The Mighty Ascension of Jack

The Final Level So Far

I'm still working on the final level. I've started working on the next stage. I had a pretty cool idea of what I wanted, but I don't think that I have quite got what I wanted, and that it may not be as much fun as I'd like it to be at the moment.

I think I might need to redo it. I'll see if I can improve it more a bit later.

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The Mighty Ascension of Jack

Part of (the only designed part of) "The Mighty Ascension of Jack"

I'm playing with the idea of making a big final level for my "Jack is a Fool" thing. Now - it's still my intention that what I release will be only about half an hour long, and only a fairly short game from which I can figure out whether its fun, and probably release it as freeware. It won't have graphics that it would if I turned it into a longer commercial indie game. But anyway. I digress.

Big final level. Portal has a phenomenal final level. In it, you use all the puzzle solving techniques you've used throughout the rest of the game to be able to finish a big epic amalgamation of the puzzles. Something nice and final. I think the idea of ascending to the surface in Portal 2 is brilliant too, and feels good. So - I've been thinking of combining the few styles of puzzles I'm using into one big final level that will have hopefully interlinked puzzles, a couple of checkpoints and something that will hopefully feel like a satisfactory finish even if the game is somewhat short.

So far, I've designed the grand total of what you can see above. In reality, it's about a third of the length as I'd like it to be, and currently has about 3 puzzles in it - linked by the big lift in the middle. I think, once I've finished designing it (at least to some level I'm remotely happy with), I'll call my "designs before programming" a day, and start working towards making them work.

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Teleporting Levels

I've been experimenting with an idea for a new mechanic - even though I haven't really done that much with the 'Stop' one. But I got bored with it - so we'll add more as inspiration strikes. My new puzzle mechanic is teleporters. You can see how they will work below:

The idea is that when he's in a teleporter, you'll see a 'ghost' of where he would come out. You push the button, and he will teleport to the other side, in the same direction and speed he went in as if nothing happened - just at a different place. So far, I've designed one Introduction to Mechanic level ("For science. You monster."), one easier puzzle ("Teleprompter") and a very suddenly more difficult level (I think) ("Tower of eternal telefrags"). I may do some more of them.

For science. You monster.

Teleprompter

Tower of eternal telefrags.

A notable limitation is that none of these levels incorporate any of the mechanics (other then being squashed) from earlier levels. I'm going to try to do a couple that particularly combine stop signs and teleporters. I also think that there needs to be a bit gentler of a transition to Tower of eternal telefrags - so adding another level there.

By my (admittedly baseless) estimate, the level designs will have about 21m of Gameplay time. When I actually program them, we'll see whether my estimates are close or way off. I'll probably stop the designing of levels (at least as my primary goal) when I reach about 30m - it should be long enough to discover whether it is fun or not. Either way, I should possibly avoid adding more mechanics, and see if I can make do with the 3 I already have. Though a fourth would be nice....


Count:
9 Actual Puzzles
3 Simple "Introduction to mechanic puzzles"
12 Total
None of them actually work in engine yet - all just designs.


Update 7:48PM
I've come up with a level that is a bit easier, and uses elements from all three groups of level - it's below. It uses bits of other levels just a bit. I think I need a couple more of these

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2 New Levels

First new level

Second new level

I've got two new level plans done. The first will work, the second may or may not be finishable; I'll verify in the next day or so. Which does mean one thing: I'm back on. Friday featured my last exam for the semester, so now I actually have some time to attempt to get the prototype of Jack out.

So - I'm back to trying to design enough puzzles to make me happy enough to make a prototype. Problem is - I have no idea how hard they will actually be to play. I know I'm struggling designing them as I have no experience in Puzzle design before.

We'll see.

Count:

7 Actual Puzzles

2 Simple "Introduction to mechanic puzzles"

9 Total

None of them actually work in engine yet - all just designs.

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[Non Games] Movember

Me, on the 30th of Movember. Hopefully.

I'm going to digress slightly off topic today and make a small request:

I'd really love for you to support me in Movember, and donate money for a pretty awesome cause, and for me to grow a pretty awesome moustache*.

