game maker newb web-log

flying, orange Rectangle

2010-01-13T16:03:00.000-08:00

i made this!

(:

Pilot run animation zero-two

2009-11-16T21:40:00.001-08:00

pilot game Art 02

2009-11-14T21:39:00.001-08:00

rough Run cycle

2009-09-29T09:01:00.000-07:00

rough run cycle using motion tween. in the flash file, each leg is a separate movie clip animated on a timeline.

for the purposes of a game
it gets the idea of running across
but it doesn't look pretty
does it?

new pilot Vector

2009-09-24T19:59:00.001-07:00

Adjusted the colours to be more distinct.

design Decisions: frame, grid, and stage size.

2009-08-30T17:28:00.000-07:00

Before I start building any assets for the game I want to have some things decided on.

Frame size: 640 pixels by 480 pixels

This is the size of visible space the game will be running within.

Grid size: 16 pixels

I divide the visible space into a handy grid in order to build art assets in proportion to each other. Especially useful for level design.

Stage size: 32 grid squares by 24 grid squares

This is where the gameplay is on screen. The rest of the space is used for heads-up display (HUD) items like jetpack fuel, free lives, etc.

These decisions are pretty much arbitrary, but they're made to fit my idea of how the game looks. These can be changed, but should be set in stone once I start building the game.

pilot Vector

2009-08-29T13:44:00.000-07:00

the Door

2009-08-27T09:42:00.000-07:00

pilot: New look coming along

2009-08-24T22:49:00.001-07:00

power-up Concepts

2009-08-18T19:31:00.000-07:00

run, pilot. Run

2009-08-16T09:58:00.000-07:00

revised game Concept

2009-08-13T10:04:00.000-07:00

simplifying it down, taking out some complexities. My goal is to learn how to put all the elements of a game together, so I'm reducing the number of elements therefore reducing the number of potential problems. More advanced versions of this game will come.

“Jetticus” Game Concept
0.2

Nature of Gameplay

As the Jetpack Pilot, a single player navigates a 2D plane via jetpack, flying up, down, forwards and backwards, with real-time physics of thrust, friction, and gravity. The player must avoid hazards like seeker missiles and pea-shooters for as long as possible to achieve a good high score. The longer the player survives, the higher the score achieved.

Victory Condition

Survive for a record length of time to achieve a high score. The game ends when the Pilot is hit by a hazard.

Setting

Technicolor space station, primary colour: Black, time: Future.

Player’s Role

The player interacts with the game via avatar by controlling the Jetpack Pilot character on-screen.

Point-of-View

The game is viewed in 2D perspective. The game world is seen from the side.

Game Structure

1 – Main menu screen/tutorial mode. A screen displays a simple stage with the game’s title hanging in the middle and an exit door in the ceiling. A simple list of controls is located to the side. The ‘Jetter’ avatar rests on ground and can be controlled by the player, without limitations on fuel or resources. Player begins game by flying through the exit door, entering ‘Gameplay’ mode.
2 – Gameplay mode. The gameplay stage is displayed and the player’s avatar is standing on a platform near the bottom center. Seeker missiles begin to spawn, two at a time and at regular intervals, from specified points along the edge of the stage. Each seeker chases and tries to hit the Pilot. Seekers have a set velocity and turning speed, allowing the Pilot to navigate around them. Seekers are destroyed if they hit a wall. Upon destruction, a seeker will drop a fuel power-up. Collecting the power-up gives the Jetpack Pilot more fuel to fly with. The longer the game lasts, the more quickly the seekers spawn. The game ends when the Pilot is hit by a hazard.
3 – Victory mode. The player’s final score is displayed with a text box below it. The player is prompted to enter his or her alias and click ‘enter’. This will activate the ‘Score Display’ mode.
5 – Score Display mode. A list is displayed on screen of the player’s alias’s who have achieved a score within the top 50 of all players who have played the game and submitted a score. A ‘done’ button will allow the player to reset the game and begin again in the ‘Main menu’ mode.

Story

A heavily-armed international space station has gone haywire and its internal security systems are running amok. The unarmed Jetpack Pilot is trapped inside and must try to survive as long as possible.

