The Game-Maker Archive - Recent changes [en]

Ninja Tuck II: Booka

2012-05-18T01:16:38Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:16, 18 May 2012
(2 intermediate revisions not shown)
Line 11:		Line 11:
	}}Often when I dropped in on my eponymous associate he would sing the refrain to a pop song that struck him as silly on some level. One of his favorite quotes was from Suzanne Vega's "Luka": "My name is Luka / I live on the second floor." The way he sang it, I imagined Hervé Villechaize popping his head over the bannister to welcome a new tenant. Whether due to the accent or my own whimsy, I also misheard the name. Thus, continuing the series of in-jokes from [[Ninja Tuck\|our first game]] together, I named its sequel ''Ninja Tuck II: Booka''.		}}Often when I dropped in on my eponymous associate he would sing the refrain to a pop song that struck him as silly on some level. One of his favorite quotes was from Suzanne Vega's "Luka": "My name is Luka / I live on the second floor." The way he sang it, I imagined Hervé Villechaize popping his head over the bannister to welcome a new tenant. Whether due to the accent or my own whimsy, I also misheard the name. Thus, continuing the series of in-jokes from [[Ninja Tuck\|our first game]] together, I named its sequel ''Ninja Tuck II: Booka''.

-	Whereas my earlier insertion games were [[Cireneg's Rings\|flimsy]], [[Operation Killbot\|half-hearted]] affairs, my work on ''Ninja Tuck'' had inspired me to new levels of ambition. Having established a basic framework, for my second go ~~around~~ around I was determined to make everything as original and as flashy as I could. Thus aside from the sprite, I redesigned everything from the ground up. As in ''[[Peach the Lobster]]'' I designed all ~~off~~ of the enemies around a common theme — in this case plants — and for consistency I drew all of the sprites and backgrounds in [[Deluxe Paint]]. I even dragged in [[Metamorf]] to animate some in-game elements.	+	Whereas my earlier insertion games were [[Cireneg's Rings\|flimsy]], [[Operation Killbot\|half-hearted]] affairs, my work on ''Ninja Tuck'' had inspired me to new levels of ambition. Having established a basic framework, for my second go around I was determined to make everything as original and as flashy as I could. Thus aside from the sprite, I redesigned everything from the ground up. As in ''[[Peach the Lobster]]'' I designed all of the enemies around a common theme — in this case plants — and for consistency I drew all of the sprites and backgrounds in [[Deluxe Paint]]. I even dragged in [[Metamorf]] to animate some in-game elements.

	[[File:Tuck2.gif\|center]]		[[File:Tuck2.gif\|center]]

-	Why I settled on the plant thing, I am unsure. To achieve it, I pulled on vague memories of all of my favorite botanical levels from the previous five years. Those included ~~the~~ ''Land of Illusion'', the Game Gear sequel to the 8-bit port of ~~Sega’s classic~~ ''Castle of Illusion'', the Aquatic Ruin Zone from ''Sonic 2'', and great swaths of Epic’s ''Jill of the Jungle''. And then there were the monsters. It’s hard not to reference Piranha Plants, and the ones I had in mind were from ''Super Mario Bros. 3''.	+	Why I settled on the plant thing, I am unsure. To achieve it, I pulled on vague memories of all of my favorite botanical levels from the previous five years. Those included Sega's ''Land of Illusion'' (the Game Gear sequel to the 8-bit port of ''Castle of Illusion''), the Aquatic Ruin Zone from ''Sonic 2'', and great swaths of Epic’s ''Jill of the Jungle''. And then there were the monsters. It’s hard not to reference Piranha Plants, and the ones I had in mind were from ''Super Mario Bros. 3''.

	One of the later levels is based on a technique hit upon by [[James Faux]] of Eclypse Games, and used in his game ''[[Mortal Harvey]]''. As an elevator rises, threats gradually present themselves; at the end of the ride, the floor opens up and the player moves on to the next level. In design terms, the level is all trickery. The player remains stationary, while the background animates; different columns of tiles shift at different speeds to create an illusion of parallax scrolling. Monsters slowly scroll down from above, to create the impression that the player is rising to meet them. My implementation was rather clumsy, but these sorts of levels do add variety.		One of the later levels is based on a technique hit upon by [[James Faux]] of Eclypse Games, and used in his game ''[[Mortal Harvey]]''. As an elevator rises, threats gradually present themselves; at the end of the ride, the floor opens up and the player moves on to the next level. In design terms, the level is all trickery. The player remains stationary, while the background animates; different columns of tiles shift at different speeds to create an illusion of parallax scrolling. Monsters slowly scroll down from above, to create the impression that the player is rising to meet them. My implementation was rather clumsy, but these sorts of levels do add variety.

