XBLIG: Bungee Ferret Tossing

[yyr]

So I recently released something I'd consider a borderliner on XBLIG. It's called Bungee Ferret Tossing, and it involves controlling both a helicopter and a dude hanging from it by a bungee cord, lobbing exploding animals at terrorists...who, in turn, are launching all kinds of firepower at you (and have hired ninjas). Don't get too close to the majestic-looking exploding eagles, either!

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-D9ePREEMc
Gameplay: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTgLuqqZalI

Why might a shmup fan be interested? Well, it's skill-based, high-scoring action all the way; there's a ton of bullet-dodging; rank is constantly at work (an option to turn on rank display is included, as well); and I also included a "hardcore" mode that tosses away the life bars and replaces them with one-hit-and-they're-gone lives (and point-based extends). I'm very proud of the gameplay and I think you guys will like it, as well. I'd really like to know what you all think of it!

Caravan-style Time Attack mode, one of the two bonus modes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QSHa9GLgNY

For more info on the game systems, you can check this post: http://www.snake360.com/forum/viewtopic ... 87bc2bab9c

So I'm serious about your opinions on it, and to back that up, I want to offer free download codes to the first 5 people that express interest (just post or DM). Or, you can try/buy it here: http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/Produ ... 0258550bf3

Thanks =) =) =)

[n0rtygames]

To be honest, when the video started I wanted to say something bad to you for putting another game like that on xblig... Then the gameplay kicked off and I pissed myself laughing. Utterly genius.

Bravo sir. If you give that game some graphical polish, I think you could do pretty damned well with it! Please please give it some more love and raise peoples expectations when they go to the indie tab

[yyr]

The problem is that I'm not an artist, and my budget is zero. (An artist did my boxart and I'm giving them a percentage.)

Also, I think it's clearly apparent that the blood is the main character, and I believe it animates rather well

I do agree that the characters could look a lot better, though...sigh!

[n0rtygames]

Also, I think it's clearly apparent that the blood is the main character, and I believe it animates rather well

I do agree that the characters could look a lot better, though...sigh!

http://www.snake360.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=64

Point #4 Dude! Your own post!

I have no budget either. I recommend you ask over at the Pixeljoint forums saying that you're a coder with released games who needs an artist to bring them up a level or two. That's how I found my main artist for Chronoblast - who's worked entirely on love and percentage for this games development.

http://www.pixeljoint.com/forum/forum_topics.asp?FID=11

I'm not having a go at all - you asked for honest opinions so I'm trying to be helpful - I think your game looks quite funny and is a LOT more fun than some of the recent crap I've been forced to write on contract!

[Ed Oscuro]

Hmm, kind of like the old DOS game look to the graphics and palette.

A couple things seemed to stick out though - I watched for a while and couldn't tell what ends the game if it gets hit. Obviously should be the dude but it seemed that the ninja jumped at him a few times with no effect. Speaking of this, some kind of effect as the ninja readies a leap might be helpful.

The use of timers on the ferrets (that's something you don't write every day) seems like it will slow down gameplay. Of course there's also the angle of shot, so I guess those things go together.

[yyr]

Point #4 Dude! Your own post!

Yeah...I, like many others, am no good at following my own advice. lol

I watched for a while and couldn't tell what ends the game if it gets hit.

Both the helicopter AND dude can take damage. In the normal mode (lifebars), the helicopter has way more HP, but lost HP can't be restored unless the stage is cleared; the dude can't take as much punishment, but will regenerate if he stays out of trouble for a few seconds (as in Halo, CoD, etc.). If either the helicopter OR dude's HP reach 0, the game is over.

The ninja has a specific voice effect (actually a couple of different ones) that plays shortly before he jumps/attacks. The actual delay before he attacks depends on the current rank. Also, you only actually take damage if the sword hits.

The timers appear when throwing the timed or proximity ferrets. The type of the next ferret, chosen randomly, is displayed as it becomes ready. Timed ferrets explode exactly 1.5 seconds after you throw them, and do significantly more damage than normal ferrets; proximity ferrets explode 0.5 seconds after they detect the presence of an enemy, and also have a slight damage boost.

[n0rtygames]

Point #4 Dude! Your own post!

Yeah...I, like many others, am no good at following my own advice. lol

haha I've lost count of the number of times I've told people to beware of scope creep and then sat here like a maniac going "MORE! MORE!!"

Don't suppose you ever played the Space Quest games - including the mini game Astro Chicken?

[yyr]

Never heard of Astro Chicken (of course I'd heard of Space Quest, though). I just watched a video...reminds me of Lunar Lander, just a lot faster (and easier-looking). I wouldn't have minded that part of the game, lol...

[cskcsk]

It looks really fun. Will it be on the pc?

[yyr]

The game's control scheme is so married to the Xbox 360 controller (using both thumbsticks and analog triggers) that it would be difficult to reproduce on any other platform, while maintaining the same level of precision in the control. I'm not going to release it on PC saying "you need an Xbox 360 controller to play this," so I'm not sure if it's feasible. The thought's crossed my mind but I haven't come up with a good control replacement as of yet.

[Ed Oscuro]

That hasn't stopped big-budget games from being released on PC which need console controllers.

I'll try to look it up on the 360. My main concern is that there's too little room to play with for dodging enemies, because unlike other shooters you have to dodge two things, except it looks almost as if you only control one of them directly, which strikes me (if true) as bad. But I'll see.

[n0rtygames]

The game's control scheme is so married to the Xbox 360 controller (using both thumbsticks and analog triggers) that it would be difficult to reproduce on any other platform, while maintaining the same level of precision in the control. I'm not going to release it on PC saying "you need an Xbox 360 controller to play this," so I'm not sure if it's feasible. The thought's crossed my mind but I haven't come up with a good control replacement as of yet.

Maybe you could do something to replace the triggers by having it incrementally increase a float that would ordinarily correspond to the value you get from polling the triggers? Kinda like GTA style games force you to do when playing on a keyboard by pressing your accelerate button and releasing to sort of feather it.. a bit like a throttle on a bike

Charged shots? Worms style? Obviously you've got the mouse... mouse+wsad of course feels natural - perhaps replacing the triggers with mouse buttons and as I say, doing something incremental over a short timeframe?

[yyr]

My main concern is that there's too little room to play with for dodging enemies, because unlike other shooters you have to dodge two things, except it looks almost as if you only control one of them directly, which strikes me (if true) as bad. But I'll see.

You control both directly.

The left stick controls the helicopter, which can start and stop on a dime.

The guy at the end of the bungee cord swings in response to the movement of the helicopter, true--and damage taken can affect the swing as well--but you also have direct control over him with the right stick. Moving the right stick left/right simply influences the momentum of the swing, but moving it up/down adjusts the cord length, which happens instantly and is very useful for dodging.

Obviously you've got the mouse... mouse+wsad of course feels natural - perhaps replacing the triggers with mouse buttons and as I say, doing something incremental over a short timeframe?

I've thought about the "hold a key down for a certain length of time to determine strength" thing, and while it might work, it takes longer...which could mean the difference in a life-or-death situation. I don't want to impact gameplay.

The best thing I can think of is using WASD for movement of the helicopter, Q and E to adjust cord length and to point/click to aim/throw ferrets (which would still be affected by your momentum). But even this way, you'd lose the ability to adjust your swing, and analog movement of the helicopter (probably not as important). Hmmmm...