Contest 7 - Arcade - Discussion Thread

[Pino]

Any questions or problems please ask here!

[Jamiex]

damn i was going to try and make a game and i had a good idea that i would have entered but i dont think it comes under arcade

Well time to think again

[03myersd]

What was it?

[RobDog888]

How about using Flash? You can do allot within the timeframe and great presentation too.

[Jamiex]

it was a game i was thinking of making. Its one of those ones where you move the aiming site around i have played it in arcades (does that count)

[03myersd]

I'm not sure... I would leave it to Pino to decide on that one.

[Pino]

If you played it in an arcade then yes it counts! also if you look at the spec as long as it fits the criteria of being 2d simple and easy to pick up then its ok! We are being very very flexible with this one! So just be creative and have fun!

Pino

[Jamiex]

Good good time to have fun yippee

[psychotomus]

bomberman count?
online bomberman count?

[Pino]

Yes!

[StevenHickerson]

You would do a contest for something I suck at! I can do the coding part but my creativity at creating a game stinks! *sigh* I now must scour the internet for unused game ideas... but when I submit it don't laugh at my graphics they are likely to be blocks of solid colors *snicker*

[Merri]

I have one fresh arcade game idea that I can't recall seeing before, but I don't have the interest to participate (or code the game). Actual coding won't take much time, most of the time would go to polishing and fine tuning the game play once the basics are there. The game idea requires very simple physics and accurate collision detection, ie. simple box collision detection wouldn't work - unless everything would be simple blocks that never rotate.

[Fromethius]

Uhh hi everyone!

I've been working on my pong game for a couple weeks now and I guess I can submit that? I don't know if I can finish it in 10 days though.. Is it okay if I just send it what I have completed so far if I reach the deadline without finishing?

The reason it's taking so long is because I'm adding online play to it, if that's okay.

Also, what are the prizes?

[Pino]

Yea just submit it when you think you are ready!

[Underworld1020]

I've been working on a connect four game to help me learn C# and now Directx. Since I'm close to finishing I thought maybe I should submit it in the contest. I doubt I'll win, but just for kicks.

Anyways my question is, do you consider connect four as an arcade game? I don't think its technically an "arcade" game, but it is a simple 2d game made in C# using Directx so maybe it qualifies. What do you think?

[Pino]

Submit it!

[Fromethius]

Hey I have a question.. I have been working on my pong game for a while now and I'm really proud of it. Although I trust you Pino, I just don't want to be dropping the source out to everybody. I don't really know what to do about this issue. If I don't give you the source, you won't really know the amount of work I put into it and the code skill level, but if I do give it to you, I risk the chance of other people obtaining it and posting it as if it was their own.

Should I copyright it or license it or something of the sort? Just some sort of method used to prove that the written code is mine. I've never done such a thing because I have never worked on a programming project this long and hard (3500 lines of code right now, which is a lot for me) and what I could do is something I've never done before.

What do you think?

[Pino]

Thats a risk we all take when posting items on the net. I cant see a problem though, without sounding rude its not like its million $$ software. I wouldn't worry about it? Be proud of it post your source, if someone steals it what does it matter to you?

[Fromethius]

Alright, well. When I post it, I'll probably just put comments in the files saying it was mine or something. Nothing major.

Also, do they have to be completely finished? I don't think I'll be finishing all online support by the 30th =/

[Pino]

I may extend the deadline to the end of the weekend.

[Fromethius]

You should ;)

[Underworld1020]

I agree, an extension would be of great help.

[Phill64]

darn, I find out about this contest a day before the deadline :P
I'll get you next time gadget.

[Fromethius]

Is there going to be an extension? The game is over 4000 lines of code, BUT there is a major problem with collision where SOMETIMES the ball registers for collison to much in one hit. Because of this, sometimes one collision will register 30+ times and give the paddle a much higher score. I doubt I will fix this by tommorow's end so an extension would be great.

Also, how are you grading the entries? Is it the most fun game, the most accurate replication, the one bestly coded, or what? I say this because if I don't fix this collision problem, will I still have a chance to win the contest? Because, other than that and some multiplayer issues, the game is complete.

[Lord Orwell]

sounds like all you need to do is have collision detection based on the ball direction. If it's moving away from the paddle then ignore any more collisions. Probably a result of ball speed putting the ball past the paddle edge?
You want to see a collision nightmare, i was trying to write a breakout game for this contest and i gave up. I actually got it to bounce off of blocks and my paddle and the walls and break the blocks but for some reason it would tunnel through them sometimes and destroy whole lines of them.

[Pino]

Extended Until 2nd!

[Underworld1020]

I wanted to submit my game, but it was just a bad time for me due to school. I'll still finish it and have the source available in the Game Demos section soon. So who won? Can we see the entries?

[Lord Orwell]

we are all wondering the same thing! At the very least, the contest subforum should have been unlocked by now!

[Pino]

Correct they will be available later on today! Results expected at the end of the weekend!

[Pino]

http://www.vbforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=68

Enjoy!

[Underworld1020]

I think this contest should have been advertised more, I didn't even know about unitl a few days before the deadline. And this must have been true for others as well because there were only three entries.