Booka

2012-05-16T20:03:28Z

Redirected page to Ninja Tuck II: Booka

New page

#REDIRECT [[Ninja Tuck II: Booka]]

Ricci's Cow Hunt

2012-05-16T19:37:31Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:37, 16 May 2012
Line 8:		Line 8:
	'''Author:''' [[A-J Games]]<br />		'''Author:''' [[A-J Games]]<br />
	'''Related games:''' ''[[Jario!]]''		'''Related games:''' ''[[Jario!]]''
-	}}I barely knew the fellow in the central role. He was a class clown; he liked cows; I worked from there. It began as a single level: character, item pickups, background. Whereas the sprites are [[Deluxe Paint]] beasts, the level is built from a small collection of simple bitmapped tiles. I drew them dot-by-dot in RSD’s [[Block Designer]] tool~~, using a custom palette~~, then reskinned the first level of ''[[A-J's Quest]]''. The results were clean and bold, and stood out better than many of my gradient-fill blocks. Compared to, say, ''[[Crullo]]'', this simple level looked and felt vibrant.	+	}}I barely knew the fellow in the central role. He was a class clown; he liked cows; I worked from there. It began as a single level: character, item pickups, background. Whereas the sprites are [[Deluxe Paint]] beasts, the level is built from a small collection of simple bitmapped tiles. I drew them dot-by-dot in RSD’s [[Block Designer]] tool, then reskinned the first level of ''[[A-J's Quest]]''. The results were clean and bold, and stood out better than many of my gradient-fill blocks. Compared to, say, ''[[Crullo]]'', this simple level looked and felt vibrant.

	It’s not that I set out to be different; I set out to be lazy. I designed a character based on a slight acquaintance because I was bored, and I wasn’t about to invest the time and energy to build a real game around him — so I puttered in the easiest and quickest tools to hand. It just turned out that a lack of ambition equaled a decrease in affectation. I wound up concentrating more on the task at hand than the process that I had built up, and my basic sensibility took control.		It’s not that I set out to be different; I set out to be lazy. I designed a character based on a slight acquaintance because I was bored, and I wasn’t about to invest the time and energy to build a real game around him — so I puttered in the easiest and quickest tools to hand. It just turned out that a lack of ambition equaled a decrease in affectation. I wound up concentrating more on the task at hand than the process that I had built up, and my basic sensibility took control.
Line 20:		Line 20:
	How novel. Since ''[[Pac]]'' I had been trying to break or sidestep the engine’s location-based objective structure, and to backpedal to something more basic. Something pre-Miyamoto. Here it happened by accident, in a game that I hardly cared about, after I had given up on serious design.		How novel. Since ''[[Pac]]'' I had been trying to break or sidestep the engine’s location-based objective structure, and to backpedal to something more basic. Something pre-Miyamoto. Here it happened by accident, in a game that I hardly cared about, after I had given up on serious design.

-	Something else kind of happened. Since the game’s mechanics are so simple as to be almost nonexistent, the level design wound up pretty focused on the character’s abilities. Since the goal in any level was just to show off some new concepts before sending the player off to the next tile set, the design wound up focused more on forward momentum than on interrupting and frustrating the player. ''Cow Hunt'' is one of the first games I made where the player is free to poke around without judgment or severe consequence.	+	Something else kind of happened. Since the game’s mechanics are so simple as to be almost nonexistent, the level design wound up pretty focused on the character’s abilities. Since the goal in any level was just to show off some new concepts before sending the player off to the next tile set, the design wound up focused more on exposition and forward momentum than on interrupting and frustrating the player. ''Cow Hunt'' is one of the first games I made where the player is free to poke around without judgment or severe consequence.

	More than once I have heard the later, more confined levels compared to ''Mega Man''. Although that series tends to typify judgment and severe consequence, I think I see what they meant. Peril or no peril, the clean bitmapped backgrounds and the forward momentum make ''Cow Hunt'' feel more like a real game than some of my greater efforts. There is a familiar sort of rhythm and flow, and the player feels prepared to handle every next beat as it comes.		More than once I have heard the later, more confined levels compared to ''Mega Man''. Although that series tends to typify judgment and severe consequence, I think I see what they meant. Peril or no peril, the clean bitmapped backgrounds and the forward momentum make ''Cow Hunt'' feel more like a real game than some of my greater efforts. There is a familiar sort of rhythm and flow, and the player feels prepared to handle every next beat as it comes.

Operation killbot

2012-05-16T17:17:05Z

Redirected page to Operation Killbot

New page

#REDIRECT [[Operation Killbot]]

Overworld

2012-05-16T03:13:28Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:13, 16 May 2012
Line 21:		Line 21:

	Although the game was never a serious effort, and indeed took no more than a few hours from me, my mind began to swim with the new techniques I found while bending and cajoling [[RSD]]’s engine — the screen-by-screen level design; the complex monster behaviors; the constrained color palette; multi-stage attacks; new monster birthing techniques; and in particular, using monster counter-buffers to alter the level geometry. Those techniques, and their very buggy repercussions, would quickly become the basis for ''[[Builder]]'', my first new Game-Maker game in half a lifetime.		Although the game was never a serious effort, and indeed took no more than a few hours from me, my mind began to swim with the new techniques I found while bending and cajoling [[RSD]]’s engine — the screen-by-screen level design; the complex monster behaviors; the constrained color palette; multi-stage attacks; new monster birthing techniques; and in particular, using monster counter-buffers to alter the level geometry. Those techniques, and their very buggy repercussions, would quickly become the basis for ''[[Builder]]'', my first new Game-Maker game in half a lifetime.
		+
		+	:'''''- EJR Tairne'''''

	==Story==		==Story==

Builder

2012-05-16T03:13:20Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:13, 16 May 2012
Line 17:		Line 17:
	Please visit the [http://www.aderack.com/builder website] for further details.		Please visit the [http://www.aderack.com/builder website] for further details.

