Ciaran's Blog

@hamcgdciaran

This is the blog for my Computer Games Design project. All updates will also be on the site. http://hamcgdciaran.blogspot.com/

95 posts

Testing has begun!

I have send emails out to the test group this afternoon and testing on the game has now commenced. I will wait until the end of the week for the feedback to come in and begin the report for feedback. I have another meeting with John on Tuesday where I can give him the report, show off the game and speak to him in detail about where I need to go next with the game. Until then, I now start playing the waiting game.

Level 1 Playthrough Demo

Starting level 2 today before I have my meeting with John. Timeline for the game's completion is a week back from the original plan but I will have the game completed before the end of this week but testing is going to take place over the course of this week and into the middle of next

Start menu.

Watermark added to prevent copyright

End of Monday Update

The following tasks have been completed for today.

Collision engine maintained following introduction of new Bike sprite.

New bike sprite has been created.

Menus are now working with directions to Instruction screen and to main game

Instruction Menu code working with directions to Start and Game working.

Game now directs user to Level 2 start screen.

The following tasks will be done tomorrow

Hazard and Solution graphics created.

Game layout modified to accommodate HUD display and a solution menu.

First Glasgow Cycle Run Graphic.

Beginning of the week update

The problems with the game that I encountered on Friday have been corrected. The game now operates on a timer which will create the bikes every second in game time. I also fixed the variables which will stop an infinite line of bikes from being created and limit the bikes to merely five on the first level. This will be altered on the next level and the level after that as I intend to have three levels in the game

Another factor that have been corrected is the collision engine. This was done by the very time consuming process of breaking up the map layout into separate buildings and placing them on the map in their intended positions and create obstacles for the bike to navigate through. I have tested the code and the bikes now navigate through the game unhindered, though they do cut it close by running alongside the buildings.

This week, I plan on having level one completed with obsticles such as potholes and roadworks in place. As well as having a HUD to show the user how many bikes they have to save and the options for preventing the destruction of their bikers through the hazards.

I have asked if it was possible to have a meeting with Gerry this week so I can get some feedback with the game, I am also going to message John and ask him if the progress for the game is up to scratch.

In the next 30 minutes, I should have a video online showing that the game is, indeed working to the level I stated.

Coding update

Working on the code on Construct has proven to be simple yet tedious. While it's simpler to use compared to other programs, errors that effect the game's functionality remain.

The first problem I have encounter is that the sprites regenerate in a never ending line to the end point. The second is that the sprites in question simply go through the buildings! This is a major problem as this is a game breaker.

I plan on fixing the game over the weekend so I have evidence of work on Monday to show either Gerry or John.

Test Group Identified

I have already identified the test group for the project. I have asked members of my Wrestling Academy to be part of the test group this past Sunday at training and have provided them with a link to the website's "Contact Us" page, where they can register their interest. Thus far, I have 2 replies but have recently added a post on our private facebook page so that members of the other academy or those who were there on Sunday can get involved.

Problem encountered and solution reached

I have begun coding the game but last night experienced difficulty in opening the software. After spending half the night uninstalling and reinstalling the software, without success, I gave up and looked for another solution to the problem

I am now using Construct 2 to create the game. So far, things are relatively simple to use. Hopefully, an easy to use interface will make things easier to make. Watch this space.

Level Two Part 2 Concept Design

St. Enoch Centre (Blue) to Glasgow Green (Green)

Buildings in gold

Paths in grey

Unusable areas in Red

Using the actual overlay of Glasgow and to scale. Watermark added to prevent copyright infringement.

User Interface Concept Design

Game Window (Orange) - Where the game will be played

Solution Window (Gold) - Where the user will select solutions to hazards in the game

Information Menu (Green) - Where information about the game will be displayed

More detailed version will be shown later in the week.

Watermark added to prevent copyright infringment

Week One Review

WEEK ONE:

Set up personal work website

Website has been set up on Weebly at the following address http://finalshineindustrygames.weebly.com/ This is where I will be putting up all the latest news on the game as well as some of my thoughts on the process.

Start blog

This rather goes without saying, wouldn’t you agree? In either event, the blog is accessible with information below but, for the sake of ease, I will provide it again here.

