Retro Arcade Shooter: Moon Base Alpha

[princec]

It works, and it is better! More work on the explosions I think.

Cas

[mike_bike_kite]

Is there an explosion generator tool you guys can recommend?

I tried a couple but each had issues. My favourite was Explogen v2 which created great explosions but I couldn't :

• get it to produce images with transparent backgrounds (only black) so I had to use paint.net to play with each image produced - this took ages and also affected the explosion quality.
• change file names
• change type of image to pgn

I tried other tools with varying success. At the end of the day the explosions just looked like they were from a different game and added to my game (I guess they were) and storing a sequence of explosion images also badly affects the jar size. Sure I could have just one explosion for all but I felt this would be a retrograde step. Are there any simple to use explosion classes with a smaller set of images?

[Orangy Tang]

• get it to produce images with transparent backgrounds (only black) so I had to use paint.net to play with each image
  

I haven't used it, but isn't that because it expects you to draw them with additive mode, not regular blending?

Because if that's your only real problem, the other two can be solved with some small scripts quite easily.

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[princec]

I don't use an explosion generator, just lots and lots of particles.

Cas

[ReBirth]

39K scores. Option to window size would be nice.

[mike_bike_kite]

I haven't used it, but isn't that because it expects you to draw them with additive mode, not regular blending?

Because if that's your only real problem, the other two can be solved with some small scripts quite easily.

It doesn't have blending modes or alpha values etc. It is easy to use and produces good looking explosions though. I tried using paint.net to replace the black background with a transparency - this worked but the end effect was no where near as pretty.

I don't use an explosion generator, just lots and lots of particles.

I was using particles - lots of small dots that gradually faded out as they moved out. I quite liked the effect but it was you guys that said I should explosions

39K scores. Option to window size would be nice.

I'm not sure how to resize the window when you have set graphics to display ie the moon base and the aliens etc are all a set size. Did 39k get you on the high score list and did it display your name? I was having issues with no new names displaying even though it worked fine for me.

[princec]

You need more than just "dots" - particles can be any size!

Cas

[Orangy Tang]

I haven't used it, but isn't that because it expects you to draw them with additive mode, not regular blending?

Because if that's your only real problem, the other two can be solved with some small scripts quite easily.

It doesn't have blending modes or alpha values etc. It is easy to use and produces good looking explosions though. I tried using paint.net to replace the black background with a transparency - this worked but the end effect was no where near as pretty.

No, I think you misunderstand - explosions on a black background are (probably) in a pre-multiplied alpha format or similar (google it). That means that you leave the images with a black background untouched, but at runtime you draw them with additive blending (glBlendFunc(GL_SRC_ALPHA, GL_ONE)).

[ReBirth]

39K scores. Option to window size would be nice.

I'm not sure how to resize the window when you have set graphics to display ie the moon base and the aliens etc are all a set size. Did 39k get you on the high score list and did it display your name? I was having issues with no new names displaying even though it worked fine for me.

Nope, it just showed endless animation until I hit fire.

[Mickelukas]

I only get a black fullscreen window (the thumbnail in the task bar is correct though). What resolution do you use? (Windows 7 64 bit, new Nvidia drivers)

Mike

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[mike_bike_kite]

More work on the explosions I think.

I've redone the explosions and I think it's an improvement.

Nope, it just showed endless animation until I hit fire.

Sadly you need to score about 44k to get on the high score list - takes about 5 min of play. Unfortunately you just missed out with 39k. The animation shown is a splash screen that shows a little info about the game - I know modern PC games don't have these but the idea is to put this game is going into an old arcade cabinet and old arcade games have splash screens. I quite like a splash screen anyway.

What do people think of the latest version (same old URL)?

Mike

[ReBirth]

@mike
Well if you said it was for arcade's sake, then let's go on

[mike_bike_kite]

Just to mention I've put a new update of the game out. Lots of new stuff. If anyone gets time then I'd love some constructive feedback. If the game is too loud then press P (Pause/Options) and change the sound level.

http://www.checkmypages.com/swarm/

Cheers

Mike

[princec]

hmm failed after accepting JWS permissions dialog:

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java.lang.NullPointerException    at java.util.zip.ZipFile.<init>(Unknown Source)    at java.util.zip.ZipFile.<init>(Unknown Source)    at java.util.jar.JarFile.<init>(Unknown Source)    at java.util.jar.JarFile.<init>(Unknown Source)    at com.sun.javaws.LaunchDownload.getMainClassName(Unknown Source)    at com.sun.javaws.Launcher.doLaunchApp(Unknown Source)    at com.sun.javaws.Launcher.run(Unknown Source)    at java.lang.Thread.run(Unknown Source)

Webstart is shit!

Cas

[mike_bike_kite]

Thanks for trying it Cas. Sorry about the error. I have no clue what that error means and I'm not sure why you even get an error. Does it run/fail for anyone else?

I'll admit webstart has it's failings but the good thing about it is that it can run an app of the web and allow folks to install it on their PC's for offline playing.