-	'''''- EJR Tairne'''''	+	:'''''- EJR Tairne'''''

	==Story==		==Story==

Ninja Tuck II: Booka

2012-05-16T03:13:08Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:13, 16 May 2012
Line 31:		Line 31:
	After this experience I contacted RSD, and told them that I was “on strike” until they got the music situation in order. I wasn’t going to squander any more energy until I got the features that I wanted. Thus I rode out high school on small-scale games and half-baked experiments, waiting for a cue that never came. It would be years before I tackled and finished another game of this ambition.		After this experience I contacted RSD, and told them that I was “on strike” until they got the music situation in order. I wasn’t going to squander any more energy until I got the features that I wanted. Thus I rode out high school on small-scale games and half-baked experiments, waiting for a cue that never came. It would be years before I tackled and finished another game of this ambition.

-	'''''- EJR Tairne'''''	+	:'''''- EJR Tairne'''''

	== Story ==		== Story ==

Ninja Tuck

2012-05-16T03:13:04Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:13, 16 May 2012
Line 34:		Line 34:
	As a final touch, I added morphing menus. As usual I teased the player with promises of a sequel, and even mocked up a few pictures to suggest what was in store for registered users. Maybe it was left-over ambition from my summer commission, but this time I [[Ninja Tuck II: Booka\|actually followed through]]...		As a final touch, I added morphing menus. As usual I teased the player with promises of a sequel, and even mocked up a few pictures to suggest what was in store for registered users. Maybe it was left-over ambition from my summer commission, but this time I [[Ninja Tuck II: Booka\|actually followed through]]...

-	'''''- EJR Tairne'''''	+	:'''''- EJR Tairne'''''

	==Story==		==Story==

A-J 3

2012-05-16T03:12:59Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:12, 16 May 2012
Line 15:		Line 15:
	As originally designed, the game is far more difficult than it should be. With mind to how few people have actually played the game, in early 2011 I adjusted the difficulty in a few places to make the experience a bit more welcoming.		As originally designed, the game is far more difficult than it should be. With mind to how few people have actually played the game, in early 2011 I adjusted the difficulty in a few places to make the experience a bit more welcoming.

-	'''''- EJR Tairne'''''	+	:'''''- EJR Tairne'''''

	==Story==		==Story==

Glubada Pond

2012-05-16T03:12:39Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:12, 16 May 2012
Line 33:		Line 33:
	[[File:FishMap6.png\|thumb\|320px\|Level 2-3 of ''Glubada Pond'']]		[[File:FishMap6.png\|thumb\|320px\|Level 2-3 of ''Glubada Pond'']]

-	'''''- EJR Tairne'''''	+	:'''''- EJR Tairne'''''

	==Story==		==Story==

Clyde & Zeke

2012-05-16T03:12:35Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:12, 16 May 2012
Line 16:		Line 16:
	The game only took a day or two to finish and send off. Although RSD received it before finalizing the CD, it arrived late enough to miss appearing on the disc. No great loss, but it is sort of curious.		The game only took a day or two to finish and send off. Although RSD received it before finalizing the CD, it arrived late enough to miss appearing on the disc. No great loss, but it is sort of curious.

-	'''''- EJR Tairne'''''	+	:'''''- EJR Tairne'''''

	==Story==		==Story==

Peach the Lobster

2012-05-16T03:12:32Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:12, 16 May 2012
Line 23:		Line 23:
	So the game is tough, and mostly due to avoidable design flaws rather than a healthy challenge. Even so, RSD seemed to like it. Late in the year, they put out a [[Game-Maker Demo\|Game-Maker demo]] that consisted of a slideshow squeezed into the opening moments of ''Peach''. ''Peach'' also became a starting point for several late-era users, and developed enough of its own life to become a [http://www.dosbox.com/comp_list.php?showID=4019&letter=P test case] for DOSBox, and receive an [http://www.mobygames.com/game/dos/peach-the-lobster entry] on MobyGames.		So the game is tough, and mostly due to avoidable design flaws rather than a healthy challenge. Even so, RSD seemed to like it. Late in the year, they put out a [[Game-Maker Demo\|Game-Maker demo]] that consisted of a slideshow squeezed into the opening moments of ''Peach''. ''Peach'' also became a starting point for several late-era users, and developed enough of its own life to become a [http://www.dosbox.com/comp_list.php?showID=4019&letter=P test case] for DOSBox, and receive an [http://www.mobygames.com/game/dos/peach-the-lobster entry] on MobyGames.

-	'''''- EJR Tairne'''''	+	:'''''- EJR Tairne'''''

	==Story==		==Story==

The Patchwork Heart

2012-05-16T03:12:27Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:12, 16 May 2012
Line 24:		Line 24:
	Some of the menus were created or altered by [[Gregory Stone]].		Some of the menus were created or altered by [[Gregory Stone]].

-	'''''- EJR Tairne'''''	+	:'''''- EJR Tairne'''''

	==Story==		==Story==

Zark

2012-05-16T03:12:23Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:12, 16 May 2012
Line 25:		Line 25:
	Some of the menus were created or altered by [[Gregory Stone]].		Some of the menus were created or altered by [[Gregory Stone]].

