May 24 2017

Video Meanies compiled to Apple Mac and Linux for testing #indiedev #gamedev #gaming #WednesdayWisdom

A wise person once told me, listen to your userbase. 🙂

After getting a little feed back from my first post, it would appear there is a need for a Linux version and a Mac version.

Having the option to do this, I decided I would. So, that being said, I’ve compiled both and I have tested it on El Capitan on the Mac, and Ubuntu 16.04LTS on Linux.

Links are below.

I’m assuming if you are a Linux user you’ll know how to install and the same goes for Mac users, if you are unable to install it, remember, Google is your friend. I pretended to be a user who didn’t know and found plenty of links around to show me how to get things working, to stop the ‘security questions’ on the Apple Mac, how to download and install a .deb package, etc, etc

Feel free to provide feedback if they don’t work on your machine, but only when it comes to the running of the game, not on how to get it installed, etc

Linux Ubuntu 16.04LTS

 
 

Apple Mac El Captian
http://pjg-developments.com/videomeanies/videomeanies.app.zip

 
 
Windows .exe zipped up in-case people want it
http://pjg-developments.com/videomeanies/VideoMeaniesRemake.zip
 

Hope you enjoy it. (Hope it works 🙂 )

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May 23 2017

I guess I now need some bug-testers, anyone? #indiedev #gamedev #gaming

I think I’m done, I have all parts in place, I have a fully playable game, I have a remake, can I believe it, I’ll have too.

So, you are welcome to download it below from the link and try it out, nothing major has changed, except all the debug routines have been removed (or have they, mwahahahaha… but I will know based on any screenshots)

The keys are WASD, Cursor, or Original keys from the C16 to move (if you hold down and left or right, you’ll shoot from the lower half of your body for the lower bricks) or Joystick D-Pad

Space, Return or Joystick Fire, will fire a bullet, this will kill enemies or destroy bricks to get through them, and sometimes you can’t see them all… 🙂

Some rooms may be more deadly than others, you’ll find that out the hard way, unless your really bright and it will be obvious.

Highscore routine works, you change the default letters (my initials) with Z or X and Return/Enter to accept the letter

I’ve probably missed some code snippet somewhere, if you get an error, please copy and paste the error screen (or screenshot it) and let me know, I’d like to get this bug free.

If, after you’ve played the original on an emulator or the real machine (if you are that lucky) and you find the re-spawn rate is too fast or too slow, or the lasers are wrong, fast, slow, etc… anything, let me know, again, with the screenshot of the room of concern and what the issue is (you can’t get this information to me via either my social media or the contact me, although you’ll not be able to get the screenshot to me, unless you upload it somewhere and provide a link)

Right, I’m rambling too much now, it’s waaayyy past my bedtime, only getting this typed up as the wife is watching #DWTS (Dancing with the stars)

So, the link is here

http://pjg-developments.com/videomeanies/VideoMeaniesRemake.exe

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May 17 2017

Remake getting closer and closer to completion #indiedev #gamedev #gaming

I’m still plugging along with this C16 remake (Video Meanies) and I think it’s coming along quite well. I have still have a few things to do, sounds/audio, high score and probably a few bugs I’m unaware off at the moment. I haven’t been able to test the joystick routine yet (keep forgetting) although the code is in there. Few other features I need to implement, like on the original, certain walls would actually kill you if you touch them, etc

[edit 05/18/2017 16:43pm – I’ve now put in the sound/audio, the original didn’t have a means to mute it, so I’ve not done that yet, if you don’t want sound, mute your PC 🙂 ]
 
Decided to release an .exe into the wild (see link below). Feel free to download, play and provide feedback (or any bugs you may find).

Controls are Joystick (if it works) or Keys.

From loading it up, you’d press F1 to start (or it cycles through the screens, like a demo mode) and then you choose K for Keys, or J for Joystick (if it works..lol)
 

WASD / Cursors to move around [Joystick D-Pad if it works]

Space to fire (to kill enemies or shoot away bricks, visible or not) [Joystick A Button if it works]

[Cheats in background for debugging, getting out of a bind and WILL be removed on final release]

G – God Mode on or off (i.e. you will not die)

R – Replenish Lives back to max amount

F – Fast move (it allows you to walk through walls too, but will only go to a screen that is there)

I – Information at mouse for Debug Data

Insert – Display Overlay [Will Slow down the game, only for a quick on and then off]

So, the link to download it is here… please try and let me know if things need to be changed (after you’ve compared it to the original, like enemy re-spawn rate, laser beam speeds, enemy speeds, etc)

http://pjg-developments.com/videomeanies/videomeanies.exe

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April 27 2017

Taking a coding breather, but not, at the same time, mixing coding with nostalgia #gaming #indiedev #gamedev

Bit of an update, so I've had someone reach out to me and offer their services as a designer and graphician (if that is a word). They are going through a home move at the moment, but as I've explained I'm not on a deadline, so I'm waiting for them to get that done and we can then catch up and see if the 'joint venture' is going to work.