Anyways a contest is a good idea and please do one again in the future, but next time advertise that there's going to be a contest soon, and then everyone can look out for it and get some ideas of what they might want to do. So good idea, but people need to know about it in order to participate.

I haven't tried any of the entires yet, but I've downloaded them all and will bring them home and try them out. Maybe I'll learn something from them, hopefully you guys used Directx so I can see some examples it being used.

[psychotomus]

dang i was on vacation and forgot to submit.

[Lord Orwell]

there were plenty of people who said they were going to submit but never did. A connect4 game comes to mind...

[Pino]

I think this contest should have been advertised more, I didn't even know about unitl a few days before the deadline. And this must have been true for others as well because there were only three entries.

Anyways a contest is a good idea and please do one again in the future, but next time advertise that there's going to be a contest soon, and then everyone can look out for it and get some ideas of what they might want to do. So good idea, but people need to know about it in order to participate.

I haven't tried any of the entires yet, but I've downloaded them all and will bring them home and try them out. Maybe I'll learn something from them, hopefully you guys used Directx so I can see some examples it being used.

I appriciate you saying this, I did try there was a sticky in chitchat and the thread has been in this forum for a while. I understand what you are saying and for the next one I'll see if I can get a global forum announcement.

Pino

[Underworld1020]

there were plenty of people who said they were going to submit but never did. A connect4 game comes to mind...
Now that I think about it, I did something very stupid. I already had a working VB version of my game...I could of just submited that...

I appriciate you saying this, I did try there was a sticky in chitchat and the thread has been in this forum for a while. I understand what you are saying and for the next one I'll see if I can get a global forum announcement.

I guess you probably did advertise, its just where you did. The only section of the fourm I really go to anymore is the Gaming section, unless I have a question. Someone did post about the contest there, but way too late.

Okay, so I downloaded all the entries last night and planned on trying them, but it didn't work out. All the entries were versions that I couldn't open. Most I think were VB 6, and Pong must have been something newer than 2005, maybe that new beta that's out. Anyways I couldn't even open any of the entries except in Notepad.

So can you guys include some exe files or something so I can try them out?

[Fromethius]

The solution is in 2008. It will work fine if you convert it back to 2005 as I only used 2005's framework. It was auto-converted to 2008 when I started working on it on a different computer with 2008 installed. If you don't want to convert, just open the Pong project instead of the solution.

Anyways, I think I remember putting the exe along with it. You might need the DirectX end-user run-time to run it or rebuild the solution once it's opened. As always ;)

[Underworld1020]

I got Pong to work. I downloaded the DirectX run-time and exectuted the exe file. The computer I'm on right now doesn't have VS, so I can't even try that at the moment.

So a few remarks about the game. I liked it, however there are some bugs that you may already be aware of.

-When starting the game the Paddle Speed is at 0, which doesn't really make any sense because why would you want a paddle that can't move? At first I thought I wasn't pressing the wrong keys and then I figured it out in the Options menu that my Paddle Speed was at 0, which seems to be the default.

-I like that you can change the Game Type from Horizontal to Vertical, that's a cool idea. However when you change the Game Type, the Paddle Side needs to be changed manually, or else you can end up without a paddle. Which maybe you intended that so we can watch a COM VS. COM game, not sure.

Just realized there's a Both mode for Game Type as well, that's pretty cool. However, it would be even better if the user could control both paddles to make it more fun and challenging, or at least have an option.


-The angles of the ball bouncing of the paddle seem very good, but if you hit it at a certain angle you can get the ball to forever go sideways across the screen, which makes the game unplayable after that.

I can only seem to do this in the Vertical mode Game Type.


-The last issue: There's no pause between matches, so once someone scores the ball starts again right away. Maybe you intended this to make the game more challenging, not sure.

All in all I did like this game and I thought it was a good remake. From just looking at all the code in NotePad I can see that you worked hard on this and I think you did a good job. Most of the bugs I mentioned above are small and shouldn't be that hard to fix. I'm looking forward to an updated version.

[Lord Orwell]

he could have probably gotten the file small enough to post on the forum with a little work. It contains executables, etc. I don't have c# installed but i tried to run the .exe file it came with and it crashed without running. Maybe i don't have the correct framework?

[Underworld1020]

I don't have c# installed but i tried to run the .exe file it came with and it crashed without running. Maybe i don't have the correct framework?

Are you talking about the Pong game? If so you might just need the lastest DirectX run-time like I did to run the exe. I guess if that doesn't work then I guess you could try getting the lastest .NET framework. One of those two should do it. The exe does work, so it's something on your end.

[Fromethius]

I got Pong to work. I downloaded the DirectX run-time and exectuted the exe file. The computer I'm on right now doesn't have VS, so I can't even try that at the moment.

So a few remarks about the game. I liked it, however there are some bugs that you may already be aware of.

Yea, probably :P

-When starting the game the Paddle Speed is at 0, which doesn't really make any sense because why would you want a paddle that can't move? At first I thought I wasn't pressing the wrong keys and then I figured it out in the Options menu that my Paddle Speed was at 0, which seems to be the default.

