This week a suggestion from Authentic Kaizen, who suggests having a neon styled platform game, with bubble bobble style components.
The game has taken a few turns during the week, changing from spike induced terror, a game with a frog like creature, and a whole lot more besides!
It now appears to be settling down quite nicely into some kind of obscure chaos.
Hurray for chaos!!

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Socoder Newsletter
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I get to this point once every few months, and .. well.. here we are again!
A few things are getting me here, this time around.
Let's list the reasons, then think of some solutions..

*phew* Just about!!!
<img src="http://AGameAWeek.com/complete/Munky_Blocks_DS_20091124A_thumb.png">
Munky Blocks DS, a complete remake of the original that can even make use of the level files from the PC edition, but also adds in a little mix of "Munky's Block" levels, too.
In the end, it's turned out as a lovely little game, but BOY was that a rushed ending!

This week, I've decided to try something a wee bit different.
If you're a fan of previous AGameAWeek games, you'll notice that I'm more than a little crap at designing levels.
It's a slight issue, but one that I've never bothered to care about.
Usually, any games that NEED levels will include a built in level editor. And folk who like the games will spend minutes trying to make one, and that'll be half the fun.
The trouble with this theory, of course, is ...

Last week was Bonfire Night in the UK, and as such RetroRemakes.com had a little challenge. (They've started to do a monthly challenge..) Create a game/story/etc with Fireworks in it.
Here's my game.
<a href="http://AGameAWeek.com/complete/Firework_Chaos_20091117A.png"><img src="http://AGameAWeek.com/complete/Firework_Chaos_20091117A_thumb.png"></a>

<a href="http://AGameAWeek.com/JNKx15.zip">Download JNKx15 Right Here</a>
A nice neat 36Mb download, with 15 lovely little games included.
Download, Unzip, Play away!

In a world where Ninjas roam, there are many things to be aware of.
Ducks are deadly, be sure to have your sword!!
(URL "http://AGameAWeek.com/complete/Ninja__Duck__20091110B.png"><img src="http://AGameAWeek.com/complete/Ninja__Duck__20091110B_thumb.png">
Z to swish, Left and right to run, Up to jump and Down to duck/slide.
You can (URL "http://AGameAWeek.com/complete/Ninja__Duck__20091110.zip">Download Ninja, Duck! here), and get ...

So, after having attempted to create a racing game and a word game, I've finally settled on a game that appears to be coming together nicely.
Ninja Duck (temporary name, but they usually tend to stick) is about a Ninja who has a sword, and an oncoming swarm of ducks, frogs and birds.
Simple stuff, on a nice small arena.
<a href="http://socoder.net/uploads/1/arghfrog.png"><img src="http://socoder.net/uploads/1/arghfrog_thumb.png"></a>
Not really too much gameplay...

Sometimes you can start a game and it grows and grows and is wonderful.
Other times, you get about 10% through, and realise it's just not working out.
Game Idea 1
This week started with a word game. A decent enough idea, place the tiles in a scrabble-esque crossword style, and make words.

Blimey, Blockman got big!
5Mb!!
FIVE!!
That's not like me!

Blimey, that got complex!
<a href="http://socoder.net/uploads/1/blockmansGreatBigMenu.png"><img src="http://socoder.net/uploads/1/blockmansGreatBigMenu_thumb.png"></a>
Starting with "World 1-1, 2-1, 3-1, 4-1, 5-1" I built a set of sideways Arcade menu start points.
Then I added the old "J/K" gameplay options in the style of World 10-1 and World 25-1.. Although from 6-1 and after, the theme isn't predetermined, and it's just picking random themes each time!
...

Or rather, he needs one, but doesn't quite have one.
That's on tomorrow morning/tonight's list of things to do.
Otherwise we've got sounds, graphics, music, levels, level progression, bonus level sets and more.
Everything's nice and happy!

