Jurassic Survival 1.8.1 and Final Presentation

game: https://dl.dropbox.com/u/71737496/JurassicSurvivalv1.8.1/index.html

Overall this class was a great learning experience and taught me a lot about game design.  I would have liked to have more programming in this class as it is an upper division CSCI course.  Learning basic javascript was not enough to quench my thirst.  I would like to have looked at some complicated open-source games if any such things exist and take them apart, looking at all the code, how it is structured, what are some clever tips to implement tricky things in certain games like random generated dungeons and path finding.  I would have liked to have spent less time working on the story and documentation and more time making games.  If I ever got into the real industry I would just like to be working on the underlying code and fixing bugs rather than thinking of new character models and thinking about how to present it to the public.  I was expecting a game programming class not a game programming/design class.  It was still a great experience to take a look at all the game engines and learn javascript.  

I would say that I enjoyed the mobile programming class more than this one.  The calculator assignments were challenging and taught me a lot.  I really appreciate the simple calculator apps we have on our phones now.

As for the next steps in my game I can't really continue on in construct 2, but if I were to continue developing it I would look into an engine that is great for mobile platforms.  I would like to keep my game 2D and lightweight so that it doesn't heavily drain the battery life on mobile devices.  I can really see my game being made for mobile devices as it is really fast paced and easy to get into, without taking too much time to finish a game.

Luke Dicken's Challenge: AI vs Physics

This is my take on what it would mean for a game to be in the AI genre as opposed to the physics simulation genre.  In a physics simulation game, the rules for all the movements of the objects should be based on the laws of physics.  Physics is derived from nature itself.  We get all our physics equations by mathematical models of the laws of nature.  These rules cannot be changed and cannot adapt to the player's decisions or actions.  A rock will fall with a constant acceleration and it cannot choose to fall faster in order to hit the player's character.

In an AI based game the objects in the game should be striving to achieve some level of intelligence that allows it to adapt to the environment created by the player's decisions.  Most games try to simulate AI by using randomness, but I do not believe this is true AI.  An AI based game should try its best to create an environment that causes it's players to believe that it is another human being controlling the game, like a dungeon master.

Jurassic Survival Prototype Version 7

game link: https://dl.dropbox.com/u/71737496/JurassicSurvivalv1.7/index.html

Changelog:

• fixed a bug with the restart button being invisible, but clickable causing random restarts of the game
• added levels that are achieved by killing a certain number of dinosaurs
• more dinosaurs will spawn in later levels and will be stronger

level breakdown:

level 1: 0-49 kills

level 2: 50-99 kills

level 3: 100-199 kills

level 4: 200-399 kills

Levels will continue to increase endlessly as you reach double the amount of kills required to reach the previous level.

To-do:

• with new levels we can add new buildings, dinosaurs and a stat system
• fix construction boundaries so towers and walls cannot be stacked at all
• implement a better building menu so new buildings are easily added
• find a designer to draw custom sprites for this game
• add an end level that lets the player escape from the island and win the game

Playtesting

I chose to test Nyjah's gladiator arena game Sword and Legend and Adam K.'s side scrolling space fighter game Epic Space Battle. I tested the 6th version of Nyjah's prototype and version 0.13 of Adam's. I will play the next versions, but I do not have time to record another video.  Also played through the 7th version of Nyjah's prototype and I do like the next levels.  I only made it to level 2 and it seems much harder than level 1.  I also like the tutorial explaining how to play, but I would like to be able to access the tutorial again.

Sword and Legend feedback:

Epic Space Battle feedback:

League of Legends Ranked Game

Hello everyone, after playing a league of legends with Brian I realized that I forgot to turn my fraps on for the entire game! So, being a somewhat veteran lol player, I decided to play and record a ranked game with a friend not from our class.  Here is the link to the video hope you enjoy!  I play as a pirate and my friend plays as Malzahar, who is traditionally played as an AP(ability power caster), but here he plays it as AD(ranged attack damage).  We win during the laning phase, but after a long grueling match we lose horribly.

Jurassic Survival Prototype 6

link: https://dl.dropbox.com/u/71737496/JurassicSurvivalv1.6/index.html

Changelog:

• added health bar to player
• added health bars to dinosaurs
• added health bars to buildings
• added how to play screen in main menu

To-do:

• Still thinking of way to add progression and ending to the game (may not be able to fully implement this by end of class)
• Thinking of adding character levels with stat points to allocate every level up
• Have a campaign mode that lets you replay and keep your character level/stats with increased difficulty
• Need to be able to save game states, character levels, options (not sure how to do that in construct 2)
• Get better looking sprites for all units/towers (if planning to go further may need to find a designer)
• Need to fix construction boundaries (still able to stack towers partially)
• Make a better building menu so it is easier to add new buildings

Game Review: The Sims Social on Facebook

This game had a similar feel to it as margaritaville.  It is a free to play browser game so I didn't have to purchase or download anything.  At first they give you a short tutorial that goes over the basic functions in the  game.  I still didn't understand what all these items were popping up whenever I did something, but I just clicked them to pick them up anyway.  The gameplay is pretty basic and actions only require a few clicks.  I had a little trouble navigating around the map and would prefer to use the keyboard rather than the mouse to scroll around.  After about 20 minutes of playing I ran out of energy and it seems the only way to get more energy is to wait a certain amount of time or to purchase it using real life currency.  I am not a fan of games where you have to pay to perform actions like some sort of toll booth and I do not want to wait to play a game.  It is sad that companies resort to this in order to make money.  Overall I like the idea of being able to create your dream character and live in a fantasy that you create yourself.  I personally would like to have some super powers if I were to live in a fantasy world.