Prototype Game Sample We're Showing at GDC
by Logan Foster · 03/08/2010 (9:54 am) · 35 comments
With GDC right around the corner I thought that I would take the opportunity to show off a game prototype that we will be trying to pitch to anyone and everyone that we can.
We call the game Dark Frontier and if you haven't guessed it already, its a space flight simulator game that was inspired by classic games like the X-wing and Freespace series and of course being "mech heads" Macross :) We had originally made this prototype as a pitch to the InstantAction portal, but they were not interested at the time. Unfortunately other paying work came up and so we had to put this aside until we had an opportunity to showcase it again...
About the game (fun facts & information)...
- It's made with TGEA (we based a lot of it off of the code that we did for Lore Aftermath, in fact internally we called it "Space Lore" for a while). We would definately update it to Torque3D though if the opportunity came around.
- Development time was only a couple of weeks since we based a lot of it off of existing code.
- All artwork for the game, except for the skybox, is original work thats based off of previous concept samples that we had.
- Just like in Lore, we use ribbons for all of the weapon projectiles. This is custom code that we developed that both draws the ribbon, handles it with a shader and allows for mounting of other objects to the tip of it. We used very few particles for this (mostly for the space dust that you pass through).
- This is the game that we entered into the Green Ear contest that was held a year or so ago and won their big prize.
- Yes the game is actually quite fun to play even at this stage (the controls are a bit loose but nothing major that cannot be fixed up). This particular video comes from a 3 on 3 multiplayer match that we did.
We call the game Dark Frontier and if you haven't guessed it already, its a space flight simulator game that was inspired by classic games like the X-wing and Freespace series and of course being "mech heads" Macross :) We had originally made this prototype as a pitch to the InstantAction portal, but they were not interested at the time. Unfortunately other paying work came up and so we had to put this aside until we had an opportunity to showcase it again...
About the game (fun facts & information)...
- It's made with TGEA (we based a lot of it off of the code that we did for Lore Aftermath, in fact internally we called it "Space Lore" for a while). We would definately update it to Torque3D though if the opportunity came around.
- Development time was only a couple of weeks since we based a lot of it off of existing code.
- All artwork for the game, except for the skybox, is original work thats based off of previous concept samples that we had.
- Just like in Lore, we use ribbons for all of the weapon projectiles. This is custom code that we developed that both draws the ribbon, handles it with a shader and allows for mounting of other objects to the tip of it. We used very few particles for this (mostly for the space dust that you pass through).
- This is the game that we entered into the Green Ear contest that was held a year or so ago and won their big prize.
- Yes the game is actually quite fun to play even at this stage (the controls are a bit loose but nothing major that cannot be fixed up). This particular video comes from a 3 on 3 multiplayer match that we did.
About the author
#3
03/08/2010 (10:53 am)
Nice looking video. Looks like fun.
#4
I think something like that would go over pretty well on Xbox LIVE Indie Games. Might be worth a shot.
Again...good luck...enjoy GDC!
--RB
03/08/2010 (10:57 am)
Nice work man...good luck pimping it out at GDC.I think something like that would go over pretty well on Xbox LIVE Indie Games. Might be worth a shot.
Again...good luck...enjoy GDC!
--RB
#5
03/08/2010 (11:44 am)
Good Work, its reminds me BattleStar Galactica .
#6
03/08/2010 (11:52 am)
Not enough games in this genre IMHO. Great work I looks forward to checking out out someday. Oh and I still want that ribbon code!
#7
03/08/2010 (12:26 pm)
Wow... I want to play that! =)~
#8
Would it be possible for you to talk a bit more about the tech behind the ribbons? They look very pretty! I'm going to consider writing something similar myself to replace our particle based projectile trails.
03/08/2010 (12:27 pm)
Awesome video, Logan!Would it be possible for you to talk a bit more about the tech behind the ribbons? They look very pretty! I'm going to consider writing something similar myself to replace our particle based projectile trails.
#9
(XBLIG is US Only, more or less)
Hope you get some rich people interested. As I said, I'm grabbing the local moneybags first.
03/08/2010 (12:30 pm)
XBLIG has zero interest to me, so aim for XBLA at least ;)(XBLIG is US Only, more or less)
Hope you get some rich people interested. As I said, I'm grabbing the local moneybags first.
#10
... And this looks fantabuluous!
03/08/2010 (12:54 pm)
FreeSpace was the greatest thing ever, and it's mission editor (FRED) introduced me to gameplay modding. I really don't think that there's been a really decent space combat sim since ...... And this looks fantabuluous!
#12
03/08/2010 (1:19 pm)
Awesome Logan, can't wait to see it in person!
#13
03/08/2010 (1:29 pm)
Very, very awesome. And like Konrad said, I'd love to hear about the ribbons as I was planning on building something similar myself in the future. It's on the To-Do list.
#14
Something I always liked about space games was deciding if my shields were all front, all back, or even.
Good luck, looks really nice to me.
03/08/2010 (2:11 pm)
That is a really nice looking space sim.Something I always liked about space games was deciding if my shields were all front, all back, or even.
Good luck, looks really nice to me.
#15
This is wait I am aiming to make with TorqueX atm, but it seems like you're light years ahead of me... I should quit while I'm behind!
03/08/2010 (3:49 pm)
Really nice. Really.This is wait I am aiming to make with TorqueX atm, but it seems like you're light years ahead of me... I should quit while I'm behind!
#16
It is based on the Dark Horizons Universe which is our own IP we have been giving love since 2001 for those of you who don;t know us. This is one of those porjects we really want to get done someday.
03/08/2010 (3:57 pm)
We actually pulled this together in only 2-3 weeks back when we did it. Had been in planing for sometime.It is based on the Dark Horizons Universe which is our own IP we have been giving love since 2001 for those of you who don;t know us. This is one of those porjects we really want to get done someday.
#17
This would be great on steam or direct2drive.
03/08/2010 (4:02 pm)
I'm totally pulling for you guys.This would be great on steam or direct2drive.
#19
03/08/2010 (5:23 pm)
I keep hearing about Freespace... but I never played it because I didn't like Descent.
#20
03/08/2010 (5:46 pm)
You should check it out, Trent. It's part of gaming history :) 
Torque Owner Eyal Erez
Are you showing it publicly at GDC? If so I would love to check it out.
Great work.