[Game] Check Out My Game: Break Blocks
- Thread starter Xienen
- Start date
You won't have to wait long. If everything goes according to plan, all will be revealed in about a week =)
And I made a liar out of myself:
We skipped a week in our press release schedule, attempting to have the new gameplay ready, along with a video this week. Well, it turns out this is going to take a bit longer than expected(by a couple weeks).
I know you're all looking forward to the big changes that lay ahead and we're just as excited to bring them to you, but it's going to take a bit more time, unfortunately. Life happens and we can only push ourselves so hard before we pop. I've only been sleeping 4-6 hours trying to get the new gameplay ready, while continuing to work long hours at Tripwire. Let's just say that I tried, but it was just too much. Looking at how much longer it's going to take and what's coming up in my schedule these next couple weeks, I believe it's going to take me at least another 2 weeks to get it all ready for you guys. Sorry for the delay, but I can promise you that it will be worth the wait.
We skipped a week in our press release schedule, attempting to have the new gameplay ready, along with a video this week. Well, it turns out this is going to take a bit longer than expected(by a couple weeks).
I know you're all looking forward to the big changes that lay ahead and we're just as excited to bring them to you, but it's going to take a bit more time, unfortunately. Life happens and we can only push ourselves so hard before we pop. I've only been sleeping 4-6 hours trying to get the new gameplay ready, while continuing to work long hours at Tripwire. Let's just say that I tried, but it was just too much. Looking at how much longer it's going to take and what's coming up in my schedule these next couple weeks, I believe it's going to take me at least another 2 weeks to get it all ready for you guys. Sorry for the delay, but I can promise you that it will be worth the wait.
Tut tut, you've let me down, you've let yourself down, but you know what's worst? You've let :IS2: down...
You know what I think? I think :IS2: needs to stop whining!
Indeed; between all you have done, I don't think any of us would mind you taking breaks; you really have deserved them.
You guys are too kind. I simply love that I get to do this for a living. It's well worth every second that I put into it(even when its hundreds of thousands of consecutive seconds 
). There's nothing in the world that could replace this job and I thank you guys for allowing me to do it =)
). There's nothing in the world that could replace this job and I thank you guys for allowing me to do it =)
Alright, breaks over! Back to work
So, while you guys wait for the new gameplay to be revealed, enjoy another song straight from the game: http://www.greatergoodgames.org/?cmd=devblog
So, while you guys wait for the new gameplay to be revealed, enjoy another song straight from the game: http://www.greatergoodgames.org/?cmd=devblog
New DevBlog Posted: http://www.greatergoodgames.org/?cmd=devblog
OR JUST READ IT HERE:
The new gameplay literally just got finished being implemented to the point where it's actually presentable, but unfortunately I wasn't able to make a nice, pretty video for it, yet. Instead, it's just raw gameplay, so allow me to explain the gameplay concepts a little for you.
You start by filling in the piece to the beat, just as you used to, but instead of adding a piece in a particular direction, you are now hitting the key that corresponds to the color of the current block. We have 3 color keys: Red, Blue, and Yellow. If you hit the correct color on beat, you will be rewarded by having the current block turn into the piece's color(depicted by the outline color of the piece). On the other hand, if you hit the wrong color or are off beat, you never know what color you're going to get.
You'll also notice that "gravity" is in effect on the pieces, meaning that when a piece is placed, each block moves out as far as possible, leaving no blank spaces around the outer edge of the gameboard. This is done because you can no longer move the piece as it's being placed(in fact, you don't move the piece at all, you rotate the gameboard now, which can only be done up until you finish filling in the piece and drop it). Clearing blocks is no longer based off "completing lines", but instead off grouping similar colors together in chains of 10 or more. Also note that this level is part of the training/tutorials for the game, so this isn't a Dance Battle like the other videos, but the Dance Battle components of the game have remained unchanged in this new gameplay style.
YouTube - Break Blocks New Gameplay
There are a number of aspects to the new gameplay style that are not shown in this video. For example, as you progress through the game, one of the ways it gets more difficult is by adding combination of the colors, making Purple, Green, and Orange. We have also created a "Wildcard" system, in which you will be able to place white blocks/pieces that act as a crossover between different colors, which will be especially useful in the later stages of the game when you must manage 6 different colors on the gameboard at once.
We are always open to feedback and suggestions, so let us know what you think of this new gameplay style.
OR JUST READ IT HERE:
The new gameplay literally just got finished being implemented to the point where it's actually presentable, but unfortunately I wasn't able to make a nice, pretty video for it, yet. Instead, it's just raw gameplay, so allow me to explain the gameplay concepts a little for you.
You start by filling in the piece to the beat, just as you used to, but instead of adding a piece in a particular direction, you are now hitting the key that corresponds to the color of the current block. We have 3 color keys: Red, Blue, and Yellow. If you hit the correct color on beat, you will be rewarded by having the current block turn into the piece's color(depicted by the outline color of the piece). On the other hand, if you hit the wrong color or are off beat, you never know what color you're going to get.
You'll also notice that "gravity" is in effect on the pieces, meaning that when a piece is placed, each block moves out as far as possible, leaving no blank spaces around the outer edge of the gameboard. This is done because you can no longer move the piece as it's being placed(in fact, you don't move the piece at all, you rotate the gameboard now, which can only be done up until you finish filling in the piece and drop it). Clearing blocks is no longer based off "completing lines", but instead off grouping similar colors together in chains of 10 or more. Also note that this level is part of the training/tutorials for the game, so this isn't a Dance Battle like the other videos, but the Dance Battle components of the game have remained unchanged in this new gameplay style.
