Along The Tech Tree: Steamed Ninja

ID:53375
 
Jan 22 2009, 1:27 pm
Keywords: techtree
Be careful. A ninja is lurking below us. Don't look! Toss him a stick. He'll go find some shaggy dancing clothes. Then we can steal his dice.

  • Vermolius and Tayoko released an update for Efencea. Of note are the game's new website and online rankings. The balance is not perfect yet as it seems to sometimes result in stalemates until boss units are ready, but players are much more likely to see the different upgrades that the game has to offer. (Plus, I have not tried the smaller, simpler maps where the balance could be different.) Next up are updated help files, single-player options, and a login screen depicting an epic battle where you can vote on the displayed bosses.
  • On Saturday, Acebloke will be hosting the new version of Wargames for the first time. He has decided to stick with the stable release of BYOND (as opposed to the version currently being tested which increases instance limits at the expense of forbidding older clients from entering).
  • Aixelsyd's new RTS will be called Conqueror and will feature a lot of micromanagement. There will be 5 groups of up to 14 units to be toggled between. Screenshots are included, but only the art done by Zxcvdnm is likely to make it into the game.
  • Tsfreaks is working on a base defense game. All I know is that the game has been scaled down from something else and it should be nearing completion soon.
  • Mechana2412 is looking for a pixel artist for an upcoming strategy game. A list of possible creations is included. This could be an opportunity for one of his many hub entries to actually have a game attached. Help him and we can both nag him.
  • This isn't a strategy game, but Latoma has posted some game balance ideas that he and Fugsnarf have been working on for their current project. In particular, I found the area of effect examples interesting. I wouldn't mind seeing posts on game balancing from developers within the guild as, aside from my posts on feedback loops, the process BYOND developers go through has generally been a mystery.
  • Hazman recently released a language processing library. I wonder how many languages can now be used to nag him to finish one of his strategy games. ;)
  • Crispy, the Inventive Dingo, updated his blog. His IGF award-winning version of his BYOND favorite, Yet Another Generic Space-Age Conquest Game, is due to be released on Steam in a matter of hours. Go forth and create Intergalactic Mayhem!

    ...Even if his "STOP MAKING GAMES. Start designing them." motto is probably a bane to those who need to get finished projects with their name on them out the door.

    ...Even if a former BYOND game receiving more success outside of BYOND makes dreams of developers receiving compensation within the current BYOND community wither and die.

    Oh yeah, go buy a Fooldom Come subscription while you're at it. ;)
  • I posted my current plans, including Gears & Peers and an updated battle system for PathWrath 2. I then made good on them by releasing an update to Occupied Forces... which I then updated again for improved balance. The visuals have improved and there are now player classes.





Got news? I missed the Supernatural premiere last week. =(
Jan 22 2009, 1:31 pm
Would my insanely weird pixel movement collision problem be considered news? I might use it a little in a strategy game based on the Oregon Trail games.
Jan 22 2009, 2:57 pm
...Even if his "STOP MAKING GAMES. Start designing them." motto is probably a bane to those who need to get finished projects with their name on them out the door.

Hehe. I should explain that properly at some point; it's not intended to read quite like that. I was going to make a post about it when I changed the name of my blog, but then I had a sudden attack of laziness.

Basically I just think that BYOND games on the whole could do with a bit more careful thought about design put into them, rather than just throwing elements together because they're cool and seeing what happens. (Not that that isn't lots of fun, because it is.)

I know that's a bit of a provocative statement, which is why I need to make an in-depth post explaining it. But not today. :-)


...Even if a former BYOND game receiving more success outside of BYOND makes dreams of developers receiving compensation within the current BYOND community wither and die.

Sorry to be the bringer of bad news. =)

Honestly though, stepping outside BYOND to make your games does invite a world of additional work, so it's not all bad here. Right?
Jan 22 2009, 3:02 pm
That's all there is to know about it... 'a shameless Tower Defense clone'... I call it the black sheep of clones as it is most likely going to come across as... [deleted]. You'll see.

Anyway, I'm truly ashamed of it but I'm going to finish it anyway.

heh.

ts - not doing the world any favors at the moment.
Jan 22 2009, 3:06 pm
Honestly though, stepping outside BYOND to make your games does invite a world of additional work, so it's not all bad here. Right?


- If you can't design a functional and unique game on byond, you don't stand much of chance elsewhere. Prove yourself here first (design and commitment), and then branch out when it makes sense to do so, That's how I see it anyway.
Jan 22 2009, 3:15 pm
Thanks for linking to my recruitment post.

And all of those things I listed are actually going to be in the game- not individual creations. The game will encompass a wide range of themes.
Jan 22 2009, 8:20 pm
Efencea defeats silly ninjas with space cows! erm.. Blockophages. Beeph, anyone?
Jan 23 2009, 7:22 am
# Hazman recently released a language processing library. I wonder how many languages can now be used to nag him to finish one of his strategy games. ;)

None, at least not until I add semantics (if I add semantics, since implementing Lambda calculus in DM is not a particularly pleasant prospect) :-P.

There's been some progress in the old strategy game department but I'm still a long way off anything releasable. But the bit I wanted to do least is done, so maybe I'll work more now.