My next project is called ‘The Adventures of Ian Stokesworth – Conquering the Pyramids’. On this project I’ll try to go screen by screen and have all the elements before continuing, so I don’t have to backtrack with development. I have to make new code, for example to resize the screen in different zooms. The other big learning experience will be to create proper level design for this game.
Long time no update! I plan to make some tune-ups in the code (many, compared to the Autumn special), one is to manage language versions from external files. I started to investigate the JSON format and how I should save/load all the texts for the game. Thanks to Shaun Spalding’s tutorials I managed to wrap my mind around how the JSON save and load works in Game Maker, and I made a tool where I can type in texts and save them (with or without encryption). I can even move and jump to records, add new ones, edit, and swap their contents. It is a rough tool, but will be useful to create texts for this (or my future) games.
I mostly updated on facebook, as I was busy programming features in the game. The language versions method above is implemented and works really well, to a push of a button. I did so much more, almost every feature is implemented, I will probably change a few, add or remove some, and most assuredly be optimized or tweaked. I have in the game working: some effects and shaders, doors (teleporters), ladders, object pickups, shooting, health bar, score system, flying texts, destroyable wall, illusion wall, falling floor, climb function (moving next to a ledge), dynamic spawn point, menu system (with options, which is saved along with progress), different type of secrets, puzzle collection, death state, a lethal spike, poison/over-time damage, and an info flag. I also experienced with moving platforms, the idea being to squash the player when there is no more room to move, and if the player stands on it, moves with the platform (which is buggy right now, need some more attention).
I also started to draw the graphics of the game, I was waiting for this moment, though seemingly I redraw almost everything at least one more time, so I progress slowly. Still, here are some screenshots, just to see how I progress:
PixelKrajcár 