Josh's Adventure (Released!)

[1ce]

Re: Josh's Adventure

I've hit a bit of a roadblock here. I just can't seem to find a boss that I like. I've already made two bosses for world 3 and haven't really liked either of them. I think the reason is I can't find a personality type I like. It's too easy and kinda boring to have that generic 'evil' boss type I keep getting trapped into. The first boss was this rather sill, generic boss type, while the second had a "racing/elegant" edge to him that I liked.

So, I'm stuck for now. Until I can figure out what I'm doing with this boss, education has pretty much stopped. If you guys have any ideas, throw them my way and maybe I can get some inspiration.

[Valkysas]

Re: Josh's Adventure

maybe just take a break from that part for a bit?

[ErikaFuzzbottom]

Re: Josh's Adventure

Ooh, there's an idea. A lazy boss.

[1ce]

Re: Josh's Adventure

So I've got some good work today.

The boss has been throwing me for a loop. So I kept elements I liked and threw everything else out. The boss is still chicken Caesar. The level has seen a pretty radical redesign. The old level was too big and had too many ideas. The new level is more streamlined and simpler, and more focused. In general I like it a lot more. Coding won't be nearly as code-heay either, which is really nice, since older designs called for overly complex situations.

Even though I thought I used less memory, I actually used more, bumping system data up to 5 (for those interested, this brings things to 5 system, 7 scenario, and...undetermined anime art. I've changed my mind a number of times, so I'm not sure where it sits now).

Holy cow, this project is taking so friggin' long! My God! This started in September last year. So I'm thinking it's going to be tough to make a Winter 2010 release date. I'm going to keep shooting for that goal though, because setting goals helps in two ways. First, it gives me something to shoot for, and keeps me on track. Second, it gives you guys a vague idea when the game will be out. Even if I miss that deadline, I'll predict another release date, and go from there. It'll help keep me on track.

I've travelled a long road, and still have much left to do. But little by little, the game is making slow progress.

[Ωbright]

Re: Josh's Adventure

Awesome, man!

Don't give up! It only gets better, the closer you get to finishing it.

[1ce]

Re: Josh's Adventure

Thanks Obright! I'm glad to see there are a few guys at the Mag and Pav looking forward to this.

[1ce]

Re: Josh's Adventure

This third boss level...is really taking it out of me.

It's such a complicated level, and has been redesigned so many times. I redesigned it yet again to flow better. Still, I spent the better part of today working solely on this level, and I'm still not finished. I'm at least about halfway done. It's a pain in the ass, making code and playtesting it, only to find out I screwed up and have to figure out where I screwed up.

But at least the level design should be finalized, so it's all coding from here. Hopefully players enjoy this level, because it sure isn't easy to make it. Maybe if I'm lucky I'll get it done sometime this week.

And then on to World 4. I haven't completely pinned down what kind of theme I'd like for this one, but I think it will be either something air/cloud related or gravity/space themed. I want to mess with the jumping mechanic a bit. Throw in some wind to make the player change course, or keep the player pinned with heavy gravity. Maybe I'll do both.

I'm at 5 system, 8! scenario. This game is getting big. I figure I can fit the main adventure mode in one scenario. I'll probably have to make a new scenario if I want to add in a co-op mode. I don't think the game should need more than 3 memory cards.

Will post more progress as it happens.

[1ce]

Re: Josh's Adventure

First, a fact and prediction.

This thread is now my most active topic on the mag, and I bet I'll surpass Lantis's SOE topic in page count by at least March 2011 (14 pages).

Let's move on.

I got some more work done on the boss level today. Thanks to the hard work I pulled Monday, the end of this boss level is finally in view. Yeah!

Rather small update today. Just gotta keep up the motivation and keep going.

[Pagerron]

Re: Josh's Adventure

You can do it 1ce!!

Keep it up man.

It's always cool to read the updates.

[1ce]

Re: Josh's Adventure

Thanks Pagerron, I can always use some support.

Alright. Finally did another weekend buckle-down and finished the third boss level.

It certainly took awhile to finish everything up and playtest it, but it finally is all finished! In case you couldn't tell, I'm pretty happy about it. The level uses all 120ish events, so it's packed to the brim with stuff. I particulary like the ending, where you must jump and move a bucket full of gunpowder over to a Caesar near a fire source. You gotta avoid the lava in the floors and the flames walking around.

It's odd, but I'm starting to see the bigger picture now. I've got three worlds out of four down and finished. Only one left to go, and then I'll move on to harder difficulty levels.

I've also taken some time to play through world 3 and fix up some issues in coding and also added some things to make minor tweaks. The game looks a bit better thanks to that.

I've also added a couple new items that you can purchase at the hubworld. By collecting tokens in levels, you can buy extra items. A cheap item worth 10 tokens is a barrel. This is just a fun little throwback to Donkey Kong, where a barrel moved back and forth in the hubworld, and you can do the same thing in JA.

The other new item is considerably more expensive at 100 tokens, but may help you track down some hidden stuff. It's a strategy guide, and it will tell you which levels have treasure chests and what's inside them. It doesn't, however, tell you where to find them, so you'll still have to hunt for them, which is why I may consider taking it down in price.

Funny enough, I still haven't finalized the next world theme. But I'll get there eventually.

And there's my disjointed, paragraph laden progress report!

[1ce]

Re: Josh's Adventure

Wow, it's been about two weeks since I posted anything. Like it or not, this post will probably create more questions than answers, because I don't want to reveal too much. But I figure I'd let everyone know what I've been doing.

I haven't posted much of anything lately. One reason is I just needed time away from JA for a while. World 3 in particular was very draining, so I needed some recharge time to mess around so I could come back to it with a fresh look. Which also leads into my second reason: I'm working on a secret project right now. I figured working on something else would help me get away from JA for a bit. Unfortunately, I can't post anything about it right now. The reason why? There's a particular part of the game that's in development that I don't want to reveal until I'm sure it's gonna happen. I don't want to promise something that may turn against me, so for now it will be under wraps. I can tell you some things, though: I may submit it for the Pavilion's Anything Goes contest, and it's something that I'm sure most people won't get too excited over.

I've also been playing about with JA today. After coming back I'm trying to figure out what I didn't like about World 3 and work to fix it in this new world. I'm also messing around just testing new ideas and new world themes, seeing what works and what doesn't. I'm also trying some different ways to make the game, and changing just how I make the game. I'm having a fair bit of fun doing these experimental things, and will help ease me back into full production mode.

So, I figured I'd let you know what's up, and that I'm OK and still going strong with my projects.

[Spirit]

Re: Josh's Adventure

you said a few posts back that you were trying to get a theme for the last level
heres one
the underworld
josh goes to fight the reaper on his own grounds
that would be suite

[Wavelength]

Re: Josh's Adventure

you said a few posts back that you were trying to get a theme for the last level
heres one
the underworld
josh goes to fight the reaper on his own grounds
that would be suite

yeah i think u shood do this.
it would b grate.

[Red Dragon]

Re: Josh's Adventure

fo sho

[1ce]

Re: Josh's Adventure

Most awesom.