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Earok Editor: First public release

Submitted by Earok on Sat, 05/30/2009 - 21:01

EDIT: Whoops, I am a dumbass. Download link is here

It's been a long time coming. I have been promising this ever since Derelict 1.0 came out nearly a year ago.

But now, finally the general public can make their own levels for it!

Since this hasn't been publicly tested before, it may be full of bugs. This is ONLY compatible with Derelict 1.2, any games I release in future will need a newer version of the editor to be compatible.

Included is instructions for installation, use, inserting custom textures/terminals/furniture objects and localisation. Almost enough to be able to mod it!

Well, have fun and knock yourself out. If you need any help, just leave a comment here or contact me through the contact form.

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Trailer for Cactus's "Air Pirates"

Submitted by Earok on Sat, 05/30/2009 - 10:15

The Indie Games Weblog has posted the youtube trailer for another one of Cactus's upcoming games, Air Pirates:

Looks like a very Avant-Gante mix of Crimson Skies and U.N. Squadron, and even slightly more bizarre then Cactus's usual.

He has been working on this one for quite awhile (Along side part 3 of Mondo and the platform game I posted earlier) so this one should be special. Can't wait.

Man, I feel so lazy for being completely unable to match the amount of output Cactus produces!

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Half-Life in half a year

Submitted by Earok on Fri, 05/29/2009 - 23:31

EDIT - Completely forgot Half-Life: Decay, either I'll need to find a PS2 copy of the game, or try to get the unofficial PC mod working.

I must be one of the very few gamers out there that hasn't spent any serious time playing Half Life. I played the start of the original one a bit, and the demo of Opposing Force, but that's it.

Apparently, they're damn good, so this is a shame. It's also difficult for me to follow when other Auckland Game Workers(??) are discussing it's apparently brilliant narrative, and a mate of mine gifted me the Orange Box ages ago. So I decided to commit to playing through the entire series, start to finish, in order before the end of this year. Not rushing it, just taking my time enjoying all the series has to offer.

So, my plan is thus:

June & July - Half Life
August - Opposing Force
September - Blue Shift, Decay
October & November - Half Life 2
December - Lost Coast, Episode 1 & 2

Not much more to say, stay tuned!

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Keyboard combinations for Shortcuts

Submitted by Earok on Fri, 05/29/2009 - 19:44

I found out just today that you can use a combination of keys to launch a shortcut on your desktop. This works in both XP and Vista, just right click on the shortcut and fill in the "Shortcut Key" field. Entering X, for example, will mean that the application launches with CTRL-ALT-X. This works not just for applications, but web and folder shortcuts too.

I figured applying this would make me work at home more efficiently, by making shortcuts for the 40 or so (All letters, numbers and some punctuation keys) most common applications and websites I visit. But how would I organise and keep track of such a system? Simple, check out my new wallpaper:

Pretty clever, eh?

In other news, I love Kirsty so much that I'm throwing her off a building.

We're doing the Skyjump on Monday. It's not normally the type of thing I blog about but, even though this will be my third time and her first, I'm more nervous about it then she is! So, as a motivator, if I don't post a new photo of me doing the Skyjump on Monday, the whole Internet will know that I'm a coward. Stay tuned.

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Game programming stack

Submitted by Earok on Thu, 05/28/2009 - 20:23

I have been having some thoughts about what I feel is the ideal structure for developing a game. I'm not sure if what I have to say is helpful, interesting, true or even coherent, but I thought I would publish it anyway in the hope of getting some discussion on the topic going.

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The 100 game challenge!

Submitted by Earok on Fri, 05/22/2009 - 23:08
Edit - Just gave this bit of an update.

