Ecoheroes final demo
by Steve Fletcher · in General Discussion · 11/09/2003 (10:45 am) · 12 replies
Ecoheroes is almost ready to be released. I posted the final demo at http://fletchgames.tripod.com (click on the Ecoheroes link in the menu to get to the Ecoheroes page).
You need Sun's version of Java 1.4 or higher to play it. There's a link to Sun's website from the Ecoheroes page.
This is the final demo. I'm still waiting on a couple of pieces of art (most notably the art for the players walking-around), but that will be the only change to the demo unless someone finds a bug or has an idea about how to make something better.
I'm still tweaking the levels that aren't in the demo, but that has no effect upon the demo.
So please take a look at it and tell me what you think.
You need Sun's version of Java 1.4 or higher to play it. There's a link to Sun's website from the Ecoheroes page.
This is the final demo. I'm still waiting on a couple of pieces of art (most notably the art for the players walking-around), but that will be the only change to the demo unless someone finds a bug or has an idea about how to make something better.
I'm still tweaking the levels that aren't in the demo, but that has no effect upon the demo.
So please take a look at it and tell me what you think.
About the author
#2
I need to move to a new server. I'll try to do that tomorrow morning. I'm not sure if I have enough money though - I'll be paying by the year.
So I guess you just shouldn't worry about it until I post here again with the new site URL.
11/09/2003 (7:34 pm)
Aw crud!I need to move to a new server. I'll try to do that tomorrow morning. I'm not sure if I have enough money though - I'll be paying by the year.
So I guess you just shouldn't worry about it until I post here again with the new site URL.
#3
11/10/2003 (4:38 am)
Maybe in a couple of screen shots would be good. I know some who wont download a demo unless the screen shots look interesting. I don't believe I saw any at your site.
#4
About the screenshots...
The problem is that the player art isn't done yet. Aside from the player art, there's only one image left to do. But the player art is always on the screen.
I was waiting for the player art, but I guess I'll just post some screenshots anyways if I can get the new site to work. I can always take more.
Anyways, don't bother trying to download the demo from tripod. It's a waste of time because there's so little bandwith. Hopefully, I'll get this all taken care of tomorrow morning.
11/10/2003 (11:18 am)
I signed up for a website yesterday, but it still doesn't seem to be working yet. I posted on their forum, so I should find out what's going on soon.About the screenshots...
The problem is that the player art isn't done yet. Aside from the player art, there's only one image left to do. But the player art is always on the screen.
I was waiting for the player art, but I guess I'll just post some screenshots anyways if I can get the new site to work. I can always take more.
Anyways, don't bother trying to download the demo from tripod. It's a waste of time because there's so little bandwith. Hopefully, I'll get this all taken care of tomorrow morning.
#5
The new site should have more than enough bandwith.
I'll post screenshots tomorrow unless I forget.
11/10/2003 (6:46 pm)
The new site is up now. It's at http://aaryn.lunarpages.com/~fletch4/ . It will be http://fletchergames.com soon, but it takes a few days before the domain name starts working.The new site should have more than enough bandwith.
I'll post screenshots tomorrow unless I forget.
#6
11/11/2003 (2:04 am)
Fun game! I like having victory conditions other than kill everything, and I think it takes real creative talent to turn a 2d action game into something interesting. Good job with that.
#7
And http://fletchergames.com seems to work. The bandwith should be enough that it's "infinite" as far as I need to be concerned.
11/11/2003 (12:33 pm)
Well, there's screenshots now.And http://fletchergames.com seems to work. The bandwith should be enough that it's "infinite" as far as I need to be concerned.
#8
Any other opinions?
11/11/2003 (12:35 pm)
Thanks, Nick. Somehow I'm not surprised that you like it. :)Any other opinions?
#9
According to my server stats, people went to the site, but it doesn't look like anyone downloaded the demo.
11/12/2003 (9:20 pm)
Ok, is there something wrong with how I presented this (other than the bandwith snafu)? Or is it just that no one thinks the Ecoheroes demo is worth downloading?According to my server stats, people went to the site, but it doesn't look like anyone downloaded the demo.