If that was enough to convince you - please donate online at http://au.movember.com/mospace/807802

If not - here is the official spiel: 

Hi,

It’s Movember and time to focus on men’s health. To show my commitment, I’m donating my face to the cause by growing a moustache for the entire month of November, and need your support. My Mo will spark conversations, and no doubt generate some laughs; all in the name of raising vital awareness and funds for prostate cancer male depression.

Why am I so passionate about men’s health?
*1 in 9 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime
*This year 20,000 new cases of the disease will be diagnosed
*1 in 8 men will experience depression in their lifetime

I’m asking you to support my Movember campaign by making a donation by either:
*Donating online at: http://www.movember.com/m/807802
*Writing a cheque payable to ‘Movember,’ referencing my Registration ID: 807802 and mailing it to: Movember, PO Box 60, East Melbourne, VIC, 8002

Funds raised will help make a tangible difference to the lives of others. Through the Movember Foundation and its men’s health partners, the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia and beyondblue – the national depression initiative, they are funding world class research, educational and support programs which would otherwise not be possible.

If you’d like to find out more about the type of work you’d be helping to fund by supporting Movember, take a look at the Programs We Fund section on the Movember website: http://au.movember.com/about

Thank you in advance for supporting my efforts to change the face of men’s health. All donations over $2 are tax deductible.  

So yeah - please?

http://au.movember.com/mospace/807802

* History will show I've tried in the past. And I've grown a bit of hair above my top lip. But I'll try! I'll spend my afternoons trying to push more hair out - and try not to look like Max Payne in his first games in the process!

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Temporary Hold of Proceedings

I'll be around, but not particularly productive with programming until at least next friday (The 11th) - Before then, I have a 2500 word case study on the Carbon Market due Friday (which will probably be made available on Scribd - potentially after further research), Competition law exam on the next Monday, Property law exam on Tuesday and a Civil Procedure exam on Friday. Its unlikely I'll be doing much other then work.

Meanwhile, however, I think after this date, I'll set a deadline to get the 'first taste' version of Jack is a Fool out - and see if it's fun enough to finish and sell.


Lachlan

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Designing moving mazes is difficult!

Today in an unrelated post, I heard it said that the poster hated blog posts that start with 'The Title Says It All' - after all, then there wouldn't need to be the rest of the post accompanying it. But still, as my title says, designing moving mazes is difficult!

For that matter, I'm finding designing puzzles difficult. I am finding it difficult to, without experience, judge the difficulty of the puzzles. What has taken me ages might indeed be a simple puzzle, and what I've been able to think was simple might be prohibitively difficult to actually solve as opposed to design.

But I'm actually struggling with this. Its a map I actually wanted to make - a maze that uses elevators to change the layout as you're going through it. What I've done is make a path, and then attempt to make a map that goes with it. I think the basic design is close - but it might be workable. I think I might try to make a timeline of it and see.

Hmmmm.... Lets see how workable this is

Update - 11.57 PM
I'm pretty sure it's solvable now. There's some changes from above. Questions are a) whether my thoughts that it is solvable is correct, b) whether it is practically solvable in the limited time and c) how difficult it actually is. We'll see once its coded up!

Count:
5 Actual Puzzles, 2 Simpler Introduction to mechanic Puzzles
Total 7 Puzzles

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An open letter to Cyanide Studio regarding Securom

I make no secret of the fact I detest SecuROM. I detest intrusive DRM, but I have a special deep loathing for install activation limited games that treat me like a thief. It is a sad thing when a pirated copy ends up being a better copy then the actual purchased product - and a terrible way to encourage people to purchase your product. Its like the masses of unskippable ads and anti-piracy messages at the start of DVDs - I just bought your damn DVD and you're telling me in an unskippable manner that I shouldn't pirate the said video? If I pirated the damn thing, then I could just watch it! I will probably write a more full post on it later.

I bought Blood Bowl on sale late last month. I've finally downloaded it and installed it to discover that it's installed the SecuROM malware on my computer, and will use all of 5 activations with minor changes in my hardware or when I need to reformat after a crash if I lack the forsight to uninstall it (and everything else like it) manually before my computer crashes. It royally pisses me off when I feel treated like a thief when I've purchased a product. I just sent this open letter to Cyanide studio to the only address on their site I could find - support@cyanide-studio.com . For what it's worth, I'm placing it in the public domain, so you are welcome to copy it when you feel ripped off by SecuROM or other anti-piracy measures, and so Cyanide have the opportunity to respond if they indeed care to.