I decided to take a 'breather' from 'HighRise Escape' mainly because the more design and code I have in it, the more that could potentially have to be changed based on another persons input. But I wanted to keep my fingers in the pie (I like using that expression) so I decided to a clone. Now, I did, a while back, try to do a 'SkyKid' clone, but because of IP issues I decided to put that on hold, as I didn't fancy any 'cease and desist' letters, etc

So, I went on the hunt for a game to 'clone' which took me back to my youth, when I got my first computer, a Commodore 16, there was a little game on their called 'Video Meanies' and it was cool, simple and fun (although some YouTube video's on it these days, some people don't like it)

I took it upon myself to clone this game. (or at least start the clone process)

If you can get, and install an emulator (plenty of google, YouTube, websites to help you with that) you can then download a ROM of the game. A good place to start about Plus 4 Emulation (the C16's bigger brother you could say) you could go to http://plus4world.powweb.com/ and hunt around. So once you've looked for the game and seen how it played (or is played), you'll understand why my version looks like this. Plenty of bugs, haven't really scratched the surface, but the back bone is there.

No .exe yet, It's not at the stage I feel releasable yet, the bugs can cause a disappointing feel, but you can look at it in the .gif below.

Happy Coding Peeps.

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Category: !happeningnow | 1 Comment on Taking a coding breather, but not, at the same time, mixing coding with nostalgia #gaming #indiedev #gamedev
March 26 2017

mock-ups or mocks-up? prototyping a title screen/menu for my project #lazysunday #gaming #indiedev #gamedev

A week as gone by with no updates from me. Were did that week go?

So, I’ve been brainstorming big time, been playing games (yeah, shock horror) and I’ve been using these games to get some ideas, well, ideas said very loosely as technically it’s copying, or is it?

I’ve setup a Kanban (see http://pjg-developments.com/flamethrowers-and-counters-little-more-coding-in-the-bag-screenshotsaturday-gamedev-indiedev/) there was something about hosting my own Kanban, other than using various online ones, a lot of the ‘free’ online ones are free, but when you get to the parts that you need they become premium.

So, with that setup, I have a means of tracking, organizing and generally trying to keep on top of my project.

The other day I was thinking to myself, I’ve been on this project for around a year now, and it started to shock me, then I stumbled across a game on a website that showcases indie games, and the dude who made it stated it took him 5 years. That allowed me to wipe my brow, give a little phew, and continue without any worries.

So, this week I’ve been trying to knock some form of menu system together, I need to try to get to the stage that I have ‘parts’ of the game done, while they may not look graphically sound, it’s a back bone to show a potential graphics artist what my vision was, and that may allow them to join in, change things, suggest things, etc. I think I also need to make some simple sound effects for said menu system, just a couple of chinks, plings or whooshes as I navigate around.

Problem is, when I get to near completion of the menu, it means I need to move onto something else, something else that might be a little more difficult and scary, but I have to have the bad with the good… right?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanban

What you think?

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Category: !happeningnow | 1 Comment on mock-ups or mocks-up? prototyping a title screen/menu for my project #lazysunday #gaming #indiedev #gamedev
March 19 2017

Sunday, day of rest, do I do any coding today? #sundaymorning #indiedev #gamedev

I've been having an issue recently with my site and a plugin, that I reached out to the creator, now I totally get the creators direction on this, as there as been soooooo many times, I think… "don't you search Google, first?" or "why don't you use the Outlook Search Bar for your emails" etc. Even his support ticket directs you to a FAQ, as he probably get sooo many emails.

What I don't understand though, the issue I have with 'said' plugin in, it's only certain criteria that cause the problem, so I raised a ticket, provided a little info and hoped I'd get a reply that would would help…… Nope. I was directed to a FAQ, the one I'd already read over and it didn't help me.

So, really this post is to test if the plugin is working under 'other' criteria and then I'll send the log results and hopefully they may be able to help.

Oh, and like the heading said, I've not decided if I'm going to do any coding today or not, after all, it's a Sunday and a lot of people (I know people do work on a Sunday, I've been there) do have a relaxing day on a Sunday..

I hope yours is relaxing too.

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Category: !happeningnow | Comments Off on Sunday, day of rest, do I do any coding today? #sundaymorning #indiedev #gamedev