72 hour entry :: "Retro Racers"

[Indigo]

alright the compo is over and i can get back to work on my KOS sprite.  -but i thought i should post about my compo entry here since there is a bunch of pixel art in it and i think you guys would enjoy it.  C+C is nice if you want, but keep in mind that i wont be updating this and your critique will be used only as future reference.

screens:


Download:
www.spriteart.com/indigo/RetroRacers.zip

Let me know what you think
-Dan

EDIT:  Just so you guys know, hand-pixeling a 16 directional isometric craft is a PAIN! dont EVER do it!

[Ro83rt]

It doesn't work for me. Do I need some kind of special software?

[Matriax]

For me works perfectly.

Jajajaj is very Funny  and the gfx are good.

Is a little complicated, but i think with more practice, th control will be better.

Good work.

[Indigo]

no need for special software - but it could be that your graphics card can't open a fullscreen 400 by 300 res

[Larwick]

I think i have the same problem as Ro83rt, which is a shame. But it looks pretty neat from the screenshots and lil animation.

[Indigo]

so yeah - if you go ahead and download this game on a computer with a slightly older graphics card - it should run fine.  I'll see if i can make a version that runs on 800 by 600 for you guys (with everything zoomed x2 so it looks like 400 by 300).  Untill then, try downloading on another computer

[Evil-Ville]

Worked fine for me, I am using Radeon X800. Nice game by the way, probably the best isometric racing game I have played. :P

[Andy Tran]

 Impressive! Looks like a good game. I'll bookmark it until it comes out. The straight lines of the cars are kinda jaggy. You might wanna work on those. Anyways, good shading and detailing. Keep it up.

[rabidbaboy]

EDIT:  Just so you guys know, hand-pixeling a 16 directional isometric craft is a PAIN! dont EVER do it!

boy, do i know that. not only a pain i the ass, but for the eyes as well...>_@
but you did a great job on it, imo.

[iEmo]

Dan! excellent work have the judges decided yet?

[Kennethfejer]

cool game was really fun to play, even though i ended up last in the race

[.TakaM]

great work, especially for 72 hours

the controls seemed a little strange. I was expecting up and down to control acceleration and left and right just to steer, but these controls worked just fine

*thumbsup*

just one problem, it crashes after I complete the first course

[Andy Tran]

 Mb, i thought wasn't out yet. It's out. Wonderful game I've played. It's kinda difficult to drive, but great gfx though.

[fil_razorback]

Very cool, especially for a 72h game ^^

[Tinygiant]

Wont work for me either, get a User Lib error.

Damn looks cool as well.

[Indigo]

thanks everyone for all the comments.  I've been getting alot of feedback and decided to update the game just a tad.

planned revisions...

SOUND:

fix motor sound problem:
-start off with higher pitch motor sound at 22000
-fix sound to co-ordinate with the speed of the craft, and not the buttons being pressed down
-loop low-rumble at all times (idle motor sound)?
-add more music (only if new graphic sets are created)


CODING:

fix all bugs:
-user lib not found
-crashes after lvl 1
-crashes after lose/win upon replaying
-not loading at all
 -splash screen with different video mode options 400,300 or 800,600
-fix screen fade maybe

things to add:
-add options button in menu:
 -alpha/beta controls
 -video mode
-(using the esc key)pause menu including:
 -resume game
 -end race
 -restart race
 -exit to menu
-level selection screen
 -select level using unlockables method
 -add a practice level with no racers and no laps
-shadow under cars using alpha transparency
-car selection screen


GRAPHICS:

things to fix:
-tile errors and lvl flaws
-car variences
-3..2..1...go needs re-working
-1st, 2nd, etc could be CG

things to add:
-more vegitation
-more graphic sets? (requiring more artists?)
-pause menu graphics
-mini iso tiles for lvl selection screen
-car selection screen gfx

beta controls will be the standard pressing left rotates the car to the left and forward is the gas.  that seems to be the number 1 gripe; the controls.

[Katakus]

My graphic card sucks.

What program did you make it with?

[Gil]

My pretty new X1600 XT doesn't like 400x300 

[Matriax]

I use Nvidia 7800GTX.

Is possible the news ati fails? i think the peopla have said : Work or not work the game and the graphic card use to get the problem, if is the ati/nvidia, drivers, configuration.....

I think put a previous menu to chosse a resolution is good idea.

[pi]

This was really cool. The controls... They take alot of practice. Maybe you could make an "Options" where you can change the controls.
And character/hoovercraft selection would be cool.
Nice graphics too.

[fil_razorback]

I  think the control were ok, it's pretty logical...
wanna go up ? press up ; wanna go down ?  press down...

[Rox]

I  think the control were ok, it's pretty logical...
wanna go up ? press up ; wanna go down ?  press down...

Yeah, it's logical, but it's less so to have a vehicle that can only be aimed in 8 directions. With an analog stick, these controls would probably be wonderful, but I don't like them on a keyboard...

That said, it's a pretty fun game, and I dig the graphics quite a bit!

Also, I have an ATI Radeon X600, and it works for me.

[Conzeit]

I've been trough the compo before and I know how hard it is. this must've been even harder because it was one day only.

I think it is great, it is a charming little game and I loved the boxy little ships

the only complaint I have is the lack of an accelerating button, it's not really that complicated and it's so commonplace it's frustrating to not have it when you just crashed and you want to catch up to the guy, makes you feel less in control.

[NyanNyanKoneko]

I had trouble running the game (my graphics card or monitor didn't like it), so I hacked the EXE to run in a window.

Here's the uploaded hacked EXE: http://www.playingwithyarn.net/share/RetroRacers-Windowed.zip

[pi]

Question: What program did you use to make this game?

[Lick]

pi: Play Basic, if you look at the windowtitle.

Indigo: very nice. I like the look of the game (actually, I like your work in general) it's colorful but also in a refreshing way. The game, well nice for a 72h game but it actually lacks gameplay. The control is definitely something you should improve and perhaps the speed. To make the game more fun, I would recommend the ai-cheat-player-advantage way. Make the AI slightly faster (not as fast as the always-#1-cart though, that guy was sick), but give the player the advantage of using boosts and shortcuts that require skill, while the AI is just doing the 'normal route'.
Anyway, it looks awesome yes!!

[NyanNyanKoneko]

When you make your own games, they are almost always too hard, so you have to consciously make them kind of easy. 

You'll never please everyone though.  If you make it too easy, some people won't like the lack of a challenge, but if you make it too hard, most people will get frustrated and turn it off.

I lean more toward the easy side of things as I would rather people be able to play through the game instead of getting stuck; however I understand why maybe a "hard" mode might appeal to certain players.

[Buzz]

I loved the sprites in the game, but I really didnt like the gameplay, nothign you can help though.  Of course I'm glad it's not amazing, cause if it was my little game I entered would have no chance.

[eghost]

Loved the graphics work on this one Dan...