-	'''''- EJR Tairne'''''	+	:'''''- EJR Tairne'''''

	==Story==		==Story==

Crullo: Adventures of a Donut

2012-05-16T03:12:13Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:12, 16 May 2012
Line 26:		Line 26:
	Some of the menus were created or altered by [[Gregory Stone]].		Some of the menus were created or altered by [[Gregory Stone]].

-	'''''- EJR Tairne'''''	+	:'''''- EJR Tairne'''''

	==Story==		==Story==

Rōdïp: Rover of the Deep

2012-05-16T03:11:21Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:11, 16 May 2012
Line 32:		Line 32:
	Other influences include the original ''Metroid'', Tecmo's NES version of ''Rygar'', Human Entertainment's ''Monster Party'', ''Castlevania: Bloodlines'', ''Contra: Hard Corps'', ''Sonic the Hedgehog'', ''Roadblasters'', and ''Golgo 13: Top Secret Episode''.		Other influences include the original ''Metroid'', Tecmo's NES version of ''Rygar'', Human Entertainment's ''Monster Party'', ''Castlevania: Bloodlines'', ''Contra: Hard Corps'', ''Sonic the Hedgehog'', ''Roadblasters'', and ''Golgo 13: Top Secret Episode''.

-	'''''- EJR Tairne'''''	+	:'''''- EJR Tairne'''''

	==Story==		==Story==

The Adventures of Fred Earwigian

2012-05-16T03:11:17Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:11, 16 May 2012
Line 30:		Line 30:
	You’d think that my experience with ''Fred Earwigian ''would have taught me something, but any wisdom was a good decade off yet. In the meanwhile I had mistakes to burn.		You’d think that my experience with ''Fred Earwigian ''would have taught me something, but any wisdom was a good decade off yet. In the meanwhile I had mistakes to burn.

-	'''''- EJR Tairne'''''	+	:'''''- EJR Tairne'''''

	==Story==		==Story==

Octolris

2012-05-16T03:11:12Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:11, 16 May 2012
Line 32:		Line 32:
	This game underwent a bunch of revision when [[Game-Maker]] 3.0 came around. In particular all of the menus and interfaces got an overhaul.		This game underwent a bunch of revision when [[Game-Maker]] 3.0 came around. In particular all of the menus and interfaces got an overhaul.

-	'''''- EJR Tairne'''''	+	:'''''- EJR Tairne'''''

	==Story==		==Story==

Fluffy Ralph

2012-05-16T03:11:08Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:11, 16 May 2012
Line 28:		Line 28:
	This game underwent a bunch of revision when Game-Maker 3.0 came around. In particular all of the menus and interfaces got an overhaul.		This game underwent a bunch of revision when Game-Maker 3.0 came around. In particular all of the menus and interfaces got an overhaul.

-	'''''- EJR Tairne'''''	+	:'''''- EJR Tairne'''''

	==Story==		==Story==

Sign of the Hedgehog 2

2012-05-16T03:11:04Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:11, 16 May 2012
Line 21:		Line 21:
	Already you can see my sensibility devolving, in several respects. But it would disintegrate much further.		Already you can see my sensibility devolving, in several respects. But it would disintegrate much further.

-	'''''- EJR Tairne'''''	+	:'''''- EJR Tairne'''''

	==Instructions==		==Instructions==

Sign of the Hedgehog

2012-05-16T03:11:01Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:11, 16 May 2012
Line 32:		Line 32:
	This game underwent a bunch of revision when Game-Maker 3.0 came around. In particular all of the menus and interfaces got an overhaul.		This game underwent a bunch of revision when Game-Maker 3.0 came around. In particular all of the menus and interfaces got an overhaul.

-	'''''- EJR Tairne'''''	+	:'''''- EJR Tairne'''''

	==Story==		==Story==

Zoom the Super Bear

2012-05-16T03:10:31Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:10, 16 May 2012
Line 28:		Line 28:
	This game underwent a bunch of revision when Game-Maker 3.0 came around. In particular all of the menus and interfaces got an overhaul.		This game underwent a bunch of revision when Game-Maker 3.0 came around. In particular all of the menus and interfaces got an overhaul.

-	'''''- EJR Tairne'''''	+	:'''''- EJR Tairne'''''

	==Story==		==Story==

Pac

2012-05-16T03:10:26Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:10, 16 May 2012
Line 22:		Line 22:
	As with ''[[Octolris]]'', ''[[Fluffy Ralph]]'', ''[[Sign of the Hedgehog]]'', and ''[[Zoom the Super Bear]]'', this game underwent a bunch of revision when Game-Maker 3.0 came around. In particular all of the menus and interfaces got an overhaul.		As with ''[[Octolris]]'', ''[[Fluffy Ralph]]'', ''[[Sign of the Hedgehog]]'', and ''[[Zoom the Super Bear]]'', this game underwent a bunch of revision when Game-Maker 3.0 came around. In particular all of the menus and interfaces got an overhaul.

