About a month I continue a develop of this theme. More over, I even don’t start the game itself. I am making everything in C++ and SDL2 multimedia library. Saying more, I continue more to develop program part. So, it is about menu and settings. It looks, like I need to rewrite lots of code. Big changes in code. This came to hard. And I don’t expect this. It is about that some ideas leads to rewrite whole blocks and modules. At first, I don’t expect to make it so hard. So, just simply, I try to add some little things, and try to make engine. And that’s all. And to start as fast as I can to start a game itself.

And now it is looks like I am into program part. And I even don’t start to develop game itself. I am in settings and menus elements. So, in result, in terms of motivation, I decide to name base part of code as word engine. So in this so called engine it will contain menu elements and settings. Today it looks like good for game arcade type or game with simple control. Idea to call it as engine – self motivation. So looks like I get lost in program part.

So I don’t try to tell that everything in it is great. In result, many engines for games are not universal, and they are made for certain game or certain type of games only. Example – engine for game Doom, or Quake. So, I think, I can call it as engine. But, of course, what I am doing is not Doom or Quake. And something simple and arcade. Retro direction.

So, meet – Dima Links Engine – with name – Iteration. Iteration – is a step in algorithm. In program code. So by steps game is developing. So good name. So, looks like, for game like 8 bit, nes, 8 bit computers style. MS DOS style. But for Windows 10 modern.

And game itself Gala Christmas – it is continue of Gala. Some spinoff. About new year. I have planned this game for a long time. And from some time I was doing something for this purpose. I think, I draw everything I need, almost. And that’s all. And only now I started the code. But I get lost in logic tasks. And start to go into engine terms.

Looks like sprites are all done. And now some code process is started. Game itself as idea started several years ago. And also some special base code like menu and settings – that I call engine.

Gala – is arcade shooter like Galaga, Galaxian, Space Invaders. Like 8 bit computers, consoles or something like shooters like MS DOS. Move Left and right and shoot. 

Prepare for New Years event

So, it is in very beginning stage, it is going development of Gala New Year. So, today, it is already done something for so-called engine “Iteration”. Using Iteration engine – it will be done a game. Today engine is include elements of menu and global data.

Game itself Gala New Year – it is continue of game GALA. This is simple arcade shooter. In a style of Space Invaders, Galaga, Galaxian, Simple space shooter. But if Gala is about science fiction theme. But simple. Then Gala New Year – it is some light celebration of New Year.

Idea of game Gala New Year is came a long time ago. Just, after I complete the Gala itself.  It was a few years ago. And, as you see, by its title, in ideal way, I planned it for New Year. But I don’t have enough skills in those days. And project goes to a long way road. It was a zero complete thing for a long time.

Next step, is not programming, but drawing sprites and games backgrounds. So, they are have done already a many times ago. And a little part of graphics – it need to be drawn, if it will be required for some reason. So, I even create a story for this title during that period. And, it begins a pause time again.

And, this is new step. Now it is about programming. So, it is already done elements of menu. I am doing writing a code in terms of engine “Iteration”, using with engine I will built a game. So I already run in some bug in menu. But if don’t take it into account, I am ready to start programming game itself. So, I am ready for gameplay to code. So, it is main things for today.

So, process consists of two components. First – some engine, based on it I will develop a game. And game itself. Main thing, that I will take into account – that game will be more dynamical, than my last programs. And it will be about New year!

New year is in developing

In terms of developing a new game about Gala New Year – I have finished developing the part, that I call game engine. In consist of files with different menus, created objects, and global files. Menu – helps to easy create a menu. So, this means to change only decoration for games. And not to write every menu every time from a zero.

Objects – are the special things, like timer, system for playing music and sound. Global data – it is files that are written with idea to work all this stuff as a program. So, for example, menu order and they are works like a menus to operate. So user will change this global files as user wants. And add new files, of course. Of course, there is understanding how to make new features to this engine. And I even have a list of new features.

But, I have made this for another purpose. Not as a game engine, but as a tool to make game making process s easier. So right now I let it be like this.

I am, using this engine, I am planning to do a pack of games. Different level of complex. Those things, that I planned a years ago, but, don’t have skills and power. And at the level of dream idea, some drawing, I fixed them in my data.

So, continue of game engine developing will be as a separate process, and later. And in terms of Gala New Year – I finished game engine.

And now I need to start to make a game. So, change decorations for Gala New Year and make gameplay. And I already started it.

By the way, today all menus are from game engine. Plus and minus they are universal goes good for games like retro and arcades. So That’s why I am already at the game play process.

I am in process of learning ideas, which gamers suggest during first game – GALA. GALA –it is another game. In this game series. It is different. It is pure retro. Absolutely in retro way, true retro.  And here we have a GALA New Year – second game in series. It goes with users suggestions.

Maybe, I will to want to make one more pure retro game, later.

But it is in the future.