Zenix3d beta (hardcore shooter)

[gosub]

Zenix3d is a hard core shooter that includes the level editor.

Screen shot: http://zenix3d.com/images/Zenix3d-2.jpg
Video: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3814316732625637926
Download: http://zenix3d.com/Download.htm

Minimum system requirements:
OS: Windows 2000/XP/Vista
CPU: 1GHZ
RAM: 512Mb
VIDEO RAM: 64MB

I am interested in all feedback concerning the game. If you have technical problems, please contact me directly at my e-mail address: jswind@zenix3d.com.

-Jeremy

[Indiepath]

Lovely GFX and gameplay but why did you choose that awful Comic-Sans font?

[Nexic]

Hardcore Bugatron, nice! Watched the YouTube, looks very cool. Gonna try this out when I get home.

[Uesugi]

Damn hard, but beautiful effects and nice attacks synchronized with the music. Without powerups, I don't think it's possible to shoot some of those big bugs long enough to destroy them.... or maybe I'm a sore loser.

I agree that you gotta drop Comic Sans! ;)

[MiceHead]

I did notice that one sound effect was the Windows bell -- was that intentional?

[gosub]

Indiepath - Which font would you suggest? Preferably one that comes with windows or is inexpensive to license.

Uesugi - Some bosses are meant to be destroyed and others are meant to be dodged***. If it's on the screen for any length of time, it can usually be blown up unless it serves some special purpose. Here's some new videos that demonstrate how to catch the power-ups and blow up the bosses:

Insect Invasion: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2c0adPJ5os
Metal Mantis: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qESA-IjocT8

MiceHead - If you listen to my original game (released in 1989) you'll hear a very similar bell. I decided it wouldn't be worth my time or effort to sue Microsoft for using my bell idea.

-Jeremy

*** Edit!

[luggage]

There are hundreds of free fonts available and would take you just a few minutes to knock up a routine to use bitmap fonts. There's a reason why 99.99% of retail games use bitmap fonts - they look better.

[mrkwang]

Just checked Youtube Trailer.

That bell sound... is not so good. As I saw the trailer, I think my window got wrong 1-2 times per second.

[gosub]

I think my window got wrong 1-2 times per second.

I'm sorry, I don't understand what you mean. In any case, I'll probably replace the bell sound.

-Jeremy

[mrkwang]

I'm sorry, I don't understand what you mean. In any case, I'll probably replace the bell sound.

-Jeremy

I mean.

I thought my window crashes a lot, due to Youtube trailer. You know, our Window crashs without any reason sometimes.

[gosub]

I have removed the .NET 2.0 requirement and included the level editor.

-Jeremy

[rmedtx]

Congrats gosub!
That is a pretty awesome game. I love the graphics. Everything is great in the game but the graphics are just awesome!

[MiceHead]

Jeremy showed this game off at a gathering I had recently. It looked sweet, of course. But in multi-player cooperative mode, he shot me.

I should have kicked him out. The bastard. ;)

[gosub]

> rmedtx - Congrats gosub! That is a pretty awesome game.

Thanks!

> I love the graphics. Everything is great in the game but the graphics are just awesome!

Randy O'Connor did all the 3d models, so kudos to him!

> MiceHead - Jeremy showed this game off at a gathering I had recently. It looked sweet, of course. But in multi-player cooperative mode, he shot me.

Lol, yeah I removed that "feature" in the latest release. Maybe I'll add a "Death Match" option.

-Jeremy

[gosub]

Please download the demo first, and then try the release. I did change the bell sound, but have not yet updated the video on the web site.

Is there anything I should do to the game before releasing? Does the demo sell the game without giving away too much? How should I change the web site to make it better (it's not done yet, but I could use a few ideas).

Web site: http://zenix3d.com
Download: http://zenix3d.com/Download.htm

-Jeremy

[jeb_]

I tried the "release" version. The first level was maybe too hard, because I wasn't able to kill anything before it flew off the screen.

- I love the music synchronization stuff... that was actually the only reason why I downloaded it. A really great idea!

- The pickup bonuses should be easier to see. I only knew that I could pick them up because I had seen them in the youtube clip.

- A final question... Does the ship's weapon improve somehow?

[jeb_]

I downloaded all the music tunes. Really great work, feels so "nintendo" :)

[gosub]

Thanks for the complements Jeb. Matthew Myers did all the music, so kudos to him!

I'm going to make the first level a little easier. There are powerups which increase the ship's fire power. Getting as many of them as possible is key to doing well. It's all described on the strategy page.

-Jeremy

[MiceHead]

Matt's music is catchy. And at the most recent Boston Post Mortem, we both spontaneously (and simultaneously) started humming the Zenix 3d level 1 background track as a slow ballad.

That's how you know the music is working.