To Whomsoever at Cyanide Studio this concerns,

I've just finally finished my Steam download and am really disappointed to find the inclusion of an install-limited version of Securom. I know that I should have seen it whilst purchasing the game - or more precisely, preventing me from purchasing the game, but now I feel really very ripped off, and just a little violated.

Given how secure SteamWorks as a non intrusive, account limited DRM is, are there any plans at all to release a DRM removal patch or switch it across to SteamWorks in the future? If not, could I please beg of you to consider it. Blood Bowl is past its peak of sales, and removal of the overly strict DRM in favour of a non-limited one (such as SteamWorks) could only possibly increase future sales - any quick search over the internet quickly reveals people unwilling to even buy the product at 80% off due to the limited activations of Securom.

As somebody who barely plays multiplayer games, I feel like I'm getting a worse quality product then if I pirated it. Which is really disappointing, because it looks like a fascinating game that I'm looking forward to playing - only, with my consistent reformats as a minor game developer myself, it looks like I won't be able to play it long. I understand that there is a de-activation/uninstallation tool, however I don't understand why it is necessary to treat me like a thief when I do the right thing and purchase your game. And I shouldn't have to do a full restart because I'm running some tools I use to develop that happen to be detected by SecuROM - your game isn't the only thing I use my system for.

I've seen various people state that you care about customer feedback - and I beg of you to consider this piece of it. Until you remove SecuROM, I won't be purchasing any more of your games - which is disappointing because you seem to have some original games. I'll simply have to go without.

Yours legally and legitimately

Lachlan Kingsford

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Jack is a Fool - Puzzle Progress - Update on Squish Time!

Turns out yesterday's puzzle wasn't necessarily solvable. I've adjusted the position of each of the platforms, and now it is.

I calculated new positions using a copy of Calc (basically as fancy pen and paper), starting with the final position and backtracked 5 positions.

Next puzzle!

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Jack is a Fool - Puzzle Progress

Just a brief update on progress of puzzles.

Turns out one of the puzzle ideas was if not bad, very difficult to execute (as in, fully design). It was an idea for a kind of moving maze. I'll wait until I can think about it more - but I still like the idea.

I've been working on another puzzle inspired by the valves puzzle (with the wheelburrow) in Grim Fandango though its turned out nothing like it. I'm trying to think of a simple thing that a couple of buttons could do to the moving platforms to make it a puzzling and solvable challenge to make them all align. I'm just not quite sure yet. The puzzle as stands is below - though may change totally.

I'll update when I've done just a little more.

---UPDATE - 11:03PM ---

I think I've made my puzzle. 

Please Click for the detail

The idea is that the platforms are going really fairly quickly and hence will squash jack unless they're put in the right order (maybe - 3 in line then 2 in line) - though this isn't so important. I can't test it yet anyway.

You put them in the right order with the Navy, Blue and Green buttons. The navy one pauses A C and E, the blue one B D & E and the green one A C & D. They each pause for everything else to make one quarter of the journey - I've marked out the distance with x.

Problem is - whilst I like the idea, I don't know how many moves (or indeed even if - though I stronly suspect so) it will take to be solved. So - I'll solve my puzzle tomorrow to be sure.

I like the idea of the level though - looks challenging.

Lachlan

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Jack is a Fool - Potential use for platform engine

I've started toying with an idea to use with the Platform Engine. It's called 'Jack is a Fool'.

In Jack is a Fool, you won't control Jack directly at all. Instead, you'll control the machinery around him, to try to successfully get him to the exit. Think something along the lines of lemmings, where you control floating platforms to stop Jack falling in holes, and move doors around to get him through mazes. It will be almost a pure puzzle game - that happens to be with a guy who walks on platforms.

I've started doing some design drawings of levels etc. to figure out how viable this idea is in LibreOffice Draw. So far, I've designed 2 basic non interactive 'levels' (which will be a grand total of being a more entertaining way to write 'Nerdy Gentleman Games Presents' and on the next one 'Jack is a Fool' while introducing the basic start of gameplay). I've designed 1 basic level to demonstrate the moving mechanic.

