Gaming

Aegean Layout

The layout for the Aegean Quick Start book wasn’t created using InDesign or Scribus or any standard design tools. I don’t have any experience with either so I found them difficult to get started with. I do have a background in programming, web development and UX, so I made use of the skills and tools I already had.

Aegean Playtest

Last weekend was UKGamesExpo in Birmingham. It was my first time there and I dove in head-first with a playtest of Aegean, the Greek myth inspired role-playing game which I’ve been working on for the past couple of years.

Pendragon Coats of Arms

A few years ago I started a long running campaign of the Pendragon RPG. It’s a great game, following the life and death of King Arthur, Queen Guenevere, and the Knights of the Round Table. It focuses heavily on the medieval romance aspect of the legend — Le Morte d’Arthur and Chretien — and follows your character’s family through the generations.

Ludum Dare 35 Game Play

I’ve got no idea what I’m calling this but the idea of the game is to merge different coloured blocks to create a shape based off of a tetrimino. Merging two blocks the same colour creates a shape and changes the colour. Merge all of the blocks until you have the shape.

Half Way There

It’s just past the half way mark and I’ve got… something. The basics of the game play are in place, although there are few features I’d like to add, and a lot of the graphics are in place.

Trollhammer Dilemma

Game play dilemma: I was going to have it so when Troll jumps and lands the camera shakes and the villagers pause for a second. This gives Troll the chance to catch everyone. This is very powerful so I was going to temper it by giving Troll a five second recovery period.

You are the Monster

I managed some brain storming before I slept last night and I came up with a few ideas. Initially I was thinking of a taking a classic arcade game and switching the roles so the player took on the part of the bad guy from the game. Space Invaders where you’re the aliens or Pacman where you’re the ghosts. I’m not convinced the game play would be interesting enough for that.

Ludum Dare 33 Theme

The theme has just been announced and it’s You are the Monster. I’ve seen that in the voting a few times before. There’s probably a tonne of takes on old games, but playing the bad guy, that could be done.

First Day

The first day is almost over and it’s been fairly productive. Artwork was tricky but that’s my major weak spot. I haven’t quite got all of the things I wanted done but it’s pretty close. Tomorrow will be spent doing some character animations, some music and polishing the game play.

My Idea Maybe Too Complicated

After going through various ideas of 2D beat-em ups involving clowns battling with daffodils, lawyers sueing each other or fighting off zombies with household implements (a la Shaun of the Dead) I’m settling on something I’m calling ABC Worriers1.

Ludum Dare 32 Theme

This theme has just been announced and it’s An Unconventional Weapon. Hmm, that’s one that I had no real opinion on. I may need to get out my thinking brain for this!

Role-Playing

One hobby I’ve resurrected over the past couple of years is playing role-playing games. I hadn’t played properly since my mid-20’s when I was living in Cambridge but being in Glasgow for the past couple of years and meeting lots of role-players up here has given me a chance to get involved in a lot of games, which I’ve been thoroughly enjoying!

The Drowning Man

And I’m done, with just over an hour to spare! The Drowning Man is trapped beneath the ice of a frozen river. You must help him swim to safety, avoiding the nasty looking fish and floating debris. Guide him to the holes in the ice to help him survive.

Artwork

Below are some sketches for character designs. Now to Gimp to see if I can reproduce them for the game.

Almost there...

In the end I ditched the whackamole idea and restarted with the trapped under ice idea. I’ve got the game play in place, I need to do some proper graphics and animation and get some music written.

Dilemma

After spending the morning coding and getting to grips with Phaser I’m now starting to think my original idea of someone trapped under ice may be easier to achieve, given the time frame. Not sure whether to start over or push through with whackamole.

Programmer Graphics

Artwork is really not my strong suit so I usually try and do something interesting with chalks and pens to get me away from the computer. But first, some basic graphics so I can get the game play working.

No Ludum Idea

So, beneath the surface. My initial idea was someone swimming under a frozen lake. It would be an overhead 2D shooter, similar to Galaxian, where you would fend off fish and swim for air holes. This might be a bit too depressing as you’re constantly struggling just to breathe.

Ludum Dare Theme

This theme has just been announced and it’s Beneath the Surface. It wasn’t one I voted for and I’m not entirely sure what to do with it. My initial thought is someone trapped under ice but I don’t know how I can make that into a game just yet.

Ludum Dare Tech

I’m using this Ludum Dare as an opportunity to try out some new technology. I’m going to use Phaser for development along with Browserify and possibly Yeoman for various package management. All that requires Node to be installed, which I don’t have on my main development machine so that’s first.