IainPeregrine's 2011 Get Something Done challenge came to a close. PopLava issued its own challenge in preparation for BYOND's Flash client. I uploaded my first game in months (and it's kind of pretentious). That and more inside.
IainPeregrine's 2011 Get Something Done challenge is now over. The roster of participants was posted. How many succeeded? How many will continue without the event? I mean they've all missed their window, right? And you too?
No! Get it done! =)
This edited version of BYOND and Within comes to you from an unpaid volunteer using a game/development portal and software engine called BYOND. Rather than play suggestions, the column focuses on recent developer activity.
Within BYOND
Taking advantage of improved icon manipulation, Silk Games have been experimenting with their latest NEStalgia updates. Most of the retro MORPG's servers require players to download and install the beta version of BYOND. The announcement was made as co-developer Spiff joined Ben and Jared for the return of the official podcast. Another episode soon followed.
Pictured is one of the 20 monster sprites thus far accepted from the Artwork & Music Contributions board.
Robertbanks2 announced, released and updated an alpha version of a turn-based tactical battle called Imperatorum. Check the hub for instructions. Single-player campaigns which act as tutorials and unlock units are planned. Eventually, the completion of a campaign will be a requirement for entering a multiplayer server. Further details can be found on the Robco Development Blog.
Kyle_ZX has released an early version of a multiplayer sidescroller called Flow Physics. Players are tasked with building tunnels in an effort to avoid drowning. There is no hub page, but a download is available.
Acebloke has has thrice updated his military/economic simulation Wargames with new subscriber features, fission bombs, improved rockets, interface changes and more. Join him for a week-long cold war as he hosts the latest version with additions to the space race, spy weaponry and more! If you're having trouble entering Acebloke's server, you might want to download that BYOND beta I mentioned. However, you can always host your own.
Bravo1 released multiple updates for Darkness. The wave-based shooter received various balance and interface tweaks for what appears to be an undeclared GSD entry. Claiming that some features might be cut, Bravo1's focus is now on the spinoff, Lands of Darkness.
Oasiscircle continues to post videos of his action adventure, Delve. Puzzles can now be formed with platforms and springs. Further details are being posted in the forum with requests for feedback on classes, bosses and a level editor.
Zane444 and Chris Gayle did not manage to release a fully functional version of their multiplayer vehicular shooter, