The game: My Game Part 6 - (dev. log) : My games WIP topic

Hi Friend,

it has been a really productive month for me in terms of development on this game and exposure to the outside world. I decided to start a WIP project topic on the official game maker community forums, which has really showed a positive response from the community. It also is helping me significantly to get more people testing my game and help me find bugs to improve it by their suggestions. For all people helping me out there, I'm really grateful! 

Also this topic post is the reason I found my first sound engineer, whom was so impressed by the project that he was willing to work on it for free until the day it is published...really nice when success breeds success. So I think the model of proving to people first that you are serious with a demo, and progress is the way to go instead of just spamming the internet with team requests of your idea. Ideas float in the air, so make sure to start as soon possible to make your ideas into real products or demos.

So yeah, now the game demo sounds are also improving, with a rather cool retro pew pew atmosphere.

I have done so much in terms of the game development that it will be easier for you to follow my WIP topic, where I will also maintain the latest demo for the time being. 

Here is that link now:

My Game WIP topic

Will you please go try out the latest demo there, the inventory system is working so much better now and the crafting chest inventory also works...as soon as my game engine runs smooth with no bugs, I need to add light effects for day/night cycle and then can focus more on game goals and giving a sense of direction for the player...

On a personal note, I joined an awesome shared work space, where freelancers and business start-ups are joining and sharing the same office space. It is really exciting and productive, and get me to a schedule to focus more. So let us hope this improves the productivity even more...I do recommend this to anyone rather than working alone from home.

Thanks for reading this, I appreciate your time and feedback!

My Game - Concept Art pieces

This is just to make it easier to show on other forums via a direct url link:

Meemo First Concept art for Idle stand, in same retro style as the game...

Meemo Concept animated in the game, in correct style (i think).

A screen capture of when game room starts, with crafting chest working

The game: My Game Part 5 - (dev. log) : 1st Game Demo

I finally got the game to a very basic point where you can play test some of the first features,
well at least it beats a video and is still smaller in size, ha ha!

Here is a Dropbox link to the first ever game demo, of this game I'm making in 2013.

MyGame Demo1

Any positive or constructive criticism is welcome and I will try to answer all your questions,
but please be respectful and refrain from overly negative criticism since this is still very early in development and pre-pre-alpha. Yes that means this is a work in progress (WIP). Hmm maybe time to create a WIP topic on the game maker community forums at GMC.

I fixed too many little bugs and things to mention, so here is just a copy and past of what is on my todo list:

Game Name: ???????
Genre: Robot Survival with Crafting as main mechanic!

STUFF to remove at game publish:
Cheats, etc
+ oControl STEP event, test
+ all TEST scripts, first set TEST constant = 0 to switch off.
+ any dead commented code clutter
+ use more scripts
+ optimise code, remove nested loops and make individual tests

CONTROLS:
MOUSE - control whole game with mouse!!!
Maybe shortcut selection keys for Inventory, just to move around.
Like <C> opens and closes Crafting.
F12 - restart whole game
Esc - exit whole game

+ NEXT STEP:
+ COMBAT:
- Add Player ATTACK animation (swipe, something basic for now, can add more layers later)
- Add Player ACTION animation  (small swipe when looting, crafting, etc.)
- Add sndEnemyHurt
- Add sndEnemyDie
- Add check to spawn enemies, when few left, check in oControlCycles
+ HUD display:
- Add indication when dmg/health or increase/decrease affects Player gPwr/gOil/gHP
+ Add enemies:
- Add oEnemy "Hungry Hoover" and "Radioactive Snail"
+ Add world map
+ Add character equipment items, and slot system
+ Add oEnemy Boss like, or mini-Boss.

+ BUGS:
- MEDIUM: Crafting: If inventory full, then oProduct lost (drop it to ground!)
- LOW : at game start gSelected = -1; so dragging craftbox dissapears, until first item looted.

+ IMPROVEMENTS:
- Consider making more sprites for sHeart and sOil and sBattery on HUD to show more smaller changes in Player stats

+ MECHANICS:
A few things, which is still a must for basic engine mechanics:
1. Place-able objects made from crafting. So you can place a new crafting box, or chest or machine on the game floor, etc.
5. Finish Crafting Recipe and Chest for materials sections, which currently is not crucial, that is why the empty grey placeholders are there.

++Crafting:
- Player begins with craft box in his inventory (which allows C-button to craft anywhere) {to close C again, or right-click}
- if Player drops box, then he can only craft near it in that zone


++ Create Recipe engine (BASIC) but streamlined.
- Player upgrade slots (limited slots) for batteries and solar panels, tools, addons etc.
- Scrapping of items for basic mats
- Add clouds in same block pixel style and alpha transparent
- Add day/night cycle easily with alarms which changes GAME_STATES, animations! Light effects via more surfaces

+ FEATUREs:
- Tooltip bubble could also auto adjust in size maybe in y-direction, if required, but not yet.
-  Recipes only work on specific spot or mats placement on craft table!! Lower priority than content now.
- Crafting: Allow to keep stack on Mouse (visible) and add multiple items to Craft table or other places (maybe with right click?) instead of 1 by 1.
- RECODE: Crafting: Recipes: Available Recipe Symbols (Case sensitive) (etc. BUT RATHER RECODE TO TAKE STRINGS of ANY length)

++ ADD Mats & Craft Items:
+++ Mats:
- Wood / Cans / Screws /
++++ Speudo Mats:

+++ TOOLS:
- Metal: Screwdriver (rod + pipe)

+++ POWER:
- Solar Panel


HOW TO PLAY:
Use <mouse left-click> to travel and select items
<mouse left-click HOLD> to drag items, and release to drop


GENRE:
Survival, crafting game

PLOT:
Wall-e

Mechanics:
SURVIVE!
fun?
different enemy puzzles?

Constraints:
- 2D art Pixelated
- Fixed world map size (doesnt grow like minecraft)
- Flat World
- Single Player
- No seasons, only Day and Night like Minecraft
- Alpha = 1x character player
- Beta = 3x character players