Wanted: Beta Testers (YEAH!!!)
by Jeremy Alessi · 05/12/2006 (8:33 pm) · 6 comments
To Beta Test send email:
jeremya at alessigames.com
Whew, wow it's been almost 2 years since I've needed this sort of help but I'm finally at that point again. The game is called Beach Ball Break and it's a very casual game in the 'breakout' genre. I originally started this by stepping up for the TGB bounty being offered and decided I might as well make a complete game out of it.
Back during IGC I was working on several projects such as a multiplayer Aerial Antics and of course Oust. I kept getting the urge though to do a very simple yet well executed game. The first game I took on with that in mind was Nebula Wars. I figured what would be easier to do than take the age-old shooter and just do it in a simple well-executed fashion. Well, that ended up becoming an overcomplicated heap that could never be marketable.
Three weeks ago when the TGB bounties were offered up I had no TGB experience besides skimming the docs and making a single particle effect that looked like a martini. I'm happy to report though that the tools are so great and robust that I was easily able to get up to speed, complete a quick tutorial, and then move on to create a complete and in my opinion well executed game.
My focus on this title was simple but solid execution and I think I succeeded wonderfully. Of course the truth will be revealed very soon when the title goes up for sale. Before that happens though I do need some very thorough beta testers willing to play through the entire game.
The basic premise of the game has you controlling ocean waves to knock the beach ball into sand castle esque structures. I've decided to incorporate only a variety of beach sound effects into the mix, which is very soothing. For the most part the game is supposed to be a 'break' and relax the player. I've noticed that the game does have a very nice calming effect. Of course the 'break' is dual fold because you are breaking blocks too.
Another interesting note is that the majority of the photography in the game was contributed by Steven Pinker a Harvard professor. I was just browsing beach photographs when I came across his work. I did a little research afterward and I was amazed by what I found.
From Wikipedia:
Anyway, at this point although I haven't completely finalized exactly what pictures I will use I've been grated the rights to use them and I think they do the job nicely:
jeremya at alessigames.com
Whew, wow it's been almost 2 years since I've needed this sort of help but I'm finally at that point again. The game is called Beach Ball Break and it's a very casual game in the 'breakout' genre. I originally started this by stepping up for the TGB bounty being offered and decided I might as well make a complete game out of it.
Back during IGC I was working on several projects such as a multiplayer Aerial Antics and of course Oust. I kept getting the urge though to do a very simple yet well executed game. The first game I took on with that in mind was Nebula Wars. I figured what would be easier to do than take the age-old shooter and just do it in a simple well-executed fashion. Well, that ended up becoming an overcomplicated heap that could never be marketable.
Three weeks ago when the TGB bounties were offered up I had no TGB experience besides skimming the docs and making a single particle effect that looked like a martini. I'm happy to report though that the tools are so great and robust that I was easily able to get up to speed, complete a quick tutorial, and then move on to create a complete and in my opinion well executed game.
My focus on this title was simple but solid execution and I think I succeeded wonderfully. Of course the truth will be revealed very soon when the title goes up for sale. Before that happens though I do need some very thorough beta testers willing to play through the entire game.
The basic premise of the game has you controlling ocean waves to knock the beach ball into sand castle esque structures. I've decided to incorporate only a variety of beach sound effects into the mix, which is very soothing. For the most part the game is supposed to be a 'break' and relax the player. I've noticed that the game does have a very nice calming effect. Of course the 'break' is dual fold because you are breaking blocks too.
Another interesting note is that the majority of the photography in the game was contributed by Steven Pinker a Harvard professor. I was just browsing beach photographs when I came across his work. I did a little research afterward and I was amazed by what I found.
From Wikipedia:
Quote:
Pinker was named one of Time Magazine's 100 most influential people in the world in 2004[4] and one of Prospect and Foreign Policy's 100 top public intellectuals in 2005
Anyway, at this point although I haven't completely finalized exactly what pictures I will use I've been grated the rights to use them and I think they do the job nicely:
About the author
#3
looks like a bunch of fun man, hook me up--maybe i can leave it running at night while I sleep to calm me :)
Cheers,
-J
05/13/2006 (2:33 pm)
Oooh Jeremy, looks like a bunch of fun man, hook me up--maybe i can leave it running at night while I sleep to calm me :)
Cheers,
-J
#4
05/13/2006 (3:23 pm)
When you say PC, do you mean Windows & Linux, or Windows only?
#5
05/13/2006 (3:44 pm)
Hmm... well I think technically I could get a Linux build together. I haven't done that yet though so it's Windows and Mac right now. Guess I'll try and get on that. I have zero Linux experience but I know the guy who wrote Red Hat Linux Unleashed ;) The book apparently comes with it and the tools I'd need to do it ... I just never got around to doing a dual boot PC.
Torque Owner Matt Van Gorkom
- Matt VG