I’ve hit a patch of molasses

Yeah, university is taking up a lot of my time. I am really really enjoying it at the moment! Whooop. So, yeah my game dev has hit a humongous patch of molasses. Nothing much has happened.

On the other hand, I am doing web coding for our hostel’s website. I love web coding and am really enjoying it.

I am still throwing countless ideas for games in my head though.

So yeah. Measly update: over.

What? I missed IGF?

Geez, I’ve been so awesomely busy with uni this year that I have kinda slacked down on devving (note: none at all). So yeah, I am still busy with uni and I don’t think I’ll continue devving soon. I am itching to dev something, but I can’t because, I am don’t have my PC in my dorm room and studies/uni life kinda takes a higher priority.

So, I managed to miss IGF (wtf?). I only saw the results recently, and I am loving it. Indies representing all over (even in main awards). I like it. . I also saw the gathering of TIGS developers (with their monocles of awesome) at GDC. I so wish that I was there. The way I see it, I’ll probably get my dev on in the holidays, but then I won’t be working on RT2. I’ll probably work on small vacation games (just for fun). For me to now finish up RT2, I would have to get into another routine/lifestyle. Don’t worry (for those that worry about it), it will be finished eventually. I promise!

Me and my bro have also started working on a gameboy/guitar band. I will post a link when we have proper recordings.

Cheers until whenever!

Roach Toaster 2 Devblog: Release Date 30 April.

Since RT2 has taken up such a substantial part of my life, I have decided to refrain from “feature creeping” and trying to make it perfect and get the game done and out by 30 April 2007.

So, I drew up a relatively “easy” plan to finish Roach Toaster 2.

Milestone 1 is the completion of the campaign scheduled to be finished on Feb 29.

Milestone 2 is the completion of the bonus levels on 31 March.

Milestone 3 is all the bonus content like unlockable content and stuff. This has no date. If I finish with the above beforehand, I’ll delve into this.

Release Date: 30 April.

During the last month, its polish, get the art and setup the website.

This last week or 2, I managed to get work done on the story and the campaign. Its now on lvl 13/23 levels.

2007: A retrospect.

Well, 2007 has certainly been an awesome year for gaming and indie gaming. The standard has risen tremendously.

As for me (Shotbeak Games), 2007 has been fairly slow. I originally intended to have Roach Toaster 2 finished around May/June. Well, as you can see, it didn’t turn out that way. As previously said, I decided to set RT2 aside for the long-term (it will be finished eventually).

In June, I managed to learn XNA & C# and complete a remake of Roach Toaster 1 for Dream. Build. Play. I didn’t attain a finalist position, but I am already gearing up for DBP 2008.

In that time (June/July), I was porting Roach Toaster from XNA to Java for a school project. With 2 days left to go, I decided it just wouldn’t work. So, I managed to churn out a java game called Cyberjam in 2 days.

In other areas of creativity, I set up a MySpace page for my music. I also set up a DeviantArt account for my art.

I also decided to change the theme. (yay?)

I have only 1 established goal for 2008 regarding game development, and that is to enter Dream. Build. Play 2008 (and win).

Anyway, for those few people that read my blog (thanks), I’ll see you on the flip-side.

Keep Toasting.

Gearing up DBP 2008.

On a quick sidenote. I felt very creative yesterday. It was nice.

On to main post:

I bought me an Xbox-360 controller today. I don’t have an Xbox-360 though. I am gearing up for DBP 2008. This time I am going to make a game that works with the controller so that it will have a better chance of erm… winning DBP 2008.

I always reminisced about the time when I can program a game and play it with a controller. With a controller, a game feels much more like a “game”, if you know what I mean.

So this is really cool. I’m going to get to work and prototype some random games.

On another side note:

I got my matric (kinda like A-levels, and whatnot) results today. I did really well (which is where the money for the Xbox-360 controller comes from). My sis and dad promised to pay me if I beat her, and I did.

Roach Toaster 2 Devblog: Slowing it down.

This week I managed to get no devtime in. I was very busy for several reasons, but I think the main reason is because I am scaling down on the development of RT2.

I was kinda hoping (when I started back in 2006) that I would finish it in 2007. Well, 2007 is coming to an end, and it is far from done. I am starting university next year, so I am uncertain whether I would be able to get much dev time in.

I don’t want to force myself to work on it as it ain’t fun. I want to work on it because it is an enjoyable hobby.

So, Roach Toaster 2 is taking a notch down on my priority list. When it will be done, I don’t know…

I am not too sure if I will continue with the devblogs though.

Until whenever, Keep Toasting!

Roach Toaster 2 Devblog: Fighting vicious (software) bugs.

So, I’ve been away the whole week, so I haven’t been able to do THAT much work on Roach Toaster 2.

The previous (testing) version was released (a few weeks ago) to test the new campaign following Guert’s Grind.

It was riddled with stupid bugs that basically didn’t allow you to save and load properly unless you knew what was going on (and that’s about 2 people). So I fixed that. For some odd reason some people who test it, gets this one particular nasty bug that I can’t seem to reproduce on my side. It is really crappy.

I also managed to optimise the fake 3D that I am drawing by quite a lot. Instead of drawing 2 triangles per “face” of the fake 3D, I drew 3 (2 triangles + rectangle). I eliminated the rectangle, lowering drawing functions per wall by 4. So on average (per level), I managed to eliminate about 100 draw functions. Yay for optimisation!

I also added 2 more levels to the campaign (its standing at 10 levels) now. This 10 level + the previous 45 from Big City total 55 levels of Roach Toaster mayhem so far.

I also started talk with the character artist on new portraits (9) for the UI. Each “unit” group will be represented by a leader.

Anyway, that’s about it. Till next time, Keep Toasting! (please).

Roach Toaster 2 devblog: New Prototype.

I am in a hurry (which kinda beats the purpose of writing this). I am leaving for the next week, so I am doing the devblog today instead of Sunday.

So, this week, I managed to get a new prototype of the campaign of RT2 done. It has 8 levels (including a boss). It is kinda crude, but it works much better than the clinical unobvious “Big City” method of progress. It also has the awesome new menu art (revised).
I also encountered the 2 vicious (software) bugs that keep bugging me, version after version. I can’t fix it, but some tester (thanks Thaumaturge!) keep getting it. I was planning on giving the link to test the new campaign version, but unfortunately it is still plagued with stupid bugs. Arggghh.

I also went to visit the character artist and saw the drafts of “Reticer” (the guy in the menu), and it was spectacular. She can draw really really well.

Until next week,

Keep Toasting!