Progress...

[Cure]

This looks great. The trailer completely blew me away. I'm excited to play this game

[DigiTan]

Yep, the fighting engine is just as crazy as the trailer. Even with the fast character used in the movie, fights were pretty tough to avoid, so the game definately won't be a run-through. I'm trying this new "Lock-in" feature you have to fight multiple enemies without leaving the current screen (the part that goes: 3...2...1...).

[DigiTan]

Off topic: If 1 is singularity, 2 is duality, and 3 is trinity, what are 4 and 5?

[Weregoose]

Nine?

Actually, quadruplicity and quintuplicity, if I'm not mistaken.

[DigiTan]

Eww. Guess I'd better use some other naming system. :sick:

[DigiTan]

New poll today.

The item system is being psuedo-coded this week and I haven't decided on how to handle equipment. There won't be any traditional weapon/armor items this time. I'm tempted to avoid classic equipping, and instead use an "auto-equip" scheme where the item goes into effect by simply being in your possession.

Example: Holding a "Red Herb" item boosts your fire ability +10 and only stops if your drop or sell it. Or maybe we could have equipment expire after a certain number of level-ups.

Would this system throw people off, or does it sound intuitive enough to use?

[bukwirm]

A compromise, maybe? Things like weapons, where you could only wield a limited amount (you only have 2 hands) and there are stratigic choices involved (which weapon is better for each circumstance?), could be manually equiped, while other things (like the Red Herb) remain in effect as long as you have them.

Sorry if that makes no sense, it's late.

[DarkerLine]

I like "auto-equip". But there's things that "classic equip" provides such as items that are beneficial in one area and harmful in another, or that are destroyed the first time they are useful (or, like bukwirm said, strategic choices).

To get around this, you could have an "enable/disable" flag for each item, or maybe a storage location to put the items until you need them.

[DigiTan]

Yeah, I guess I look into a storage feature. Here's the current set-up:

Foods - Disappear after use

Boosters - Similar to foods, but they last for a timed duration. IE: an Attack booster would give you +10 ATK for a few minutes.

Equipment - ??? (what the poll is for)

Skills - Stuff like jump, slash, x2 jump, etc are permanent after you learn them. Elemental skills like fire, water, light, shadow are prone to a paper-rock-scissors logic. IE: water beats fire and so on. This is seperate from your item inventory, so you can collect as many skills as you want.

[DigiTan]

A minor bug today caused the character to drop coins if a water attack hit him. (Actually, the coins weren't being stolen, they were just spawned as if you beat an enemy). That got me thinking: should the character drop coins if special attacks hit him? "Special" being water, fire, spark, and shadow only.

It would work a little like Sonic, where you'd be able to recollect them if you move fast enought. Due to speed issues, he would drop maybe 1-5 coins max each hit.


It's an interesting idea IMHO. I just want to check and see if you guys think it will add anything to gameplay.

[bananaman]

I voted no, but want to put a disclaimer. I like the idea of them being able to be stolen, but not how you described it. If someone hits you so hard that you drop coins they wouldn't just disappear after a little bit of time. I say have him steal the coins and if you kill him then you get them back, if he runs away then he keeps them.

[DigiTan]

Okay, that will take a little modding of the coin's "AI," but I like your idea. When the gamer starts realizing these attacks take away money, it could add a little drama to things ("Come back here with my money!!" :biggrin: ).

[DigiTan]

Okay, so the 2nd trailer's been out for a few days and the project is nearing the halfway point. By now, everyone's noticed the gameplay is shifting from bot battles to human vs. machines, mutants, and giant insects. With the new storyline and emphasis on psychokinetics, I've desided on the title "Psychopath: RWII."

The story resumes a few years from where the original left off. You fight a radicalized faction of the WARP empire called the Dark Legion that emerged after Edmund's defeat. Your allies in ATLAS have given you an outlawed neural interface that gives you artificial PK abilities. The Legion however, already possess a vastly more powerful interface that will put whole continents at risk if ever completed.

The focus is on a fast-paced style of gameplay with puzzle and arcade elements that are underway. But the dominating force will be fast, acrobatic battles and difficult bosses, so don't expect to play the game one-handed. TI-82 and 83+/84+ flash versions should be released simultaneously.

[bananaman]

Cool, from what you've said and the trailers it looks to be a fun challanging game. Keep up the good work and release RWI for the 83+.

[Fallen Ghost]

From what I've seen, you've passed alooooooooot of time on this... (looks so nice!!!) Keep up the good work!!

The theme changing isn't a problem, how can I criticise what I've seen. It looks perfect! And also finished to some release!

[DigiTan]

As you might've guessed from the a lack of a December screenshot, Edgar and the supporting cast are taking a brief winter hiatus. Progress on Robot War and Psychopath will likely resume after the holiday season. Since the screenshot update is delayed, here is the first-ever progress report for Psychopath: RW2...

--------CORE PROGRAM----------
[√] B&W Titlescreen (TI-82)
[√] Greyscale Titlescreen (non-82 versions)
[ ] Widescreen Title (TI-85 and TI-86)
[√] File Select System
----------MECHANICS-------------
[√] Physics, object hit detect, map hit detect
[√] Object management
----------ECONOMY---------------
[√] Shop placement (area 1, area 2 only)
[ ] Shop interface
[√] Food/Equipment graphics
----------BATTLE------------------
[√] Melee
[√] Ranged attacks
[ ] Scoring system
[ ] Purchasable moves
[ ] Enemy generation
[ ] Missions / Mission battles
----------LEVEL DESIGN----------
[√] Oceanside (area 1) maps
[ ] Oceanside (area 1) dialogs/events
[√] Grand Grove (area 2) maps
[ ] Grand Grove (area 2) dialogs/events
[ ] area 3 design
[ ] area 4 design
[ ] area 5 design

[DigiTan]

Monthly screenshots finally updated. To keep both the RW2 and Sonic projects moving along, I'm going to try merging RW's object management system into Sonic. Next trailer "Cauldera" scheduled for February 17th or thereabout.

[DigiTan]

A few delays in the Caldera trailer. ...Mainly due to the fact that I just started that level last weekend. This is a special level, in that it involves more traps and puzzles than the previous two; and it also marks the halfway-point of the project. Check for it in mid-March.

[Liazon]

Sounds good though!

Can't wait to see the volcano landscape. It is a volcano level right? Grandgrove and Oceanside tiles awesomely depicted their environs (forest and ocean respectively)

[DigiTan]

Yep. It transitions from dead forest-->mineral mine-->volcano. With plenty of volcano-related traps along the way of course. It'll also focus more solving odd puzzles rather than fighting enemies. Not that there won't be a couple enemies stalking you!