Wanted: Game ideas, beta testers. Artists, coders? Credit given

[Lord Orwell]

I am working on an xna game to be released as an indy game (paypal supported) and the basic premise is the main sprite is a snake, and the game will be titled "Spit Viper". The basic premise is you eat mice (which move) and avoid enemies and obstacles in a free-scrolling area. The final design isn't hashed out, but i'm thinking something either like smashtv or a shmup scroller. Another possibility is a zelda-like game where you would avoid just a few enemies on the screen and have a short-range spit defense to knock them back/kill with.

1. Beta testers are needed. This is mainly due to hardware support. I will be implementing code to support joysticks besides the microsoft controller, eventually. However, i also would like feedback on control schemes, how it looks at various resolutions, how it will behave on a certain harware level, etc. Example: will it animate smoothly on a system less powerful than mine?

2. All my art so far is public domain, but i could always use something better. The main art i need right now is a top-down snake, but a large sprite with animation frames (say 100x100) of perhaps a cobra crawling around or whatever would be great. I found something perfect, http://images.wikia.com/dukenukem/im.../Kingcobra.png
but it's not public domain.

3. I could use a collaberator for general assistance. For example a whole separate program could be created to design the levels with. Plus there are a few things i simply don't yet know how to program. For example the best way to have the starting places on the map for enemies, or how to have a path that enemies follow (think: waves coming on screen like r-type)

4. Finally, just general game ideas/modifications/etc would be considered. Everyone will be credited who assists, either with vbforums name or actual name if wished. You know a great way to make enemy bullets? Tell me. You have a great level idea? Tell me. Everyone who PMs me will become part of this and i think we could make something really worthwhile. I will be spending a decent amount of time on this project in the next few months and hope to make something worth notice.

As a final note, level music could be implemented but i don't have any. So far i have a splash screen metal music, but that's it.

[Milk]

I would be happy to test for you.

[Lord Orwell]

I would be happy to test for you.

i'll contact you when ready.
First things first, i am adding a poll to this thread. Please vote.

[damasterjo]

i will beta test on linux. got ubuntu

[Lord Orwell]

i will beta test on linux. got ubuntu

if i start coding in java, i'll keep you in mind. this current project will be windows only.

[p h o e n i x]

I can test it out for you =)

[akhileshbc]

Me too

[boops boops]

Well here's my own intial take on the Spit Viper. And yes, it's a viper (roughly) not a cobra so it my need some plastic surgery. Unfortunately I doubt if I will find time to animate the poor critter in the near future -- mainly because I have not much idea how to do it. Besides, what's a top down snake? Does that mean a non-animated view of said snake from above? If so, I suppose I could have another try at a similar character from that direction.

It would be nice to know what animations will be needed, even if I am not going to commit myself. Maybe some ideas will pop up later about a good way to do it.

cheers, BB

[Lord Orwell]

actually that is a very good graphic and pretty much exactly what i need. the mouse is in the same view angle. If you can make two or 3 more to show motion as it moves, i could flip it in code.

ideally, i would have numerous frames for a back view and a front view as the snake moves up and down, but if that's beyond your skill or time, i understand.
here's the mouse:

[Benderman]

I am setting out on my VB journey so I won't be able to help with the coding side but I'll hapily play test it for you.

How about a back story, of the mice trying to build a mechanical mongoose or feed a giant rat as a final boss character? If x amount of mice get back to base before the boss encounter it is more powerful etc. You could have various levels like a sewer where there is abandonded toxic waste = power up or a hardware store with mouse traps.

Just a few thoughts...

[boops boops]

actually that is a very good graphic and pretty much exactly what i need. the mouse is in the same view angle. If you can make two or 3 more to show motion as it moves, i could flip it in code.

ideally, i would have numerous frames for a back view and a front view as the snake moves up and down, but if that's beyond your skill or time, i understand.
here's the mouse:

That should be no problem as long as it's 2D. Actually I have done animations professionally (for a zoo) but I am out of practice by several decades and I miss my late lamented Amiga 4000.

I take it that for the moment you just need the snake to snake along horizontally and not do anything else particular. If it has to do anything with its head -- spitting, pouncing, smiling at the camera etc -- I'll try to incorporate it. But does that mouse have any other tricks?

I'm not sure what to do about your poll. I know practically nothing about platform games.

BB

[Lord Orwell]

That should be no problem as long as it's 2D. Actually I have done animations professionally (for a zoo) but I am out of practice by several decades and I miss my late lamented Amiga 4000.

I take it that for the moment you just need the snake to snake along horizontally and not do anything else particular. If it has to do anything with its head -- spitting, pouncing, smiling at the camera etc -- I'll try to incorporate it. But does that mouse have any other tricks?

I'm not sure what to do about your poll. I know practically nothing about platform games.

BB

You're talking to a prior amiga owner. I had a 500, and i loved it. It took years for the pcs to catch up. Anyway, platform wasn't one of the options, and i am kinda leaning towards a side-scroller. So the snake would be travelling horizontally chasing a nutty mouse and waves of bad-guys and obstacles (rocks, bushes, etc) would need to be avoided. It will be a high-speed scroller and the current plan is that the spit attack will take out the bad-guys and there will be random powerups to give you hit pts. My current work is in trying to build a level designer, since the levels will be stored on disk.

as for the mouse, i've got it split into individual frames and can animate it manually in my code. I was thinking that eating the mice recharged a meter for venom, but that might be odd. Perhaps a gem or star or heart instead. I have graphics for all of these already.

Edit: looks like the voters like the zelda idea instead. If this is the case i would need a couple of frames of the snake moving up and down.
here's an example of a snake:
http://images.wikia.com/dukenukem/im.../Kingcobra.png
i can't use these images because they are owned by 3drealms, but the way they drew the snake when coming towards or going away was nice. Plus, i've been wanting a cartoony feel anyway, and yours fits in great.