Gauntlet Inspired Arcade Game
by Matt_Lloyd · in General Discussion · 09/25/2005 (2:12 am) · 16 replies
Hi all,
For the last couple of months I have been working on a gauntlet remake/dungeon hack game. If you are interested in trying it out then it can be downloaded from: (Windows OS only)
http://home.swiftdsl.com.au/~gezeder/lloyd/Low Res Gauntlet Essentials.zip
** EDIT - file is "Low Res Gauntlet Essentials.zip"- If this forum system does not like spaces in filenames you may have to paste the full link into your browser.
The downloadable version uses low res textures and low quality sound to minimise the download size (it is 6 MB).
Some screenshots are here:
I'd be interested in feedback (**both positive and negative**) regarding frame rate, whether the game is too easy/too hard, your highest scores (although high score table not done yet) and how many players you've tried it with.
Currently the game supports up to 4 players using gamepads (or a joystick with 4 buttons). It does not (and likely will not in future) feature keyboard support.
While I have not included the source code with this, I will do so once it is finished.
I am still looking for more sound effects, music although my main priority is getting some menu/title screen/high score chart screens done. If any one is interested in creating any of these bits (particularly the menu/title etc) then let me know - my email address is in my profile.
Thanks for your time.
** Edit ** - frame rate should not go over 60ish frames a second - I am interested in how much it dips to.
For the last couple of months I have been working on a gauntlet remake/dungeon hack game. If you are interested in trying it out then it can be downloaded from: (Windows OS only)
http://home.swiftdsl.com.au/~gezeder/lloyd/Low Res Gauntlet Essentials.zip
** EDIT - file is "Low Res Gauntlet Essentials.zip"- If this forum system does not like spaces in filenames you may have to paste the full link into your browser.
The downloadable version uses low res textures and low quality sound to minimise the download size (it is 6 MB).
Some screenshots are here:
I'd be interested in feedback (**both positive and negative**) regarding frame rate, whether the game is too easy/too hard, your highest scores (although high score table not done yet) and how many players you've tried it with.
Currently the game supports up to 4 players using gamepads (or a joystick with 4 buttons). It does not (and likely will not in future) feature keyboard support.
While I have not included the source code with this, I will do so once it is finished.
I am still looking for more sound effects, music although my main priority is getting some menu/title screen/high score chart screens done. If any one is interested in creating any of these bits (particularly the menu/title etc) then let me know - my email address is in my profile.
Thanks for your time.
** Edit ** - frame rate should not go over 60ish frames a second - I am interested in how much it dips to.
#2
-Keith
09/25/2005 (6:11 am)
I'd make the wall and floor textures different, as it looks like it might mess with your eyes a bit. Looks like it's coming along well though.-Keith
#3
09/25/2005 (6:47 am)
Looks similar to gauntlet
#4
Who uses a joypad on the PC?
The screenshots look too dark to me. But I would realy love to try this, Gauntlet was so cool..
09/25/2005 (7:29 am)
Me too, cant get it to work though as i dont have a pc joypad.Who uses a joypad on the PC?
The screenshots look too dark to me. But I would realy love to try this, Gauntlet was so cool..
#5
-Ajari-
09/25/2005 (7:55 am)
Looks like a nice start to me. Plays good too. Quote:Who uses a joypad on the PC?I can't imagine playing this with anything but a game controller. I enjoy playing Unreal Tournament 2004 with a mouse and keyboard and then picking up my controller for some Street Fighter II and Metal Slug on my PC. With the PC being the multipurpose tool that it is, why wouldn't you own a controller for it? Mouse and keyboard isn't the answer to everything, and not all games play great with them. But go ahead and limit yourself. I'll keep my options open for such instances as this.
-Ajari-
#6
Designing a game for the PC that requires a joypad would be like designing a game for the PS2 that requires a keyboard.
The original Gauntlet used a joystick but nowadays all the joysticks are designed for flight sims so they would not be good for this. Your right a joypad would be good, but I think the % of people who have one for PC would be <1%.
Doh, I just noticed this from the original post...now who own 4 joypads for the PC?
09/26/2005 (1:08 am)
Mmmk, I will limit myself to, every other game, ever :)Designing a game for the PC that requires a joypad would be like designing a game for the PS2 that requires a keyboard.
The original Gauntlet used a joystick but nowadays all the joysticks are designed for flight sims so they would not be good for this. Your right a joypad would be good, but I think the % of people who have one for PC would be <1%.
Doh, I just noticed this from the original post...now who own 4 joypads for the PC?
Quote:Currently the game supports up to 4 players using gamepads (or a joystick with 4 buttons). It does not (and likely will not in future) feature keyboard support.