I've finally so far designed 2 actual puzzles - I don't count the others as puzzles at all. The first involves moving lift doors and a lift to get Jack to the top of the level, and the second moving a series of platforms to get Jack to the other side without crushing him, or allowing him to fall off. Both are just design ideas, and as such don't look like what actual gameplay would. For your benefit, they're included below.

First fully designed level

Second fully designed level

I've got ideas for a couple of other mechanics I could add for puzzles, and a couple of unfleshed ideas I could use for the mechanics already introduced. I want to get to somewhere between 10 and 20 puzzles (probably closer to 10) before focussing on implementing the features they need, and seeing if gameplay is fun. If it is, I may more fully finish the game. If I can't figure out interesting puzzles, I won't bother.


Lachlan

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Platform Progress - Saving and loading levels

Wow... 3 posts in one day!? But - achievements get posts.

I can now save and load levels! So:

 gameexec

FatController bind_wing_keys K_LEFT "Actor inst 100" K_RIGHT "Actor inst 101" "Actor inst 102"

FatController bind_key_down K_SPACE "Actor inst 103"
FatController bind_key_up K_SPACE "Actor inst 104"
FatController bind_key_down K_ESCAPE "Game quit_signal"
FatController bind_key_down K_BACKQUOTE "Game toggle_console"
FatController bind_key_down K_e "Game toggle_editor"

run "level" "levels"

Game gravity_ddy = 400;
Game gravity_max_dy = 500;
Game gravity_ddx = 0;
Game gravity_max_dx = 0;

and

 level

Game new_feature "f_1" 
x1 = -20
x2 = 600
y1 = 500
y2 = 550
z = 0
collision_function = 1
visible = 1
.

Game new_feature "f_2" "f_1"
x1 = 150
x2 = 200
y1 = 450
y2 = 500
z = 0
collision_function = 1
visible = 1
.

Game new_feature "f_3" "f_1"
x1 = 700
x2 = 1500
y1 = 500
y2 = 550
z = 0
collision_function = 1
visible = 1
.

Game new_feature "f_4" "f_1"
x1 = 900
x2 = 950
y1 = 400
y2 = 500
z = 0
collision_function = 1
visible = 1
.

Game new_feature "f_5" "f_1"
x1 = 500
x2 = 800
y1 = 350
y2 = 400
z = 0
collision_function = 1
visible = 1
.

lead to an end result of:

Note - as well, this script is the actual save file, and was saved from within the game! Boo yeah!

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Platform Progress - SLOC

If its your sort of thing:

Files	70
Lines	5460
Statements	3117
% Branches	21.8
% Comments	3.1
Class Defs	32
Methods/Class	9.44
Avg Stmts/Method	6.1
Max Complexity	46
Max Depth	9+
Avg Depth	1.88
Avg Complexity	2.75
Functions	12

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Platform Progress - Scripts Ahoy!

I've started the process of being able to load scripts from files and (am working towards at the moment), saving them to files. As of Thursday, it loads (most of) the keyboard configuration from a script file. This script file, actually:

FatController bind_wing_keys K_LEFT "Actor inst 100" K_RIGHT "Actor inst 101" "Actor inst 102"
FatController bind_key_down K_SPACE "Actor inst 103"
FatController bind_key_up K_SPACE "Actor inst 104"
FatController bind_key_down K_ESCAPE "Game quit_signal"
FatController bind_key_down K_BACKQUOTE "Game toggle_console"
FatController bind_key_down K_e "Game toggle_editor"

This is important for a couple of reasons. The primary one is that levels are to be saved as a script which contains instructions on building levels - I've got recipe's being generated already, now I'm ensuring that I can save them.

The first step of this project was adjusting the PuppetMaster's Process Command thing to take multiple commands by splitting it by newlines and semicolons (though, in the case of the latter, providing that they're not within double-quote marks). I decided to use the same method I have for actually processing commands -  using an overly complex RegEx command that I barely understand, as processed by boost::regex.  The RegEx function I ended up using is:

"(\\.|[^\"])*\"|[^\n;]+

The sad thing is, I'm not entirely certain how this works except it does when I run it through "The RegEx Coach" (excellent piece of software btw). In reality though, RegEx seems to me to be a return to the archaic language of APL (see Wikipedia to see why I make this comparison). It's an ol' APL proverb that:
'Tis every programmers goal in life
Before his race is run
To write three lines of APL
And make the damned thing run!'

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