mices - Gun.Smoke tribute, Broken Pearl, Twin Tiger Shark

[cuttingagent]

How did the game know my name already???

[mice]

And here you were getting my hopes up fro a Gun.Frontier kind of tribute ...

It's all about the old west theme, so maybe like Gun.Smoke with a flying machine that is able to fire in 3 directions then?
Good, then we have that settled.

Other things on the list:

• * Wanted posters for the bosses
  * The bosses should be all about the person behind the evil. So maybe facing the bosses on foot
  * Boss "explosion" like in Gun Frontier and Metal Black...
  * Collecting gold
  * Destructible environments

How did the game know my name already???

Pure magic.

[cuttingagent]

No, I really need to know why it knows!

[mice]

No, I really need to know why it knows!

Trolling?

Code: Select all

System.getProperty("user.name");

[cuttingagent]

Not trolling, I wanna know where it pulls my name from.

EDIT: Oh now I get it, wow that's weird. And creepy.

[GSK]

And here you were getting my hopes up fro a Gun.Frontier kind of tribute ...

It's all about the old west theme, so maybe like Gun.Smoke with a flying machine that is able to fire in 3 directions then?
Good, then we have that settled.

Other things on the list:

• * Wanted posters for the bosses
  * The bosses should be all about the person behind the evil. So maybe facing the bosses on foot
  * Boss "explosion" like in Gun Frontier and Metal Black...
  * Collecting gold
  * Destructible environments

I'd prefer a game that took place primarily on foot, I think. I know it's mostly an aesthetic difference but it really does make a difference, I feel. Maybe you could replace the horse powerup with something more sci-fi, like an old-timey flying saucer?

If you really wanted to mix things up, you could add a tank that uses the centre button to fire and the left/right buttons to rotate the turret. Being able to shoot enemies from behind would be distinctly un-Gunsmoke, I know, I'm just spitballing other uses for the three-button shooting setup.

Alternate characters would be cool, too, but I get that they'd be way more work to make than additional ships, so it's not a big deal. You could even make 'em homages to other western characters: a bearded sombrero guy (Sunset Riders!), an Annie Oakley-type dame (Wild Guns!), uh, Will Smith...

[mice]

I'd prefer a game that took place primarily on foot

I think I agree.

I know it's mostly an aesthetic difference but it really does make a difference, I feel

Yes, aesthetics and obstacles. The "special" perspective in gun smoke is quite cool, I think. The bullets don't stop for nothing, but you and the enemies can't go everywhere.

you could add a tank that uses the centre button to fire and the left/right buttons to rotate the turret.

I've actually attempted a gunsmokey tank game, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2apoISRKS4 doing the turret thing. With a standard gun smoke button config.
I think I'll stick with the gunsmoke button setup and possibly twin stick usage, somehow.

a bearded sombrero guy (Sunset Riders!), an Annie Oakley-type dame (Wild Guns!), uh, Will Smith...

Yep, would need to look for inspiration outside of the gunsmoke sphere too, sadly.

[mice]

I just bought $35 worth of wild west buildings... http://www.turbosquid.com/3d-models/3d- ... ank/840535
But now I changed my mind, want it to be pixel art again.

[ciox]

Whoops.. still were you going to do 3d graphics or use the assets to make pre-rendered backgrounds?

[mice]

Whoops.. still were you going to do 3d graphics or use the assets to make pre-rendered backgrounds?

I was originally going for prerendered, but since the assets were low poly I thought I'd try doing 3D and also learn unity.
But now, I'm back to my own engine again after realizing that it's far more fun. But who knows, might change my mind again tomorrow...

[emphatic]

Whoops.. still were you going to do 3d graphics or use the assets to make pre-rendered backgrounds?

I was originally going for prerendered, but since the assets were low poly I thought I'd try doing 3D and also learn unity.
But now, I'm back to my own engine again after realizing that it's far more fun. But who knows, might change my mind again tomorrow...

Please do a Outzone/Gun.Smoke shmup.

[mice]

Please do a Outzone/Gun.Smoke shmup.

I've actually been putting lots of time into Outzone the last couple of days.

So, now we have:

• * Main character should be on foot
  * Western setting
  * Gun.Smoke 3 way fire scheme
  * Wanted posters for the bosses
  * The bosses should be all about the person behind the evil. So maybe facing the bosses on foot
  * Boss "explosion" like in Gun Frontier and Metal Black...
  * Collecting gold
  * Destructible environments

[emphatic]

I would suggest taking the game mechanics of Outzone and put it in a Western setting instead, as I think Outzone is 100% great and Gun.Smoke looks cool but it's game play is too cumbersome. You could use the horse as a speed up though, but without it being a one hit shield.

[Rozyrg]

As long as there are bad guys hilariously falling off of railings, I'm all for it!

Also, I just had a fairly random idea - how about giving your guy two guns and make it so he fires one in the direction he's facing and the other in the direction you aim with the Rstick? Might be a pain making it look natural, though.

[BPzeBanshee]

As long as there are bad guys hilariously falling off of railings, I'm all for it!

As long as it has the Wilhelm Scream I'm fine with this suggestion.

Also, I just had a fairly random idea - how about giving your guy two guns and make it so he fires one in the direction he's facing and the other in the direction you aim with the Rstick? Might be a pain making it look natural, though.

If they're going to be the same weapons you could just make it so if the angle of the stick is past 90/270/whateverisupinyourgameengine the left hand rotates in the direction otherwise the right hand does. If they're different weapons however that may be a pain.

[emphatic]

As long as it has the Wilhelm Scream I'm fine with this suggestion.

He should use canned laughter if the stage bonus is too low too.

[BPzeBanshee]

Yes! And also this for Game Over.

