I do a lot of sketching and stuff, and am aiming to post more of it on here. This one’s a concept for the living area of a yacht.
This is a small puzzle game made for the 22nd Ludum Dare 48 hour competition, the theme of which was “alone”.
Rotate the blocks to separate them from their friends of the same colour.
There are only ten levels, mainly because the puzzle mechanics turned out to be a bit limiting when it came to designing levels. But, I’m really happy with how it turned out anyway. The levels that are there should be fun to play through, and it’s a complete, polished game.
The game’s Ludum Dare page is here.
Screenshots
This weekend I’m working on a game for the Ludum Dare 48 hour game making competition. The theme is ‘alone’, which initially sounded pretty gloomy to me – so I’m making something as bright and colourful as possible.
My initial idea was to reverse the classic puzzle game mechanic of matching things of the same colour, and make the goal to split colours up instead. I realised in the shower (where all my best thinking is done) that as a never-ending puzzle game (like Bejeweled or Puyo Puyo), the mechanic would be pretty limited. Clearing individual blocks presents very few chaining opportunities, and I think would get pretty messy.
I’m now doing something quite similar in structure to the great Clockwiser. It’s predefined puzzles, but the same goal – stop all blocks of the same colour from touching each other.
It’s going well so far. The main remaining tasks are progression through the game, audio, and more levels.
It’s December! Johnny Platform Saves Christmas is two years old. To celebrate, I’m releasing the game as a free PC download. The download is available on the game’s page.
I’ve avoided releasing XNA games on PC until now, having heard plenty of stories about them being awkward to get running, requiring the XNA and .NET runtimes. This is true for JPSC also, but I’ve used the oldest versions of those that I can, so hopefully will avoid too many issues.
Merry Christmas!
This news is a little belated, but still relevant – Terry Cavanagh very kindly invited me to make a level to be included with version 2.0 of his platformer VVVVVV. So I did!
It’s called Variation Venture, and is fairly hard in places, but shouldn’t cause you to swear too much.
I believe all old versions of VVVVVV have been updated to 2.0. Even better though, the new VVVVVV is also included in the third Humble Indie Bundle, along with a fair few other games.
I didn’t get very far on that puzzle game I was prototyping, so it’s time for plan B – another platformer.
I’m aiming for this to be a free PC game, like the good old days!
I’ve got a devlog set up on the TIGSource forums where I’ll attempt to keep track of progress, if progress is made.
Trying to keep up with the Screenshot Saturdays, although this one is a bit late.
I spent a fantastic weekend in London at a games jam held at the London Hackspace. Me and Ricky of Honeyslug made a bit more progress on our very long term project, Elizabeth Shoots Ghosts. Here’s a mini mockup.
It’s still early days with the graphics, but I think it’ll look fantastic eventually.
Screenshot Saturday time! I’m working on prototyping a puzzle game called Workchunk.
The current plan for the gameplay is kind of a cross between Popils, which I’ve never played, and the brilliant Ilomilo. Also, maybe some stuff from Clockwiser and Puyo Puyo. I’m just designing as I go, which is always fun.
The bots must reach their launch pads. They can only move in one direction, but luckily, they’re good at working together! An easy to learn, hard to master puzzle game.
UpBot Goes Up is an original puzzle game for Xbox Live Indie Games. It seems simple enough – press the A, B, X or Y buttons to move the DownBots, RightBots, LeftBots or UpBots in the direction they’re facing – but like all the best puzzle games it gets devilishly tricky by the end.
Creation of the game was started by LeFishy, Bateleur and myself at TIGJam UK – a game-making weekend for people from TIGSource.
– 60 levels split between three difficulties
– Shiny graphics
– Excellent music
– An Undo feature, to avoid annoying mistakes
– Colour-blind mode
– One-button mode (accessibility option)
Buy it on the Xbox Live Indie Games Marketplace – 240 MSP
Video
Screenshots
UpBot Goes Up will be released on Xbox Live Indie Games on Tuesday 24th May! Hurrah!
Here are the final screenshots that will accompany the game on the marketplace.
Here’s the ‘boxart’ for UpBot Goes Up. So now you know what to look out for on the XBLIG Marketplace when it’s released!
Who needs screenshots when you have a trailer?
“A puzzle game in development for Xbox Live Indie Games.
All bots of the same colour must move at the same time, and only in the direction they’re facing. Move the bots, use them to push each other, travel through portals, and reach the launch pads!
– 60 levels split between three difficulties.
– Infinite undos, so no worries about spoiling a puzzle with a stupid mistake.
– Colour-blindness mode (seen briefly in this video).
– One-button mode.
There’s also a free Flash version of the game, containing 32 levels: http://www.kongregate.com/games/bateleur/upbot-goes-up“
It’s another UpBot Goes Up screenshot! But now the game is using XNA 4 – which means it’s closer to being in a releasable state.
Here’s another iPod / iPhone / iPad game that me and a few other guys made at work.