-	'''''- EJR Tairne'''''	+	:'''''- EJR Tairne'''''

	==Story==		==Story==

Operation Killbot

2012-05-16T03:08:17Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:08, 16 May 2012
Line 26:		Line 26:
	Maybe with extensive revision I could have salvaged the basic format. The level that works the best is the first bonus stage, where the player attacks the house. This is not to suggest that the level actually works, but the variety of targets — some stationary, some moving — does suggest a better direction for design.		Maybe with extensive revision I could have salvaged the basic format. The level that works the best is the first bonus stage, where the player attacks the house. This is not to suggest that the level actually works, but the variety of targets — some stationary, some moving — does suggest a better direction for design.

-	'''''- EJR Tairne'''''	+	:'''''- EJR Tairne'''''

	==Story==		==Story==

Tony & Me

2012-05-16T03:08:13Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:08, 16 May 2012
Line 26:		Line 26:
	Later on I removed the parts that made me feel icky, changed around the identities of involved parties (both he and the particular girl he had in mind), and adjusted the mechanics enough to allow the game to sort of stand alone. None of it helped, though, and the game sat on my hard drive for a decade and a half.		Later on I removed the parts that made me feel icky, changed around the identities of involved parties (both he and the particular girl he had in mind), and adjusted the mechanics enough to allow the game to sort of stand alone. None of it helped, though, and the game sat on my hard drive for a decade and a half.

-	'''''- EJR Tairne'''''	+	:'''''- EJR Tairne'''''

	==Story==		==Story==

Gridline

2012-05-16T03:08:10Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:08, 16 May 2012
Line 30:		Line 30:
	Amongst the melee combat, the small environments, and the distinctive monsters -- as well as the dire consequences of being touched -- ''Gridline'' winds up feeling sort of conceptual. Whether it works or not, it's small, focused, and distinctly odd. Little wonder it pleased me at the time.		Amongst the melee combat, the small environments, and the distinctive monsters -- as well as the dire consequences of being touched -- ''Gridline'' winds up feeling sort of conceptual. Whether it works or not, it's small, focused, and distinctly odd. Little wonder it pleased me at the time.

-	'''''- EJR Tairne'''''	+	:'''''- EJR Tairne'''''

	==Story==		==Story==

Dusk Rose

2012-05-16T03:08:06Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:08, 16 May 2012
Line 26:		Line 26:
	Given the common origin, <em>Dusk Rose</em> became a spin-off of ''[[Cireneg's Rings]]''. Although I never finished the game, it does serve to flesh out the game world.		Given the common origin, <em>Dusk Rose</em> became a spin-off of ''[[Cireneg's Rings]]''. Although I never finished the game, it does serve to flesh out the game world.

-	'''''- EJR Tairne'''''	+	:'''''- EJR Tairne'''''

	== Story ==		== Story ==

Explorer Jacko

2012-05-16T03:08:03Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:08, 16 May 2012
Line 28:		Line 28:
	There are some coincidental, yet weird, similarities to ''[[Xenoblaster: Attack of the Xorg]]''.		There are some coincidental, yet weird, similarities to ''[[Xenoblaster: Attack of the Xorg]]''.

-	'''''- EJR Tairne'''''	+	:'''''- EJR Tairne'''''

	==Story==		==Story==

Nejillian Flux

2012-05-16T03:07:59Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:07, 16 May 2012
Line 38:		Line 38:
	Here’s a continuity note. When I was done with the game, I went on to design ''[[Explorer Jacko]]''. The ship that Jacko steals, early on? Why, the Nejillian Flux of course.		Here’s a continuity note. When I was done with the game, I went on to design ''[[Explorer Jacko]]''. The ship that Jacko steals, early on? Why, the Nejillian Flux of course.

-	'''''- EJR Tairne'''''	+	:'''''- EJR Tairne'''''

	==Story==		==Story==

Linear Volume

2012-05-16T03:07:56Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:07, 16 May 2012
Line 25:		Line 25:
	The public version of ''Linear Volume'' was eventually folded into the 3.0 CD release of [[Game-Maker]].		The public version of ''Linear Volume'' was eventually folded into the 3.0 CD release of [[Game-Maker]].

-	'''''- EJR Tairne'''''	+	:'''''- EJR Tairne'''''

	==Story==		==Story==

Sushi-X Breaks Loose

2012-05-16T03:07:52Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:07, 16 May 2012
Line 26:		Line 26:
	A few of the background tiles also made their way into ''[[Sign of the Hedgehog]]'', which perhaps justifies this prank a little further. Also as my second attempt at a platformer, ''Sushi-X Breaks Loose'' probably taught me a pile of lessons in what not to do. I don't believe that I repeated my mistakes here.		A few of the background tiles also made their way into ''[[Sign of the Hedgehog]]'', which perhaps justifies this prank a little further. Also as my second attempt at a platformer, ''Sushi-X Breaks Loose'' probably taught me a pile of lessons in what not to do. I don't believe that I repeated my mistakes here.

-	'''''- EJR Tairne'''''	+	:'''''- EJR Tairne'''''

	==Story==		==Story==

The Return of A-J

2012-05-16T03:07:48Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:07, 16 May 2012
Line 27:		Line 27:
	In this updated version, 10 of 17 stages are complete and in place. An early demo included on the Game-Maker 3.0 CD-ROM illustrates the game's original shape and appearance.		In this updated version, 10 of 17 stages are complete and in place. An early demo included on the Game-Maker 3.0 CD-ROM illustrates the game's original shape and appearance.

