Regrowth

[jgardner]

Returning home from a long journey, you must make your way up a mountainside.  Overcome obstacles along the way by growing climbable mushrooms, vines and roots with magical seeds.

download: http://gamejolt.com/games/platformer/regrowth/19175/

Regrowth is fairly short at roughly 10 to 20 minutes to complete, although I am considering making a greatly expanded remake/sequel sometime.

Read Regrowth.txt in the download for more info

a full playthrough:

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/A3h4MKcM36o?version=3&amp;hl=en_US&amp;start=" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/A3h4MKcM36o?version=3&amp;hl=en_US&amp;start=</a>

[Opiop]

I like the fauna textures! I'll play it later and tell you what I think

[philfrei]

[EDIT: It occurs to me some system info might be helpful. I am running Windows XP, Java 7. Also, was wondering about the OP name: J(ava) Gard(e)ner...and its relationship to the game!]

I tried running the game two ways and had a problem with seed throwing each time.

When I ran the game after clicking the jar (I do have a Windows system), throwing the seed (left mouse click) always threw for a long distance to the left. Right click did the same and did cause the mushrooms to fade.

When I ran via the .exe, the same thing happened except the throws were much closer to the tree (shorter distance). (Second try via .exe, the left throw was again a long distance and only to the left, regardless of which way I was facing.)

I think the sounds and music are reasonably good, but maybe a bit more tweaking is in order. I found the slow piano music a bit morose for this game. I think it is a very pretty piece of music, well written and solid as a composition, just not exactly hitting the right tone for the game. I can see wanting something peaceful, but maybe this can be achieved without what for me evokes melancholy.

Likewise the seed throwing seems like a near miss. And the "ungrow" maybe could be different from the "grow"? But I don't know what I'd use instead.

You might rerecord your music sample, if you decide to keep this same cue. There are at least 3 audible clicks in it, two near the beginning and one close to the end that almost sound like lp record pops.

I like the menu system a lot and the way the game kicks off seems very promising and clear. It looks like a really neat concept for a game and I look forward to being able to grow my way past the first two-level obstacle. Congratulations on all you have achieved here!

Games published by our own members! Check 'em out!

[jgardner]

[EDIT: It occurs to me some system info might be helpful. I am running Windows XP, Java 7. Also, was wondering about the OP name: J(ava) Gard(e)ner...and its relationship to the game!]

Ha you have found me out!  I am the Java Gardener!

I tried running the game two ways and had a problem with seed throwing each time.

When I ran the game after clicking the jar (I do have a Windows system), throwing the seed (left mouse click) always threw for a long distance to the left. Right click did the same and did cause the mushrooms to fade.

When I ran via the .exe, the same thing happened except the throws were much closer to the tree (shorter distance). (Second try via .exe, the left throw was again a long distance and only to the left, regardless of which way I was facing.)

I wish I knew what could be causing that problem.   Could you check if the bullets go where the mouse pointer is in my game Zombie Hordes?  Click on my name in the GameJolt download page to find it.

I think the sounds and music are reasonably good, but maybe a bit more tweaking is in order. I found the slow piano music a bit morose for this game. I think it is a very pretty piece of music, well written and solid as a composition, just not exactly hitting the right tone for the game. I can see wanting something peaceful, but maybe this can be achieved without what for me evokes melancholy.

Yeah I was originally intending, and time permitting will, make the story that you have returned from a long journey to find your forest home burned down and you have to restore it.  Also, that would be just the intro music.  More energetic music would play when you encounter enemies.

Likewise the seed throwing seems like a near miss. And the "ungrow" maybe could be different from the "grow"? But I don't know what I'd use instead.

The sprite is slightly different, but it needs revising.  Also needs a different sound.

You might rerecord your music sample, if you decide to keep this same cue. There are at least 3 audible clicks in it, two near the beginning and one close to the end that almost sound like lp record pops.

Hey there is!  Gotta admit I didn't notice that.

I like the menu system a lot and the way the game kicks off seems very promising and clear. It looks like a really neat concept for a game and I look forward to being able to grow my way past the first two-level obstacle. Congratulations on all you have achieved here!

Thanks for the feedback!  Hopefully someday you will make it past that obstacle!

[philfrei]

Ah, you are right about the mouse location. That didn't occur to me.  

I had some trouble with the vine, until I went back and looked at your first post illustrations. Hope that isn't cheating.

I seem to be in a cul de sac at the mouth of some sort of chimney, just after being "taught" about creating roots...

Hmm. The alternating roots on your top picture, is that a clue? Hmmm. I don't seem to be able to do anything with it though.

I am "stumped".

[EDIT: got it!. Am a bit clumsy with the technique, will continue after dinner...]

[SHC]

Nice game Mr. Java Gardener! I enjoyed playing it but I'm getting very less fps in fullscreen mode (had OS X 10.8.5, 6-10 fps) but in windowed mode, I'm getting 110-120 fps. Other than that, the game is very nice.

[xsvenson]

Nice game Mr. Java Gardener! I enjoyed playing it but I'm getting very less fps in fullscreen mode (had OS X 10.8.5, 6-10 fps) but in windowed mode, I'm getting 110-120 fps. Other than that, the game is very nice.

Laptop ? Integrated intel gfx + dedicated gfx ?

[SHC]

@xsvenson

No, a desktop. Intel Dual Core CPU @ 3.6GHz, 4 GB DDR3 Ram, nVidia GeForce 210 1GB graphics card, Mac OS X 10.8.5

[jgardner]

@xsvenson

No, a desktop. Intel Dual Core CPU @ 3.6GHz, 4 GB DDR3 Ram, nVidia GeForce 210 1GB graphics card, Mac OS X 10.8.5

Fullscreen exclusive mode uses double buffering, but memory shouldn't be a problem at all.  If you maximize the window does it have a large performance hit too?   Whats the fps with the bilinear filtering option turned on?

