Targets

WIP games, tools & toy projects
#1

I have just started on a small game called Targets which involves the player shooting different targets that pop up. It is my first game which has been to this level of completion, I am also inexperienced with java so please understand if I don’t get everything people say to me. Please post any bugs/errors/problems you find and I will try to fix them. I have tried to export it so it is runnable on linux, mac and windows so it should work.

I hope you have fun playing!

Screenshots:

Controls:
Mouse - Aim
Clicking - Selection/Shooting
R - Reloading
P - Pause Game

Go to options to change game mode and autoreloading and to reset data

Dowload Links:
Play Online
13/10/12 1.6

Changes

1.6 Added basic animations(need to look better) for shooting and hitting targets
Added bullet marks on the background when you shoot
Highscore arrows light up when hovered over

1.5 Added a new Gamemode ‘Hardcore’ (Toggle gamemodes in options from the menu)
Added hardcore highscores
Improved the graphics for the main menu, options, help and the highscores page.
Improved the method for spawning/disappearing targets

1.4 Improved saving method
Added local hiscore saving and updating
Added a new upgrade(single use slows disappearing time for targets)

1.3 Added Basic Saving Mechanism
Added an icon for the game screen
Slightly improved the texture of the background

1.2 Added sounds
Added life losses
Added target timing disappearing
Added Gamover screen
Improved the menu slightly
Game gets harder as you go through levels
Added more levels

To-Do List:

Done
Partially done/working on
Not started

  • Add more upgrades
  • Have better drawn graphics
  • Add animations to the game
  • Upload the game as an applet so it’s easier to play/remove needs for downloading
  • Add a gamemode which you play non-stop until you lose
  • Implement a working local hiscore system
  • Remove the cursor and still be able to change sights
  • Add life losses
  • Add disappearing target timing
  • Implement working sound
  • Add more levels
  • Add different difficulties
  • Add a method for saving and loading variables
#2

Gave it a go, works fine but it really lacks sound, games like this kinda need that as a feedback that you did something

#3

Thanks for the criticism, I have added sounds for shooting and for when the gun has no ammo. I’m currently working on timings for appearing and disappearing.

#4

Updated the game to version 1.2,
Changes:
Added sounds
Added life losses
Added target timing disappearing
Added Gamover screen
Improved the menu slightly
Game gets harder as you go through levels
Added more levels

I am now going to work on more customizability from the user such as game hardness/extras etc.
I am also going to try to create saving and loading so the player can keep hiscores and items/upgrades.

#5

New Update to 1.3
Added Basic Saving Mechanism
Added an icon for the game screen
Slightly improved the texture of the background

The saving mechanism is still very basic, but works and the user can reset their upgrades money etc in the options menu.

My next stage of development will be in better graphics and more graphics for the game play.

Also, the disappearing is not 100% working as sometimes when there are no targets on the screen or a target hasn’t disappeared, a life is randomly lost which is completely confusing me but I’m trying to resolve this.

Please let me know what you think of the game, every little criticism helps!

#6

Fixed disappearing problems, now runs much more smoothly, see if you can beat my best score so far of 542, post scores etc if you want!

#7

How do you kill them so fast? I can’t even click one because they disappear in ~0.5 seconds =(

#8

The timings on level1 were just under 2 seconds and progress very slowly per round, I have increased the timings now so it should be easier at the start.

I am using a mouse with my laptop, so i would imagine not having a mouse would make this game much harder.

#9

Added a new local hiscore system and also a new upgrade which slows the timing of the targets disappearing, it only lasts for one round though!

Trying to find a way to make the file smaller as it’s currently 10mb in size:/

#10

Png crush can minify the png images by 30-90% http://pmt.sourceforge.net/pngcrush/index.html
It really helps alot, i guess you will have atleast 50% profit in total.

#11

Ahh thankyou, I’ll check it out now, I’ve managed to reduce the file size to slightly over 5mb, I realised I was adding the libraries twice. Noob error;)

#12

I assure you I am not getting any two seconds.

Actually I just figured it out, when I fraps it (Which auto-locks framerate) I get MUCH longer, but without fraps I get between 3k and 5k fps and barely even see the objects.

Your logic depends of FPS, which means on my fairly fast computer I get entirely different gameplay then on a slower computer. [Also I can tell fraps to lock it at 1 fps and win =D]

#13

Is there a way I can set the timer I’m using to change depending on say the FPS? Or is that not possible…

#14

You should not be using a timer based on the fps in the first place.

java.util.Timer
javax.swing.Timer / java.awt.Timer [For java2d]

your own implementation of Timer
Using delta time [Preferred]

#15

I was using java.util.Timer anyway, I just had one part in the slicks update method, re-uploaded it, can you see if its made any difference for you?

#16

Much better! I can actually kill stuff now =) [How do you reload btw?] However, you should consider using delta time, in slicks update method it would look like:


update#delta
  for each entity
    entity life remaining -= delta
#17

To reload press R or SPACE, it does say this in the help section of the menu.

Ah I might try that, at the moment I’m doing a start time when the target spawns and when that time is the same as the delay time, the target disappears. My code isn’t the best, so when I’ve got the game almost finished, i’m going to try to neaten and improve the code.

Thanks for all the help btw!

#18

Updated the game
1.5 Added a new Gamemode ‘Hardcore’ (Toggle gamemodes in options from the menu)
Added hardcore highscores
Improved the graphics for the main menu, options, help and the highscores page.
Improved the method for spawning/disappearing targets

In Hardcore mode, you start with 10 ammo and 5 lives and play continuously(unless paused/quit) until you lose all 5 lives. This can be toggled on/off in the options menu. I have also tried to improve the graphics for some screens, although they’re still not great since I’m a terrible artist:/

Feel free to post scores and please let me know what you think and any areas I could improve on!

#19

Here is some feedback on your menu/graphics.

The game graphics look fine. Maybe add in some effect where you shoot like sparks or something to make the game feel more responsive. Could have it where each site has a different effect when you shoot.

Please make the targets blow up all over the place when you hit them.

The new menu layout is fine although the buttons could loose the white flare inside them.

Also, the background has too much going on taking your eyes away from the text in the options menu so maybe tone that down a little.

This last one you can choose to do or not. Most buttons will highlight or something if you scroll over them. To simulate this without added resources just set the buttons transparency to 80% or so and then make them non transparent when you scroll over them.

If you don’t know how to set transparency look up Alpha Composites.

#20

I was thinking of maybe having a small effect when the player fires.

Blowing up the targets is a possibility, but will probably low on my priorities right now.

I just need a simple background which isn’t just a single colour and isn’t too overbearing, I’m bad when it comes to aesthetics of things.

I’ll try to see about that transparency.