YouTube - Break Blocks New Gameplay
There are a number of aspects to the new gameplay style that are not shown in this video. For example, as you progress through the game, one of the ways it gets more difficult is by adding combination of the colors, making Purple, Green, and Orange. We have also created a "Wildcard" system, in which you will be able to place white blocks/pieces that act as a crossover between different colors, which will be especially useful in the later stages of the game when you must manage 6 different colors on the gameboard at once.
We are always open to feedback and suggestions, so let us know what you think of this new gameplay style.
I can't wait to see a video of a faster and more complex level.
Where the changes also, let's say "guided", by the idea that the game has to work on gamepads? Rotating the board seems so much more intuitive for a joystick than for a keyboard and moving something by individual fields, while it works well for a keyboard or a digi-pad where you can hit a direction multiple times, is awkward with a joystick. Also replacing the directions that have to be hit with primary colors looks a bit like it's meant to be played with a gamepad that has buttons of that color. The xbox 360 controller, for example.
Do you just want the game to be playable with one hooked up to the PC or do you have plans to bring your game to XBLA as well?
Where the changes also, let's say "guided", by the idea that the game has to work on gamepads? Rotating the board seems so much more intuitive for a joystick than for a keyboard and moving something by individual fields, while it works well for a keyboard or a digi-pad where you can hit a direction multiple times, is awkward with a joystick. Also replacing the directions that have to be hit with primary colors looks a bit like it's meant to be played with a gamepad that has buttons of that color. The xbox 360 controller, for example.
Do you just want the game to be playable with one hooked up to the PC or do you have plans to bring your game to XBLA as well?
Thanks for resurrecting my thread, guys! If I could find the time to release updates as regularly as I'd like to, the thread would never leave the top slot(but somehow I don't believe everyone finds my little triumphs and progressions as awesome as I do...such as getting Google Checkout to work with our website and properly hand out CD-Keys this morning...boring!)
Honestly, the changes were not made for a gamepad at all, but you do make a very valid point. This new gameplay style would work very well on a gamepad and makes the game a prime candidate for XBLA or XBLIG(Indie Games). Hell, it may even help the game work on an iPhone/iPad now, where we were previously curious how the hell that could even be done with the old gameplay...hrmm...much to ponder now, thanks Murph =)
So, aside from responding to my adoring fans I am also here to announce that we've got a new Dev Blog up AND we've released the Theme Song for the game, written by Stephen White. It's frickin awesome, CHECK IT OUT!
Honestly, the changes were not made for a gamepad at all, but you do make a very valid point. This new gameplay style would work very well on a gamepad and makes the game a prime candidate for XBLA or XBLIG(Indie Games). Hell, it may even help the game work on an iPhone/iPad now, where we were previously curious how the hell that could even be done with the old gameplay...hrmm...much to ponder now, thanks Murph =)
So, aside from responding to my adoring fans
I am also here to announce that we've got a new Dev Blog up AND we've released the Theme Song for the game, written by Stephen White. It's frickin awesome, CHECK IT OUT!
Well, that's quite the song! Makes for a good theme too.
It's awesome seeing how far you've gotten in the last few weeks.
Can't wait!
It's awesome seeing how far you've gotten in the last few weeks.
Can't wait!
Well, that's quite the song! Makes for a good theme too.
It's awesome seeing how far you've gotten in the last few weeks.
Can't wait!
I frickin love that Theme song. The composer working with us is fantastic! Our artist actually helped guide that Theme song toward awesome, as well, so kudos to him. I heard the first version of the song and was like "yeah, that works", but Noah gave some small but effective suggestions and he was spot on...now when I hear it, it's more like "wow! I wanna play my game right about now" =)
Just a heads-up Xienen, make sure with your Google Checkout that you only use the word "donate" if you are a registered charity, otherwise they will auto-lock your account. If you are going to have variable amounts or pay-what-you-want then there is an option somewhere for that so people can choose the amount they want.
Thanks for the heads up. I wasn't planning on using that word, but now I'll make sure it doesn't appear at all, in any form =)
So, if I create a series of buttons on the website that clearly lay out the different amounts and what you get for each, such that they can't get mixed up, do you think that would also be a problem? That's the current plan, rather than using the drop down box system that they tend to use...
So Xienen let me test this game...
Grab a few pics:
Thanks for lettin me test it, i can say that this IS a good indie game, well, it's not finished yet, but its still awesome!
It's kinda hard to learn the game, i bothered xienen asking him stupid questions, only to get an answer 'did you read the tutorial?', of course it was my fault, but now that i learned the game i'm an effin dance machine :IS2:
This game should get a good sale, no doubt. I'd want achievements for this game.
Xienen also said this game will be available for 5 dosh in a month, something called 'early adopters program', the normal cost for this game will be 10 dosh.
Also, don't bother xienen asking for testing, he doesnt want for it to be available to everyone yet :IS2:
Grab a few pics:
Thanks for lettin me test it, i can say that this IS a good indie game, well, it's not finished yet, but its still awesome!
It's kinda hard to learn the game, i bothered xienen asking him stupid questions, only to get an answer 'did you read the tutorial?', of course it was my fault, but now that i learned the game i'm an effin dance machine :IS2:
This game should get a good sale, no doubt. I'd want achievements for this game.
Xienen also said this game will be available for 5 dosh in a month, something called 'early adopters program', the normal cost for this game will be 10 dosh.
Also, don't bother xienen asking for testing, he doesnt want for it to be available to everyone yet :IS2:
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