Progress...

[pugboy]

Looks cool! Know when the full release is going to be?

[DigiTan]

I'm shooting for late 2007. The original still took a year of development after the final tileset was designed though, so it's tough to tell.

[DigiTan]

Well, a few summer updates here. Overall, the game is a couple kilobytes over-budget which means progress will slow down for optimization reasons. After a long quite period, progress resumed on the Caldera level. Most of these maps are finished. The shop function is nearly complete (it just needs the "not enough gold" function added).

So far, Caldera is the smallest area so it tests your ability to control the character with precision while the pressure's on.

Some graphics and enemies for Area #4 are already completed. You should see the next trailer sometime in September. Stay tuned to the Videos & Trailers thread for the usual screenshots.

[TheStorm]

Will this be avilible for calcs other than the 82? bucause if not then i'll have to find a way to get an emu set up because this looks cool.

[DigiTan]

Yep. Currently it's in TI-82 format and I've been working with Spencer and Jim e to have a 83+/84+ family version done via WabbitEmu. The 84+ version will have the same gameplay, but smoother motion and a complete storyline.

[Delnar_Ersike]

...but I guess there will be some content for the 82 version that won't be included in the 83+ family version.

So I guess the next area is based on the "Earth", not "Metal", as the previous areas were made in a clockwise order (according to the little wheel you posted) starting with Water. Hmmm, what would Earth be? You start at the coast, walk through a forest, clime through a volcano, and now go underground...?

[Sting::Ray]

Will the release date of the 83+/84+ version be the same as the 82 version? Just wondering; I have an 82, so I don't care.

[DigiTan]

Yep, I'm planning to have both versions released in one package. Also, AlienCC is helping create a widescreen version to work with 85 and possibly 86 on a later date.

Hopefully the RAM budget on the 82 version will go up enough to allow for a few 82-exclusive features. Area #4 will still be metal/earth themed, while Area 5 will most likely be earth/wind mix. Everything beyond Grand Grove is non-linear, but that's the suggested order.

[rcfreak0]

Sweet, cant wait till you release the 84 version! Then i can actually play this game..

[Sting::Ray]

Just as a suggestion for newcomers, you could put this in your signature instead:

Robot Wars: [Multiplatform]

That way, it's just like Sonic.

[Delnar_Ersike]

Speaking of a suggestion, I don't think the green "New!" is needed before the project description, unless by "New" you mean "About a year old".

[bananaman]

He can't stick multiplatform for Robot War, b/c the original is still only available for the 82. Now if he added Robot War II [multiplatform] that would be acceptable.

[IAmACalculator]

Originally, he was planning several ports of the original Robot War see here, but that idea never really took off (or maybe it exploded in the hangar).

[bananaman]

I know that he was planning multiple ports, but they haven't been done yet so it is still technically 82 only. I think he might port the original when he ports robot war II. At least I hope so. Nudge Nudge.

[DigiTan]

Okay, I've got some idle times ahead of me. At least for the next few days, so the project is getting some more momentum.

Basically, Caldera --the third level in the design schedule-- was completed earlier this month. As usual, it will get it's own youtube trailer and background story. The levels are complete and it will just take a few programming sessions to add improved maps, and add civilians to the towns. The tentative trailer date is October 17th.

The Cast of Caldera


First, I have to give necro credit for the skull art, which was donated long ago for this level. This boss --the Marauder-- is effectively the first of the *difficult* bosses and even witnessing it may take a few tries. Even the smaller Calcimite enemy requires expert timing.

The marker has a more 3D look now. The stone switches can now be hurled long distances with your slash attack--but only once. Or, you can levitate it with more precision like always.

Some notes about the items: food is split into the four basic groups you learned about in 1st grade gym class. Your diet will directly affect how your energy, attack, defense, and speed increase over time. Herbs and Meds provide supplementary effects. Rare Gemstones can be sold to civilians on the street. If you sell the correct stone in the proper area, you're rewarded with huge amounts of cash (ex: sell blue stones in Oceanside, red stones in Caldera, etc). Crates are the wildcard. They can contain any item or combination of items--but you have to battle for them!

[Liazon]

the Dark Legion's Marauder is sick!!

[Delnar_Ersike]

When this game is finished (note, I said "when", not "if"), it's probably going to rival 68k games, even without greyscale! Heck, if it is released this year (and the first trailer said "Coming Fall 2007", so I'm kind of confident), it'll be a sure PotY (unless Spencer decides to release Zelda this year and/or Jim e decides to release RealSound2 this year, then there will be a fierce competition and probably a couple of tiebreakers required)!

[elfprince13]

gorgeous work, can't wait to see it in action

[Delnar_Ersike]

[DigiTan]

It's time to announce that the progress on RW2 will resume December 17th. The new trailer for Caldera itself will be uploaded as soon as the stage boss programming is complete, and random civilians are added to the town areas.

Since that will be the first new video in a long while, I'm making it a double-length video with 2 minutes of Caldera footage. There's also a few preview stills of the 4th area that will added in as a bonus.