TANX (Iron Strike)

[Huehnerschaender]

Hi there,

I was asked to post a thread about my PGD competition entry TANX so that it can be discussed.

I will go on with this project and have many plans for it.
Hopefully I find the time to continue.

What I want to create is a game which puts the player into fast paced action, but the player should also be able to control the action. I think in this version the system of controllable fast paced action is already working, but I have much more plans and features in my head that will support this idea.

So, for anyone who didn't care about the screenshot section of the competition, here are some ingame screenshots of my entry:



The game has 4 levels now, plus a tutorial. Menu systems are working etc. All goals of the competition have been implemented, so this is a complete little game. But the lack of time during the competition didn't let me do all the things I wanted.

So in the future, I have much to do. Here are some examples:

- changing vehicle. Atm you steer your tank or your bomb drone. I want the player to be able to steer helicopters, too. I have some ideas in my head how and when, but there has to be some more planning on this.
- Much more content! I will create much more objects, background-tiles etc in the future, so that the visuals will change from level to level.
- more enemys. Atm there are 6 different enemys, including the bosses. (7, if you count the enemy bomb drones as enemys (they have their own AI)).
- Collision responses will be a big part of future work.
- enemys will be able to patrol their paths, which will be editable in the level editor soon (this will be one of the first things I do)
- Mission goals will act like "checkpoints" in future releases. You definately will have to reach subgoals to finish the main goal of a mission.

These are the main improvements I plan. There are many other smaller things I want to do, but most of them are not worth to be discussed.

I would like to hear your opinion about the game and my ideas. Is the whole thing worth it? What would you add to the game? What is good as it is, what is bad... any bugs?

So you can download the competition entry here:

http://www.dino-it.de/TANX.zip

I would be glad if you PGD people try it and tell me what you think about it.

Greetings,
Dirk

[NecroDOME]

At first: I'ts a good game, nice to play. Good graphics. Keep up the good work!

I want the player to be able to steer helicopters

Sounds like the good old dos game Seek and Destroy. You control a heli moslty, but there are some tank missions.
Like Seek and Destroy it would be cool to pickup friendly units from an enemy camp and drop them back at your base (start point).

Here are some screenshots:
http://www.mobygames.com/game/dos/se...oy/screenshots

[Huehnerschaender]

Hey!

*LOL*
I never played Seek and Destroy but you are absolutely right! It really has the "general look" of what I want, even though I can't say anything about the gameplay of SaD. But there seem to be many parallels...

Funny! :lol:

[Firlefanz]

Hi Huehner,

the grafix are veryvery nice, especially the graphic effects!

Very good work!

I think I have to play the tutorial to see how I get through that wall.

Firle

[Huehnerschaender]

Hi Firle, thank you

It would have been even nicer if I had more time. But I will add more buidlings, textures etc later on.

Did you try to shoot the cracky wall? It has a lifebar. Try shooting your cannon on it (Machine gun doesn't do anything to walls). Rockets are most effective against walls. You only need one shot to break them. But remember, that only walls with cracks on it are destroyable.

Greetings,
Dirk

Any comments about gameplay? What can be improved?

[Firlefanz]

Okay, understood, I'll try that later. Nice game with very impressive grafix!

From what I saw from the comp so far my favourite, can't wait to see more of the others.

Firle

[aidave]

I'm trying to get the boss to get killed.

My recommendation for improvements:
have some patrol paths for some tanks, so they wander around.
I think that would add another element of danger !

[Huehnerschaender]

See my first post, patrol paths are already on the ToDo List

Nevertheless, thanks for the comment ^^

Greetings,
Dirk

PS: I'll try level 2 of BLOCKED this evening again.

[idee_fixe]

Dirk,

I just played the last level of Tanx again, and I found a trick that I'm not sure you intended - You can destroy all of the turrets and all but one of the tanks at the end boss from the other side of the wall! Just shoot your rockets at the wall, and the explosions will damage them. It usually takes two rockets per target, but it makes the end boss way easier to deal with! By doing that, and by staying as far away as possible, you can take care of him pretty easy.

I like how you have to drop the bombs into the openings, it's a clever use of the weapon!

Now, I've beat your boss, have you beat ours?

[Huehnerschaender]

Bugalarm!


I am aware of this bug, know how to fix it, but I guess I forgot to fix it in the timerace of the last stage... It's just the use of a function I already have when rockets explode. Sorry for forgetting this.

And gratulations on finishing my boss ^^

I didn't manage to play your game again, because I am very busy doing a project for my job, which unfortunately needs all my sparetime too at the moment. But I promise, I'll try again when I'm a little out of stress.

Greetings and thanks for the report.

Dirk