Genre

2D platform jetpack action

Target

The goal is to create a simple game to be the basis of a more complex one later.

the Chase

2009-08-13T00:36:00.001-07:00

just some goofy concept art, the better to understand the characters and their design.

gameplay Concept drawing

2009-08-11T20:00:00.000-07:00

dotted lines show action.

a jetter Concept

2009-08-09T12:14:00.001-07:00

adding flesh to the bones of a concept for the player's avatar, the "Jetter".

early character Concepts

2009-08-08T10:14:00.000-07:00

These are some early concepts. Everything is open to revision at this point, but i'm happy with the colours and line style.

The goal for the creation of this game is to keep the art simple, colourful, and chunky. An action game on a small display, such as a web browser, needs to have all its elements be clearly visible and easy to read at a glance.

first draft game Concept no. 1

2009-08-07T22:09:00.000-07:00

keepin it loose & simple. i'm going to start writing down good ideas i intend to pursue, but not in ink.

So this is my next great game idea,

“Jetticus” Game Concept
0.1

Nature of Gameplay

As the ‘Jetter’, a single player navigates a 2D plane via jetpack, collecting power-ups and items required to progress to the next stage while having to avoid hazards such as missiles, mines, and shooters. The ‘Jetter’ is able to run on the ground, jump short heights, and use its jetpack to accelerate upwards, upwards-left, or upwards-right. At times, the player will need to strategize in order to use one hazard against another using their flying action. A score is earned based on pick-ups collected, time taken to complete a stage, and resources available at the end of a stage.

Victory Condition

The player’s primary goal is to reach, and complete, the final stage of a set series of stages. The player’s secondary goal is to complete the game with a high score.

Setting

Technicolor space station, primary colour: Black, time: Future.

Player’s Role

The player interacts with the game via avatar by controlling the ‘Jetter’ character on-screen.

Point-of-View

The game is viewed in 2D perspective. The game world is seen from the side.

Game Structure

1 – Main menu screen/tutorial mode. A screen displays a simple stage with the game’s title hanging in the middle and an exit door in the ceiling. A simple list of controls is located to the side. The ‘Jetter’ avatar rests on ground and can be controlled by the player, without limitations on fuel or resources. Player begins game by flying through the exit door, entering ‘Gameplay’ mode.
2 – Gameplay mode. The game’s first stage is displayed and the player’s avatar is standing on a platform near the bottom center. The stage’s hazards then activate and the player must take action to survive and progress. To complete a stage and reach the next, the player must collect all the ‘Power chips’ to open the exit door and control the ‘Jetter’ through it. Completing the final stage activates ‘Victory’ mode.
3 – Victory mode. As a reward for completing the game, an animation runs showing the result of the player’s actions. After the animation is finished, ‘Name’ mode is entered. A ‘skip’ button will be displayed to allow the player to progress to the next mode more quickly.
4 – Name mode. The player’s final score is displayed with a text box below it. The player is prompted to enter his or her alias and click ‘enter’. This will activate the ‘Score Display’ mode.
5 – Score Display mode. A list is displayed on screen of the player’s alias’s who have achieved a score within the top 50 of all players who have completed the game. A ‘done’ button will allow the player to reset the game and begin again in the ‘Main menu’ mode.

Story

A heavily-armed international space station has gone haywire and its security systems are running amok. The unarmed ‘Jetter’ character must discover how to infiltrate the station, avoid the security systems, and destroy the computer core in order to protect the world below.

Genre

2D platform jetpack action

Target

The goal is to achieve a game that delivers quick, challenging, and dynamic action gameplay that can be played online by anyone.

it starts Here

2009-08-06T17:15:00.000-07:00

Plan ahead. A plan is like a roadmap to success. Without one you're just driving blind and you won't go far before you're stopped dead. Plan to plan ahead. (Would you go on after burying a 30-foot oak tree engine deep into the front of your car?)

The plan is to plan to make a hell of a game, step-by-blood-and-sweat-soaked-step, visible to the eyes of anyone with wont to learn how, like myself, or anyone blindly stumbling by.