-	'''''- EJR Tairne'''''	+	:'''''- EJR Tairne'''''

	==Story==		==Story==

Link vs. Gannon

2012-05-16T03:07:44Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:07, 16 May 2012
Line 28:		Line 28:
	Some of the elements in ''Link vs. Gannon'' would later be incorporated into ''[[Linear Volume]]'' and ''[[Explorer Jacko]]''.		Some of the elements in ''Link vs. Gannon'' would later be incorporated into ''[[Linear Volume]]'' and ''[[Explorer Jacko]]''.

-	'''''- EJR Tairne'''''	+	:'''''- EJR Tairne'''''

	==Story==		==Story==

Cireneg's Rings

2012-05-16T03:07:40Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:07, 16 May 2012
Line 38:		Line 38:
	There are two very similar versions of this game; one featuring an acquaintance from my developer's home town, and an edited version for public consumption. The latter was eventually folded into the 3.0 CD release of [[Game-Maker]]. As with ''[[Barracuda]]'', the version distributed with Game-Maker has a few corrupted files.		There are two very similar versions of this game; one featuring an acquaintance from my developer's home town, and an edited version for public consumption. The latter was eventually folded into the 3.0 CD release of [[Game-Maker]]. As with ''[[Barracuda]]'', the version distributed with Game-Maker has a few corrupted files.

-	'''''- EJR Tairne'''''	+	:'''''- EJR Tairne'''''

	==Story==		==Story==

A-J's Quest

2012-05-16T03:07:34Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:07, 16 May 2012
Line 40:		Line 40:
	Many background and monster elements, particularly the Crabby, have since made their way into subsequent games.		Many background and monster elements, particularly the Crabby, have since made their way into subsequent games.

-	'''''- EJR Tairne'''''	+	:'''''- EJR Tairne'''''

	==Story==		==Story==

Jario!

2012-05-16T03:05:37Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:05, 16 May 2012
Line 16:		Line 16:
	Even more so than ''[[Link vs. Gannon]]'', ''Jario!'' is barely a game. I didn’t bother to animate the sprites or design a real level; my whole concern was with trying to force an issue on which the engine wouldn’t bend. It was just as well; I never much liked Mario anyway.		Even more so than ''[[Link vs. Gannon]]'', ''Jario!'' is barely a game. I didn’t bother to animate the sprites or design a real level; my whole concern was with trying to force an issue on which the engine wouldn’t bend. It was just as well; I never much liked Mario anyway.

-	'''''- EJR Tairne'''''	+	:'''''- EJR Tairne'''''

	== Instructions ==		== Instructions ==

Ricci's Cow Hunt

2012-05-16T03:04:54Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:04, 16 May 2012
(4 intermediate revisions not shown)
Line 7:		Line 7:
	'''Levels:''' 9 (in final version)<br />		'''Levels:''' 9 (in final version)<br />
	'''Author:''' [[A-J Games]]<br />		'''Author:''' [[A-J Games]]<br />
-	'''Related games:''' ~~none~~	+	'''Related games:''' ''[[Jario!]]''
-	}}[[~~Category:Pending articles~~]]~~<center>~~'''~~FULL ENTRY COMING SOON!~~'''~~</center>~~	+	}}I barely knew the fellow in the central role. He was a class clown; he liked cows; I worked from there. It began as a single level: character, item pickups, background. Whereas the sprites are [[Deluxe Paint]] beasts, the level is built from a small collection of simple bitmapped tiles. I drew them dot-by-dot in RSD’s [[Block Designer]] tool, using a custom palette, then reskinned the first level of ''[[A-J's Quest]]''. The results were clean and bold, and stood out better than many of my gradient-fill blocks. Compared to, say, ''[[Crullo]]'', this simple level looked and felt vibrant.

		+	It’s not that I set out to be different; I set out to be lazy. I designed a character based on a slight acquaintance because I was bored, and I wasn’t about to invest the time and energy to build a real game around him — so I puttered in the easiest and quickest tools to hand. It just turned out that a lack of ambition equaled a decrease in affectation. I wound up concentrating more on the task at hand than the process that I had built up, and my basic sensibility took control.

		+	So I had one level down, and it was kind of nice. Next step? Design another level — a completely different one, with a new tile set. Then another, and another. For over a year I continued to putter with ''Cow Hunt'', adding new levels as the muse struck. When I had ideas for a new technique, I would pull up Block Designer, whip up a few tiles, then turn them into a level. Gradually the game became rather like an Ikea show floor; every level served to suggest a new way to mold and paint particleboard. There was nothing to the game besides touring from the entrance to the exit, but it was a pleasant journey.

		+	I installed the game on the computers in the school lab. Whenever there was an update, I would make an announcement in the autoexec.bat files. I don’t think anyone really took care of those machines, as I got away with murder. As time passed I noticed unfamiliar names in the high score lists; it seemed that people were playing. With an apparent audience, my ambition grew. My levels grew more complex, with reversed control schemes and hidden passages. Thanks to this feedback I also realized the game’s object. There were few threats or serious obstacles, but it took a dedicated player to collect all of the cows. Every cow lent the player 100 points. Thus, the game was all about score.

