Endless Minesweeper - Almost Finished Work In Progress
KevinCross
London, UKMember Posts: 1,894
Here's a quick preview of my second game that I've almost finished. It's an endless scrolling minesweeper game.
Before I can make it live I still have a few graphics to replace (like the coin) which I should get from the artist I'm working with early next week. I also need to throw in a few achievements, and have one final clean of code where possible. I'm hoping it'll only take another week or two.
The video is a recording of it being played on the device using a program on the Mac called Reflector. Reflector uses AirPlay to stream the device screen to the Mac but it doesn't record or show touches on the video so I've had to add a finger print graphic/actor in GameSalad that follows touches. It won't appear in the live game.
Before I can make it live I still have a few graphics to replace (like the coin) which I should get from the artist I'm working with early next week. I also need to throw in a few achievements, and have one final clean of code where possible. I'm hoping it'll only take another week or two.
The video is a recording of it being played on the device using a program on the Mac called Reflector. Reflector uses AirPlay to stream the device screen to the Mac but it doesn't record or show touches on the video so I've had to add a finger print graphic/actor in GameSalad that follows touches. It won't appear in the live game.
Comments
@matarua, I did initially set it up with different game modes, one of which was the classic fixed mode where it doesn't scroll but felt that there's already lots of minesweeper games on the store like that so removed it and stuck with the endless scrolling one. The goal is to get either as far as possible or to aim for a high score.
I based it a little on Pocket Mine where it scrolls one direction continuously and it won't let you go back the other direction.
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Giving it another look, I can see a few ideas or thoughts with the design layout and colour.
Here are my thoughts;
The whole layout of the actual gameplay looks "dull", its neat and tidy, but its not visually appealing as much as it has the potentional to be.
First, I strongly think the numbers should be in a colour shade, rather than black, since you have so much of greys already. Even if you can have different colours for each number, like minesweeper has, it will create a more simple clean look, cause at the moment its rough on the eyes.
Secondly, your power up timer bar should be a darker grey then the board colour so it doesn't become lost with the tiles. The red line bar I think needs to be a bit brighter perhaps to be a bit more noticeable.
Thirdly, to make the game have a bit more effects, ,maybe instead of having the while tiles just appear, have them zoom out, adding something extra to a part that is seen the most create a sense or more fun.
Fourthly, may just be me, but I found the positions of the power ups a bit awkward. Mainly the position they are in, did you try placing them equally across the top, so one on side, one in middle and on other side? Maybe it got lost with the score or something. Or maybe put the power ups at the bottom and expand the gameplay area up a bit.
The game itself looks pretty goods, and the above are just thoughts or ideas.
Keep on developing
The long timer bar that goes across the screen isn't the power up timers, that's the amount of time you have to make a move in. You get about 6 seconds to make a move which resets it for another 6 seconds. If you don't make a move in 6 seconds it's game over. This is needed otherwise you could just scroll on forever without making any moves. Is this the bar you're saying should be a darker grey and a brighter red? It's currently blue but turns red when it gets about half way. Have it all red?
The extended timer power up, the one on the left gives you more time to make a move in, 12 seconds but it lasts for about 30-40 seconds.
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I posted it on the December 2013 Competition thread a few days ago.
Here's the link, a video and some screenies.
https://itunes.apple.com/app/minescroller/id763880252?ls=1&mt=8
You'll see I took on some of your suggestions/feedback.
I would find it too hard to slow or stop the timer when there's no safe moves on the screen. Fortunately it doesn't happen often and I don't think it's something that ruins the experience. If anything it makes it a little more strategic when it comes to finding the best time to use the power ups
Thanks for checking it out and your comments.