Long time, no blog

It’s been ages since I updated this blog, but that’s not because I’ve given up on game development. Oh no, far from it! Here’s a little of what I’ve been up to since my last post.
I started doing a bachelor of game programming.
I stopped doing a bachelor of game programming six weeks later.
I’ve been studying on my own, thanks to the power of the internet and my local library.
I’ve entered game jams and competitions, although some I didn’t complete in time.

Looking back, I think the games I posted about on here are a bit rubbish. Mostly because I was still learning programming and didn’t know much about game design. I know a little bit more about design now though (admittedly still not much), and I’m rather proud of my entries in the last two Ludum Dares. I’ll put posts up about those games a bit later.

Right now though, I am in the middle of the Indie Speed Run 2.0. I am rather excited by this comp, just look at who’s judging the games! Notch, Peter Molyneux, Suda51, Ron Gilbert. Ron. Gilbert. I so hope he plays my game :3
I’m also working on a game for a comp Unity is holding for Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 games. I only have a week and a half left for that one, so fingers crossed I can make something good.

Anyway, I should probably get some sleep now. I have a big day ahead of me tomorrow.

Vartun’s Pillar

The year is 2693. A small planet and its moon, Vartun, have been settled by the Star Alliance Interplanetary Government for research. This moon and it’s planet are connected by a giant pillar of unknown origins, evidence of former life of intelligence at least equal to or greater than our own.

However, evil has gotten in the way of science. Governor Vance, leader of the settlement, has been manipulating the research, slowing down and halting its progress. For he has plans of his own for the pillar. Thinking it a giant weapon capable of destroying other planets, he plans to use it to force the Alliance in to handing control of the known universe to him.

Martin Sorda, an archaeologist living on the moon, has been doing his own research on the pillar in secret. Warned about Vance’s plans by Zacharah, the governor’s exiled second in charge, Mart works non-stop to find the pillar’s control center before Vance, find out as much as he can about it, and then warn the Alliance of the Governor’s nefarious schemes. Having devoted all his time to his mission, he has almost found what he is after…

Vartun’s Pillar is a point and click adventure game, inspired by the adventure games of old.

Available on:

SlideDB Profile

Screenshots:

Point’n’click Development Update 3

Today’s update is a pretty big one, due to there not being one yesterday…
Yesterday was spent mostly on drawing more rooms and working on the script. Today was mostly fleshing out some of the rooms and starting to make the game proper, putting in the dialogue and puzzles and stuff. I’ve only got up to the first puzzle done so far.

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/12860924/Space%20Adventure%20Game/index.html
Added – Rooms City West, City Center, Starport and General Store.
Added – items to Mart’s House.
Added – description to distant city in the Outside House room.
Added – stuff from script up to first puzzle, which is solvable.
Added – Intro dialogue which doesn’t work because I forgot to change the starting room…
Removed – Previous item interactions. They’re mentioned in there though.

I originally planned to have the game done and submitted to the Windows Store by the end of tomorrow, but it doesn’t look like that’ll be happening now. Hopefully I’ll have it finished and up there in time for this comp I’m entering it into though. I may have to skip this weekend’s Ludum Dare though. But the prize for this comp is better anyway, and there will probably be less contestants too. Besides, there’s a Ludum Dare every 4 months. Won’t be too long till the next one’s here.

Point’n’click Development Update 2

Not much happened on the programming side today:
Added – guard in front of city gate. His head will turn every few seconds.
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/12860924/Space%20Adventure%20Game/index.html

Most of my time was spent writing the script and puzzles.
Also, I finally have a name for it: ‘Vartun’s Pillar’. Synopsis to come tomorrow because my phone’s battery is about to die on me D:

Point’n’click Development Update 1

And here’s today’s build of my point’n’click adventure game which still doesn’t have a name. https://dl.dropbox.com/u/12860924/Space%20Adventure%20Game/index.html

What’s changed:
Addition – 2 new rooms added
Addition – character now faces towards objects when you click on them
Addition – a little conversation that can be had with Kyli on the front lawn.
Bug Fix – fixed bug where character started walking during animation if you didn’t release mouse when clicking on an object.

I wrote some more of the story as well today. Overall, I didn’t get as much done today as I would’ve hoped, but I got enough done….and I played a ‘little’ bit of LEGO Batman 2 as well…

I should point out that any story that appears to be in the current build is not going to be in the final game. It’s just placeholder stuff right now.

Point’n’click Prototype

Here’s a little point’n’click game I’ve been working on the last two days. Currently consists of two rooms, one item, and a character you can’t click on else you’ll freeze the game. Enjoy!…I guess. https://dl.dropbox.com/u/12860924/Space%20Adventure%20Game/index.html
Controls:
Click and hold: move
Single click: look at object
Double click: use/pickup object

Current plans for the game are to have it finished by the end of next week, after which I will then upload it to the Windows Store, so it’ll be on there in time for it to be entered it into this competition run by Scirra and Microsoft. I’m thinking of porting it to phones eventually as well, because it runs quite well and looks quite good on my HTC One X.

I’ll be updating this prototype and making it available for everyone to try, up to a certain as yet undecided part of the development. No use giving away my whole game away for free!

Griff Dangers in Mettle vs. Metal

Announcing “Griff Dangers in Mettle vs. Metal”!

Description

You are Griff Dangers and your city needs you. You’ve been called to investigate rogue robot sightings in the city. But you soon find out, these are no ordinary, mindless robots. These robots are intelligent. They will evolve to adapt to your fighting style, trying to outwit you, becoming deadlier and deadlier. But you are Griff Dangers. You can handle it.

Shoot your way through this retro inspired 2D platformer/shooter game against robots that will do everything in their power to stop you. Change weapons to keep your enemies on their toes: machine guns, rifles, grenade launchers, they will try to adapt and take you down. They will be your doom…or will they?

Earn coins as you take them out to buy weapons and health, and share your score with your friends. They may get jealous…

Trial features the Machine Gun and the Rifle. Can’t use ATM or Super Weapon Vending Machine. Score is not saved.

Features

• Retro inspired graphics and sounds
• Keyboard/Mouse and Touchscreen controls
• Score synced between Windows 8/RT devices

“Griff Dangers in Mettle vs. Metal” was originally made in 48 hours for Ludum Dare 24 where it placed 357th out of 1006 entries. http://www.ludumdare.com/compo/ludum-dare-24/?action=preview&uid=15359

Introductions

Hello, my name is lambomang. I’m an 18 year old indie dev from Australia with delusions of grandeur and secret plans to take over th- I mean, uh, I like games. I’m mostly interested in developing for Windows 8/RT and Windows Phone 8. *cough* fanboy *cough*

I’ll be keeping this blog updated with my random thoughts on stuff in the tech/games industries, updates on games I’m working on, and any game jams/competitions I enter. So, enjoy!

Hello world!

Obligatory “Hello World” message.

Believe me, it’s very important 😛