Carpet Shark (WIP)

[5kids2feed]

UPDATE: Game is now finished. Go to the new page HERE ... or stay on this page to see how it was developed!

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In 2013, after many beers, my buddies and I came up with a random idea for a movie (like we always do).

The following week we made this ridiculous short film:

"A shark's soul is trapped inside an 8x10 area rug. It's General Major Cadaver Scab's duty to keep the shark tame. Can he? CAN ANYONE?"

Oddly this was right before Sharknado and all the crazy shark flicks that followed.

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Now.. I'm creating the "Official" NES game:


Intro cut scene if you let the title go a few seconds (or press select):

^Which is also the intro to the actual movie with the shark speaking it (my voice distorted).

All of our characters we played are the bosses:

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My best friend Matt made the music for the movie and I transcribed it in FamiTracker the best I could for the game.

On the game's intro screen, it's the song he made for the intro credits:

..and the rockin' tune during the main game is the hilarious end credits song he made:

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The basic idea of the game is it's a static screen .. you play a level of eating random people to keep your health up and after the timer runs out you fight a boss (one of our characters) then repeat with each room changing palette colors. 4 stages and 4 bosses.

Random photos bottom (click to view full size):

 

[5kids2feed]

Thanks Dale Coop, CutterCross, and Jonny for helping me with all of my coding questions so far!


What i'm currently stuck on:

• Getting the skulls that follow you to explode when you bite them. Instead they do what the runners do.. blood splatter and create random object.
• myScore not showing up after continuing until you add to it.
• Have the bosses shoot their weapon at you and when you bite it, it shoots back at them and hurts the boss.
• Glitch where var tile is on hud when jumping to game over screen.
• SFX issues.

 

[Logana]

Their is no way you said the first lines of that movie without bursting out in laughter atleast once

 

[Logana]

Also the sfx issue probably has something to do with nesmaker 4,5 not having an actual area to assign sfx so you have to write it in the code

 

[Logana]

I feel the main theme is way to short for the arcade style because I can tell that it repeats quite a lot also you could probably add more in the second track if you go into the "Guitar" instrument and god to arpeggio and input 0 12 then left click at the bottom so it repeats, that will give it the sound of having an octave while still freeing the second pulse, wow love to take a gander into the ftm file for the music to take an in depth look thought to see what your doing for instruments, just don't post it here private message me it because i don't want anyone stealing your hard work :3, also he game seam pretty fun and the story is hilarious

 

[5kids2feed]

Hahaha I was definitely laughing!

Oh wow. That’s a smart idea with the octave. I’m gonna have to do that because I’m using up all tracks for the songs.

I can for sure send you the ftm if you want to look and see what I messed up. I only know the basics of famitracker. How the heck do you private message in here? I click on people’s names but see nothing about sending a message. Am I blind?

Also with the main tune it is just verse chorus at the moment (so it does repeat) but I was going to attempt the slowdown part of his song + the solo when I get a chance.

 

[Logana]

Click on someone’s name and then click k start a conversation that’s basically the private messages because only you an the recipient can see it

 

[Logana]

Also that a really good idea for that, a slowdown leading into a guitar solo is always good

 

[5kids2feed]

Do you mean right here where I circled?



if so.. I’ll get that ftm over to you this morning.

 

[Logana]

Wait no, click on the blue name and it shows you

 

[Logana]

 

[5kids2feed]

What in the world.. when I click anyone’s name it only has follow and ignore :/

 

[Logana]

Try clicking on that little envelope at the top of the screen

 

[Logana]

Wait actually I will just send you one and then you can reply

 

[5kids2feed]

It says no conversations and no way of starting them. Maybe send me a private message and I’ll be able to respond to it there?

EDIT: jinx

 

[Logana]

Not gonns download mesen on my scholl laptop and play this durring math class *wink*

 

[5kids2feed]

Hahah it's very buggy at the moment. Atleast the rom I put on the post. I'm gonna update it with a newer version soon! Fixed a lot and got things working that were broken.

