense, bad taste and terrible humour has finally me prepared for game making.
i hope to get a few simple pixel-based games out there as soon as possible so i can just start making some mistakes, learning from good/bad feedback, fine tuning, etc.
i get excited just thinking about it and almost want it to be a total train wreck right out of the gate to be honest. ha!
at some point i will share what i’ve done in this terrible, terrible place if only to get some real, honest feedback. qbn nerd feedback.
♥ prophetone
- mantrakid0
Just wanted to give you guys a heads up that there's a new demo build:
Windows: http://www.cosmochoria.com/build…
Mac: http://www.cosmochoria.com/build…
Linux 32bit: http://www.cosmochoria.com/build…
Linux 64bit: http://www.cosmochoria.com/build…The new build has some new features:
- Hold S while floating in space to slow your trajectory. Just like in real life space!
- Asteroids Explode when they hit the planets surface.
- Diamonds hidden in asteroids are a little more common, not much though. ;)
- Weapon powerups are a little more common (once you have that Level 1 Gun)
- Flying FAST through space will cause you to destroy anything you run into (not planets tho).
- Jetpack gets you off a planet easier without jumping first.
- Bosses don't get 'stuck'.
- New planets, including the 'FUCKING LOL' Cube (More non-round planets to come!)
- Updated cursor designs (may be a little buggy still though).
- Bug and performance fixes.This is probably the last or second last 'publicly available' build. Once the kickstarter ends, it'll be private builds for all new functionality for KS backers only. Once the functionality has all been implemented, it will move to a public early access program on Steam for the couple of months leading up to the official launch.
Respect.
Nate
- mantrakid0
Finally worked out a proper UI.
Wow, damn. So many updates on the go after receiving some really good professional advice. Fixed quite a few bugs that have come up from the awesome testers who have been checking the game out.
The core work has been to solve an overwhelmingly loud feedback regarding the confusion brought on in the first exposure to the game. Initially i really wanted the experience to have a deep sense of discovery, and though i feel its still there to a degree, i had to make some compromises and design issues that overcame some of the points of confusion to first-time players... Simply put, people aren't gonna play a game that doesnt at least seem to make sense right off the bat. Im actually surprised at how long this remains an issue as development continues. I always think i 'solved it' but feedback from new players shows that it can still be improved..
One of the biggest things ive been working on is that I've finally designed a proper HUD UI, which really adds to the experience and feel of the game. I was using the shitty little top corner graphics for too long, so to now have a proper HUD its looking really nice. I decided to place it along the bottom since most of the fighting in cosmochoria takes place above you. Because the camera pans to keep you 'always up' there's never really a situation where you are actually looking for things on the bottom of the screen, so it seemed like the perfect place to put everything in a neat and tidy little bar. This also opens up the space above you for better alien spotting, etc.
- mantrakid0
Amazing article today on KillScreen.com:
THE UNIMPEACHABLE OPTIMISM OF COSMOCHORIA by Lindsey Joyce
http://killscreendaily.com/artic…
<3
- mantrakid0
I was informed by dudes far more experienced than I that I was a damn fool for not putting Sprout on the official Greenlight page, as opposed to this 'concept'.
You can view the official Greenlight Page here:
http://steamcommunity.com/shared…If you've voted on or followed this page, it would mean the world to me if you switched over to the official Greenlight page, as any votes / feedback there actually do go towards making sure Sprout is available on Steam when it is released.
Thank you so much for the amazing feedback and response so far. I am honestly blown away at the positive response I've been getting - just watching those "Yes" buttons get tallied up hour by hour while i can count the "No" votes on one hand. Thank you so so much!
- mantrakid0
Dying to keep in touch on your development man - if you end up with a mailing list or something, add me please nate@3030.ca - id love to see what you're up to and give any input as a chance to give back for your support since ive been starting this. :D
I know what you mean about 'just doing it' and 'wanting a train wreck' i actually feel the same way which i think is what has contributed to such a good success so far... i think that passion and enthusiasm becomes apparent to people checking it out. :D
- thanks man. mailing list! wow, yeah i need to create a proper site soon i guess. you will be the first email list subscriber.prophetone
- as soon as i release the one i'm dev'ing now in the old app store i will alert the QBN so i can face the flamesprophetone
- dope, i'll be ready to add my gas all over it. :Dmantrakid
- mantrakid0
Just posted a pretty major update!!
https://www.kickstarter.com/proj…
- Gamepad support included in the base amount.. so will be available at launch.
- WiiU Stretch goal moved up to $25,000
- Yogscast's Simon now a playable character for $15+ tier.
- "Be in the game" tier dropped to $400
- Official TShirt design and colours confirmed.
- cannonball19780
Make a "making of" trailer. People like to see the work that goes into it. It helps ensure that it is a quality product, especially in the indie game landscape where there is so much garbage.
- jtb260
Damn it.
- cannonball19780
Any thoughts about an iPad port?. I could see this go down really well on a big touch screen.
- ALready been working on ipad port. ;) Touch screen controls need to be refined, but it's in the plans for sure.mantrakid
- mantrakid0
no-one? damnn.. :) (bump)
- mantrakid0
TENDING THE GALACTIC GARDEN WHILE BLASTING EVERYTHING THAT MOVES IN COSMOCHORIA
- sorry if this is annoying if i keep posting to this thread, but its gone back far enough, it will serve as a nice history..mantrakid
- keep the updates coming. i'd like to think QBN is supportive of this sort of endeavourlodef
- you should post the articles on the Greenlight page.lodef
- Good call - ill get that done today - thanks man.mantrakid
- i_monk0
I just played (the web build) for the first time. Two things immediately frustrated me: I can't seem to aim myself when using the jet pack, so I end up spiralling through space, totally adrift, until hitting a random planet. I couldn't get back to the start planet, so I feel like I completely missed whatever I was supposed to do there.
I read what you said upthread about a sense of discovery, but maybe the jet pack should be something you earn after achieving some basic sense of how the game works on that first planet. After that, discovery and adventure awaits.
Looks and sounds pretty sweet though :)
- mantrakid0
haha thanks man, ive been sitting on my ass about making a game since i was 15 years old or something. Maybe younger.. when did The Wizard come out.. :P Always wanted to do it but always felt lazy / just sat and played games instead.
Last year i turned 33 and was like FUCK THIS i gotta learn, and it has been the most satisfying creative endeavour ive ever had..
Caaalifooooornia..
- mantrakid0
@cruddlebub -- was not really expecting anything like this when i was making it. I mean i was dreaming of shit like this happening of course, but really tried to accept that it was delusional fantasy and tried hard to focus on a strategy for getting people aware of the game, building towards the Kickstarter. I made some really deadly connects in the process and they helped put it right over the top.
I am so fucking proud, i cant even describe it... It feels weird talking bout it tho cuz theres still so much work to be done, so just gotta keep at it. if anything i feel like ive been taught a lesson: work your ass off — go broke in the process if you have to — and good shit CAN happen.
- benfal990
you're shit are really cool Mantrakid. Keep up the good work. Really!