Lava Is Not My Favorite
Escape!
That is the goal of the fifth level. I have one screenshot that’s fairly representative of what the level looks like (there is no boss of this level).
Only one more level to go.
Caves and Stuff
Didn’t quite finish level 3 last night, I got fed up of drawing all of the bevel borders on the rock platforms (it’s all hand-done). Finished it up this afternoon. Moving directly on to level 4.
An in-level screenshot, and a shot of the boss.
‘sall I got.
Ruins! Blocks! Ruins Made From Blocks!
Again, not much energy to say stuff. I remember what sleep was like. I remember it fondly.
Level 2 is not quite as varied in appearance as level 1 – it’s a bit narrower in focus.
Here are a couple screenshots. Jack’s standing on a falling block in the second shot.
Side note: Keep in mind, when viewing these screenshots that I have a strict “NO TEXTURES” policy. Every detail is a polygon. The idea was to have total resolution independence. There are a lot of polys in my little 2D sidescroller. …In retrospect however, maybe I should have just had textures.
Level 3 tomorrow! I hope to have the background art done by the end of the weekend.
…then all I have left is the cutscenes/music/sound. It’s a bit of an uphill battle to finish, but sometimes those are the most fun battles.
Look Behind You!
Level 1 has backgrounds. Level 2 tomorrow.
…too tired to say anything interesting.
Trial By Fire.
15 days left. The gameplay is done and in “test” (a bunch of friends are playing through it). Thus, I had that terrifying moment where you send out your creation to the world and hope that it works.
…then someone reports that there’s a serious bug which you quickly fix.
That’s how it goes.
And now, TO THE WAYBACK MACHINE!
Concept of Destiny
So, the Four Elements V contest was announced in June. The rules are simple: Create a game, include the four elements:
- Europe
- Emblem
- Economy
- Emotion
Have it done by November 30th.
That said, I thought “well, those elements sound hard, screw that.” And I went along my merry way. Sometimes after that, I moved cross country and started a new job. But I had been watching the forums, and I noticed a few things:
Everyone seemed to go “I can do that! I’m making a…” followed either by “RPG” or “Strategy/Simulation game.” I began to think about what I could do that would be DIFFERENT from anything else in the competiton. It took a week or so before I came up with an idea, but I did:
Mop of Destiny: Lead the Palace of Westminster’s Caretaker, Jack Scroggins, on an epic battle against the advancing armies of The Shadow. It’s essentially a 2D action/platformer, along the lines of the original Castlevania games.