Secret-ish Side Project (WIP) Fista Productions

[5kids2feed]

Chipping away these last two days. Working on the intro screen, rearranging some code for mode selection, and variable placement in HUD.

My HUD is on the bottom of the screen in this game. There’s weird discoloration on the bottom row. Had white tiles there, but it changed to orange once I start the game. No matter what i put on the bottom row of the hud, it’ll discolor it (unless it’s just plain black). Wonder if it’s something in the code that does that because it’s on the bottom or one row taller than the HUD that’s hard coded in NESMaker? Interesting. I found a workaround. Curious why it does that though.

 

[5kids2feed]

Late night update! Atleast over here in the US. Not really late, but later than when I usually update. Anywho!…

Was working out the leveling system in my game only to get fixated on parts of the code. That’s what happens to the best of us. Get stuck on one thing for the day. But it’s for the better. It made it more cohesive.

Also started working on some of the marketing. Got my voice guy to send me samples for the commercial and got someone lined up the for the label art.

Tomorrow I’m going to work more on the leveling system.. and maybe mess with the hud.. and a glitch on a certain screen. One of the three. I also want to attempt animated tiles at one point.

Oh I forgot to mention, I have codes in the game. 6 so far.

Update you more tomorrow!

 

[5kids2feed]

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Can you tell what i've been doing the last couple days? In the end it was all worth it.

I first started by rearranging my leveling system, which in the end didn't yield the results I wanted. It basically just looped me back around right where I was with minor fixes. That's ok though. A lesson learned.

BUT my biggest accomplishment was getting animated tiles to work!!!! I'm so excited. Adds SO much to the game.

My plan is to try and polish off the game the rest of this month and then possibly have it ready for next month just as long as everything comes together like planned!

 

[5kids2feed]

Rearranging sprite sheets for animated tiles and got my FINAL music file from the game’s composer! There’s a light at the end of the tunnel!

 

[5kids2feed]

I'm still here! It's been a real up and down week. Work has been incredibly draining. Still trying make things look pretty and balance out the game. It's gettin' there! It's a challenge, but i'm up for it!

 

[5kids2feed]

Worked on how the enemies “attack.” Think I’m finding the balance finally as it was worrying me if I’d ever get it right. Trying to implement different ways to keep things interesting.

EDIT: Also I think I figured out a solution to this random slowdown I was having (different than the slowdown I was having in earlier posts)! I’ll update you when I try it out!

 

[kevin81]

The 20/80 rule is real, amirite? XD

 

[5kids2feed]

The 20/80 rule is real, amirite? XD

Ain’t that the truth?? The smallest detail can change the gameplay completely! Trying to find the right balance without it being way too easy and insanely difficult!

 

[5kids2feed]

Holy moly. Took me all day to figure out the random slow down but ....I ....GOT ...IT! ...... THAT'S RIGHT, PUNK! I GOT YOOOOOOOOOOOOU!!!

Sorry. Just excited. My first theory didn't work like I thought it would.. I messed it up so bad that I had to use one of my backups from yesterday. First time I had to do that. Thank goodness I was backing up daily. Took about my 4th or 5th theory to fix the slow down.

Think I also fixed this random bug where it would jumble the text on the screen. I will play test a million times just to make sure.

Back to work!

 

[5kids2feed]

I just got done working on the game for the day and I thought to myself “It’s finally all coming together.”

All of this hard work is paying off. Getting the game where I want it to be!

The beginning of May, I’ll officially be working on this game for 3 months. Carpet Shark took 2 months. Plummet Challenge Game took 2 and a half months. Each game I do gets slightly more intricate. Well worth the extra time. One day I hope to take a year or two on a game.. if I have the patience lol

My label art guy is starting the artwork this week. Hoping to have it by the end of the month or beginning of next month. Super excited to see what he comes up with.

My whole team has really outdone themselves. Super happy with where everything has gone. I’ll reveal who they are now! @kevin81 for music/sfx and Lilith as the lead artist. Same group of 3 as Plummet Challenge Game!

My “to do” list has gone up and down daily. From 10 things to do.. to 20.. to 8… right now the list is at 12. I’m sure that’ll change tomorrow too.

As of right now. The game is looking for a May release. Still fixing bugs and polishing off everything the best that I can. Also gotta get on editing the YouTube commercial and get the label art printed (if I decide to self release again). So much to do! But it’s getting to that point where the weight is slowly being lifted from my shoulders.

Until tomorrow my friends.

 

[5kids2feed]

My son was off school today, so what did I have him do? Playtest my new game of course! He really enjoyed it and said "I think a lot of people are going to like this one." Then followed it up with "Carpet Shark is still my favorite, but this one is really good too."

‪In all seriousness. He helped a lot for getting the leveling system balanced out for a certain mode. He was completely into the game. Things are lookin gooooood‬

 

[5kids2feed]

Whoa! My topic has been bombarded by a random spam bot.

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Been going through my “to do,” list one by one.. all the while thinking to myself “you know what else would be cool?” and then end up adding something else to the list lol.

Yesterday, I got a rough sketch of what my label art is going to look like and I am beyond excited to see the finished product!

 

[5kids2feed]

Hi.

 

[5kids2feed]

Cramming in as much as possible and my Bank 1C finally filled up. Luckily this easy solution fixed everything. This forum is a lifesaver. Thanks, guys!

After I get done putting in the last few details.. I’m gonna game test the heck out of it and find every single bug or little thing I can fix.. then it’ll be release time before you know it!

 

[5kids2feed]

We have entered the finish line.

Working on the last two secrets and the game should be DONE.

Had both of my kids play test the game this weekend. They loved it. They also liked how it got more difficult as the game went on and they had to change up the way played.

But as I stated earlier, I have to work on the commercial and box/label art (once the artist is done.. he says by Tuesday! The rough drafts have looked beautiful btw ). So I can get this game out by the end of May. So once these two secrets are completed, I will continue playtesting until the game is released just to make sure everything is a-okay!

Ahhhhh this is exciting! I love when I get to the point of finishing a game.. but also get sad because I am no longer working on it haha.

 

[5kids2feed]

And with this final post, I’d like to say goodbye.

..Beeeeeecause the next post you’ll see is the COMPLETED GAME in the finished game & demos section!

Expect to see it mid to late May.

This is Steve from FistaGames signing off