Pin's Penguin Puzzler
JustMe74
Member, PRO Posts: 542
I'm almost done with my first game - Pin's Penguin Puzzler!
The idea behind the game is to walk on or jump on every ice block on the board before jumping onto the igloo. After you jump off of an ice block, it breaks and falls into the water. There is also a timer which varies from level to level; if it gets to "0" then all of the ice blocks break and you lose the level. There are also fish that you can catch by landing on them or jumping over them; fish give you stars. At certain intervals on the timer, the fish start to disappear. Pin the Penguin can walk from block to adjacent block, or he may jump up to two squares away from where he is. Jumping into the water causes you to lose the level as well.
The levels start out very easy but get pretty tough. Some are just tough to figure out; others are a race against the clock to reach the igloo. Finally, some have multiple paths, with the most complex paths allowing you to get all three fish, where the easier path might have 2, 1, or 0 fish.
Here are a few screenshots; this is from the GameSalad preview on my Mac... the real art on the iPhone and iPad looks a million times better:
Title Screen:
Level Select:
(using Tshirtbooths awesome menu system with a few modifications)
In Game Screenshot of an Early Level
Level Complete:
Level Failed, Try Again:
I'm just building the last 30 or so levels and polishing it now. I also need to add music and sound effects -- something that, frankly, I know very little about.
The idea behind the game is to walk on or jump on every ice block on the board before jumping onto the igloo. After you jump off of an ice block, it breaks and falls into the water. There is also a timer which varies from level to level; if it gets to "0" then all of the ice blocks break and you lose the level. There are also fish that you can catch by landing on them or jumping over them; fish give you stars. At certain intervals on the timer, the fish start to disappear. Pin the Penguin can walk from block to adjacent block, or he may jump up to two squares away from where he is. Jumping into the water causes you to lose the level as well.
The levels start out very easy but get pretty tough. Some are just tough to figure out; others are a race against the clock to reach the igloo. Finally, some have multiple paths, with the most complex paths allowing you to get all three fish, where the easier path might have 2, 1, or 0 fish.
Here are a few screenshots; this is from the GameSalad preview on my Mac... the real art on the iPhone and iPad looks a million times better:
Title Screen:
Level Select:
(using Tshirtbooths awesome menu system with a few modifications)
In Game Screenshot of an Early Level
Level Complete:
Level Failed, Try Again:
I'm just building the last 30 or so levels and polishing it now. I also need to add music and sound effects -- something that, frankly, I know very little about.
Comments
Things left to do:
1). Music (working with a musician to create a musical score for the levels and title screen)
2). Sound effects
3). Finish building the levels. I have 10 in there right now, and more designed but not put into the game. This will take a while.
4). Playtest each level and adjust the countdown timer / when fish disappear.
5). Fix a number of bugs.
6). Polish, polish, polish!
What's the best way to record a video that includes the sound from the game as well?
Can't wait to get my hands on this one. In case you didn't know, I have come to like penguins.
My GameSalad Academy Courses! ◦ Check out my quality templates! ◦ Add me on Skype: braydon_sfx
Thank you.
@Braydon_SFX
I will be sure to give you a promo code. The game is targeted to kids, but I do think that the puzzles get pretty challenging even for adults.
I do plan to publish the "Free" version to the GS Arcade as well, so anyone will be able to try it.
Keep us updated.
Darren.
You're right about that. I have 45 of 60 total levels designed now, but getting them into Gamesalad is very time consuming. I only have 15 in the working version of the game at the moment.
@Kellyk
Thanks! Glad you like Pin.
On the last level I went through, I let the timer run all the way down. I have a bell that chimes differently for the last few seconds (also the music, when it's done, will also speed up towards the end as the timer is running down).
I'm going to be creating a different background for each level as well. That's going to push the release out a bit, but I think it would add a lot.
This is all based on an original template created by @tenrdrmer. Very little of his original template is still in the game, but the basic concept for this game was originally his.
If anyone would be interested in doing this, please send me a PM. (Test will be on the iPhone version).
The game music is being created by Angela Woods (see her on SoundCloud at http://soundcloud.com/angela-woods), a personal friend of mine who has recorded with platinum producer Sam Conjerti Jr. and gold/platinum producer Brad Young.
Next I'm working on the Android version. When that is done, I'll be creating a trailer and marketing package and launching all 4 versions on the same day.