Like I suggested yesterday, those one-way arrows could lead to some serious deadends, so rather than allowing the game to plonk them down willy-nilly, I've brought back Path Mode's AI.
Path Mode will work the way it used to, a trail of dots leading to an eventual deadend..
But we'll also be using it to find paths for the arrows.
Find a path, pick 4 or 5 points at random, add the arrows.

Sometimes you have really productive days.
Occasionally, though, those really productive days seem to drag on and on, and not actually produce much at all!
Here's what I've done today.
1. We're up to 5 skins, since I added a plain rock+lava one.

<a href="http://socoder.net/uploads/1/KingPelLittsTomb.png"><img src="http://socoder.net/uploads/1/KingPelLittsTomb_thumb.png"></a>
Poor Blockman, all alone in a gigantic maze.
If only there were a way to zoom into the action..

A nice and simple game, this week, inspired by this week's Wednesday Workshop (#224) Board Game challenge.
Rather than having plain Questions and Answers, I've taken all the results from Socoder's daily polls, and rounded them up into the game.
Can you select the option that the most people at Socoder did?!
<a href="http://AGameAWeek.com/complete/Guesstimates_20091027A.png"><img src="http://AGameAWeek.com/complete/Guesstimates_20091027A_thumb.png"></a>
P...

Blockman Gets More is coming along nicely, with one slight issue to be aware of.
I've got the bloomin' Swine Flu, so don't expect a miracle super game by Tuesday.
Dangit..
I should have a game done by Tuesday, but it won't be Blockman Gets More, that's currently waiting until such a time that I can actually think straight, and not struggle to type!

This week, due to popular demand, Blockman's Getting More.
As you may have read, I attempted a new art style (fweeDee!!) last week, which really didn't work out at all.
So, this week I'm aiming for the Pseudo popped-out-a-bit art style, and all seems happy in the world of Blockman.
<img src="http://socoder.net/uploads/1/blockmangetsmoreb.png">

Prepare for disappointment!
This week's been a bit of a disaster, really.
I started with Arcade Slots, and actually managed to get quite far into it, but eventually realised there wasn't anything new to add to the mix. So that got scrapped.
After that came a brand new Blockman graphic style, which was far too angled, and resulted in the maze being completely obscured. No good!

If you're currently coping with a bad bout of depression, it's probably not a great idea to download this week's AGameAWeek game, because.. quite frankly.. it sucks!
As I type this, the game currently consists of a badly drawn dog, a badly drawn bit of grass, and a few badly drawn birds.
I've hit a dead end as far as this game goes.
I also hit a dead end with Arcade Slots, and I even hit a major blockage with Blockman Gets More.

I got the basic slot machine reels working.
A couple of nice functions. 1 to fill them up, 1 to draw them.
Nudges work, Holds work.
Everything vaguely important works..

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Socoder Newsletter
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Thursday 8th of October 2009 01:46:19 PM
Name : Nam
Idea : May I suggest a "Tower of Druaga" mode for Arcade Slots?
It's been a long while since I played inside the Arcade Slots source.

The last time we tried Munky Blocks we had 1 munky and many blocks. Munky had to collect the blocks, piece them together to form coloured areas, and blammo, they vanished.
This time, we only have one block.
Munky needs to pick up that block, and place it on top of the red button, to open up the red exit, and then he can leave.
A simple enough concept, but one that took so long to build I didn't really have time to build a decent set of levels.

<img src="http://socoder.net/uploads/1/munkysblockb.png" style="float:left;">
Munky's Block is graphically coming along nicely, but unfortunately I've yet to actually start making levels.
So far it's all been "Niceness" stuff, and as a result things are lacking a bit.
Probably should've stuck to the blocky background like last time.

Ok, let's try that Munky thing again, shall we!?
I've scrapped the "Portal" style stuff, and am instead focusing on a Munky Blocks styled affair.
Munky's Block seems an apt title, so we'll stick with that.
Currently I have only 1 setpiece, and 1 silly simple test level.