Yea, I know. But once you change it once, it changes for good. There was a screw up with the options file at release. Sorry about that =/

-I like that you can change the Game Type from Horizontal to Vertical, that's a cool idea. However when you change the Game Type, the Paddle Side needs to be changed manually, or else you can end up without a paddle. Which maybe you intended that so we can watch a COM VS. COM game, not sure.

Yea, that was kind of intended.


Just realized there's a Both mode for Game Type as well, that's pretty cool. However, it would be even better if the user could control both paddles to make it more fun and challenging, or at least have an option.


That sure would be crazy o-O Well uhh.. I don't really know how I'd implement via the options game state graphic wise.. however, it should be easy to implement through code.

-The angles of the ball bouncing of the paddle seem very good, but if you hit it at a certain angle you can get the ball to forever go sideways across the screen, which makes the game unplayable after that.

I can only seem to do this in the Vertical mode Game Type.


Yea, I noticed that too. I think it resets itself though.. oh well.. just a bug. Tell me if you figure it out :P

-The last issue: There's no pause between matches, so once someone scores the ball starts again right away. Maybe you intended this to make the game more challenging, not sure.

Fast paced!! :D

All in all I did like this game and I thought it was a good remake. From just looking at all the code in NotePad I can see that you worked hard on this and I think you did a good job. Most of the bugs I mentioned above are small and shouldn't be that hard to fix. I'm looking forward to an updated version.


Thanks so much. Yea, I did work really hard on it. I know there are some bugs but I ran out of time to work on it. It's around 5500 ~ 6000 lines of code at time of release. I hope everyone enjoys it!

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I'm currently working on a 2D, offline sidescrolling RPG and if anyone wants to help or anything, contact me! :P

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[NotLKH]

I was about to comment on the .exe included in one of the entrants entries, however I'm flexible about exes and trusted regulars...

But... About Fromethius..

I am not going to download Fromethius's project, due to the fact that its so big it can't be hosted here.

Why is it so big? High res images when 72 DPI suffices?? {granted, 6+mb isn't really all that big...}


BTW,

I feel that all the participants, just for submitting, should get a prize such as the custom user status.


It would also encourage more entrants if all is rewarded in some meager fashoin...

Of course, the true winner then should get a larger "trophy", perhaps 2 months?

[Underworld1020]

The file size is most likely due to the .wav file that is included. At least I think it was a wav file...can't check at the moment, but I think it was. And of course waves take about 6mb, so that would make sense. So a conversion to mp3 would probably solve that.

[Pino]

Results due by the end of Saturday UK time.

Thanks Guys

[Lord Orwell]

so 5 more days then? Could you go over again how the judging is based?

[metalmidget]

Erm, looking at the contest entries threads, I can't help but notice the distinct lack of my game, which I submitted before the original deadline, which was something like the 10th of november, I think. I haven't been here in ages so I didn't realise this had happened, so I hope it's not too late. If you've lost my game or something, it's in the game demos forum.

Cheers,
metal

[Lord Orwell]

your game is fun (but craaaaazy)

[Milk]

Erm, looking at the contest entries threads, I can't help but notice the distinct lack of my gameIt was defiantly there until the last minute, I was puzzled myself as to where it went. Perhaps Pino has the answers.

[Fromethius]

Don't worry, it's still there. Just go to the bottom of the sub-form and change "From" from 1 Month to 45 days and it should show up. Just like if you change it to "Beginning", you can see all of the contest entries ever submitted.

[Milk]

Don't worry, it's still there. Just go to the bottom of the sub-form and change "From" from 1 Month to 45 days and it should show up. Just like if you change it to "Beginning", you can see all of the contest entries ever submitted.lol, doh!

[Pino]

Ok guys after a very busy week for myself each of the 3 entrants will be offered a VbForums shirt. So well done and thank-you for your entries. As for determining a winner all 3 projects look good and I'm not sure how you guys would like to have it judged as my original ideas for judging it have gone out of the window due to the lack of entry's. Shall we post them and have a forum vote?

[metalmidget]

A vote sounds good to me, as long as it's open to many, and not just the half a dozen or so people who have been posting in this thread. Would an announcement be too extreme to advertise for votes?

metal

[Pino]

Thanks for the reply Metal, I'd post it in chitchat.

Pino

[Fromethius]

A vbforums shirt?! Sweet! Thanks Pino!

[Lord Orwell]

i would be happy with the shirt :)

[Code Doc]

i would be happy with the shirt :)

I was planning on submitting my Simon Rules game, a takeoff of the old circa1975 Simon electronic game. But, after seeing Lord Orwell's worm game, I surrender, and besides, I'm a year late.:eek:

[Lord Orwell]

I was planning on submitting my Simon Rules game, a takeoff of the old circa1975 Simon electronic game. But, after seeing Lord Orwell's worm game, I surrender, and besides, I'm a year late.:eek:
gee thanks!

[DavesChillaxin]

I did make a quick ninja shooter back in midschool in vb6... just wish hard drives were more reliable and that I hadn't lost all my projects cause of that :(

[BlindSniper]

Since this thread is already ressurected , Will there be more coding contests ? Or have they stopped ?