How is this for an original SHMUP?!?!?!

[Leper]

http://www.shmup-dev.com/index.php?topic=451.0

This would make GREAT shareware..


-Matt

[Christian]

This game is hard.
And it was fun to play until i go to see all the powerups... only 2.

[Leper]

Yeah, it would need to be adjusted but the look and theme is definately portal material I think.

[soniCron]

What's original about it?!?!?!??! :p

...the look and theme is definately portal material I think. Definitely, you think? :D I don't agree. Nothing about this is portal friendly. (Unless you think cel-shading is portal friendly, which, in fact, it's really not.) Explain. I guess I don't understand. :)

[electronicStar]

Yuck, I'm allergic to this type of graphics
(I don't know what to call them, it's like a mix of shockwave flash and cartoon network). Too many games like that lately (for my taste)

[DanMarshall]

I love the look of it, though. That stark, simple cartoony effect really appeals to me.

[AnthemAudio]

Yuck, I'm allergic to this type of graphics
(I don't know what to call them, it's like a mix of shockwave flash and cartoon network). Too many games like that lately (for my taste)


VS!!!

I love the look of it, though. That stark, simple cartoony effect really appeals to me.

Let the battle of opinions COMMENCE!!!

[DanMarshall]

Heh. I've always been a cartoonist. That style of thick black lines and bold stark colours appeals to me. What can I say? I agree that it's a tad overdone, but I'd rather play a game like that anyday than a 'realistic' R-Type style.

[Ricardo C]

Wow, I love the look :)

SoniCron,

(Unless you think cel-shading is portal friendly, which, in fact, it's really not.) Explain. I guess I don't understand.

Right back atcha :D What do you mean cell shading isn't portal friendly? Are you referring to the visual style itself, or to the hardware requirements for 3D, real-time cel shading? (Which wouldn't be an issue for pre-rendered graphics).

[mooktown]

this could be really good with some more work.

things like 'smaller details' such as background things happening that dont interfere with play like platypus had. it would need mouse control and need to be a lot easier (i couldnt even get 2 minutes in without losing a life, and ive finished ikaruga a few times) Plus it felt a little cramped trying to dodge the walls too.

but i do like the graphic style alot!

[Bmc]

the gfx are interesting, but the game play stinks

[Bmc]

Unless you think cel-shading is portal friendly, which, in fact, it's really not.

Insaniquarium was cel-shaded and did well. So I wouldn't say it isn't portal friendly.

[Anthony Flack]

I think it looks pretty cool. A unique powerup system? I always like to see that sort of thing. I'd better download it.

I think less powerups is generally a good thing. They can unbalance the gameplay so much. I now think it's much better to build the game around an interesting default system and let people go for it. See also: Ikaruga, Radiant Silvergun, and Bangai-o for examples of why I think this.

[svero]

I like the graphics. Game is unplayable for me though. Hitting an arrow key lightly moves my ship half way across the screen. Too bad.. bercause the style is neat.

- S

[Christian]

i dont think that graphic style makes a game automatically popular for casual market, play is, this game play is only suitable for hardore gamers that played Nemesis on the commodore 64 or games like that.

[Leper]

heh funny some people dont think its an original game!! It is original for a shmup IMHO and a lot other people think so too. The powerup system seems original too (someone tell me where that mechanic is) also the enmies dont shoot at you, its more of an obstacle course. No bullets in it.

Svero, that's funny I beat it in a few days. I dont know but you could try using a gamepad (it supports it)

[jankoM]

sorry for being naggy but it's really interesting to me how games of some game types easily earn the "original" label and some other types get easily sticked with the "reskin" or "clone" label.

Otherwise, nice visuals but tottally too hard to me. I couldn't even get past the second savepoint and I tried many times.

edit: Leper... enemies did shoot at me
edit2: ups, tried again ... that were the powerups

[Leper]

Wow I beat it after 3 tries! Did you read the readme file? You can hold the fire key down to shoot. Those arent bullets Janko those are powerups. (they flash in different colors, this is described in the readme file also)

The powerup system is totally cool. You collect the balls and they become a shield, then if you hold the X key down you can press the UP key and the shields upgrade your weapon. If you want the shield back, you downgrade your weapon holding the DOWN and X key.

[jankoM]

You collect the balls and they become a shield, then if you hold the X key down you can press the UP key and the shields upgrade your weapon. If you want the shield back, you downgrade your weapon holding the DOWN and X key.

ok, that is interesting

[soniCron]

Right back atcha :D What do you mean cell shading isn't portal friendly? Ah. Hmm... That should have read, "Unless you think cel-shading in and of itself is portal friendly, which, in fact, it's really not." Sorry for the confusion.

[Nexic]

It's an okay game and it looks pretty nice, but it's not really my idea of fun at the moment. Your weapons are incredibly weak which is my main problem with it, there also isn't much variety in the enemies. Though I think it has potential to be really good with some modifications.

[PeterM]

I found the game unplayably fast since I don't have vsync enabled.

When will people learn to use time-based movement...

[Leper]

Hey, now I'm VERY glad I'm using delta timing!!!! :)

-Matt

[PoV]

Oh wow, nice. The game gets much more managable when you find out that you can upgrade your weapons. Actually, the boss seemed almost too easy with the laser weapon. Still, I approve. If TIGSource was up, I'd be hoping to see that one there.

I'm not sure about "great shareware" either. Polished up a tad with a title, or some way of telling you how to upgrade/downgrade in game. More levels might be neat, but there's something to be said for the feeling you get after beating the single level game. No disgust of repetition. Just a clean "that was cool" when you're done.

[Jason Chong]

I haven't tried the game but I shall comment on the graphics instead.

The style of the characters/graphics are good. But the coloring needs work.
Outlines are a bit too thick for my taste, 20-30 percent thinner will be just right for me.

If you wanna do cartoon style graphics, I strongly suggest using a good strong gradient.

You don't need to add more primary colors , but the colors you choose should have gradients that blends and curve well with the object.

Good gradients are very soothing to the eye and enhances the cartoon style/cel shading. You'll most likely already be using 32bpp mode with alpha so might as well just exploit the truecolor gradients to the max.

You should not use the typical anime limited color shading unless you're doing it manually, because I don't think the computer is capable of doing good limited color gradients as well as a real human artist/animator.

[steve bisson]

i wish i could play it :( the game runs extremely fast... strange because i dont have such a fast computer (1.7ghz ) ... I die in less than a second and it takes about 1/20th of a second to move from far top to far down so its uncontrolable... it looked so nice , too bad.

[Leper]

http://www.shmup-dev.com/index.php?topic=461.0

In this one you play as a Bee!!! :D

[Nikster]

The bee game looks nice, although it looks a bit odd when you see flying squids.. maybe he should take the apidya route.

[steve bisson]

wow leper :) your forum sure generated some nice stuff , good work !