What I'm Doing Now: Chibi Breed

Wow, it's been a long time since I've posted here!

I'm currently working on a project called "Chibi Breed". The name is a play on "Alien Breed", but it isn't a direct clone of that series. It was originally going to be a clone of "Alien Breed", but then it went through several language and library changes before I finally settled on Panda3D.

I've decided that rather than a top-down camera, the game's camera will follow behind the player. Also, the game will feature both male and female playable characters. It will use a cartoonish art style. (For example, my current player model is about 3 heads tall, meaning that her body is about twice as tall as her head)

I haven't decided much yet (I have a nasty habit of deciding too much too soon), but I'm currently sketching out ideas.

I'm pausing my work on it for a little bit because I requested a change to the UNIX name of its SourceForge page. (The UNIX name is the all-lower-case name that is used to identify the project to the system as well as in the address of the project page) Since that process can take up to 48 hours, I've got a bit of time on my hands. I'd keep working on it, but the address of the SVN repository (Which is where I keep my source code as well as game content) will be changing along with the rest of the project's location on SourceForge, and that change means that I have to get a fresh copy of it after the name change takes place. (I have to get a fresh copy because the name change would make uploading my work from the copy I have not work: It'd be trying to send it to an address that doesn't exist anymore)

I'll be posting now and then with ideas I have, as well as to update folks on the status of the project.

I really want to finish this one.

PyWeek - Setting Myself to Far More Interesting Challenge

My delaying and procrastinating with Cherry and Gunner Robo Pocket have caused me to realize that I enjoy small, short projects more than larger, longer ones.

That said, PyWeek is coming up in a couple of months and I'm looking to redeem myself. I'm looking to redeem my overuse of religious terms, my flip-flopping, and my whimsical abandon of ideas.

That said: LandFish Studios (Me) will be attempting to create one game every week until the week of Pyweek. (And then, one game for that week)

I will call this task Operation: Stalwart Redemption, because I like titling my efforts as operations now and then.

Gunner Robo Pocket - Display Code Done, Now Onto Gameplay

I've had loads of trouble with the display code for Gunner Robo Pocket. The method I am using to draw the screen is simulating a dot matrix display, storing images as a set of pixels each with one of four colors. (Those colors are black, white, light gray, and dark gray; Those colors are relative, as I am using an LCD color scheme like the original Gameboy)

With that sorted, I'm going to be working on gameplay now. (Finally!)

I'll post about my progress. (I'll be posting more now that I actually have something to post about)

Mini-LD #19 - Gunner Robo Pocket

Mini-LD #19 has begun!

The theme for this event is "Industry"

My concept is that of a game that has you playing randomly-generated "Games" that each consist of 5 levels with a boss fight at the end of the 5th. (I may add a mini-boss to the 3rd level if I have time)

Each "game" will have a player character who is a combination of three attributes:

• Overall Shape (Humanoid, Mech, Tank, or Flying Thing)
• Flight Action (None, Multi-Jump, Hover, or Fly)
• For the "Flying Thing" these mean: (None, Speed Burst, Turbo, or Ramming)
• Weapon (Normal Gun, Charging Gun, Spread Gun, or Rapid Gun)

The "Games" will also use a variety of item and weapon rules:

• Infinite ammo, limited ammo, or regenerating ammo?
• Shields or no shields?
• Items or no items? (Ammo will be either infinite or regenerating if there are no items)
• Flight has a cost?
• If so, shields, ammo, or both?
• Or does it use its own energy?

I should have something by tomorrow afternoon. I'll be hosting the downloads on my public DropBox, and will be posting links to the downloads here and on the LudumDare.com blog. I may also tweet them, but those will be formatted with tinyurl.com

Until then, peace.

--- Mr.Dude

Already Lost Interest in Little Robo

I think I'm gonna flake out on Little Robo. It just doesn't seem all that interesting now that I've actually thought about the idea.

I'll be entering the Mini-LD #19 challenge, which starts later this evening, and I'll post about that here when it comes.

A Small Project: Little Robo

I have decided that since I'm taking time off from working on Cherry, that I want to work on a small project.
My concept is a single-screen small platforming game titled "Little Robo"

The game will be about a small robot that has to fight his way through an infinite number of very short levels.
The player would be able to choose from two robots: One fast robot with a charging gun (Somewhat like a certain blue robot) and one strong robot with a rapid-fire gun.

Levels will take about 30 seconds to complete, and will be randomly generated.

I will be posting updates about it, but it will probably not take long to make.

Taking a Break from Cherry - School and Other Things

With finals coming and a game development even this weekend, I've decided to take some time off from development on Cherry.

I will be entering in the coming Mini-LD, and there will be some coverage of that.

Until then, peace.

--- Mr. Dude