[Resolved] Hosting Issues.

While relaxing on vacation, I made the astonishing discovery that my computer has nothing fun to do on it.  It has all of the necessary programs to do my work, but nothing fun to play.  Not a single game.  So I played around on designing some graphically pleasing images for the main menu (if the main character is a six year old kid, I'm sure I can draw like one).

So my point is that I've got alpha version 1.7 available, but my website host is having issues and I cannot upload any new files.  So you and I will just have to wait to play the new version.  Sorry everyone!  Here's an enticing picture, instead!

I enjoy the font very much.

Update

I talked with a customer service representative today regarding my hosting issue.  The issue is actually unrelated to the hosting service.  Something must have bugged when my desktop updated to the most recent version of Java.  My laptop, a school computer, and the representative all had no trouble accessing the account.

To solve the problem, I downloaded an FTP program to avoid working with Java applications and successfully uploaded alpha version 1.7 to my server.  There's new bugs in my menus now, but ... LOOK AT THE PRETTY BIRDY!

NaGaDeMo 2012 Result... AND BEYOND!

Participating in this event made for a good start on a potential portfolio piece for the team members.  Now that we're no longer constrained to this crunching deadline of the National Game Development Month, we can pursue other goals we had set for this project.

Unfortunately, this game won't be considered a "winner" in the event because we never got to the Beta tests since the artists didn't make their deadlines, and I still had tweaks needing to be tweaked and there was a large hole where the testers ought to be (we could definitely use more feedback on the game).

However, next week is the first week of July, so everyone can take a more official vacation without having to worry about the game.  I'd like to resume the production of Pretend on July 9th; we'll all be back in school for the summer session and it'll be a lot easier to get together for the meetings.  The fact that all of our meetings were online and half of the team on summer vacation definitely made things a bit more difficult.

Thank you, everyone for your hard work.  I'll see you in a week!

This Is a level concept (A Really LATE One)

Well this is probably late but here's what I had so I had something to show. I don't know where the others are but here's a level outline. Its a panorama of the entire level without the platforms and stuff. The blocks that Tessa made will be the platforms and stuff, instead of just sitting there in left side of the level.

Of course you will be going from the left part to the right. The left hill representing your bedroom and the right hill representing your kitchen in the real world of the game.

This is late but at least I had something before it was  too late and also i got backed up with a lot of work this week and last week so, sorry.

Beta Delayed, but...

The Beta Tests will be delayed until further noticed due to the art and audio assets not being finished. The scope may have to be cut again if these deadlines are missed by a long shot.




In which case, I'll still be running Alpha tests anyway since you can see that not all of the programming is finished either. We're on the last week of the National Game Development Month, so the members of the team who are still with us are nailing down their assignments.




It also just happens to be Summer break from our school, so that sort of killed the motivation from some of the team members.




However, we're lucky to still have a 2D artist, Dylan, who has come up with these sprites as character concepts based on our earlier discussions.

         

You also may have noticed some changes in the level, such as the addition to blocks. There are four kinds of blocks you'll see in the game, and only these three have been implemented so far:

         

The red block is a special block that can only be destroyed by ramming it with the bear's special move, fire fists.




The green block is a special block that can only be destroyed by the boy's special move, shooting it with a Nerf dart.




The black block is a special block that can be destroyed by any special move.




The blue block is a special block that can only be affected (not actually destroyed) by the dog's special move. I've been thinking of changing the dog's ability to be able to walk through things (phasing), like Kitten from X-Men or D.L. Hawkins from Heroes.




Also, I believe those horizontal platforms are working much better now! Here comes the wind-down!

Let the Alpha Tests Begin!

To begin testing the game right away, click here!

Otherwise, continue reading what I have to say about it :P

Every time I feel like I've made a significant change in the code (like one that fixes a glitch or bug), I'll re-upload the file and release it as the next version.  They'll still be in the Alpha Test page.  This can result to 1 upload per day or as many as 15, whatever makes this game work.  This will keep up until the Beta Test is released next weekend.

If you have any suggestions, questions, or valuable critiques, please leave them in the comments section on the Alpha Test page.  I'd rather not have my cell phone, email, or any of the social applications blowing up with ideas.  At least this way, I can find them all in one place.  Thank you!

Also, please keep in mind the 'known bugs' section before you point something out.  Thank you!

Character Movement

So I've been spending the day prototyping for this game to get the Alpha test ready for Sunday.  I've got the menu functionality working as well as character movement (finally).  There's still some bugs with the jumping (expected), but it looks nice anyway.  I tried really hard for this smooth movement instead of my usual straight-cut start-and-stop movements.

You can also switch among the states, and if you're a bird, you can fly like you're supposed to.  Actually, take a look here, the bird is actually defying gravity!!!

Haha... Okay, I didn't expect you to get it.  I know I'm not that funny.  I rarely try to be.

Anyway, just a few more tweaks and most of the mechanics for regular game play is finished.  Instead of boss fights or enemies, I just make it a time trial instead.  That'll help cut the scope down a bit more to better fit the time allowed for this project, and it'll take out the hit points system also (since it'll be pointless if nothing can kill you).

However, those ideas are still doable for if or when this project gets expanded beyond the NaGaDeMo event.

Silhouette are FuN!

 

Ah, Silhouettes are really fun because I don't have to draw up detail and it gives you a sort

of "feel" for the character or "something" like that.