New to Video Game Programming. My first game included

WIP games, tools & toy projects
#1

I’m new to this dev thing and wanted to keep a log of my updates. Hopefully at least one person out there can enjoy what I’ve made. I coded this from scratch and drew the graphics too.

I have a working version of the current game on my site as a web start java program which can be accessed via the link
deleted…

Use the testing version on the play store for the phone instead
https://play.google.com/apps/testing/com.flashpaw.glone

I eventually want to develop something for android so the controls are suited as such. I’ve actually converted my code to run on my android phone using canvas but I’ve come to find that canvas is terrible at scaling an image.

Here’s a screenshot

http://www.flashpawcomputers.com/mine/spacegame/gamescreenshot.jpg

http://flashpawstudios.com/images/androidscreenshot1.png

http://flashpawstudios.com/images/androidscreenshot2.png

Oh btw, the controls are:
arrow keys move left and right
z: fires bullets
x: slows time (need 3 of the slow time items)
c: gatling gun, shoots lots a bullets rapidly (need 4 of these items)

The little hud up in the top middle lights up when the powerups are ready to use though the one on the far left does nothing…yet.

Would appreciate any feedback thanks!

EDIT: elaborated the control scheme

EDIT 2: Finally got around to porting this over to android. I got caught up in another game (soon to be posted) and had to learn Open GL. I’m not using an engine all of it is from scratch. If anyone is interested in the .apk file to add to their phone send me a PM. I’ve included some new screenshots taken from my phone.

#2

Hmmm…

Over 100 views and no comments. Does the game at least run?
I tried it on one of my second computers and it did work although I’m running Windows on both machines.

I spent yesterday looking around at different potential engines I could use and have decided to continue writing from scratch. This approach is definitely more difficult but I feel like many games are copy and paste due to the use of such engines. I was able to get a GL Surface view running on my android phone and am going to try porting this game over using Open GL from scratch.

#3

It runs and is quite challenging, but the shooting mechanic is kinda unsatisfying.
The player wants to shoot that alien but he has to wait half an eternity before the shot goes off >:(
There was a bit of lag/hickup to at one point but it’s smooth overall.
(I tried the javaGame.jar file btw, webstart is cancer ;D)

#4

I tried both versions on Linux but couldn’t get them to work. The jar file just opened a really really small unresizable window. The JNLP file I couldn’t even get to open. I"ll try it on Windows when I get home.

#5

The graphics are nice and miiiles ahead of your average “my first game” projects
the controls are stiff, confusing and not fun x)
but for your first game…

also you say x,c,z… but what does X and C actually DO ? :smiley:

#6

I have a timer for firing bullets and a maximum number of bullets allowed on the screen at one time. My last change included little yellow and blue upgrades for those two variables but it it appears I’ve set them initially half an eternity too low :smiley:

As for the webstart thing I was merely trying to play it as safe as possible since it’s to my understanding webstart restricts access to the local file system.

#7

Thanks for your feedback!
What do you mean by the controls are stiff? Since the target device is android I want the player to be able to tap either side of the screen to move the player left and right. Of course I could implement movement up and down with the keyboard arrow keys but on a touch surface I find that using a “D-pad” blocks too much of the screen and want to stay away from that.

Oh, X is some sort of slow time thing and C is what I’ve called a gatling gun, fires lot of bullets really fast but I think you know that.

#8

hi,

i played your game.
i like ship teleport laterally (sorry for my english),
it is a interesting strategic.
power ups are interesting too.

for other hand, i don’t know what is each item in the space and his effect,
i think the player need more information about this.

may be util for your game
have a video to show the best of your game in few time
and a few screen shot more (2 o 3).

#9

Yeah I think I need some sort of instructional page that can be accessed from the Menu.
I’m not sure how to record video from a program but I’ll look into it.

Thanks for your feedback!

#10

I use OBS, it’s never failed me yet.

#11

Cool, going to give it a shot if only MS would allow me to download these required C++ files >:(

#12

Finally got around to porting this bad boy over to the android platform. Added new screenshots to the OP.

Trying to capture video from my phone, does anyone know of a good way to do this?

Here’s the PC version in action though IMO it looks and plays better on the phone.

0xvJnt5qtuY

#13

Got a testing version uploaded to the play store if anyone is interested in checking it out follow the link

https://play.google.com/apps/testing/com.flashpaw.glone

#14

Found a free app to record on my phone, thus the quality isn’t really all that great.

Updates:

-Sound! Have a couple of different sounds running though they cannot be heard via the free screen capture app.
-Health bar: It’s mapped to the health of the player and decreases accordingly
-Status bar: Have this combined inside the health bar. Right now it shows the duration of the gatling gun power up
-Powerup Indicator: This is a little border around the powerups at the top middle of the screen so that the player knows which powerup is selected.
-Blue guys: Got tired of the big blue guys gettin all up in my grill AND firing bullets so they now stay up near the top of the screen

And here’s the uhumm low quality video.

h_EpdJwOHsM

#15

05/17/2016

Running a one man show is definitely challenging especially in the graphics department. I’m hoping to improve my animation skills cause it’d be nice to implement for when things blow up. Right now the turrets do register collision checks and fire bullets but once they’re hit, they simply change to the blown up state. Tomorrow I’ll probably try to draw up some new explosions as I need various ones for the rocks, turrets, enemies, and the player.

The turrets are sitting on little platforms but I’m thinking I’ll try to add some sort of ships that they can sit on.

I also played around with some rocks or asteroids or whatever and have them flying down thru the screen. I think it gives a better illusion of propulsion through space and also adds another element to the game.

-Added turrets
-Added rocks
-Changed up the player shooting a bit

Screen Capture 1

http://flashpawstudios.com/images/blackgun/05_17_01X.png

Screen Capture 2

http://flashpawstudios.com/images/blackgun/05_17_02X.png

Screen Capture 3

http://flashpawstudios.com/images/blackgun/05_17_03X.png