The remnants of my old homebrew psp project

320x240 · Post by **320x240** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 5:02 pm

This spring I was busy using Gamemaker for a prototype for a PSP game. When summer came I just stopped working on it. I'm posting it here to get some feedback on the actual gameplay. There are two playable segments in this version. In later versions there where a couple of bosses too but the computer I used for developing is now no longer. I can't even remember how far into development this version is from.

There is one serious bug in this version that will sometimes slow the game down to a halt. I don't know why this happens but the solution is to simply quit the whole program and restart it again. The game will run smoothly approximately one out of two times.

http://folk.uio.no/perel/test.zip

320x240 · Post by **320x240** » Thu Dec 04, 2008 8:54 am

Any takers? As I said I'm interested in comments on this style of play.

worstplayer · Post by **worstplayer** » Thu Dec 04, 2008 9:29 am

So far interesting game, but why 1D movement?

Also, later enemies get progressively easier instead of harder, since they shoot from greater distance and their attacks spread out more.

BTW: I love how game automatically takes screenshot after each run. Great idea.

320x240 · Post by **320x240** » Thu Dec 04, 2008 11:47 am

worstplayer wrote:Also, later enemies get progressively easier instead of harder, since they shoot from greater distance and their attacks spread out more.

I tried to counter that with increasing the enemies firepower the fewer enemies were left, not unlike how a lot of bosses work. The regular, round, cannons have three modes of fire. To me it's the spread mode that is the most difficult one. Maybe a better way would be to move the next row of cannons forward as the first is shot down, so that the distance between yourself and the front row of cannons always stays the same.

You are awarded for shooting down all the regular cannons as quickly as possible, which means you should work out the fastest route possible through a level. In these segments this means starting on one side and moving over to the other step by step. Later levels would force you to take less linear paths.

As you can see, the game doesn't make much sense unless you play for score.

Udderdude · Post by **Udderdude** » Thu Dec 04, 2008 4:40 pm

So um .. Gamemaker can make PSP games? :O

320x240 · Post by **320x240** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 9:05 am

Udderdude wrote:So um .. Gamemaker can make PSP games? :O

I make all my games for XBLA, Wiiware and PSN with Gamemaker.

agustusx · Post by **agustusx** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 10:20 pm

really, i didn't know thats possible. Not to derail but if you have a link with more info pm me. I thought GM games only worked on pc due to the directx requirements.

Pixel_Outlaw · Post by **Pixel_Outlaw** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 10:29 pm

Pretty solid. I think you should continue.

My main concern is the difficulty curve. It starts out quite hard and maybe the shots are a bit too fast. I think you might scale down the turret size so you cam put more of them onscreen and give the player time to react. Instead of 1 d movement you might consider making a box that the player may move within. This way you will still have a shooting gallery type shmup but they game will feel more playable.

320x240 · Post by **320x240** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 7:18 am

agustusx wrote:really, i didn't know thats possible. Not to derail but if you have a link with more info pm me. I thought GM games only worked on pc due to the directx requirements.

It was just a (bad) joke. There looks to be a Mac port in the works though.

Udderdude · Post by **Udderdude** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 7:26 am

320x240 wrote:
agustusx wrote:really, i didn't know thats possible. Not to derail but if you have a link with more info pm me. I thought GM games only worked on pc due to the directx requirements.
It was just a (bad) joke. There looks to be a Mac port in the works though.

You tease.

agustusx · Post by **agustusx** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 3:00 pm

yeah im keeping my eye on the game maker mac alpha. I don't want to test though, least not till beta

null1024 · Post by **null1024** » Sun Dec 07, 2008 1:42 am

Udderdude wrote:
320x240 wrote:
agustusx wrote:really, i didn't know thats possible. Not to derail but if you have a link with more info pm me. I thought GM games only worked on pc due to the directx requirements.
It was just a (bad) joke. There looks to be a Mac port in the works though.
You tease.

Amazingly, he doesn't. Unless they're joking...

PC Engine Fan X! · Post by **PC Engine Fan X!** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 7:30 pm

What version of custom firmware will this homebrew PSP shmup title run on?

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

320x240 · Post by **320x240** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 7:37 pm

PC Engine Fan X! wrote:What version of custom firmware will this homebrew PSP shmup title run on?

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

A PC

I never got as far as to start working on the PSP version. This was just a prototype.

PC Engine Fan X! · Post by **PC Engine Fan X!** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 3:57 pm

320x240 wrote:
PC Engine Fan X! wrote:What version of custom firmware will this homebrew PSP shmup title run on?

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~
A PC

I never got as far as to start working on the PSP version. This was just a prototype.

Thanks for the heads up on that. Yes, I'd have to say that it'd be cool to try out on a real PSP just for kicks if nothing else. Very impressive shmup effort. ^_~

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~