Design game and post design on website

The game design will be on the website as soon as it’s developed. Further updates will be provided in a latter post.

Meet lecturer

First meeting with John has been completed. He will not be back on site until two weeks today so I will be looking to contact Gerry to ensure I can speak to him if he is available next Monday to provide feedback on designs.

Inform lecturer of website and blog urls

John has been given the links to both the website and this blog through work and personal email. Gerry will also be given links should he require them after a possible meeting next week.

Blog end of week progress entry

This and the previous post will act as updates. However, a review post will be posted on Friday both here and on the weebly site. I will provide more details on what these reports will contain later on in the week.

Post Meeting Developments

After speaking to John this morning, I've found out the reason why I failed the initial game. According him him, this was more of a 'safety' idea because I was unable to provide evidence that I had actually worked on the game project. This is, of course, true given the circumstances surrounding the latter stages of the game, including a major disagreement with another member of the group which can be found in the blog under the tag "Year 3". None the less, it is disappointing that this is the reason why I failed is because my work wasn't put into the game and that my website and questionnaire wasn't use. Unfortunately, nothing can be done about this now so I have to move on with the new project.

As far as the new project goes, the game in question isn't so much a tower defense game anymore as it is a lemmings based game where the object instead of destroying the computerized forces is to save them and guide them to a safe point. It seemed that John was impressed with the idea put forward and the fact that I had already begun work which, in my opinion, is a bonus.

Half of the level design concepts are now done and I will begin work on levels 2.2 and 3 soon. The idea after this point is to use a map editor to recreate the designs and then place them into the game.

I will also begin work on the designs for my cyclists soon. I believe that using just the one design will be appropriate as they are members of a team. I will also design the hazards and the resolutions to these hazards as well.

This week is very much a 'design' week where all designs will be accomplished before I proceed onto the more tedious part of the game, the actual coding. If all goes well with the design, I should be able to show them to John or Gerry next Monday before beginning work on implementing the game.

The current timetable has me completing the game by the week ending July 19th. I will complete initial testing of the game the week after that while also beginning the feedback portion of the project in that time.

The project should be competed by the week ending August 2nd.

The timetable for the project is shown below.

TIMETABLE

July 1st to July 8th - Designs

July 8th to July 19th - Implementing code

July 23rd to July 26th - Testing

July 30th to August 2nd - Evaluation and Submission.

Should things change, this timetable will be updated in later posts.

Level Two Part 1 Concept Design

George Square (Red) to St. Enoch Centre (Blue)

Buildings in gold

Paths in grey

Green areas in...well...green

Using the actual overlay of Glasgow and to scale. Watermark added to prevent copywrite infringement.

Note: Level 2 will now be split in 2 different parts as the area from GS to GG is far too large to scale properly.

Project Plan - Week One

WEEK ONE:

Set up personal work website

Website has been set up on Weebly at the following address http://finalshineindustrygames.weebly.com/ This is where I will be putting up all the latest news on the game as well as some of my thoughts on the process.

Start blog

This rather goes without saying, wouldn't you agree? In either event, the blog is accessible with information below but, for the sake of ease, I will provide it again here.

Design game and post design on website

The game design will be on the website as soon as it's developed. Further updates will be provided in a latter post.

Meet lecturer

With the project beginning sooner than specified, partly due to eagerness and partly due to the fear of procrastination setting in, I won't be able to meet with the lectures until a later date. This will also be difficult next week as I will be away at the Download Festival in Donnington, an event that I've been waiting several months for and will not return until a week on Monday. I will aim to speak to the lecturers over e-mail until such a time that a meeting in the university can be established. Further updates will be provided in a later post.

Inform lecturer of website and blog urls

As soon as contact has been established with the lecturers, I will provide them with links to both this blog and to the website. Once this has been done, I will update the blog to reflect this.

Blog end of week progress entry

Unable to do this as it is not the end of the first week, further update will be provided on Wednesday (the end of the first week for myself)

finalshineviews

Level One Concept Design

Blythswood Square (Green) to George Square (Red)

Buildings marked in Gold

Paths marked in grey.

This is an actual overlay of Glasgow City Center and to scale. Watermark added to prevent copyright infringement.

NOTE: Placed on personal blog by accident and reblogged to project blog. Original file can be shown if needed.

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