[emphatic]

[mice]

As long as there are bad guys hilariously falling off of railings, I'm all for it!

As long as it has the Wilhelm Scream I'm fine with this suggestion.

First boss will be on a railing and when finally falling down he will do the Wilhelm scream. God, this is turning out to be a good game already!

how about giving your guy two guns and make it so he fires one in the direction he's facing

He will have two pistols.
And now I was thinking about having him shoot one of them always upwards and the other one depending on direction.

Like this, and mirrored if moving to the right:


And then somehow having him upgrade is weapons, maybe individually?
And for downwards movement...I dunno.

The screen will auto-scroll vertically.
And, yes, there will be barrels.

So:

• * Barrels with power ups
  * Vertical auto scroll
  * Main character should be on foot
  * Western setting
  * Gun.Smoke 3 way fire scheme
  * Wanted posters for the bosses
  * The bosses should be all about the person behind the evil. So maybe facing the bosses on foot
  * Boss "explosion" like in Gun Frontier and Metal Black...
  * Collecting gold
  * Destructible environments

[mehguy]

Linux port? Anyone?

[trap15]

They're written in Java, they already run in Linux fine.

[Udderdude]

I tried Broken Pearl out, it was cool but my biggest issues were ..

Bosses only have one pattern that they do repeatedly. Got boring quickly.
Fast and slow enemy shots are the exact same shape/color.
Powerup/bonus/bomb items cycle too slowly and if you're on the bottom of the screen you usually have to rush up just to grab it when it's in powerup mode.
Some enemies seemed to take way too much damage (May be related to the previous point - I found it difficult to power myself up w/o risking getting a bullet to the face)
Started to feel same-y after awhile. The basic concept of slow unaimed shots+fast aimed shots is used for almost the entire game.

Other than that, not bad. I think I got to stage 5 boss before I game overed and it was my first attempt.

[mehguy]

They're written in Java, they already run in Linux fine.

Huh, so it is. tested on ubuntu today. worked great.

[mice]

Have had a 4 day break from computing. Marvelous...no, not really.
On a gunsmoke note, should I do the tribute for the SNES, maybe?

Bosses only have one pattern that they do repeatedly. Got boring quickly.

That's how I like them, most of the time. Simple patterns that is easily memorized.

Fast and slow enemy shots are the exact same shape/color.

Started to feel same-y after awhile. The basic concept of slow unaimed shots+fast aimed shots is used for almost the entire game.

Yeah, I know I should be more consistent when designing the bullets and make more and more varied patterns.
But I like to keep it as simple as possible, here as well.

Powerup/bonus/bomb items cycle too slowly and if you're on the bottom of the screen you usually have to rush up just to grab it when it's in powerup mode.

First time I hear this. But I guess this is why I always find myself wanting to fire backwards, because I rush up to get it and enemies gets behind me.

Some enemies seemed to take way too much damage (May be related to the previous point - I found it difficult to power myself up w/o risking getting a bullet to the face)

Yes, you're right. Especially if you go for the ultimate score and skip the Ps, you have a really hard time taking down some of the enemies.

Thanks!


Edit, Gun.Smoke tribute progress:
Quite happy that I finally produced something I'm happy with. \o/



Edit 2:

First boss, badly edited oldest kid.



Edit 3:

This is how I experienced Gun.Smoke in the local arcade. The operator had (most likely) switched the G and B wires going to the monitor.



Just look at that wonderful water color!

[mice]

Having the time of my life! \o/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ew4Qe3Vfyg0

Gun.Smoke is the best effing game in the world!
And, no, nothing of this is decided.

[emphatic]

At first, I thought the second guy was in a safe spot the whole video, lol.

[DJ Incompetent]

Having the time of my life! \o/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ew4Qe3Vfyg0

Gun.Smoke is the best effing game in the world!
And, no, nothing of this is decided.

I'm glad you didn't go with the Compile Multidirectional Shot control style. So what gun control did you go with? 3-4 buttons? Twinstick?

[Rozyrg]

This is how I experienced Gun.Smoke in the local arcade. The operator had (most likely) switched the G and B wires going to the monitor.

I used to play arcades at a local thrift shop, nearly every beat-up cabinet there had some charming defect like this.

[S20-TBL]

BTW mice, if'n you need some Wanted Poster portraits just let me know.

This is how I experienced Gun.Smoke in the local arcade. The operator had (most likely) switched the G and B wires going to the monitor.

I used to play arcades at a local thrift shop, nearly every beat-up cabinet there had some charming defect like this.

Ah yes, the screwed up display. Like the Strikers 1945 II with the broken, wobbly scanlines (nobody wanted to even TOUCH the machine except for the occasional hardcore shmupper).

[mice]

At first, I thought the second guy was in a safe spot the whole video, lol.

He dies by the second cannon, I think. But then I manage to save him almost to the end.

So what gun control did you go with?

3 buttons, 6 combinations. The effect of each combo might need adjusting, though.
Going to throw in a lasso as special weapon, but I haven't figured this mechanic out fully yet. But I really don't want to add a fourth button.

had some charming defect like this.

You call it defects, I call them improvements.

BTW mice, if'n you need some Wanted Poster portraits just let me know.

I might actually take you up on that!

Speaking of which, here are the bosses I plan on having in there. Thoughts?

• - Coffin Carrier Cody (coffins with big guns in'em)
  - Steamin' Steve (train station setting)
  - Brothel Barbara (inside setting)
  - Stagecoach Sam (riding on top of a stagecoach)
  - Neck Snapper Nick (hang'em high setting)
  - Bison Brothers (with the power to summon stampedes)
  - Mad Marshall Marv (?)
  - Rotten Reverend Roger (cross kind of weapon, like wolfwood has, maybe?)