 I should probably switch back to starting up in windowed mode by default.  It seems less likely to have problems.

[SHC]

@jgardner

In windowed mode, I'm getting 110-120 fps without stretching. There is no decrease when the window is stretched to fit the entire desktop and when bilinear filtering was turned on, it boosted to 140 fps. In fullscreen mode, however, there is no change, I'm getting 6-10 fps and also I can't use the keyboard. Even holding ESCAPE for more than 10 seconds, nothing happened.

Games published by our own members! Check 'em out!

[SHC]

@jgardner

I think this is an issue in with the Java. Here's a question that might help you to solve this. It says to set frame to invisible and then make it visible again after entering fullscreen mode.

[jgardner]

@jgardner

I think this is an issue in with the Java. Here's a question that might help you to solve this. It says to set frame to invisible and then make it visible again after entering fullscreen mode.

Heres a version setting the frame invisible after calling setFullScreenMode()

(link removed)

like this:

device.setFullScreenWindow(frame);
frame.setVisible(false);
frame.setVisible(true);

Hope it works.

[SHC]

@jgardner

Sorry, but there is no change over versions.

[jgardner]

@jgardner

Sorry, but there is no change over versions.

Here's a version using an undecorated maximized window as a fake fullscreen.  

(link removed)

It looks just like fullscreen to me from a static display and the transition in and out of fullscreen is much smoother.  Unfortunately, when moving its not so smooth.   If only Java had a vertical sync function!! (without using native code)

If you turn on show fps it also should display 'mac' to the right of it.  Considering just using the fake fullscreen if a mac is detected although i'd hate to set it for all macs if only a few are affected.  Maybe I'll allow it to be set in the options.

Let me know if this fixes the fps and keyboard problems.

[bilznatch]

I think the term you're looking for is "Borderless Fullscreen" (Although true fullscreen is borderless as well, this is just how it's referred to)
You can just add an option to use borderless fullscreen or regular fullscreen in your options menu.

I didn't have any problems or experience any bugs, good job really. Gotta say, it's about the perfect length, any more vines and roots and I would have gone crazy.
That said, it seemed really well thought out, and the premise was simple but interesting.

I really thought the music made the environment seem lonely. But the ending was a lot more joyful than I expected.

[SHC]

It works but the dock and menubar comes over it.



Maybe it's just a problem with Java2D because OpenGL works on my system well. Anyway, thanks for trying.

[jgardner]

It works but the dock and menubar comes over it.

Maybe it's just a problem with Java2D because OpenGL works on my system well. Anyway, thanks for trying.

Oh well.  At least it works windowed.  I agree it must be a Java problem.  Thanks for letting me know.

[jgardner]

I think the term you're looking for is "Borderless Fullscreen" (Although true fullscreen is borderless as well, this is just how it's referred to)
You can just add an option to use borderless fullscreen or regular fullscreen in your options menu.

Yeah, sounds like the best solution.  I'll have something like:

Display mode:  Windowed / Fullscreen Exclusive / Borderless Fullscreen

[philfrei]

I just played the game through the end. Very nice!

My only suggestion for the ending, have one more sound cue, a single chord perhaps that resolves or otherwise gives a nice ending, instead of letting the loop music continue forever. Have it come in after the end of a complete loop cycle.

Possible ending: Asus4 chord, then add low E, then drop to low A and resolve the sus4 to a maj 3rd.

[jgardner]

I just played the game through the end. Very nice!

My only suggestion for the ending, have one more sound cue, a single chord perhaps that resolves or otherwise gives a nice ending, instead of letting the loop music continue forever. Have it come in after the end of a complete loop cycle.

Possible ending: Asus4 chord, then add low E, then drop to low A and resolve the sus4 to a maj 3rd.

That sounds like a good idea.  I'll put it on the list for my next update. 

[kpars]

I played it for about 15 minutes and stopped when I got stuck.

I feel like the pause menu should have "Continue" at the top, rather than below "New Game".
There are a few graphical glitches, but other than that the game runs perfectly fine.

- Jev

[jgardner]

I played it for about 15 minutes and stopped when I got stuck.

I feel like the pause menu should have "Continue" at the top, rather than below "New Game".
There are a few graphical glitches, but other than that the game runs perfectly fine.

- Jev

Yeah I think that might be better.

Here is a playthrough by BlueByte on youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrCdhJJV8Lw

[jgardner]

Updates for Dec. 22, 2013

  - upon exiting, progress is autosaved to Regrowth.sav
  - game settings are saved to Regrowth.ini
  - for better compatibility, starts up in windowed mode and added a
    borderless windowed fullscreen display mode
  - main menu order changed to continue/save&exit/new game
  - more descriptive in game tutorial
  - vines grow faster
  - can remove plants while still growing
  - removing plants causes them to shrink instead of fade out
  - variable cloud movement speeds and transparency
  - minor fixes to game map tiles and layout alterations
  - several other minor improvements

For the next update I plan to focus mainly on improving the audio.

[jgardner]

Jan. 22, 2014 updates

  - lots of new and improved sound effects
  - more music
  - music is streamed with a fade effect for transitions
  - improved sunset background and night background with twinkling stars
  - the day slowly transitions to night during gameplay
  - added fireflies which follow you around at night to provide light
  - sound and music volume settings
  - can now move with arrow keys in addition to WASD keys

[jgardner]

Please move to the showcase board.