		+	[[File:Rico.png\|thumb\|320px\|Wandering the pastures of ''Ricci's Cow Hunt'']]

		+	How novel. Since ''[[Pac]]'' I had been trying to break or sidestep the engine’s location-based objective structure, and to backpedal to something more basic. Something pre-Miyamoto. Here it happened by accident, in a game that I hardly cared about, after I had given up on serious design.

		+	Something else kind of happened. Since the game’s mechanics are so simple as to be almost nonexistent, the level design wound up pretty focused on the character’s abilities. Since the goal in any level was just to show off some new concepts before sending the player off to the next tile set, the design wound up focused more on forward momentum than on interrupting and frustrating the player. ''Cow Hunt'' is one of the first games I made where the player is free to poke around without judgment or severe consequence.

		+	More than once I have heard the later, more confined levels compared to ''Mega Man''. Although that series tends to typify judgment and severe consequence, I think I see what they meant. Peril or no peril, the clean bitmapped backgrounds and the forward momentum make ''Cow Hunt'' feel more like a real game than some of my greater efforts. There is a familiar sort of rhythm and flow, and the player feels prepared to handle every next beat as it comes.

		+	I think on some level I noticed this rhythm, as late in the process I added the first level of ''Super Mario Bros.'' as a secret area (an area that would later form the basis of ''[[Jario!]]''). There’s little to do here aside from run and hop to the exit, but I guess that was the idea. I think that I knew I was approaching something primal, or fundamental, about game design. What that was, I couldn’t have told you. I doubt I would even have described it that way. I just knew that things were working strangely well.

		+	:'''''- EJR Tairne'''''

-		+	== Story ==
-		+
-	~~This game was continually updated over a period of about a year. It began with one stage, then grew substantially.~~	+
-		+
-	==Story==	+

	Galen Ricci has decided to go on a trek through the planes of the bizzare to find cow souvenirs.		Galen Ricci has decided to go on a trek through the planes of the bizzare to find cow souvenirs.

-	==Instructions==	+	== Instructions ==

-	[[File:~~Rico~~.png\|thumb\|320px\|~~Wandering the pastures~~ of ''Ricci's Cow Hunt'']]	+	[[File:Rico3.png\|thumb\|320px\|Level 3 of ''Ricci's Cow Hunt'']]

	: Left Arrow: Walk Left		: Left Arrow: Walk Left
Line 41:		Line 46:
	Collect cows. Each cow gives you 100 points. Stop the cow eaters in round 3. The only goal is to see who can get the most cows. It's like a party game; you can invite everyone over and see who can get the highest score.		Collect cows. Each cow gives you 100 points. Stop the cow eaters in round 3. The only goal is to see who can get the most cows. It's like a party game; you can invite everyone over and see who can get the highest score.

-	==Credits==	+	== Credits ==
		+
		+	[[File:Rico5.png\|thumb\|320px\|Level 5 of ''Ricci's Cow Hunt'']]

	Graphics, Sounds, Etc.:		Graphics, Sounds, Etc.:
Line 55:		Line 62:
	: I just thought the cow idea was weird enough for a really dumb game.		: I just thought the cow idea was weird enough for a really dumb game.

-	==Links==	+	== Links ==

	<videoflash>Ww1XKe4t5VA</videoflash>		<videoflash>Ww1XKe4t5VA</videoflash>
Line 61:		Line 68:
	* '''[http://www.aderack.com/game-maker/java/cowhunt.php Play ''Ricci's Cow Hunt'' online]'''		* '''[http://www.aderack.com/game-maker/java/cowhunt.php Play ''Ricci's Cow Hunt'' online]'''

-	==Downloads==	+	== Downloads ==

	* '''[http://www.aderack.com/game-maker/downloads/rico.zip ''Ricci's Cow Hunt'']''' (445.2 kB)		* '''[http://www.aderack.com/game-maker/downloads/rico.zip ''Ricci's Cow Hunt'']''' (445.2 kB)
Line 74:		Line 81:
	* [[Media:Rico8.png\|Level 8 Map]] (174.2 kB)		* [[Media:Rico8.png\|Level 8 Map]] (174.2 kB)

		+	[[Category: Game-Maker games]]
	[[Category: Freeware]]		[[Category: Freeware]]
	[[Category: A-J Games]]		[[Category: A-J Games]]

A-j's quest

2012-05-15T23:00:06Z

Redirected page to A-J's Quest

New page

#REDIRECT [[A-J's Quest]]

Rico

2012-05-15T22:10:28Z

New page

#REDIRECT [[Ricci's Cow Hunt]]