Just for fun, I decided to create myself a challenge: List 100 games I have beaten.
I have actually finished a lot more then that, possibly 200-300, but I decided to narrow it down significantly based on a few rules I thought up:
  1. You have to feel accomplishment about beating the game. This is highly subjective, for instance, I obviously can't list You have to burn the rope, but I also won't list ports of Arcade games that give you infinite credits (Street Fighter II). Also, I have included some really easy games because I felt proud when I beat them in my pre-teenage years.
  2. If a game has no clear ending, such as most flight simulations, you can count it if you can justify why you consider the game beaten.
  3. No Demos or Shareware. Has to be full version.
  4. You have beaten the game without use of cheats or trainers. Walkthroughs is a maybe
  5. The game has to be beaten without use of an emulator - Excepting PSN, XBLA, Virtual Console etc - because of the unfair advantages an emulator can give you.
  6. If you have beaten multiple versions of the game, you can only list it once.
  7. You can't include a game you yourself made (Hence no Derelict or Kiwi's Tale!)
  8. To significantly narrow it down, if you have beaten multiple games in the same series, you can only count it once. If you have beaten the entire Ultima series - tough luck, only list it once.
  9. The previous rule also includes games in a single franchise, even if made by different developers, such as the James Bond games. 
So, here is my list:
  1. 007 (N64/PC/SMS/XBox): Agent Under Fire, Everything or nothing, Goldeneye, Goldeneye: Rogue Agent, Licence to Kill, Nightfire, The Duel, The World is not enough
  2. 1213 (PC)
  3. 1942 (NES), 1943 (C64)
  4. Ace Attorney, Phoenix Wright, Justice for All, Trials and Tribulations, Apollo Justice, Miles Edgeworth (NDS)
  5. Aces (PC): Of the Pacific, Over Europe (Successfully completed campaigns)
  6. Afterburner (PC/Arcade): 3D, Climax
  7. Alien Trilogy (PC)
  8. And Yet It Moves (PC)
  9. Another World (PC)
  10. Apocalypse (PS1)
  11. Batman: Returns (SMS), Arkham Asylum (PS3)
  12. Ben Jordan: Paranormal Investigator (PC): 1-7
  13. Bio Menace (PC)
  14. Blazing Angels (Wii)
  15. Braid (PC)
  16. Cave Story (PC)
  17. Caverns of Underkeep (PC)
  18. Chick Chaser (PC)
  19. Conker's Bad Fur Day (N64)
  20. Challenge of the Ancient Empires (PC)
  21. Chzo Mythos (PC): Five Days a Stranger, Six Days a Scavenger, Seven Days a Skeptic, Tribly's Notes
  22. Crysis (PC)
  23. Commando (C64) (Also MERCS, it's sort-of sequel, on SMS)
  24. Doom (PC/XBox): Ultimate, II, III
  25. Double Hawk (SMS)
  26. Duke Nukem (PC): 1, 3D
  27. Dune II (Genesis)
  28. Echo the Dolphin (SMS)
  29. Enclosure (PC)
  30. G.A.S.P (N64) (Tournament mode with custom character)
  31. Galaxy of Fantabulous Wonderment (PC)
  32. GIRP (PC)
  33. G-LOC (SMS)
  34. GP Rider (SMS)
  35. Grim Fandango (PC)
  36. Gunship 2000 (PC) (Retired after successfully surviving 50 missions)
  37. Emily Enough (PC)
  38. European Air War (PC) (Successfully completed campaigns)
  39. Fable (Xbox)
  40. F-Zero X (N64) (Unlocked X Cup)
  41. Half Life (1, Opposing Force)
  42. Halo (XBox)
  43. House of the Dead Overkill (Wii)
  44. Hugo's House of Horror (PC): 1,3
  45. Jane's WWII Fighters (PC) (Luftwaffe Campaign Only)
  46. Jazz Jackrabbit (PC) (CD Version with 9 Episodes)
  47. Karateka (Apple IIe)
  48. Klass of '99 (PC)
  49. Larry Vales (PC): Traffic Division, Dead Girls are Easy
  50. Legend of Zelda (N64/Wii): Ocarina of Time, Twilight Princess
  51. Lylat Wars (N64) (Also known as Star Fox, got all medals)
  52. Major Stryker (PC)
  53. Max Payne (PC)
  54. Metal Gear Solid (Gamecube): The Twin Snakes
  55. Michael Jackson: Moonwalker (SMS)
  56. Mickey Mouse: Castle of Illusion (SMS)
  57. Mirror's Edge: (PC)
  58. Mondo Nation (PC): Medicals, Agency
  59. Monkey Island (PC): Secret of, LeChuck's Revenge, Curse of
  60. Moonstone (PC)
  61. Bomberman Neo (Arcade)
  62. One Must Fall (PC) (Completed Tournament Mode)
  63. Oni (PC)
  64. Outrun (PC) (Old Dos version!)
  65. Peasants Quest (PC)
  66. Perfect Dark (N64) (All levels on Secret Agent Difficulty)
  67. Pleurghburgs: Dark Ages (PC)
  68. Pilot Wings (N64)
  69. Pitstop (C64): 1 and possibly 2?
  70. Pitfall II (C64)
  71. Portal (PC)
  72. Pro Wrestling (SMS)
  73. Rainbow Six (N64), possibly Rogue Spear on PC as well
  74. Red Alert II (PC) (Soviet Campaign Only)
  75. Red Steel (Wii) (Shut up. I liked this game)
  76. Resident Evil IV (Wii)
  77. Robocop 2D (PC): 1-3
  78. Quarantine (PC)
  79. Richard Longhurst and the Box that Ate Time (PC)
  80. Rise of the Triad (PC): The Hunt Begins (Shareware), Dark War (Full)
  81. Secret Weapons of the Luftwaffe (Luftwaffe Campaign)
  82. Seiklus (PC)
  83. Starlancer (PC)
  84. Shotgun Ninja (PC)
  85. Shogo (PC)
  86. Sim Ant (PC) (Overran house with Ant Colony!)
  87. Sin and Punishment (Virtual Console)
  88. Smash TV (SMS)
  89. Sonic the Hedgehog (SMS): 1-2
  90. Soul Calibre III (Arcade)
  91. Special Criminal Investigation (SMS)
  92. Star Wars: Rogue Squadron (N64)
  93. Strong Bad's Cool Game 4 Attractive People (Wii): 1-5
  94. Super Castlevania (Virtual Console)
  95. Super Cycle (C64)
  96. Super Mario (N64,Gamecube,Wii): 64, Sunshine, Galaxy
  97. Super Smash Bros (N64/Gamecube/Wii): 64,Melee,Brawl (Unlocked all characters and stages, except for a small number on Melee)
  98. Super Meat Boy (All light world levels excluding Cotton Alley)
  99. System Shock II (PC)
  100. Taipan (Apple IIe) (Retired after becoming millionaire)
  101. Terminal Velocity (PC)
  102. Test Drive (C64)
  103. The Dark Half (PC)
  104. The Godfather (Wii)
  105. The Shivar (PC)
  106. The Sky Crawlers (Wii)
  107. The Journeyman Project (PC)
  108. The Simpsons (Arcade)
  109. Tom and Jerry (SMS)
  110. Traffic Department 2192 (PC)
  111. Two of a Kind (PC)
  112. Tyrian 2000 (PC)
  113. Ultima (PC): Akalabeth,1,7,Underworld
  114. VVVVVV (PC)
  115. Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? (Apple IIe)
  116. Wing Commander (1+Expansions,2+Expansions,3,4)
  117. Wolfenstein (PC): 3D, Spear of Destiny
Well, there you go! A fairly healthy mix of consoles and computers, from simple action games to complicated simulators, more old then new, and mostly commercial but with a few freeware classics. Quite a few Sega, Nintendo and Microsoft games - but only a single game beaten on a Sony console (Edit - now Two)!
 
