[FEEDBACK REQ.]Motorama alpha v.01

[yanuart]

Hi guys, this is my upcoming game Motorama,this is just an alpha build to solve some technical issues and trying to get some feedbacks.
You can download the alpha test here : Motorama Alpha v.01 (http://www.iplayallday.com/test/biker/alphav01.rar)

Instructions :
1. Run the "Play This" link to play the game
2. Usual keys control, up, down, left right, space to flip your bike and tap the throttle twice to boost.
3. You can use F2 and F3 to increase and decrease FPS (this will change the game speed)
4. If you fall or crash, use Ctrl to reset the game

Couple of screenshots here :
Screenshot 1 (http://www.iplayallday.com/test/biker/scrshot1.JPG)
Screenshot 2 (http://www.iplayallday.com/test/biker/scrshot2.JPG)

in this alpha build I'd like to get feedbacks from you all based on these q's:
1. As you all know you can change the speed of the game by using f2/f3 key, I need feedback on how fast you think the game should run, please tell me by posting the fps in which you think the speed is good enough for you (for me, I can play at 60fps but I dunno bout you guys).

2. Do you notice any flicker, scanline effects or else in the game ? Attn : changing the fps doesn't really change how the graphics is rendered though.

3. If you have anything to say bout the game please feel free to post (graphics, controls , etc) and I really do mean anything you want to say !!! :D But, this alpha doesn't come with a full level yet, just some basic idea on how the game is so please don't mention anything about level quality (I just created the level in like 3 mins).

4. If you're having trouble running the game, could you please tell me what computer config u use (processor, vga card/driver, os) ?

Thank you

[mahlzeit]

Put it in a zip instead of a rar and I'll be happy to check it out.

[Indiepath]

Got error:

Microsofr Visual C++ Debug Library

Debug Assertion Failed!

program: engine1.exe
file: fopen.c
line: 55

expression *file != _T('\0')

[yanuart]

Got error:
Quote:
Microsofr Visual C++ Debug Library

Debug Assertion Failed!

program: engine1.exe
file: fopen.c
line: 55

expression *file != _T('\0')

use the "Play this" link, don't run the engine.exe. The link comes with the parameters to run the game.

[yanuart]

ok, here's the link for zip : Motorama Alpha in ZIP (http://www.iplayallday.com/test/biker/alphav01.zip)

and pls run the game from the "Play This" link or use this on command prompt : engine.exe map1.xml

[mahlzeit]

It worked fine here, no graphics problems whatsoever (PIII, 789 MHz, 256 MB RAM, Geforce 2 Go 32 MB). My favorite speed is around 50 fps. I must say, the game looks and feels pretty good. :)

[stanchat]

I played for a wee bit and i liked the look and feel of the game. The physics of the bike and rider are actually very good. Just curious, what 3D and physics engine did you use for this demo?

The only little nitpick thing I found is when I flip the bike with the spacebar, It looks like a flat 2D sprite that is being flipped not a 3d model. I wish the flip had a more 3D feel to it.

[yanuart]

what 3D and physics engine did you use for this demo?mine :D Believe me, physics is simple (especially in 2D) and most of the time you can get away with fake physics (I wish I wasn't dozed off during those classes at highschool).
Well, I kinda suprised with your comment since this is a 2d game, I'm using sprite and not real time 3d model that's why when you flippin it's actually 2d sprite flipping. I don't know much about making it looks 3d but maybe there's a few tricks left in my bag.

Anyway.. so you didn't change the game speed and that's fine ?? I'll take 40 fps as your speed preference.

[stanchat]

mine :D Believe me, physics is simple (especially in 2D) and most of the time you can get away with fake physics (I wish I wasn't dozed off during those classes at highschool).
Well, I kinda suprised with your comment since this is a 2d game, I'm using sprite and not real time 3d model that's why when you flippin it's actually 2d sprite flipping. I don't know much about making it looks 3d but maybe there's a few tricks left in my bag.

Anyway.. so you didn't change the game speed and that's fine ?? I'll take 40 fps as your speed preference.
You fooled me! I thought it was a 3D camera view I was looking at. You can actually fake a more realistic flip by creating like a 12 frame sprite with the camera angle slightly at angle not straight from the side.

[Sirrus]

Good stuff ;)

[C_Coder]

I cannot get past the two boxes :(

[yanuart]

it'll be good if there's some feedback too though, especially on those questions I posted above :D

[prozero]

I find your game great! I spent a lot of hours playing an old DOS game with the same design (and the same 'animation' for the flip)... I can't remember the name of this game, anyone does ?

[NuriumGames]

I think this game has good potential.

Maybe around 45fps for me, no flicker, no problems on an Athlon 1700.

Terrain should be more 'rounded', elevation changes are too abrupt.

[lexaloffle]

It runs well on my TNT2. The default speed seems about right to me, but I suppose it depends on how complex the levels will be. The physics feels good, although I wouldn't mind having a bit more control over the rotation in mid-air.

I find your game great! I spent a lot of hours playing an old DOS game with the same design (and the same 'animation' for the flip)... I can't remember the name of this game, anyone does ?
Maybe Elastomania? (Used to be Action Supercross)

[prozero]

Maybe Elastomania? (Used to be Action Supercross)

Action Supercross, you got it!
I'll be happy to play this clone anyway!

[mahlzeit]

This game, in its current state anyway, doesn't really seem like a clone of Action Supercross/Elastomania; more like a clone of the great and wonderful Kikstart (http://homepages.tesco.net/~parsonsp/html/kikstart_ii.html). :)

[yanuart]

do you think it's wise to let user change the speed of the game ? so there'll be the default speed and then there's a "turbo mode" if you want more challenge.

