Developments

Aaah, Spikes! (URL "https://AGameAWeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/NPA2_010.png"><img src="https://AGameAWeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/NPA2_010.png" alt="NPA2_010" width="704" height="200" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-5006" /> A common feature in videogames since the early days, and one of the great standards of Dislike! Touch a spike, and you instantly respawn at your last checkpoint. .. Like, Instantly!! Toda...

Developments

I spent most of yesterday working with the pathfinding AI. The basic idea is that, once the basic level has been generated, an AI player runs through the level, trying to reach the other side. To ensure at least one of these players survives, a fleet of 32 AI players are sent over the level, and each tries to find the "best" way through. (URL "https://AGameAWeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/NPA2_009.png"><img src="https://AGameAWeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/NPA2_009...

Developments

Yesterday I started to put some effort into the "Pre-Game AI Player" stuff. It's going to be a lot more complicated than I'd thought, but I'll try my best to get it working. I basically need to create a computer player that runs through the level, ensuring that you can at least reach the end without dying. Along the way, he'll generate a path which I'll use to plant various objects like the Checkpoint flags, and perhaps some evil objects to get in your way. This won't, of cours...

Gameboy Spikes

Do you own a classic Gameboy? Do you have a flashcart for it? Then today's (*yesterday) your lucky day! ( width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JA34N332uTo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen>> For the past week or so, (URL "https://socoder.net/?blog=rychan">Socoder member Rychan) has been working on a port of SpikeDislike for the Gameboy! You can (URL "https://socoder.net/?showcase=48655">grab it here)...

Developments

Last night, I started watching a series on Vimeo titled (URL "https://vimeo.com/channels/itvintheface">"ITV In the Face".) The show is essentially a look back at all the various UK ITV franchises, along with the history of what happened to all the different companies along the way. Thrilling stuff, I'm sure you'll agree. But it kept me awake until 5am, this morning, and is one of those "Can't stop watching" sort of TV-History documentary things that I have a nasty habit of g...

Developments

I tried doing some music, last night, but everything I attempted turned out terribly. I guess my spurt of musical talent has run out, for now! Aw well, at least I can concentrate on getting my game done, instead. ( width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/d0aJDTgu71k" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen>> Yesterday I tackled Object vs Object collisions so that thrown weapons could interact with enemies and vice vers...

Developments

More complicated work playing with the level generator, yesterday. I still have LOADS to do, and progress has been somewhat slow, but I'm taking my time and trying to account for lots of different things at the same time. There are some elements that need to be missed out, this time around. Ladders and "drop down" things simply won't work on a touchscreen, unless I start making the onscreen dpad do up and down, which honestly, I'd rather not do. One single axis is plenty for mo...

Developments

Jumped back and forth through a couple of things, yesterday, but mostly spent more time working on the level builder. Things are starting to look a little more varied, and thankfully the addition of vertical scrolling has added a little bit more. I'm currently worried about making sure the levels are completable, as I haven't yet added an AI player run-through of the level, to ensure it's at least playable. I'll have to do that next, I suppose. In the meantime, I've been ensurin...

Developments

Another uneventful day, yesterday. I say "uneventful", but what I actually mean is that someone on Twitter ((URL "https://twitter.com/ashervo">@AsherVo)) suggested I try out a new game on iOS, and damn... Addictive!? You bet!! I spent hours playing the bloody thing, yesterday. Between (URL "https://itunes.apple.com/app/id1002340615">PacMan 256), (URL "https://itunes.apple.com/app/id924373886">Crossy Road's Pacman update) and (URL "https://itunes.apple.com/app/id10046...