It’s a sparkly, colourful physics-based puzzler. Simply tap the screen to drop coins from the top. Try to light the pins, capture the Bad Pennies, rescue Girl Coins, smash bricks, demolish things, and tons more stuff too.
It’s a game I’m truly proud of, so please give it a go!
App Store Link
Did I mention it’s only £0.59 / $0.99 / ¥115 / 0,79 € ?
Coin Drop! on the iTunes App Store
Trailer
Twitter Highlights
Coin Drop seems to have an ability to generate some imaginative comments on Twitter, so here are some of my faves.
@charltonbrooker (Charlie Brooker..!)
Arrgh. Coin Drop on the iPhone. Angry Birds crossed with Peggle. That’s like crossing crack cocaine with bubble wrap. SEND HELP.
Oh dear, I downloaded coin drop.
The dog is actually playing Coin Drop!! Might want to wipe the screen afterwards though.
Coin Drop has passed the ‘legs have gone numb on the toilet’ test #tmimonday
oh Coin Drop, you luscious bastard.
Screenshots
A pixel triptych that I did a while ago to commemorate an excellent holiday to Tokyo.
Trying to keep up the Screenshot Saturday thing! It’s just a mockup really, but the game does exist. I’m doing art, and Ricky Haggett / Kommander Klobb is doing code. The design just makes itself up as we go.
Well tomorrow is Christmas so I’m not gonna post stuff then.
I added a glow effect around the coloured tiles that the bots need to get too. Oh yeah!
Merry Christmas!
Thought I’d try and get into the habit of posting more on this here website, so I’ll try stealing Screenshot Saturday from Twitter.
Currently back working on UpBot Goes Up, hoping to finish it in January. So here’s a screenshot, even though it doesn’t really show anything new – all of the in-game stuff has been mostly done for a while.
Johnny Platform Saves Christmas! has been out for a year! To celebrate, the price has been dropped to 80 Microsoft Points.
Merry Christmas!
Trixie has clearly been working on her tan.
8 Bit Horse recently did a startingly detailed feature on Treasure Treasure and my previous games!
8 Bit Horse: Treasure Treasure
It was part of a whole week of Xbox Live Indie Games features so it’s naturally worth a look.
Do you spend every waking minute pondering how UpBot Goes Up came to be?
Do you crave to unravel the mysteries behind the game? Who thought of it, when, why, and what does DownBot do?
Look no further, ladies and gentlemen!
Bateleur, creator of the Flash-based version of the upcoming puzzle game UpBot Goes Up, reveals all.
The latest Veteran Gamers podcast features an interview with yours truly, in which we discuss games, game design, and of course tea and biscuits.
Go on, download it. Go on!
Trixie and Troy need to combine their talents, think carefully and blow things up to find all the treasures – then another treasure – hidden in an abandoned castle.
Treasure Treasure: FFEE is a two player co-operative puzzle platformer for Xbox Live Indie Games. Trixie can jump higher but Troy is stronger, so working together is important if all 21 treasures are to be found!
Single-player mode is also included – but co-op is more fun! It’s a game about love and teamwork.
It’s an improved version of the original PC game. Featuring dynamic split-screen, improved music, retro-style LCD graphics, and an extra treasure to find!
Buy it on the Xbox Live Marketplace – 80MSP
Video
Screenshots
Press
Dealspwn review + Xbox Live Indie Game of the Week
Veteran Gamers review (Podcast)
Let’s Get Digital review (Deutsch)
Treasure Treasure: FFEE is now available on the Xbox Live marketplace, in the Indie Games section!
There’s also a trailer:
With any luck Treasure Treasure: FFEE will be out on Xbox Live Indie Games pretty soon. To celebrate here are some more screenies, you lucky people!
Using nothing but useless everyday objects, you must use your flicking skills to dismember and decapitate all that come at you if you want to survive!
Here’s a game I programmed at work! It’s a zombie-killing iPhone game featuring lots of unusual weaponry, dismemberment, decapitation, and a wicked slow-motion powerup that helps you really appreciate all my cool blood effects!
Screenshots
Website
The website with leaderboards, videos, and more screenshots is here: zombie-flick.com.
App Store
Or have a look at it on the App Store: Zombie Flick on the App Store
It’s like fan art, but better, because it’s friend art!
This was kindly drawn by my friend Matt, talented animator but more importantly the creator of the Animal on Animal blog. Trixie has all the important Trixie details, and Troy has his beard and grumpiness – perfect!
Ta Matt.
As promised here’s a screenshot for the upcoming TTFFEE, an Xbox port of this.
So UpBot will be finished at some point in the future – but in the meantime I’m making an Xbox Live Indie Games version of Treasure Treasure!
It’s a fairly straightforward port, no fancy colours or HD remix or anything, but as the name suggests there will be one or two extra bits.
Here’s the slightly work-in-progress boxart:
Check back for a screenshot over the weekend! (or look at the screenshots of the PC version and imagine it on your TV.)