I assume people who didn't say anything regarding the speed of the game like it how it is (40 fps) but it's good to know that there are others who like it faster, hmmmm....

anyway.. do you think it's worth the trouble to add mouse control ?I think it can work and a friend told me that it'll bring the casual audience closer (arghh.. i've had it with this "casual" thing !!)

[JiriNovotny]

40 is too slow on my computer. I want it like ELMA at least :(

[yanuart]

40 is too slow on my computer. I want it like ELMA at least
can you tell me the spec of your computer pls ?
I believe elma is kinda slow in sense of control and how usually the bike don't move very fast, don't you think so ?

[C_Coder]

When you turn the bike around, invert the controls as well! :) EDIT: The controls are actually inverted, it is the biker who behaves as if the controls have not been inverted. So basically it is an animation issue.

Many times, the bike goes into 'gaps' in the ground.
Also many times after a very high jump the suspensions get destroyed/detached and the body of the bike is lowered but you still can continue driving. See attached file.

[yanuart]

thanks, when you were saying the bike goes into gaps in the ground, does it mean the bike somehow sink into ground and your rider got killed afterward ??

well, actually i didn't fix it yet as a way to know if the player move too fast and hit the ground/something (that's not natural right ?). The broke down bike is also a way of knowing that by the way.

yup, i'll work on those issues, thanks for noticing it. In the beta I'll make the rider fall everytime that happened.

[C_Coder]

Ok. More. Now. The Front wheel is not correctly centered so when it spins is not very realistic. I went in the bike1.xml file and changed the 'back' wheel's (why back?!) x value from 51 to 50.

I also changed the wheels.png file so that there is a one single transparent pixel space around each wheel. These made the wheels from 50 pixels to 52 pixels wide. Also made the changes in 'bike1.xml'. The reason for this is to remove the sharp edges on the wheels since the image is now not at the edge of the texture.

Anyway. Some polish ;)

Great game, I liked the bowl thing at the end, I was using it like a skateboard ring! :D

[yanuart]

thanks man, yeah the idea of using xml for every data on the game is to let gamers have the ability to mod it themself.

stay tuned for beta !!! (if only I can get my artists work faster :D)

[yanuart]

Hey guys, thank you for all your inputs but now i think i need more inputs from you again.
I just added some freestyling mode in my game and I really need you to test the controls and give me some feedback.
You can download the patch here (you need the first alpha): www.iplayallday.com/test/biker/alphapatch.zip
or you can download the whole thing here : www.iplayallday.com/test/biker/alphav01.zip

1. extract it and copy those files to the same folder as the previous alpha, if it asks to overwrite files, just say yes.
2. Use "Play jump" link to play the file with the special map for jump actions

OK, so here's the control :
1. While you're on the air you can press and hold the "shift" key to activate the freestyle mode.
2. While pressing the shift key, use arrow keys to move the racer's feet in any direction you want. This will create some cool sometimes weird pose for freestyling. Try this while you're still on the ground so you can practice the pose.
3. Try it by boosting (tap gas twice) your bike up to the ramp to make monster jump.

There are some few issues in this alpha such as the bike can go into the ground but with this test I really want to get a feedback form you guys:
a. Is the freestyle is a good idea/addition to the game ??
b. Is the controls too hard for you to master ?? hey, I'm good at it but then again i test my game at least a dozen times aday.
c. Any comments/feedback on the controls will be gratefully accepted..

thank guys !!!

[mahlzeit]

Doing tricks is cool, but moving the legs a little isn't particularly impressive (in real life perhaps it is, but not in this simulation which is already over the top anyway). So I actually find it much more interesting to do somersaults (i.e. simply moving around while jumping without holding down Shift). There is also a bug where sometimes the legs get stuck after you died and you can't perform any tricks anymore.

[yanuart]

mm.. i'll see what i can do by adding more tricks in the bag.
one more thing, if you notice there's blood particles splattered everytime you crash, do you think it's a wise thing to add in my game ??

[mahlzeit]

I noticed the blood and it felt kinda wrong for this game. Maybe because the rider seems more like a puppet than a human. I would leave the blood out.

[Sharkbait]

This one's going to be fun to play! The physics needs some cleaning up.. it's all too easy to get locked up against the boxes. Also, the bloody deaths don't fit in with the game.. I agree that the player should loose but visually the character should at least roll on the ground and shake his head or something of the sort.

I think it would really work out as a multiplayer game and an editor would do wonders for the longevity of the game.. very much like Kickstart on the Amiga! Coupled with network play, a master server list and downloadable levels this could really be a hit!

[C_Coder]

My frame rate is 28 constant. Previous alpha worked with 40fps constant. Also the graphics now seem to be software rendered or with bilinear filtering switched off!

The freestyle is nice but I would not make it the main element of the game. You can make it that scores are raised if freestyle is used are else just leave it out altogether.

EDIT: Oh yes and the dirt raised by the tires is not there anymore.

[yanuart]

c_coder : could you please tell me the specs of your computer ? mainly processor, vga card, and OS you use ?
The lowest computer i ever used to test this game is celeron 400 mhz with geforce2mx and it still get 35-36 fps constant so I'm quite curious how'd you get 28 fps.
Btw : yes,I turn of the filtering.. damn you're good ! :D

[C_Coder]

AMD Athlon XP 2500+ 768MB DDR400 RAM and NVIDIA GeForce 4 Ti4200 128MB RAM.

Switching off filtering with new graphics cards seems to slow down stuff (and its ugly ;) )

Also today it is running at 39FPS constant. Maybe I needed a reboot or something. I know that VS.NET does these sort of things! :D