Alexland

[Super Vegeta]

I was reluctant to post this here, but... I thought, "hey, if you don't get criticized, how can you improve it?". So - here goes nothing.

The result of over two months of co-operation with ŻbiX, playing with the pixels and picking in the code. So far, my biggest project written in Pascal.

The title of the game is not random, as Alexland is a Crimsonland-like game, set in the climate of RPG Maker RTP. The player takes the role of RTP Alex and using his trusty gun sends dozens and hundreds of monsters to another dimension. What more can I say? Nine weapons to choose, eleven bonuses to enhance the play and ten types of enemies to kill.

Screenshots:
http://svgames.pl/screeny/alexland-00-s.png (http://svgames.pl/screeny/alexland-00.png) http://svgames.pl/screeny/alexland-01-s.png (http://svgames.pl/screeny/alexland-01.png) http://svgames.pl/screeny/alexland-02-s.png (http://svgames.pl/screeny/alexland-02.png) http://svgames.pl/screeny/alexland-03-s.png (http://svgames.pl/screeny/alexland-03.png)
http://svgames.pl/screeny/alexland-04-s.png (http://svgames.pl/screeny/alexland-04.png) http://svgames.pl/screeny/alexland-05-s.png (http://svgames.pl/screeny/alexland-05.png) http://svgames.pl/screeny/alexland-06-s.png (http://svgames.pl/screeny/alexland-06.png) http://svgames.pl/screeny/alexland-07-s.png (http://svgames.pl/screeny/alexland-07.png)

SV Games: clack (http://svgames.pl)
Direct download: clack (http://svgames.pl/plik.php?alexland)

[jdarling]

Hey, 1st, nice start overall, though I wouldn't call this a complete project by any means. The game play is all there, the sound effects are nice and the background music works quite well with the game. So, honestly its better than a good start :)

The problems I see are; No introduction in game to explain controls, no customization of the controls (I don't personally like WASD would rather use arrow keys), story line (you started to here), or really much of anything else. The colors on the main screen and interm screens are difficult on the eyes (ok, at least my eyes) and the style of the main screen breaks your 8 bit style used in game. Might think a bit more about how to get these to work together.

Upon getting a high score and not entering my name got a Runtime Error 216 at 401E73. My guess would be that you forgot to check for blank strings and are trying to access the value placed inside. This, of course, crashed the game completely. Error trapping is a wonderful thing, and they should go to an error log, not just thrown on the screen and then watch the game go down :)

Overall, 2 thumbs up. Put control options, a little story line, and some explanation (in game) on how to play together, and this could be a 3 or 4 if there wern't already 1000's of the same game running around (you know, run and gun zombie mass killer games).

- Jeremy

[Super Vegeta]

An introduction to the controls is not a bad idea, maybe I'll do something about it. The controls can be customized - there is a WSAD\Arrow keys choice in the options. :) I think these two are the most popular, but well, I'll ponder about allowing full customization.

As for the colors - ha, they are the main object of complaints. :D Gotta do something about it, right now I'm thinking of some ground color saturation settings - so the ground will be faded and the enemies colorful, not only less difficult to the eyes, but will also help to distinguish the enemies from the terrain (could also apply this to bodies).

Thanks for finding the bug. Abuse is a wonderful method. :) Error trapping... Gotta check how to do it.

Also, as for the lack of plot - this was intentional, from the very beggining this was meant to be a "get the highest score possible" type of game - honestly, it started as a "maybe I'll wait with this project and do something similar, only simpler" type of thing. Explanation how to play - well, this goes around with "explain the controls", so a small tutorial may not be such a bad idea.

Thanks for your reply. I hope for some more opinions.

[arthurprs]

I can't test right now, but i have to say, it looks great! :yes:

[Reiter]

Looks nice.

[Super Vegeta]

Oh well, let's try to get some attention one more time.

Today, Alexland v.1.1 has been released. Shortly speaking:
- one can now adjust terrain chroma
- it is possible to play in 640x480
- difficulty levels
- a few other, less important novelties
- bugfix

Links in the thread opening post.

[WILL]

So how is your project progressing? Looks interesting from the screenshots you've posted in your posts. Whats your end goal with this game?

Also I see you're using SDL, nice choice! :) are you thinking of adding a multi-player mode? I've heard that SDL_net is pretty decent for this.

[Super Vegeta]

The end goal for this game has been reached, it was simply to create something playable. :p Still, I don't say it's unlikely for an improved, extended version to appear in the future. Right now I am busy preparing for the matura exam, but as soon as the exams are finished - we'll see, I'll either try to somehow improve this game or begin working on something new (probably both). As for multiplay - yes, this idea appeared in my mind. Split-screen could be good for a start, I think. When it comes to net play - I have totally no experience in net progging (hell, I don't even know what a socket is), so it would be a reaaaly long way - but it's always cool to learn new things, so... I think pretty much everything is possible. ;) Assuming, I think of AL as of something finished - maybe in the future there will be some minor improvements, but I am actually looking forward to begin a new project.

[Super Vegeta]

He-hey, today we have released Alexland, v.1.2. This is most probably the final version, as I want to focus on a new project.

Changes put short:
- added an on-line high-scores leaderboard
- added an achievement system (60 medals to unlock)
- new weapon: the fryer
- many other small elements
- optimalisation
- bugfix

SV Games: here (http://svgames.pl/)
Direct download: here (http://svgames.pl/plik.php?alexland)

[est000dog]

nice, but file.hi shold not be so easy to edit ;)