So, my challenge to you is to come up with your own list, and either post it as a comment here or on your own blog or favourite forum. Good luck!
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Future Projects

Submitted by Earok on Wed, 05/20/2009 - 19:22

First off, Philip Truax sent me an image to celebrate the release of Derelict 1.2

I've added it to my rotating list of Desktop Wallpapers. Makes a nice change from the usual assortment of anime babes!

Hey, that means I'm finally starting to get Fan-art sent to me for my games! Awesome.

Secondly, Justin Deuel submitted a few screenshots. I requested those from him because he was testing at 1920x1200 resolution and I've never seen Derelict running at such a ridiculously high resolution before! Here are some of them (Click to view full screen).

So, now that Derelict 1.2 is out, I've had some time to think about what to do next.

My very next priority is to publically release the 'Earok Editor', my long delayed 3D level editor for Derelict and related games. It's in a functional, but not terribly user friendly state at the moment. Work's sending me away for a few days next week so it might be a good opportunity to get stuck into it then. I hope to release a very early beta version by the end of this month.

Starting early June, I hope to get stuck into working on my re-release of Project Firestart, but unlike Derelict 1.2 it won't be a mere gloss-over, but rebuilt almost entirely from the ground up. The team consists of only myself and Sam Jeffreys at the moment (If you haven't got sick of waiting! So sorry Sam) though I'd be keen to get a 3D modeller and audio engineer on board to make it look and sound perfect.

After that, I might have a go a programming a multiplayer online game, which I haven't attempted for ages. My three ideas are:

1) Ball Battle, a pong like where the paddles rotate around a circular arena, supporting up to eight players. I already made this game years ago but it was very badly bugged and had a bad habit of playing up when there were more then three players, so it needs to be remade from scratch.

2) Ultra BlastEmUp Siblings, a cutesy, cartoony first person shooter with Smash Bros mechanics. If you've never played Smash Bros before, basically you can't die from just taking damage, but the more hits you take the further you get knocked back, and the more likely you are to get knocked out of the arena. It was strange enough in a fighting game, but in an FPS?