Ninja Tuck II: Booka

2012-05-13T23:07:22Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:07, 13 May 2012
(3 intermediate revisions not shown)
Line 9:		Line 9:
	'''Retail price:''' $40 (with ''[[Ninja Tuck]]'')<br />		'''Retail price:''' $40 (with ''[[Ninja Tuck]]'')<br />
	'''Related games:''' ''[[Ninja Tuck]]''		'''Related games:''' ''[[Ninja Tuck]]''
-	}}Often when I dropped in on my eponymous associate he would sing the refrain to a pop song that struck him as silly on some level. One of his favorite quotes was from Suzanne Vega's "Luka": "My name is ~~Luca~~ / I live on the second floor." The way he sang it, I imagined Hervé Villechaize popping his head over the bannister to welcome a new tenant. Whether due to the accent or my own whimsy, I also misheard the name. Thus, continuing the series of in-jokes from [[Ninja Tuck\|our first game]] together, I named its sequel ''Ninja Tuck II: Booka''.	+	}}Often when I dropped in on my eponymous associate he would sing the refrain to a pop song that struck him as silly on some level. One of his favorite quotes was from Suzanne Vega's "Luka": "My name is Luka / I live on the second floor." The way he sang it, I imagined Hervé Villechaize popping his head over the bannister to welcome a new tenant. Whether due to the accent or my own whimsy, I also misheard the name. Thus, continuing the series of in-jokes from [[Ninja Tuck\|our first game]] together, I named its sequel ''Ninja Tuck II: Booka''.

	Whereas my earlier insertion games were [[Cireneg's Rings\|flimsy]], [[Operation Killbot\|half-hearted]] affairs, my work on ''Ninja Tuck'' had inspired me to new levels of ambition. Having established a basic framework, for my second go around around I was determined to make everything as original and as flashy as I could. Thus aside from the sprite, I redesigned everything from the ground up. As in ''[[Peach the Lobster]]'' I designed all off of the enemies around a common theme — in this case plants — and for consistency I drew all of the sprites and backgrounds in [[Deluxe Paint]]. I even dragged in [[Metamorf]] to animate some in-game elements.		Whereas my earlier insertion games were [[Cireneg's Rings\|flimsy]], [[Operation Killbot\|half-hearted]] affairs, my work on ''Ninja Tuck'' had inspired me to new levels of ambition. Having established a basic framework, for my second go around around I was determined to make everything as original and as flashy as I could. Thus aside from the sprite, I redesigned everything from the ground up. As in ''[[Peach the Lobster]]'' I designed all off of the enemies around a common theme — in this case plants — and for consistency I drew all of the sprites and backgrounds in [[Deluxe Paint]]. I even dragged in [[Metamorf]] to animate some in-game elements.
Line 30:		Line 30:

	After this experience I contacted RSD, and told them that I was “on strike” until they got the music situation in order. I wasn’t going to squander any more energy until I got the features that I wanted. Thus I rode out high school on small-scale games and half-baked experiments, waiting for a cue that never came. It would be years before I tackled and finished another game of this ambition.		After this experience I contacted RSD, and told them that I was “on strike” until they got the music situation in order. I wasn’t going to squander any more energy until I got the features that I wanted. Thus I rode out high school on small-scale games and half-baked experiments, waiting for a cue that never came. It would be years before I tackled and finished another game of this ambition.
		+
		+	'''''- EJR Tairne'''''

	== Story ==		== Story ==
Line 60:		Line 62:

	Outside was a strange land, with immense vines reaching in all directions, holding up entire boulders as if they were dandruff.		Outside was a strange land, with immense vines reaching in all directions, holding up entire boulders as if they were dandruff.
		+
		+	[[File:NT2-3.png\|thumb\|320px\|Level 3 (Garden) of ''Ninja Tuck II'']]

	"You have angered Booka," growled the nearest weirdo. "By refusing his child, you have commited a most heinous sin, and you must be punished.		"You have angered Booka," growled the nearest weirdo. "By refusing his child, you have commited a most heinous sin, and you must be punished.
Line 76:		Line 80:

	[[File:NT2-1.png\|thumb\|320px\|Level 1 (Vine Jungle) of ''Ninja Tuck II'']]		[[File:NT2-1.png\|thumb\|320px\|Level 1 (Vine Jungle) of ''Ninja Tuck II'']]
-	~~[[File:NT2-2.png\|thumb\|320px\|Level 2 (Cave) of ''Ninja Tuck II'']]~~
-	~~[[File:NT2-3.png\|thumb\|320px\|Level 3 (Garden) of ''Ninja Tuck II'']]~~
-	~~[[File:NT2-7.png\|thumb\|320px\|Level 7 (Nuclear Power) of ''Ninja Tuck II'']]~~

	'''How To Be A Ninja'''		'''How To Be A Ninja'''
Line 97:		Line 98:

	=== Bad stuff ===		=== Bad stuff ===
		+
		+	[[File:NT2-2.png\|thumb\|320px\|Level 2 (Cave) of ''Ninja Tuck II'']]

	[[File:Tuck2Mons.gif\|center]]		[[File:Tuck2Mons.gif\|center]]
Line 116:		Line 119:

	[[File:TuckItems.gif\|center]]		[[File:TuckItems.gif\|center]]
		+	[[File:NT2-8.png\|thumb\|320px\|Level 8 (Nuclear Power) of ''Ninja Tuck II'']]

	* HP		* HP
Line 138:		Line 142:
	== Credits ==		== Credits ==

-	[[File:NT2-8.png\|thumb\|320px\|Level 8 (~~Nuclear Power~~) of ''Ninja Tuck II'']]	+	[[File:NT2-7.png\|thumb\|320px\|Level 7 (Metal Plant) of ''Ninja Tuck II'']]

	Graphics, Sound, Idea: [[Aderack]]		Graphics, Sound, Idea: [[Aderack]]