Download Shelled Online to Review
by Joshua Dallman · 03/28/2008 (12:57 pm) · 10 comments
Shelled! Online is ready for its first public playtesting. I'd appreciate the time that anyone takes to download and playtest this game. The new version works with an X-Box 360 controller, so if you've got one, plug it in and get shelling.
DOWNLOAD THE GAME
http://www.redthumbgames.com
Shelled! Online is a realtime multiplayer 3D artillery combat game made with the Torque Game Engine. Up to 8 people can play together in an online game. Survey your radar to find the best target, turn to face your target, set your angle and shot power, then fire! Watch the result from the air and detonate your shot at any time. If you shoot too high or too low, adjust your angle or shot power accordingly and keep trying until you land your shot. When your jets are recharged, you may fly to a better position for either offensive or defensive purposes. You can also fire shots while flying. All shots you fire deform and change the landscape. Use terrain defensively or against your opponents. Shelled! Online is a Red Thumb Games production and is copyright (c) 2008 Red Thumb Games / Joshua Dallman.
No dedicated servers are yet online to host games, so you'll have to host your own (see readme). However you can still customize your tank avatar now for future online play. Email me or post here with your favorite tank creations!
Note that some game text such as informational text in the tutorials or mission design may be updated and other minor graphical changes, bugfixes, and play balancing and timing may yet still occur before the final release version. However, please still report all bugs you encounter.
Thanks for the feedback and have fun!
(remember to use the feedback form above though you can still post here)
Josh
#2
03/28/2008 (2:29 pm)
The game has been in development for one year this month. It began as Shelled! 2 which was to be a single player game, then GG became interested in it over the summer and it turned into Shelled! Online. 
#3
03/28/2008 (3:28 pm)
Shelled is a great little game. My son and I have had countless hours playing with it. Going to have to try this version now. :) 
#4
03/29/2008 (3:24 pm)
I played the game and reviewed for you. It's a very fun game, and it fits in with the multiplayer arena very well. 
#5
03/30/2008 (9:05 am)
I keep crashing on my laptop... which also has a poorly maintain dev environment on it. I am going to ty on the desktop and see if I have better luck.
#6
03/31/2008 (10:15 am)
Donald -- I had trouble on my laptop too until I updated its Direct-X. Can you try that and let me know how it goes? Thanks, Josh
#7
Also if I get some time tomorrow I will try and setup a dedicated server. What are the specs for the server?
03/31/2008 (9:14 pm)
So the move to DirectX 10 helped. Got one good game which I enjoyed. Seems like you need a few more sound effects though I didn't hear any menu sound effects nor music on the menu screen. I have one issue I can't seem to fix however. Once I completed my first game. I left and came back but my camera is no longer attached to my shell I just float around. I have the ability to move the camera but not much else.Also if I get some time tomorrow I will try and setup a dedicated server. What are the specs for the server?
#8
04/01/2008 (10:32 am)
Thanks for letting me know the Direct-X update fixed it. That will be good to know when the inevitable support requests come in. Thanks for letting me know about the other bug you experienced too, I have logged it and we'll track it down. Try to quit the game and re-start which should fix it. There's some info in the readme file linked above on setting up a server, you don't need big hardware you just need to open specific ports on your network. Let me know how it goes. Thanks, Josh
#9
04/01/2008 (10:43 am)
I tried restarting the game and the camera is still not mounted properly. I also have another system that I am pretty sure is running dx9 or 8, I will confirm the dx bug on that machine and let you know how it goes. As for the server I will look into that tonight.
#10
04/01/2008 (2:21 pm)
I'd like to take a look at your logfile. I am emailing you privately. Thanks again for your help!
Torque 3D Owner Donald "Yadot" Harris
Marveloper