New game announced, Alpha Zero

[coderboy]

I already posted about it under development (looking for beta testers, so look there for more info) but wanted to tell people here too that our homepage went up and our experimental indie shmup was just announced.

Teaser trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvApttSu4ck&feature=plcp

Homepage:
www.funkoi.com

It is currently announced for iOS (iPad, iPhone and iPod) but more platforms will follow.

Cheers!
-Daniel

[Friendly]

Yay, shmups on systems without buttons.

[coderboy]

We are actually trying to solve that problem, not by just adding on screen buttons but to actually design the game around the touch screen. I believe the solution we have is a much more natural way to play this kind of game than any I have seen.

That said, the game will come out for buttoned devices too, don't worry

[Nana]

Shmups have all sucked before this one!

It does look alright though, the 'circular' way it seems to be set up is neat. I hope the BWAAAAAHMMMM music isn't going to be in the actual game, though -- the intentionally bad soundtrack for the joke game in the beginning of the trailer is far more interesting.

[hwl]

We are trying to solve that problem, [...] by [...] design[ing] the game around the touch screen.
[...] the game will come out for buttoned devices [...]

wat?

[coderboy]

What I mean is it is designed for touch screens for the initial platforms but the game can be changed to work equally well for buttons.

The main reason why we do it this way is that I strongly believe games should be made for the platform they are released on, not just ported from one to the other like most shmups have been made work for touch only devices. Hopefully you can keep an open mind for now and later decide if we are on the right track.

After all, isnt it better if someone tries something new every now and then and not just rehash existing games and mechanics?

[hwl]

What I mean is it is designed for touch screens for the initial platforms but the game can be changed to work equally well for buttons.

The main reason why we do it this way is that I strongly believe games should be made for the platform they are released on, not just ported from one to the other like most shmups have been made work for touch only devices. [...]

You contradict yourself there imho.
Besides, I'd really like to know how you intend to make a shmup designed for touch screens work equally well with buttons. (If it does, it's not designed for touch screen after all, is it?)

After all, isnt it better if someone tries something new every now and then and not just rehash existing games and mechanics?

It's perfectly fine to try something new and I'm in no way saying that you should stop what you're doing. It's just that I don't think this will be for me. <:

[coderboy]

Fair enough.

I dont believe there is a contradiction however, all I say is that the game is only announced for touch only devices. Later the game can be remade into something that would work with buttons. It would however not be the exact same game and that is the point I was trying to make.

When we do go there, it would be a totally reworked product until it works as well with buttons, joypads or mouse as it did with touch input.

[RNGmaster]

what exactly are you doing with this game that is "new" and "unprecedented" and makes all other shmups boring monochrome vector shitfests

just curious, peace

[BeruBeru]

I guess the game is set in an alternative reality where Irem, Taito, Konami and Toaplan never existed

[renardqueenston]

while this looks interesting the pretentious nature of the trailer is above and beyond, well, most things i've seen in my time on this planet.

[trap15]

Winner of The Most Pretentious Trailer award.

[Op Intensify]

After all, isnt it better if someone tries something new every now and then and not just rehash existing games and mechanics

I see this excuse every goddamn time someone makes a mediocre Euroshmup. I saw it for Sine Mora, I saw it for Heaven Variant, I saw it for several iOS shitfests. Every goddamn time. We don't need any more of those.

I'd take a top-notch rehash over a flawed experiment any day. I think most here would agree--why do you think Cave has remained popular? Most of their shmups are just modifications to the base formula established in DDP. But despite being "rehashes," their games change enough elements each time to avoid being stale. It's all about how creative you are in rehashing those old ideas together.

Pretentiousness aside, I think the trailer's gameplay footage looks promising, and the purple homing bullets are a pattern well suited to touchscreen controls, since you can't just zoom out of their way. So this isn't a condemnation. I would like to see every level, enemy and boss designed with touch controls in mind, and their designs overhauled accordingly if the game's ever ported to a platform with physical controls.

[Ebbo]

Winner of The Most Pretentious Trailer award.

That title goes to this little gem.

But yeah, this game doesn't look that bad actually. So here is hoping it turns out just okay, even though it might not be the "savior" of this genre :P

[Op Intensify]

Winner of The Most Pretentious Trailer award.

You sure that's not that shmup I forgot the name of where you "explore the five stages of grief?"

[dpful]

Good job on the cool looking shmup. Beware, people on this forum get pissed if they don't like your shmup

[coderboy]

Hehe, sorry for being cocky, I love shootemups, everything from Cave and older games too, I just am no big fan of shooters on touch screens, and am trying to do something about that since I see a big potential of actual innovation there.

I know you guys are the hardest crowd on this planet to win over but I'll try my best, can't do more than that.

[Op Intensify]

I just am no big fan of shooters on touch screens

Very glad to hear this. You have no idea how hard it is to explain to Apple dorks that virtual d-pads and mouse cursor controls grafted onto arcade ports are unacceptable.

[Lord Satori]

thats why (other than me not having a portable apple device) I'm not gonna make games for the iPhone/iPad.

[DJ Incompetent]

Presentation is neat. Let's hope homeboy knows how to make an obstacle course, with the complex bullet patterns. Ya have a hook and graphics. That's good. Don't stop there.

'May wanna scrub out that "first of its kind multitouch look-lookit I'm pretentious!" crap. Syz-EG beat ya to the multitouch STG concept a year ago.

[MmSadda]

THE TITLE MAKES ME CONFUSED AS TO WHETHER THIS STREET FIGHTER GAME IS A JAPAN OR OTHER REGION VERSION

[Ed Oscuro]

THE TITLE MAKES ME CONFUSED AS TO WHETHER THIS STREET FIGHTER GAME IS A JAPAN OR OTHER REGION VERSION

haha this