23: TF2 - Goldrush Puzzle Game

[dammit]

Final Version and Sourcy Code

Things that have been changed since the end of Comp 22:

1. 15 level backgrounds
2. Gazza hax level music
3. Sparkling new menu interface
4. Movement code was changed by Fengol
5. Most messages now not old popup type.
6. Help file updated
7. Spiffy save and load options
8. Achievements added

Things I didn't land up changing:

1. No new levels
2. No sound effects


Promotional Pages:

1. Twitter <https://twitter.com/TF2puzzler>,
Facebook <http://www.facebook.com/pages/Team-Fortress-2-Goldrush-Puzzler/149885407118>,
Blog <http://tf2puzzler.blogspot.com/>
2. Steam Community Content Thread
Yoyo Work in Progress Thread

***

Note: Sourcey Code has been sent to Fengol to do what he likes in the Pro-version of GM so the game may still get another update, however, I see this as my final update.

***

[Fengol]

You'd be amazed at what a different some sounds can make to your game. Grab a microphone and record with Audacity or simply just use SFXR to make cute noises (there are links somewhere on the forum or PM Nandrew).

After a little bit of sound work I suggest looking at the backgrounds of your levels and painting them to look like levels from the game, instead of blank open space.

[Nandrew]

I'm going to double-check the latest version of your game and see what sorta detailed feedback I can offer. I think you can wrangle some nice reviews after your polish phase. ;)

[Nandrew]

Right, definitely work on the collision and movement bugs before anything else. Because you want to market this, you'll want to focus on player interaction: if they get frustrated by the controls, even the most intriguing puzzle situations aren't going to be appreciated properly.

Since this is your first project, I understand that fixing these bugs may be tricky, so what you should maybe do is rein in a more experienced dev to look at and tighten up that code. Maybe even post your GM source file on the forums so that we can give you feedback here. It'll free you up to focus on other fun elements such as the graphics, sound and - MOST IMPORTANTLY -- intriguing level design!

[Fengol]

if you send me your souce, I'd be happy to help you on it.

[dammit]

^_^ Thanks for the offers to help! Really appreciated since I'm not really sure what to do with it at the moment :P I'll add the source code to the first post.

Edit: Just in case it makes a difference, I am only using GM Lite so there are obviously some things I can't use/do. Dunno what it is that I can't use/do, but still! :P

[Fengol]

You know, I'm very tempted to make make a single player TF2 mod based on this. All the tools are there in Source SDK and I just found how to setup a fixed camera in the wiki :P

[dammit]

One other thing that's concerning me. I know Fengol has needed to ask permission for his game to be promoted as is, but I'm wondering if I may need to do the same at some point. As it stands now, I realise that's not necessary, but the image I plan to use for my menu and help pages, although completely my own work and not traced, is a copy of the actual TF2 artwork. When does one cross the line between fanwork and plagiarism?

[dislekcia]

Originally Posted by dammit

One other thing that's concerning me. I know Fengol has needed to ask permission for his game to be promoted as is, but I'm wondering if I may need to do the same at some point. As it stands now, I realise that's not necessary, but the image I plan to use for my menu and help pages, although completely my own work and not traced, is a copy of the actual TF2 artwork. When does one cross the line between fanwork and plagiarism?

No, Fengol doesn't need to ask for permission to promote his game, he just wants to. As far as I know, as long as you're not actively SELLING your game, then it's creative commons and all that.

Plus Valve is always cool with people doing rad things with their universes. Just look at Black Mesa Source and how CS got picked up... I'd advise not worrying about it and doing the best you can to promote and grow the game, then if it ever gets big and Valve sees it, they'll like it.

And if you get a cease and desist letter, then do that instead. But until then, keep going.

[dammit]

Good to know, thanks ^_^

[dammit]

First post edited with the shinier looking but shorter game now available. Comments welcome ^_^

Another note: I'm planning on putting this onto the steam forums at some point (community fanwork area sorta thing of the forums) but at least one person has suggested that if I do so, I should first remove the "scouts are dicks" type messages from the game? Other options would include a PG notice.