3) Mobile Warfare, a highly simplified online vehicular combat game. Think Battlefield 2 meets Combat on Atari 2600.

Definitely favouring option three at the moment, but I'll keep thinking it over.

By the end of this year, I may start working on Derelict again. There are a few major areas of the game I want to work on before I'll finally be satisfied with the game:

Gameplay - Add a simple RPG system for character development, change the focus from being purely defensive to having some offensive actions (such as planning attacks on enemy held areas). Create a brand new tutorial level that is actually fun to play and makes sense in the storyline.

Graphics - Replace the awkwardly animated stock character models with ones made especially for the game. Add more high detail backdrop objects as well as subtle touches (Meteors burning in the planets atmosphere, for instance). Do a planetside level or two.

Narrative - Rebuild the storyline from scratch. Bookend the game with cutscenes. Keep the narrative flowing through the levels with audio, text, images and scripted scenes. Give the Marines names - even the Soldiers in Cannon Fodder had them!

Multiplayer - An online mode where each player controls a single marine, and each player needs to rely on other players to make it through the game.

 

Well, that's quite a lot so I'll stop now.

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Derelict 1.2 Official release announcement

Submitted by Earok on Mon, 05/18/2009 - 19:32

After receiving confirmation that the notorious "black screen" bug is fixed, finally, and a lot later then I thought, Derelict 1.2 is finally out.

Thanks to everyone who helped me make the best version yet of my most ambitious game ever a reality:

  • Sam Jeffreys for his ongoing support for my projects since 2006.
  • Philip Truax, Jim Harkins, Justin Deuel and Guilherme Chirinéa for their patience and help with the the "black screen" bug.
  • Also Mark Sibly for pointing me in the right direction for finding that bug.
  • Stephen Knightly, Joshua Smythe, Matthew Gatland and Matthew Griffith for their kind words and advice.
  • Krystian Krewniak for his new song.
  • The crew of caiman.us and curlysworldoffreeware.com, who wrote the reviews inspiring me to make a new version.
  • Zanguusu for posting Derelict videos on youtube.
  • Finally, Kirsty Win for giving me the time I needed to work on the game. Love you babe.

 

If I have missed/misspelled your name, I'm awfully sorry and I'll correct this later.

Well, I'm off now. Expect a post on my future projects very soon.

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The Mr T game

Submitted by Earok on Sun, 05/17/2009 - 08:51

At the Transit of Venus EP release concert last week (still need to blog on that) I was telling a friend there about the upcoming Mr T game co-staring Simcity creator Will Wright. I'm not sure that he really believed me, so I thought I had better post it here.

So, from zootfly.com:

"The first game will see Mr. T take on Nazis and their gigantic machines in the varied universe of South American rain forests, lost ancient cities, industrial complexes and contemporary military installations.

Along with Mr. T and other characters from the graphic novel, the game will feature non other than Will Wright. In this universe, Will Wright is not a top-notch game designer but a top-notch American geneticist who was kidnapped and coerced to work on a diabolic plan. Mr. T and Will Wright will join forces to annihilate the Nazis and their hardware."

I pity the fool who thought up this idea for a game. No seriously, this idea might be crazy enough to work!

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Shameless advertising for cheap web hosting

Submitted by Earok on Sat, 05/16/2009 - 15:02

I have finally become a Sell Out!

A couple of days ago I got an email from my web hosts, Hole in the Wall, with a referral link for me. I really like Hole in the Wall hosting for three reasons:

  1. Their base package is $10 US per year. Per year. Ridiculously cheap.
  2. They offer a really decent deal at that price, consisting of 400mb space, 20gb monthly bandwidth, unlimited MySQL databases, FTP, CPanel, Phpmyadmin, Fantastico etc etc.
  3. Karina from Hole in the Wall hosting is great. Seriously. Even though I pay such a tiny amount yearly for hosting of this site, she is very quick to respond to questions and bends over backwards to help me. This one time she made a configuration change to their entire server just over one tiny PHP setting I had wanted changed!

But wait, there's more! If you use my referral link to sign up with them:

  1. You will get an additional 100mb of space on your account and 5gb monthly bandwidth (for a total of 500mb space and 25gb monthly bandwidth)
  2. I will get $2 credit to go towards future hosting. If only five people use the link, that covers my entire base package cost for the next year!

If you want to sign up for the great deal and help support me, the link is here

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