Plan for J Lesko
by J Lesko · 06/14/2005 (3:35 am) · 11 comments
Update: Joystick Johnny is now being developed as a full game!
Joystick Johnny Website
Well, I did it. I got a head start this week on the framework, but that took longer than expected and ate into my weekend. I didn't actually begin creating the mini-games until Sunday afternoon.
On average, each game took 25 minutes to create. Each game consisted of:
- hardcoded config: 30 variables for the game and 25 for each sprite class
- background image (400x250)
- player image (8x8) - variable frames, depending on the game type
- up to 4 "actor" images (8x8) that are used for enemies/pickups
- bullet image (5x5) for player
- bomb image (5x5) for enemies
These images are then scaled up in the game. At such a low resolution, it rarely took more than 5 minutes to finish the art. The framework is capable of doing basic animations, like 360 rotation, which is based on the movement type. The hardcoded configuration handled things like spawn boxes, reload rates, and some basic collision effects. Since the only record keeping was score and the win/loss conditions were predetermined for each game, it let me concentrate on what the game mechanics were to be -- the "fun" element, I guess.
The framework didn't allow for much more than games involving dodging, shooting, and picking up things, but surprisingly it was enough to introduce variety throughout all 24 games. Many of them are actually lite versions of popular arcade games (eg, Spy Hunter, Paper Boy). It's funny to think how simple these games are at the core and that it only takes a few minutes to recreate them. I'm beginning to think nearly all arcade games from the 80's are really all just Space Invaders variants.
Anyway, I still plan to continue on this. I'd like to make a more compelling metagame and introduce a couple more basic mechanics to the framework (like jumping) and maybe see what I can come up with if I shoot for 50 total games. Despite the restrictions, I still think I only scratched the surface and I'm looking forward to making more without any time pressure.
The list of mini-games:
Meteoroids
Rally Racer
Super Skeet
Star Defense
Gorilla War
Tank Attack
Moon Buggy
Slime Blaster
Olympic Skiing
Ninja Master
Space Invasion
Shark Hunter
Spy Driver
Dot Muncher
Quarterback
Chopper Rescue
Paper Route
Marble Maze
Boxing
Dark Dungeon
Missile Defense
Bartender
Diamond Caves
Robotroid
Joystick Johnny Website
Well, I did it. I got a head start this week on the framework, but that took longer than expected and ate into my weekend. I didn't actually begin creating the mini-games until Sunday afternoon.
On average, each game took 25 minutes to create. Each game consisted of:
- hardcoded config: 30 variables for the game and 25 for each sprite class
- background image (400x250)
- player image (8x8) - variable frames, depending on the game type
- up to 4 "actor" images (8x8) that are used for enemies/pickups
- bullet image (5x5) for player
- bomb image (5x5) for enemies
These images are then scaled up in the game. At such a low resolution, it rarely took more than 5 minutes to finish the art. The framework is capable of doing basic animations, like 360 rotation, which is based on the movement type. The hardcoded configuration handled things like spawn boxes, reload rates, and some basic collision effects. Since the only record keeping was score and the win/loss conditions were predetermined for each game, it let me concentrate on what the game mechanics were to be -- the "fun" element, I guess.
The framework didn't allow for much more than games involving dodging, shooting, and picking up things, but surprisingly it was enough to introduce variety throughout all 24 games. Many of them are actually lite versions of popular arcade games (eg, Spy Hunter, Paper Boy). It's funny to think how simple these games are at the core and that it only takes a few minutes to recreate them. I'm beginning to think nearly all arcade games from the 80's are really all just Space Invaders variants.
Anyway, I still plan to continue on this. I'd like to make a more compelling metagame and introduce a couple more basic mechanics to the framework (like jumping) and maybe see what I can come up with if I shoot for 50 total games. Despite the restrictions, I still think I only scratched the surface and I'm looking forward to making more without any time pressure.
The list of mini-games:
Meteoroids
Rally Racer
Super Skeet
Star Defense
Gorilla War
Tank Attack
Moon Buggy
Slime Blaster
Olympic Skiing
Ninja Master
Space Invasion
Shark Hunter
Spy Driver
Dot Muncher
Quarterback
Chopper Rescue
Paper Route
Marble Maze
Boxing
Dark Dungeon
Missile Defense
Bartender
Diamond Caves
Robotroid
About the author
#2
Few things impress me more than someone who sets out to do the impossible and then achieves it.
06/14/2005 (7:49 am)
Absolutely insane! I love it! I'm gonna try and sneak in a chance to play it during lunch.Few things impress me more than someone who sets out to do the impossible and then achieves it.
#3
Edit: Just played it ... its really impressive that you managed to get so much variety with such a limited framework. Very retro, very cool. Nice work :)
06/14/2005 (8:17 am)
Hahahaha! You did it! F'ing great :)Edit: Just played it ... its really impressive that you managed to get so much variety with such a limited framework. Very retro, very cool. Nice work :)
#4
edit: ok, I played it now and it rocks! can't believe it's only a paltry 2mb! very impressive and I had a blast. you should definitely polish this further and distro it. it's not something I'd buy, but it's something I'd send to all my friends (and at 2mb I can easily send it as an attachment instead of a link, which is nice). again, way to go, this is one of the coolest things I've seen on GG lately (though maybe it's just stoking those retro-goodness synapses)
06/14/2005 (9:18 am)
holy crud, best GID ever! can't wait to get home and try this... similar concept to the "shelled mini-arcade" promo I'm working on, very cool.edit: ok, I played it now and it rocks! can't believe it's only a paltry 2mb! very impressive and I had a blast. you should definitely polish this further and distro it. it's not something I'd buy, but it's something I'd send to all my friends (and at 2mb I can easily send it as an attachment instead of a link, which is nice). again, way to go, this is one of the coolest things I've seen on GG lately (though maybe it's just stoking those retro-goodness synapses)
#5
06/14/2005 (9:42 am)
It wouldn't be legal to distribute this would it ? Even if you changed al lthe names of the games ?
#6
06/14/2005 (1:08 pm)
I don't see why it wouldn't be legal, Chris. The sub-games only vaguely resemble the originals. 
#7
Honestly... great job!
06/14/2005 (2:17 pm)
It's a bit amusing that "Joystick Johnny" has no joystick support. ;)Honestly... great job!
#8
06/14/2005 (5:31 pm)
@J Lesko - Could you please send me an email, your profile doesn't list a public email address.... chrislabombard at hotmail dot com... Thank you
#9
edit: Well I was able to get through 13 of them. If I spent the night trying I could probably do all of them.
06/14/2005 (7:22 pm)
This is some awesome fun. The music really gets you pumped up to do some arcade gaming.edit: Well I was able to get through 13 of them. If I spent the night trying I could probably do all of them.
#10
06/15/2005 (3:26 am)
Wow!!! Can't wait to give this a go. I think I'll try and sneak a bit of "lunchtime recreation" in on my laptop!!:) 
#11
07/31/2006 (4:45 pm)
Aww c'mon where's the link??? I wanna try these games... 
Torque Owner Chris Labombard
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