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[Devlog] Retrograde Gamma Blaster (RGB) - a colourful SHMUP!

A topic by XandGameDev created Jul 17, 2020 Views: 225 Replies: 7
Viewing posts 1 to 6
Submitted (1 edit) (+1)

Hey all, 

My name is Paul and I'm from the UK. This is my first ever Jam and I've been working in GMS2 for around 3 months now, basically doing all the big YouTubers tutorials and a couple of Udemy courses. 

My day job for the last 15 or so years has been a PHP developer, so I have a good grounding on programming basic principles, but I've never really tried game development, even though its my dream job! At 44, I'm hoping its not too late to learn.

Anyways..... RGB - my idea for the Jam using the theme 'Change'

Trying to keep it simple, this will be a side scrolling SHMUP, though you can fly left or right on a 1280px wide level (may change!). The principle mechanic is that you can change the colour of your gun from Red Green and Blue and have to shoot the enemies with the correct color to match what they are.

Thats basically it, I think it may just be wave based high score chaser rather than over complicate it.

I've got a few extra ideas;

  • Maybe have the 'gamma' limited for each colour and you have to pick up blobs from the floor to power back up
  • You can land on the floor and walk around to attack ground enemies - bit like the old C64 game Retrograde, which this is kinda based on
  • May have auto-firing due to having to use the arrow keys to move and then ASD to switch the 3 colours, maybe confusing with a fire button too (unless..... ASD are ALL fire buttons, one for each colour?...Hmm.... that could be cool)
  • I'd like to have a boss that incorporates 3 sections (one for each colour) you have to remove before getting to its core?
  • Game will be randomly generated - so terrain is already randomised and enemies will be too.

Hope you like that idea. I dont have too much to show off right now beyond a flying triangle that can shoot and change color.

PLAN

Working full time and having a family, I dont get masses of time, but the plan is to finish the main mechanics over the weekend if possible, then spend 3-4 days next week doing the art and polishing.

I'll stick some more up later of what I've got - but I'm looking forward to interacting with you all!

Paul.

Host(+1)

hey paul! that's honestly really cool to hear. in the more recent jams we've been seeing a lot of non-game software/developers trying out the jam because they've always been interested in trying games so you're definitely not alone here!! i like that you decided on a pretty basic MVP but have some cool ideas in your pocket if you decide to expand the scope. it can definitely be difficult to do at the same time as a job, but we hope you can at least get a taste of what it's like to make games and maybe have some experience to carry with you in the future. i say this as a professional dev... it can be tough but learning how to balance both is really the key to making more and longer games without burning out for sure haha. best of luck with the jam!

Submitted(+1)

Thanks J! I have a note book full of game ideas, but one is really sticking with me so I'm starting that pretty soon. Will be a long term project.

Thanks for the feedback :)

Submitted (2 edits) (+1)

Update time! 

I think the original scope is not all going to make it in, so trying to polish up what I have right now.


So I went with my idea to not 'change' the laser color via a button, but have A S D fire each colour which works ok, but does lose a little in the theme of 'Change'

Its quite fun and challenging quickly getting the right button and hopefully as the waves speed up, it will be get very tricky.

Have player health in which I'll probably make a bar and a multiplier for now.  I'm not very good with GUI so I'll have to take inspiration from somewhere.

Added in a basic background and starting to create graphics for the enemies. Over using the 'sin()' function for the spinning red enemy that spins AND moves using Sin :D

Anyways, will continue polishing and see what I can get done over the next few days!

Host

ooo looks like the video might be private? maybe you can set it to public or unlisted similarly to youtube? i'd love to see what you have--it sounds like you've madea  lot of progress!

Submitted

Hahaha looks like I posted an internal link - I'll update that one and post one of current progress as its changed a bit...

Submitted

Latest update!

Bit more polish;

Title Screen
Screen Shake
Animation on character firing
UI elements in
Diamonds to collect

Submitted

Published! https://xandgamedev.itch.io/rgb-retrograde-gamma-blaster