#10
I found I had to hit way too often before getting into the level, and didn't end up reading the stuff. The game seemed fun, although I kept hitting those goofy question marks accidently.
Was this a one-man job?
11/12/2003 (10:01 pm)
I downloaded it and tried it.I found I had to hit
Was this a one-man job?
#11
So it wasn't a one-man job, but each part of the game was pretty much a one-man job. I've had difficulty getting people's opinions about the game. As far as I know, I'm the only one who's actually played the full version to the end (I have sent the full version to people).
But what you said is helpful. That's probably one of the reasons why I don't hear back much.
What should I eliminate? There's the splashscreen, the intro, picking "Play Game" on the title screen, picking/creating the user, picking the level, the level data screen, the level intro (which is alot of windows of text), and the tip of the day before you can even start the game.
The problem is that most of those things provide useful information of some sort.
I've been annoyed by the question mark boxes myself... I need to find a better way "tutorial" type thing.
Picking the level can also be annoying if you want to replay a level you've already beaten.
I think the big problem here is that the game is too complicated for an action game, so alot of things need to be explained to the player (in particular, the kudzu/panel thing).
I don't think it's possible to make the game uncomplicated enough now without just redoing the whole thing. But maybe I can make it a little less of a pain.
Thanks for your input. It pointed out a problem with the game that needs to be fixed (or at least reduced in magnitude). I just wish I had found out about it sooner.
11/13/2003 (4:35 pm)
I did all the programming. There was also 1 musician. And a whole range of artists (4 who actually have some art in the final game).So it wasn't a one-man job, but each part of the game was pretty much a one-man job. I've had difficulty getting people's opinions about the game. As far as I know, I'm the only one who's actually played the full version to the end (I have sent the full version to people).
But what you said is helpful. That's probably one of the reasons why I don't hear back much.
What should I eliminate? There's the splashscreen, the intro, picking "Play Game" on the title screen, picking/creating the user, picking the level, the level data screen, the level intro (which is alot of windows of text), and the tip of the day before you can even start the game.
The problem is that most of those things provide useful information of some sort.
I've been annoyed by the question mark boxes myself... I need to find a better way "tutorial" type thing.
Picking the level can also be annoying if you want to replay a level you've already beaten.
I think the big problem here is that the game is too complicated for an action game, so alot of things need to be explained to the player (in particular, the kudzu/panel thing).
I don't think it's possible to make the game uncomplicated enough now without just redoing the whole thing. But maybe I can make it a little less of a pain.
Thanks for your input. It pointed out a problem with the game that needs to be fixed (or at least reduced in magnitude). I just wish I had found out about it sooner.
#12
The splashscreen is only there for the demo. But I have stuff saying that the game's a demo on the titlescreen, and I'm going to have the splashscreen pop up when you exit the game (in the demo only).
So there's no reason for me to have it at the beginning of the game.
The tips of the day should probably be yanked. They contain important information, but people probably don't read the tips of the day.
And the level data screen doesn't necessarily have to be displayed at the beginning of the level because you can check it from the in-game menu.
That should help a bit. But the fundamental flaw of the game being too complicated still remains (and will probably always be there).
11/13/2003 (4:47 pm)
Idea: I can make the intro come up the first time you play the game. After that, it only comes up if you pick an "Intro" option. (though that doesn't help the first time you play the game)The splashscreen is only there for the demo. But I have stuff saying that the game's a demo on the titlescreen, and I'm going to have the splashscreen pop up when you exit the game (in the demo only).
So there's no reason for me to have it at the beginning of the game.
The tips of the day should probably be yanked. They contain important information, but people probably don't read the tips of the day.
And the level data screen doesn't necessarily have to be displayed at the beginning of the level because you can check it from the in-game menu.
That should help a bit. But the fundamental flaw of the game being too complicated still remains (and will probably always be there).
Torque Owner Dan -
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Thank you!
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