A Simple Game, Development Thread

poorcollegedev

Hey guys, I've been scouting these forums for quite some time, learning in the shadows, hidden from you all. Now, it's time to come into the light, time to reveal my very first project. All I have for you right now is a prototype video recorded by my phone and some details. Hopefully soon, I'll be able to get pics and better videos up. So, without further ado, I am pleased to introduce: A SIMPLE GAME

Youtube Video:

You might need to turn up the audio on your computer. The music in the game is a bit on the quite side, especially in the beginning.

DETAILS:
1) Release soon for $0.99
2) Has 40 levels, with more on the horizon
3) A beta will be held in the coming week
4) You shall enjoy it (or not, personal preference)
5) All of the artwork is made by myself
6) The music was made by Matt McFarland (www.mattmcfarland.com)
7) The objective is to memorize and recreate the path shown to you in each level. There are 3 grid sizes: 4x4, 5x5, and 6x6. I'm looking in to a 7x7, but Im not too sure how I'll make it work as of now. Im just going to focus on releasing and making it better.

Please leave C&C. Thanks!

-- As requested the title of this tread has been changed however it belongs in the announce your game thread since its all about your game. Cheers - tenrdrmer --

tatiang

Nice concept! It looks hard, too, which is good. If you want better quality for your YouTube videos, consider using something like http://screencast-o-matic.com or Screenflow (not free) rather than filming the screen which is a poor reproduction.

poorcollegedev

@tatiang thanks for the nice words! Also, thanks for the link, I will definitely look in to that!

Now, I need a bit of help. My main focus for the past couple of hours occurs at about 48 seconds in the video above. When I go back to the main menu, the music restarts. Any idea how I can make it just continue to play?

tatiang

Does this help? http://forums.gamesalad.com/discussion/29999/pausing-game-breaks-music

poorcollegedev

@tatiang thank for taking the time to find that but I'm dealing with a change scene already and it still resets the music when you return to the main menu

gyroscope

Sorry, I meant:

Hi @poorcollegedev

Put a scene just before your main menu with the Play Music behaviour there, and a Change Scene behaviour to your main menu. (I think auto-correct might be taking over...)

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http://davidgriffinapps.co.uk/

poorcollegedev

@gyroscrope oh wow, thanks! Can't believe I couldn't figure that out lol. What did you think of the gameplay thus far?

MotherHoose

I like it @poorcollegedev

sorta like a SimonSays for adults! … and I mean that it is good!
… and looks challenging!

as you know … needs artWork … but gamePlay looks solid!

MH

poorcollegedev

@MotherHoose i did not know that lol. In your opinion, what would you change/add? And im glad you like it

Doguz

I'd add another level to it and put a sound that plays on each square, so you also hear a tune play out. Then you would hear the tune when you click the sequence again. But also I think it need a theme to get going. Maybe Disco squares?

poorcollegedev

@Doguz interesting concept, possibly a future update or even an side-release

akstudiodevelopment

I think it's a great concept. The more levels the better. I can definitely see people getting addicted.
Perhaps adding effects when touching each correct square... for example a sparkle or like @Doguz said, disco squares.

Great stuff!

poorcollegedev

Alright guys, I've taken some of your advice and created an effect for when you tap a square correctly, as well as a sound effect to play along with it. I'll post a video once I finish implementing it

MotherHoose

Here is an online Example of Simon Says

I like your game better! … if I heard the notes, I would think I was playing the kids game … and that is just me and the number of Simon games I have had to endure over the years … ignore me and listen to the majority!

think particleSparkles would be nice … and as I can get gruesome … have an axe chop off their finger (lots of blood) when the user taps the wrong space … or shock effect with electric sounds and the jiggle the camera (Tshirtbooth's video )

go for some smash graphics … colors and gradients … retina is super … make this one visual vibrant colors and sounds and effects as well as the great gamePlay you have going!

MH

LumpApps

Very nice concept. You say simple but I don't think it is.
In the beginning I thought "oh, no another block bubble, whatever game" but just seeing you playing gives an idear of how thrilling it is to play.
Just a thought... you could let for example have some funny faces or cartoon figures pop up instead of the blocks. But perhaps it is better the way it is now.

Did you use tables for the patterns or are they random?

Cheers,
Ludwig

poorcollegedev

@LudwigHeijden
@MotherHoose
@akstudiodevelopment
@Doguz
@gyroscope
@tatiang

I've been rethinking the graphics and have an idea in my head. Do you think a Neon style would better fit a game like this?

poorcollegedev

@LudwigHeijden neither, actually. I have rwo actors: button and tile. I have the levels designed on some graphing paper in my notebook and just out each square at a certain point in the scene

tatiang

I think neon could work. It definitely needs color! And I agree that particles are a good way to go to signify that the player has completed the pattern. You can use a simple star type particle like I've done for one of my games (http://dl.dropbox.com/u/19602014/StarParticles.zip) or something more complex/unique.

poorcollegedev

@tatiang

Color? Color, you say? How's this?

New Splash

vs
Old Splash

tatiang

poorcollegedev

@tatiang

So, do I get an A+?

tatiang

@poorcollegedev Well, would you believe that I don't assign grades? As an elective and specialist teacher, I write report cards but don't deal with grades. Kind of nice, actually. So I could write you a report card but I'll just give you an A+ anyway.

poorcollegedev

Sweetness, Im @tatiang approved. Lets start rolling!

poorcollegedev

Alrighty, I've finished to new artwork. Just have to implement it and I'll put up a new video to see what you guys think. Hopefully, I'll be able to get it onto an iPod tomorrow and test it. Then we'll see about a beta

poorcollegedev

Ok guys, tell me what you think of the new graphics! Quick feedback would be delightful lol. And if you turn your computers up to the highest possible setting, you can kinda hear the new music that I put in lol

tatiang

I was thinking the whole square would light up as a color rather than just the outline. Maybe that's too much like Simon? I don't know.

poorcollegedev

@tatiang I kinda just want to go back and make it all neon blue. I think it looks pretty, reminds me of Tron

poorcollegedev

Ok, no more art changes, other than a few small blemishes. It's done and ready for testing, which will begin tomorrow!

tatiang

Can't wait to try it! Can you make the "1" look less like a "7"? Is the name of the game "A Simple Game" or is that just a working title?

poorcollegedev

@tatiang haha that is actually one of the blemishes I am going back and cleaning up, along with making the 8 the same as the others. And yeah, I asked a close friend (basically a brother) to think up a name based on the early gameplay. His reasoning for selecting "A Simple Game" is because there is no other app on the store named that and that it's a contradiction of the actual gameplay, which apparently gets harder in the later levels :-)

tatiang

I think the name works, I was just curious.