Feedback for MBS4 - new OpenGL version!

[Karja]

Helloo again. Some may have noticed that I posted a game last week that didn't work on most people's comps. I decided to convert it all to OpenGL instead of DX8.1 (as I actually prefer OpenGL anyway), and thus solve my mysterious weird build environments or libraries or whatever caused the errors.

(Well, the actual crashes came from a null pointer, when no device could be created. I *cough* forgot to check the return value.)

Either way, here's a brand spanking new version which I'd really like feedback on! This time around I've made sure it at least runs on my VMWare Win98 installation as well as 2000/XP.

http://www.karja.com/files/MBS4_0.9.exe
or here:
http://www.cyd.liu.se/users/~mirka774/Prog/MBS4_0.9.exe
(Update: people apparently thought it was too difficult. Here's a patch that makes the game easier (at least in the beginning) http://www.karja.com/files/MBS4.exe This is just the exe file - copy it over the old one in an installed game; I didn't see it worthwhile to make a new installer.)

I'd really like feedback on the technical issues; does it work well on your comp, what specs do you have, etc. But also on game issues; do you like it/dislike it, find it too hard, too easy, etc. Everything you can think of is appreciated!

Oh, and a final thing: I was planning on releasing this as freeware, since I doubt I can compete with other indies on the graphics side. (And I sure can't afford to hire an artist now.) Would you say that this is an accurate observation? (And on that note: thanks for your comments in the other thread, princec! I'd just like more people's opinions on the issue as well before I decide.)

[Gary the Llama]

Just tried the game out.

Here are my specs:


AMD Athlon64 3000+
1GB RAM
GeForce ti4400
Windows 2000


Here are my impressions:


The game ran fine in both full screen and windowed mode.

It actually ran too fast on my machine. Are you using time-based movement? I got the distinct impression that you weren't because everything just moved too fast. Especially the enemies. Either way, you need to slow down the game.

Now I assume that you were going for a SmashTV sort of feel to the game. Unfortunately, without an analog stick, it's very difficult to play this sort of game. I would recommend adding the ability to use the mouse to aim in ANY direction you want (not just the 8 directions). Playing on a keyboard is just too hard. (Or I just suck which is probably the case.)

The controls are probably my biggest gripe. If a game doesn't control well, I won't play it for very long and herein lies the problems. I played it for about 5 minutes. I got fed up with the controls and uninstalled it. No offense, the game has potential, but without mouse control for aiming, it's just no fun to play.


I hope this helps. Add in mouse control and I'd play it again in a heartbeat because I love SmashTV. :D

[20thCenturyBoy]

Spec : P3 1Ghz, 512MB, GeForce 2GTS, WinXP SP2

Pretty much agree with Gary. You need to at least make the first level much easier, it is simply too difficult at present. And the controls...much too hard on keyboard. If you sorted out the controls I could play for longer and give you more feedback. As it is I am lasting for about 10 seconds :(

20thCB

[Gary the Llama]

As it is I am lasting for about 10 seconds :(

Got you beat, I last about 11 seconds. :p

[Reactor]

Worked fine, AND I lasted about 30 seconds... but the other guys are right. Too hard... or as I saw it, the enemy bullets are too fast.

Playing on a keyboard is just too hard.

I have to add though- I didn't have a problem with the controls. The original Smash TV was played just like that on a number of home systems, so I don't have an issue with it.

[Karja]

Thanks for the comments! Update: I made an easier version to test, if you feel like it: http://www.karja.com/files/MBS4.exe This is just the exe file - copy it over the old one in an installed game; I didn't see it worthwhile to make a new installer.

About the controls: I have a mixed feeling about this.. It could be a matter of what you're used to playing, since the mouse suggestion sounds very awkward to me; I can't play any mouse aiming games and thus I haven't really played any fps:s since Doom 2/Duke 3D, for example. I find this way intuitive and probably feel the same way about mouse aiming games like you do about this.... I'll give it some thought; if I make a test and it turns out I can play with the mouse aiming as well, then I'll probably think more about it.

About the speed: it's time-based, most certainly. But it's fast. I detest walking around on maps, feeling like everything should run faster. But maybe it is a bit too fast; it's been even further speeded up since MBS 3, which was a rather fast-paced game itself.

The difficulty issue is an interesting point. I would definitely say that this is a combination of the game being too hard and that you suck. :) No, but seriously: I can finish the game and play a long time to collect a score, and in my experience, players usually get better than me. So, what I could do is, for example, change the probability of a new enemy popping up so that it is steadily increasing from a very small probability. Does this sound reasonable? Or - perhaps better: change the probability according to what room you're in: the closer you are to the alien queen, the more enemies you will encounter.

Oh, and the bullets: the enemy bullets are too fast.. Well, yes, since the idea was that you have to avoid enemies if you're not prepared: as soon as they see you and have a clear shot, they will fire. So, maybe if I combined the enemy probability with slower enemy bullets? How's that sound?

So, to sum it up: sorry, but the controls stay for now at least, but the difficulty will be changed (or at least made easier in the beginning). Curiously enough, I made the game this hard simply because people who have playtested it earlier mentioned that it was too easy. The game is a weird mix of casual and acquired taste: you need to learn the controls and how to move, but after that, you can play a few minutes for fun, because no two games are the same - the playtesters had played MBS 3 earlier, and already had the controls down.

More comments? This is very interesting feedback.

[Surrealix]

It sounds like everyone had a lot of problems with the speed of the game. I downloaded the original version, without the speed patch, and it played fine. I'm on a reasonably new machine (XP 2600+ , 256 RAM, GEFORCE 5600).

The first game I didn't last more than 10 seconds, but after that I found the game easy. In fact, I hadn't read the readme, so ran around pointlessly for 10 minutes before getting bored and quitting. I only figured out what the goal was later.

I've never played a game with this control style before, and it takes a bit of getting used to. I learnt pretty quickly and have no problems with it.

Just my first impressions anyway....