#7
09/26/2005 (6:44 am)
I own 4 joypads for the PC (but then that is partly why I made the game so I could use them)
#8
-Ajari-
09/26/2005 (10:39 am)
If all you are interested in playing is flight sims and FPS then yeah you may not need a controller. But then that would be limiting yourself from other types of games that are possible on PC unless you feel comfortable throwing Hadookens with WASD. Maybe your right though. Maybe only 1% of PC gamers own controllers and only 1% of games makes use for them. I guess that's why I'm primarily a console player. Like I said, I like it all and you need the right tool for the job. I do think Matt should at least give the option to allow keyboard use though.-Ajari-
#9
09/26/2005 (11:23 am)
Maybe he should allow keyboard use. However, there's no reason he should change his game to satisfy others. Also, games are (often) sports, and a large part of sport is regulating a standard by which your game should be played. The only variable between one person and another should be their skill - not the interface. Matt, do what you need to do for yourself, man. Keep plugging in those hours.
#10
home.swiftdsl.com.au/~gezeder/lloyd/Low%20Res%20Gauntlet%20Essentials.zip
09/27/2005 (10:29 am)
Replace the spaces in your url with %20home.swiftdsl.com.au/~gezeder/lloyd/Low%20Res%20Gauntlet%20Essentials.zip
#11
09/27/2005 (12:02 pm)
I play GGXX#Reload with a keyboard and it works remarkably well.
#12
Superb work though.
Keyboard would be good though but works fine with my joystick... just not used to using the joystick... 'cos I use the keyboard for pretty much everything.
09/29/2005 (2:24 am)
I played this the other day and I have to say, I'm impressed. The graphical user interface needs some work, I thought the days of selecting video modes from a list were long gone, but the game mechanics are all there. It's cool, although I don't like the health bar counting down.. I'm bad enough at the game as it is without the health bar being out to get me too ;-)Superb work though.
Keyboard would be good though but works fine with my joystick... just not used to using the joystick... 'cos I use the keyboard for pretty much everything.
#13
09/29/2005 (7:21 pm)
I'm still working on it, doing title screens, have added shadows which will be optional, am considering also having a top down 2d representation for low end pc users (code was originally designed for this all I have to do is have an alternate camera angle and generate sprites during loading if the image files do not already exist). Still need to add high score chart and some basic gameplay 'help/instructions' information. Am going to include a 'demo' mode like on most arcade games where if you wait long enough the pc displays some in game action (will simply seed the random number generator appropriately and playback user input from file to ensure consistent results). I am after music and would consider paying for it if anyone is interested in making some and the price is right (although I don't know what the cost of such things are).
#14
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"However, there's no reason he should change his game to satisfy others."
Except, of course, that little thing called "consumer appeal".
We are making games not only for ourselves, but also for others. If we make games that other people can't play, then we're not doing our job as game designers. Would you make a game that *requires* a four button mouse? A Wacom tablet? Two monitors? If your game doesn't ship with a custom input device, then allow users to have a fallback option (keyboard, mouse, mind control).
Let it default to joystick if one is plugged in, but if not, give everyone a chance to (pick one) by adding keyboard support.
09/30/2005 (2:20 pm)
Good job, it's going well, except for that little problem of "no keyboard support".---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"However, there's no reason he should change his game to satisfy others."
Except, of course, that little thing called "consumer appeal".
We are making games not only for ourselves, but also for others. If we make games that other people can't play, then we're not doing our job as game designers. Would you make a game that *requires* a four button mouse? A Wacom tablet? Two monitors? If your game doesn't ship with a custom input device, then allow users to have a fallback option (keyboard, mouse, mind control).
Let it default to joystick if one is plugged in, but if not, give everyone a chance to (pick one)
#15
09/30/2005 (2:51 pm)
By all means, develop primarily for joypad. I just reckon any game developer hoping to attract an audience should provide an alternative which the user is certain to have.
#16
New download:
home.swiftdsl.com.au/~gezeder/lloyd/GauntletWIPLowRes.zip
Download size 6.7 Mb
New Features include: Title screen, High Score table, Instructions, Shadows (able to be switched off or have quality adjusted), 2D mode for slower PCs (able to have quality adjusted) , Screen resolution may be altered, Demo replays if you wait long enough (a little under a minute),
Includes Setup program used to adjust graphics settings (written in Blitzplus).
Gameplay is much the same and still requires a joypad (or joystick with 4 buttons) for play.
Still to do:
Music, Proper 'end sequence' - currently game does not end after final level, more sound effects.
A few more, larger screenshots:
10/01/2005 (9:02 pm)
Have updated the Gauntlet Inspired Remake. New download:
home.swiftdsl.com.au/~gezeder/lloyd/GauntletWIPLowRes.zip
Download size 6.7 Mb
New Features include: Title screen, High Score table, Instructions, Shadows (able to be switched off or have quality adjusted), 2D mode for slower PCs (able to have quality adjusted) , Screen resolution may be altered, Demo replays if you wait long enough (a little under a minute),
Includes Setup program used to adjust graphics settings (written in Blitzplus).
Gameplay is much the same and still requires a joypad (or joystick with 4 buttons) for play.
Still to do:
Music, Proper 'end sequence' - currently game does not end after final level, more sound effects.
A few more, larger screenshots:
Torque Owner John Coyne