Any thoughts?

[dammit]

Finished the artwork for the first 10 levels now, 5 remaining (of the originally created levels). Planning on eventually having 20 complete levels before the month is up.

In the mean time, I'm brainstorming some achievement ideas. Not exactly sure how to work them into the code, but I'll worry about that later :P

[edg3]

Sounds good :) for the achievements you can use an ini file to store the information? I can give you my ini storing code for Pea Adventures to reuse?

[dammit]

Originally Posted by edg3

Sounds good :) for the achievements you can use an ini file to store the information? I can give you my ini storing code for Pea Adventures to reuse?

I'm not in the habit of turning down such nice gestures ^_^ thanks.

[dammit]

I've been unable to fix the recurring popup messages in room 13 (meet the engineer). Any suggestions?

EDIT: Bug is fixed if I simply move rooms so that 13 and 14 follow from the meet the spy room. Its definitely a problem in my looping structure, but at this stage, I'm not sure how to fix it. Perhaps it works better this way. Gets all the "meet the team" stuff out the way before hitting into the random levels.

I am working on a completely new message system, but i won't have that done by tomorrow (i don't think) which is when i plan to update all my promotional websites/pages.

[Nandrew]

What's your ETA on the final version of the game, you reckon?

Also, some nice marketing buildup going on, I'm impressed by the attention that's going into it!

[dammit]

Originally Posted by Nandrew

What's your ETA on the final version of the game, you reckon? Also, some nice marketing buildup going on, I'm impressed by the attention that's going into it!

No idea on the final version ETA, but I'm working on a weekly Friday update. Considering that there is a lot that needs to be done to this game, my bet is I won't feel any of the updates are the final one anyway.

Thanks. Working damn hard on networking, which makes this whole comp an interesting social experiment. I'm also quite surprised at who on my contact list is taking interest and who is stopping to ask me all about the game at random social gatherings.

[dammit]

Okay, so big plans and big ideas mean more time is needed:

Quote:

With more bugs and issues turning up than expected, and actually having to go to my real day job to earn the monies that keep me fed, the update is being delayed until Monday. Having the whole weekend free to fix this game is only going to be beneficial for all of us, so hang in there! What is planned for the weekend: * Complete Achievement coding * Complete sprite images upgrade (including the bullets) * Music implant * Dealing with any other bugs It'll be worth the wait, I promise, so look out for the update come Monday morning bright and early.

[dammit]

Update the first post with the latest and greatest version of the game as well as the source code for it. Unless some major bug is discovered in the next hour, this is the final version that will go up on the blogs and such :)

I thought it might also be interesting at this point of the competition to add my thoughts on what I've learnt so far in trying to promote a little game like mine.

Firstly, I rediscovered how unbelievably helpful everyone on this part of the forums can be. The amount of collective hours spent by various devs explaining all sorts of things to me is amazing and priceless. You all rock :)

Another thing, Facebook turned out to be the most successful of the three social networking type promotional sites. Twitter worked reasonably well, but it is just not as easy to get yourself known. The blog was/is hard work to maintain and even harder to get a following for. I would suggest anyone who devs regularly to maintain a blog for this purpose over a long period of time so that when one wants to promote a game, there's already a long standing blog with dedicated followers.

Posting on the Steam Forums, I was expecting loads of criticism and exceedingly unhelpful "LOL" replies. Quite surprisingly, the response, though minimal, was fairly constructive in its criticism. Yoyo game forums, on the other hand, was fairly useless. Not least because it signs me out constantly.

The most interesting thing I discovered, however, was the fact that outside of this forum the main suggestion was not, in fact, to add more levels but rather just to polish those I already had. I had expected people to complain the game was too short, but most complained about the sprites and other image related issues. Hence I never did get to build the other 5 levels I had planned.

Oh, and the final thing: I discovered I still have a major mental block in recording my own voice for the purpose of making sound effects. While SFXR is pretty cool, the sounds just didn't seem right for this type of game.

[Nandrew]

Nice report, time to download and par-tay!