Nanotron Beta Test

[rmedtx]

Guys,

We are ready for Beta Testing Nanotron; Starting May 1. We have set up a site where people can register to be Beta Testers. If any of you guys can give us feedback; You can find the demo here:

http://www.orbitalcows.com/downloads/nanotrondemosetup_build145.exe

Here is the info about the game:

Title: Nanotron

Screens:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v248/rmedtx/nanotron1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v248/rmedtx/nanotron4.jpg

Specs:
Windows XP / Vista
Processor 800 Mhz or higher
96 MB RAM (512 MB for Windows Vista)
100 MB free disk space

Description: This is an arcade style casual game; It’s cross between brick-breaking games and Space Invaders games. You are in control of the Nanotechnology bat and you have to stop the germs infecting the a patient.

60 Levels
27 different germs
5 bosses
18 bat power ups

Thanks in advance for your comments and feedback.
Eduardo Ramirez

[Agent 4125]

Maybe it's too early to mention this, but... Text.


Try a sans serif instead. Nothing too decorative.
Labels and values should look distinct from each other. Though size, position, and/or color.
The logo is illegible. It looks like "AAAOtrOA" to my eyes.
Change "Escape" to "Esc" since that's what the key looks like.
There's a lot of crowding in the lower right box. I'd put the score in the middle empty section and leave the value on its own line, to handle larger scores.

[rmedtx]

Maybe it's too early to mention this, but... Text.


Try a sans serif instead. Nothing too decorative.
Labels and values should look distinct from each other. Though size, position, and/or color.
The logo is illegible. It looks like "AAAOtrOA" to my eyes.
Change "Escape" to "Esc" since that's what the key looks like.
There's a lot of crowding in the lower right box. I'd put the score in the middle empty section and leave the value on its own line, to handle larger scores.


Thanks Agent,

Your feedback is really helpful. I will try the changes you suggest.

[Uesugi]

I tried it real quick, but couldn't play for long because there is no keyboard support. You need to add arrow key support.

I got the impression that the explosion sound of a germ being destroyed was delayed.

[rmedtx]

I tried it real quick, but couldn't play for long because there is no keyboard support. You need to add arrow key support.

I got the impression that the explosion sound of a germ being destroyed was delayed.

Uesugi,

Thanks for taking the time to try the game and for your feedback. We will check into the delay in the explosion. Originally we had arrow key support but we decided to get rid of it. Maybe we should add the arrow key support back into the game. I will check that with Steve (Programmer).

[Cartman]

Overall I think it will be a fun game when it's finished. Here are my observations:

Couldn't get the logo screen to dissapear when I clicked on it.

I opened notepad and the game minimized to a Java icon in the system tray. Then I clicked on the icon to resume it shut down.

On the comic book intro, I expected to have arrows to allow me to move through the pages, or for them to respond when I clicked or pressed a key.

I clicked off and back onto the game.The main menu appeared with a bunch of buttons. At the bottom was "Resume". I clicked it and the game just shut down.

Animation seems to need at least twice as many frames to make it feel more entertaining. Too jerky in my opinion.

The text was jaggy and very noticeable. I liked the use of colors. The button colors didnt' do anything for me. I think they should have been bigger, and perhaps an orange hue instead of red.

You need a windows mode.

The menus need to be less DOS like and more Windows/Mac looking or more game (I like to call bubbly) looking.

The Instruction tabs were LOADED with information. I got overwealmed looking at it. I know it's rare for anyone to say this, but I think you are providing too much information. Most of it can be displayed as the game progresses.

If some of this information has already been said, I appologize. I just don't like to read other peoples opinions before I make my own, so I'm not influenced by them.

Good luck.

[Cartman]

Check your uninstall by the way. The Orbital Cows link stays behind after uninstall. A big no-no.

[rmedtx]

Thanks Cartman, We will look into these issues.

[cowgod]

I'm the programmer for Nanotron. I couldn't post earlier because of the 48-hour wait, so I waited to post until I posted a new build today.

Attached is an image of Nanotron in windowed mode.

Most of the cosmetic changes were easy to make. Some of the artwork updates are done, but most aren't. I have a few other images that could have been included in the build, but I didn't want to mix things like having 2 new images in the inro and 1 old image.

We're in beta testing right now. If any of you want to try out the deluxe version of Nanotron, you can join the beta test at http://www.orbitalcows.com/games/nanotronbetatest.php .

Agent 4125:

Changing the font, moving text around, etc. all sound like good ideas. The "empty" spot in the middle isn't empty on boss levels though - the boss health appears there.

This is, for the most part, done.

Uesugi:

The game had arrow key support before, and I put it back in (and improved it). It's alot easier to use the mouse though.

Cartman:

The logo screen doesn't disappear until the game is done loading all the images and so forth. I will try moving this into a seperate thread so that it doesn't hold up the game start up. It may be difficult to do at this point, but it's something I wish I had done to begin with.

I've had many of the same problems as Cartman occur erratically when minimizing the game. I didn't worry too much about it because it only seemed to be happening to me. There's one bug having to do with this that is definetly fixed, and I don't seem to be having problems any more.

The game used to be ONLY in a window and not in full screen exclusive mode. I've now made it so that it can be either - switch between modes on the options screen.

If other people think the instructions tabs have too much information, I can change this. Would it be better to have information about germs, pills, etc. appear immediately before the first level they appear on instead of (or in addition to) the instructions?

I made the Orbital Cows link stay behind after uninstall on purpose. I figured that people with multiple Orbital Cows games would keep the link. It hadn't occurred to me how annoying that would be. I have changed it.

[cowgod]

One unique idea that someone on another forum had was to have the ceiling descend as the germs get lower. It wouldn't descend as much as the germs do, but it would move down somewhat as the germs reach the bottom.

It would be nice because it would reduce the amount of time that the ball is bouncing around above the germs when the germs are close to the bottom. It would make little sense, but it would be something interesting.

I was wondering what people on this forum think about this idea?

[RinkuHero]

I don't like that it uses a Windows font -- to me, the single most defining feature of when a game looks too amateur to try playing is when it just uses a standard Windows font, without any type of shading, outlining in black, or anything like that.

I've made the same mistake (http://studioeres.com/games/a6-1.gif), though.

[cowgod]

I will try to come up with a more impressive font. I'll have to look at some other games for some inspiration.