SkyMaple's project thread- "Midnight Island Run"!

SkyMapleSkyMaple Member Posts: 817
edited November -1 in Working with GS (Mac)
Hey guys,

I've been on hold with game developing for awhile because of a series of computer problems, but now I'm BACK with a MacBook Pro!

I have been wanting to try my hand at a runner game for awhile, I know how over used the idea is but I just wanted to see what I could come up with. So thanks to SpriteAttack, and some other people, I've been given the motivation to make one! I'm already off to a good start with the main mechanics of the game in place (all homemade).

Let me know what you think!

Heres a short video of my progress-

Comments

  • mynameisacemynameisace Hull, UKMember Posts: 2,484
    I love that everyone's sharing their projects now, it's inspiring and great to see so many awesome games in development!

    The graphics look really cool. Really relaxing instead of frenzy like other runners, I like it.

    Ace
  • SkyMapleSkyMaple Member Posts: 817
    Update- Removed a bit of un-needed white in the background island image.

    I'm trying to figure out what I should do with the "character". Should I change the color, image, shape? What do you think?
    mynameisace said:
    The graphics look really cool. Really relaxing instead of frenzy like other runners, I like it.

    Thanks ace, that means alot to me coming from you!
  • SkyMapleSkyMaple Member Posts: 817
    Im now working on the title screen, but what do you guys think I should do with the character (if it needs changing)?
  • JuggerJugger Member, PRO Posts: 238
    Add a moon as third parallax layer :)
  • MoonMouseMoonMouse Member Posts: 75
    I agree with Jugger. A moon in the background would look great.

    As for the character, it looks great the way it is... but if I were you, I'd try to make it a bit more memorable in terms of its shape.
    If you're going for a relaxed kind of feel, I think it'd be pretty cool if the character was some kind of ghost/spirit thingy. The character doesn't need to be scary, and I think that the 'ghostly' trail you've got behind your cube could work well with that.

    But yeah, just my opinion. The game is looking fabulous as it is, and I can't wait to see more of it as it develops.

    Cheers,
    MM
  • UtopianGamesUtopianGames Member Posts: 5,692
    I can imagine a caveman type of character with an animated flame with particles on flame would be a good match for the hero.

    Darren.

    GS TOOLS
    GAME TEMPLATES
  • SkyMapleSkyMaple Member Posts: 817
    Update- Added bar at the top of the screen for the score, made a title screen, added shooting stars for extra points. Video will be up in about an hour!

    @Jugger- Yeah, I was thinking the same thing.

    I like that idea, moonmouse, It shouldn't be too hard to make either. Darrin and TSB, that sounds really cool but I'm not that great with graphics. :(
  • SkyMapleSkyMaple Member Posts: 817
    It took a little longer than expected but here is the video!

  • SkyMapleSkyMaple Member Posts: 817
    Since people have been saying that they think the game is relaxing, I think I will keep the "character" the way it is, although I changed it from a square to a circle (It kinda looks like a snake now). Next thing I will be working on is the scene transitions and the music.

    Hopefully, if all goes well, I will have the beta up for download soon!
  • AntiCAntiC Member Posts: 12
    It looks really nice! I love how smooth it feels and looks.

    I've always wanted to make a runner app like this as well but have never gotten around to thinking of the mechanics etc for it.

    Good luck with development :)
  • SkyMapleSkyMaple Member Posts: 817
    Thanks AntiC!

    So the shooting stars in my game are all being spawned and destroyed, I know this isn't the best thing to do but it's the easiest. I noticed that there isn't much of a change in fps whether I was spawning stars or not. Although there is a change, its by about 2 frames. Normally I'm getting 38fps compared to not spawning which is 40fps.

    What would be a good way to raise fps? I already turned of the visibility and physics in certain actors, what else could I do?

    (I will post another update tomorrow)
  • chaleychaley Member, PRO Posts: 226
    Yea man... looks cool. Nice and clean... Nice and smooth.
  • SkyMapleSkyMaple Member Posts: 817
    Heres an updated video (sorry the text and video is a bit off). Let me know what you think, constructive criticism is always welcome!

    Time to start the long, tiring process of converting the game from ipad to iphone!
    chaley said:
    Yea man... looks cool. Nice and clean... Nice and smooth.

    Thanks!

  • SkyMapleSkyMaple Member Posts: 817
    I finished converting the game to iphone but the fps are even worse (On an iPhone 3Gs), I'm getting 25fps max. I've never really though much about lowering fps until I started this game so I'm going to have to figure out ways to raise them.

    If anyone wants to test the game as it is atm, for iPhone click here to sign up as a beta tester with Testflight App-

    http://tflig.ht/uGlFqO

    (This is my first time using testflight app so let me know if it works for you)
  • SkyMapleSkyMaple Member Posts: 817
    I tweaked the main game music a bit. What do you think?



    I should be just about ready to publish to iPad AND iPhone, I will probably do it today. BTW, I'm on twitter now! Follow me @ https://twitter.com/SkyMapleGames
  • SnapFireSnapFire Member Posts: 361
    Looks very cool man.

    I like how relaxed it is too. I'm glad you didn't go with the dinosaur because it might ruin the relaxed feel. Love how you catch this stars-very cool.

    -Thomas
  • SkyMapleSkyMaple Member Posts: 817
    So I'm working on increasing FPS, but I've also been thinking about the graphics. IMO theres not enough color. One person that tested it said that I should change the color of the character back to white. I did that and now I'm thinking about the stars. Changing the character back to white makes alot of white on the screen.

    What do you guys think? Should I keep the stars white or turn them yellow?

    @SnapFire Thanks!!
  • SnapFireSnapFire Member Posts: 361
    I say keep the runner black if you want it to be more relaxed.
    Stars would be weird yellow unless it was very pale I think.

    -Thomas
  • MoonMouseMoonMouse Member Posts: 75
    You could change the stars to yellow, but to be honest, I think the blue, black and white colour scheme you've got here goes together perfectly. Yellow stars may look out of place.

    Oh the other hand, I agree with the idea of changing the character to white. It makes it far easier to see against the silhouetted blackness of the landscapes.

    That is, however, considering you're going for that "relaxed" feel. If you're wanting a more bada-boom colourish feel, then go yellow all the way. You could even complement the yellow stars by changing the characters colour to look as if its made of fire.
  • SnapFireSnapFire Member Posts: 361
    Any updates?

    -Thomas
  • SkyMapleSkyMaple Member Posts: 817
    Oh yeah, I submitted the game and its been out for almost a week. I kept the character black and the stars white. Now I'm working on the performance for the first update.
  • MoonMouseMoonMouse Member Posts: 75
    Sweet. I hope sales are going well for you, Skymaple ;)
  • SnapFireSnapFire Member Posts: 361
    Kind of a fail not to mention that you published the game in the project progress thread ;)

    However, nice job! Is it free?
    If not, any chance of a promo?

    Good Luck,
    -Thomas
  • SkyMapleSkyMaple Member Posts: 817
    Snapfire...you should have known it was out because you posted on the thread-

    http://gamesalad.com/forums/topic.php?id=35193

    Either way you can still grab another promo code if you'd like :)!
  • SnapFireSnapFire Member Posts: 361
    SkyMaple said:
    Snapfire...you should have known it was out because you posted on the thread-

    http://gamesalad.com/forums/topic.php?id=35193

    Either way you can still grab another promo code if you'd like :)!

    Hehe, I remember now. It was one night at like midnight when I posted that... Sorry.

    I'll definitely check it out!
    -Thomas
  • SkyMapleSkyMaple Member Posts: 817
    Haha, no problem!
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