Need feedback for a game in developing

Frazzle

Here's a short youtube clip of 3 levels in a game I'm developing called flip that is similar to VVVVVV (a great game on steam, check it out)
So I'm looking for feedback as I'm not sure if the graphics look good and if the physics are suitable.



Also, the game runs much smoother than it shows in this video but i have no idea what is going on in the first few seconds.

FM

old_kipper

your video is set to private

cheers kipper

Frazzle

Cheers,I'll fix that.
[EDIT]it's fixed.

mangaroo

i am a big fan of these games, bear in mind difficulty especially the opening 3-5 stages (depending on length) basically the first 15-20 mins should not frustrate the player unreasonably so make sure to give it to friends and see their first playthroughs - its different when u are just previewing every 10 minutes and giving it a play!

scale the difficulty, i think those blocks are pretty small and although challenge is crucial perhaps have wider platforms to begin with. Also in the beginning ill admit its good for practice but try less repetition and more originality- just to give the impression of cool puzzles to come later on, pretty sure most people only leave a review if they are pissed off or really happy with the game - and the noobs will be quicker to post. a problem with the game cost these days - people may not practice as much as the dev wants, instead pick up and play something else in their library

i personally loved the second level design myself, the pacing/anticipation and symmetry is top-notch

I know these are only a few examples in the video - perhaps position the goal at different sections and possibly work longer levels in with the camera following the player for later levels (a suggestion for when u find yourself repeating designs in the current screen size.

controls would be left/right + trigger gravity change right? perhaps right side of screen = right, left = left, both = gravity

the graphics will definitely need to change man at least slightly. Even if u want the simple white and black - it will limit your sales to the hardcore fans i think. Of course angry birds style isnt what i was thinking, VVVVV has a nice simple style - i really recommend hiring a pixel artist or working on some simple designs yourself for this project if u want to make

Dizko

You've captured the VVVVVV gameplay pretty well, this is just a proof of concept?

Metronome49

I'm not sure people would want to play with a square as a character. The thing that makes VVVVVV work is the fact that it's quirky, so the low-bit style graphics are interesting. This doesn't really seem quirky.

I agree with Mangaroo, if you make this, the first few levels need to just be really simple game mechanics tuts.

Also, just having 1 spike is kind of weird I think, I was surprised that killed you.

Frazzle

Mangaroo:cheers for the big insight.I'm definitely going to include easier levels than this and harder levels.I'll also include scrolling levels so that will FORCE levels to be less repetitive. I also want to include colour settings so you can change themes etc.

Thanks a lot for the compliment on level2... It took me ages.

Finally, controls are left key,right key and space as it's on OSX.

FM

Frazzle

Metronome49:I'm one step ahead of you, I'm already creating a basic,intermediate and advanced set of tutorials that feature new mechanics/gameplay elements. Seeing as you 2 are helping me, here's what I have in mind:
Basic: Gravity Changing + Spikes + blocks that destroy after they are touched
Intermediate: Moving Platforms + missile launchers(like in level 3) + (perhaps)lines that change gravity when touched(I think this will be TOO similar to VVVVVV)
Advanced: Move-able and gravity-affected Blocks + Platforms you can't change gravity on.

I also think having only 1 spike on it's own looks odd,but I guess I'll have to implement them anyway.
I want the character to have cubic(?) dimensions but I might change to look later on down the line.
Finally, I think I'll include a new image of a spike with blood on it as I think that will make the game look better.
Cheers for the help,

FM

Metronome49

You're definitely on that line of being too similar to VVVVVV.

Frazzle

On what grounds?
I sure the gravity - lines are too similar to VVVVVV, so I'm not going to include them.
I'm going out of my way to make sure this game will be as unique as possible.
For example, the gravity affected blocks will allow you to use them as stepping stones across spikes.
That's slightly original.
But say if you're standing on a platform that doesn't allow you to change your gravity,yet when you press space if a block isn't touching a non-gravity-changing platform these platforms change the block's gravity.
Imagine how many puzzles I could create from that one gameplay mechanic.

FM

Frazzle

[EDIT] I've just included missile launchers into my list.
I've also had an idea: Heat seeking missile launchers?Could be interesting.
As always, keen to hear feedback.

FM

Metronome49

Yeah, I see what your saying with original gameplay elements, but as of right now, it has 1-bit graphics VVVVVV style, and gravity changing as its chief gameplay mechanic. That's a fine line already.

I mean, if you post your video and everyone goes, "oh, like VVVVVV" you're on the line.

I would change the graphic style up.

Nicking ideas from the gameplay mechanic or the graphic style I would say is mostly fine, but both at the same time? Fine line.

Frazzle

Sadly,I agree with you. I REALLY want to make the game monochrome (apart from the bloody spikes that I've just included) but it does make it look like VVVVVV, to the point where people may think it's a cheap copy.

Perhaps when I complete the game on the gameplay and menu side of things, I'll look at the graphics as this will allow me to focus on 1 side of the game at a time.

FM