EDIT: Ok updated the rom to what it is now. The file should be BSvb.rom. Still trying to get the mechanics down then there will be more stages. Gonna make spikes fall from the ceiling periodically and possibly some other element that chases you so if you just sit there, something will come get you. Also attempting to have it so you have to be looking at the monster to hurt them instead of just touching them and hurting them with the animation. Going to do major work on it this weekend.

 

[Logana]

Alright

 

[5kids2feed]

Phew! Got lots done but feels like not much at the same time! Got all my problems fixed in the 2nd post except SFX issues. Trying to find time while having a wife, two kids, and job is difficult. But I work on it while the family sleeps (before I pass out too lol) and on my down time at work. There’s a light at the end of the tunnel though!

So my new list I have to get done/fix is as follows:

• Fix music & SFX
• Edit time to have 2 digits instead of 3. Rename timer to time to make it all more centered on screen. Rename life to lives and edit variable tile for it.
• Add dropping spikes (makes spikes hurt) combined with the random skulls on a timer
• Put finishing touches on game mechanics (about 90%) there. Would like for player to be facing monster to hurt it.
• Runner Edge Screen properties
• Limit amount of skulls
• When boss dies, destroy monster spawn
• Get all colors/subpalettes/background weapons fixed
• Edit graphic for player weapon against bosses
• Remove Game Over Screen Timer
• Fix checkpoint/warp locations to center of screen
• Fix player sliding when starting level 2
• Update what adds to player score
• Figure out what's causing a graphic glitch randomly. Something with skulls colliding with player.
• Decrease health timer + add health when eat runners
• Make an ending (50% completed)

Learned about Bank Switching recently which was great since one of my banks was full. I thought my game was ruined, but now just removing scripts and swapping banks for certain things. Crazy how much work goes into the tiniest details! Rushing to get it done before the new year.. But if i can't, it is what it is! Until the next update!

 

[5kids2feed]

The more I fix.. the more I screw up haha. My ideal finish date before 2021 did not happen. But that's ok.. i'd rather it not be rushed.

Before I say anything else.. download the updated rom HERE

Please download (rom in 1st post and lastest) & send feedback! Still a WIP and not finished yet. Refer to list below on things I know are unfinished or glitches.

List of things I need to do now:

• SFX / Music (Still getting there.. made a boss theme though.. also switched almost everything over to pulse 1 so I can make room for sfx on pulse 2)
• When adding score from eating runners.. it doesn't always update. I think this is from timer always decreasing/updating and health diminishing/updating all at the same time.
• End music drums are messed up because of sfx from previous boss screen. Easy fix just didn't get to it yet.
• Tile glitch on end screen. Duh.. It was my player just with a black palette lol
• Would like for player to be facing monster to hurt it.
• Figure out what's causing a graphic glitch randomly.
• Sometimes glitchy runner/weird spawn when runner reaches edge of screen
• Shark and runner overlap when higher or lower.. i know in the brawler tutorial Joe explains how to fix this.. will have to take a look
• Up the difficulty on bosses slightly.
• Possibly a "watch out!" screen before every boss. (Currently working on it. Note.. match title font GF)
• Complete the ending
• Change 2020 to 2021 on title screen.
• Timer still running on last screen. Need to stop or remove.

Thought i'd get to work on it during my 3 day weekend at xmas time and the 3 day weekend for new years.. but all I got done was a boss theme and health decreases if you don't eat. Family time came first.. will just have to work on it during my down time at work

Side notes if you downloaded the rom:
-Gotta eat runners or health decreases with time..
-Level 1 and boss 1 are easy, then it gradually gets harder.
-Almost impossible to get away from skulls. Must kill it or it will latch on to you.
-If you die and continue, you lose all of your points. You only keep your points if you don't die for high score purposes.
-A little bit of slow down on last two levels but nothing too horrible.