Martian Maniac Proof of Concept

[Tai]

For those who wish to provide feedback, this is the current status of the Martian Maniac eater game:

http://www.againsttheherd.com/images/yum/hqb/Martian_Maniac_POC.zip

Unzip it, and double click on the Martian Maniac exe to launch the game. Arrow keys move, and ESC ends the game. I'm afraid it is not very challenging at the moment (no Space Men), but there are a couple of things I would like to know :)

a) does everybody else get a distortion along the tile edges such that you can see a thin line between squares and around the eater and pop-corn/tart sprites?

b) does the resolution the game starts at appear to be the correct ratio for PopTarts?

c) is the eater moving too slow, with the understanding that this is the first and slowest level?

d) is the 30 second power up too long? too short? not sure until you can chase Space Men?

Anything else that comes to mind really - flaws, suggestions, insults.

[bridude]

i get this error.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-16"?>
<DATABASE>
<EXE NAME="Martian Maniac.exe" FILTER="GRABMI_FILTER_PRIVACY">
<MATCHING_FILE NAME="glut32.dll" SIZE="237568" CHECKSUM="0xB1FCB154" MODULE_TYPE="WIN32" PE_CHECKSUM="0x0" LINKER_VERSION="0x30007" LINK_DATE="11/08/2001 09:27:15" UPTO_LINK_DATE="11/08/2001 09:27:15" />
<MATCHING_FILE NAME="Martian Maniac.exe" SIZE="217088" CHECKSUM="0xBC2E6A60" MODULE_TYPE="WIN32" PE_CHECKSUM="0x0" LINKER_VERSION="0x0" LINK_DATE="11/30/2005 22:12:18" UPTO_LINK_DATE="11/30/2005 22:12:18" />
</EXE>
<EXE NAME="kernel32.dll" FILTER="GRABMI_FILTER_THISFILEONLY">
<MATCHING_FILE NAME="kernel32.dll" SIZE="930816" CHECKSUM="0xF60887C3" BIN_FILE_VERSION="5.1.2600.1560" BIN_PRODUCT_VERSION="5.1.2600.1560" PRODUCT_VERSION="5.1.2600.1560" FILE_DESCRIPTION="Windows NT BASE API Client DLL" COMPANY_NAME="Microsoft Corporation" PRODUCT_NAME="Microsoft® Windows® Operating System" FILE_VERSION="5.1.2600.1560 (xpsp2_gdr.040517-1325)" ORIGINAL_FILENAME="kernel32" INTERNAL_NAME="kernel32" LEGAL_COPYRIGHT="© Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved." VERFILEDATEHI="0x0" VERFILEDATELO="0x0" VERFILEOS="0x40004" VERFILETYPE="0x2" MODULE_TYPE="WIN32" PE_CHECKSUM="0xEC3A9" LINKER_VERSION="0x50001" UPTO_BIN_FILE_VERSION="5.1.2600.1560" UPTO_BIN_PRODUCT_VERSION="5.1.2600.1560" LINK_DATE="06/17/2004 17:58:35" UPTO_LINK_DATE="06/17/2004 17:58:35" VER_LANGUAGE="English (United States) [0x409]" />
</EXE>
</DATABASE>

[Tai]

oh, that's a new one. wierd. I shall investigate - thanks!

[Tai]

oh, you're still at work =P

[bridude]

don't know if it makes any difference but we are still running SP1 here.

[Tai]

Looks to me like they don't want martians on the base.

[bridude]

ok here at home I get
nvidia open gl error:
"component sizes mis-match"

[jackrabbit]

It runs fine under XP, allbeit pretty fast. It'll probably need to be slowed down otherwise only Q and F7 will be able to play it. :)

The proportions were correct for me now. I know that was a big item. Some of the tiles show single-pixel breaks between them, I don't know if perhaps the anim sheet needs teaking on those.

The Martian also doesn't seem to decide which way to face whan left at an intersection or corner. He animates both directions.

Other than that the control, animation, transparency, map code, and score all seem to be working correctly.

I like it.

Someone needs to make a cute little ditty that plays while you eat.

[Kermit]

OMG WAREZ!

I have a hard time getting him to fit into space. What I mean is, if I come to a T intersection, I can't always get him to turn unless he is perfectly lined up with the corner.

Other than that... Awesome.

:thumbup:

[Tai]

ok here at home I get
nvidia open gl error:
"component sizes mis-match"

Wierd, does it give you any other information? Is this error showing in the debug (DOS) window, or is it popping up a dialog?

[bridude]

its like a popup error, not like an error where it asks you to send or don't send.

[Tai]

The single pixel line between tiles is really bugging me, but I can't figure out whether it's an error on my rendering front, or if it's something inherit in the way I'm reading the animation sheets. :(

I saw the confused martian behavior after I uploaded the build too. I shall take a look at that first thing when I get back, it should just be something simple in my update() code.

I would love to add a soundtrack if we have any musicians. I also need chomping, power up and death sounds at some distant point, although that will certainly add atmosphere!

Kermit, I know exactly what you mean, this was an issue with the original pac man too as I recall. For smoothest playing, you want to press and hold down the desired turn key just before hitting the interesetion. I might take another stab at making that smoother, but in order to do so, the eater will either be able to move around a little in the intersection, or he'll 'snap' to the center, and I'm not sure that we want either of those.

Coming soon...Space Men!

[Tai]

its like a popup error, not like an error where it asks you to send or don't send.

What OS are you running?

[bridude]

XP sp2

[Tai]

Bizarre. That error message usually indicates a driver issue, but your drivers must be up to date given allt he games youa re playing. This is the machine with the 6800gt?

[bridude]

da

[Tai]

Is it safe to assume that your desktop resolution is larger than 640 x 640?

[bridude]

:spank: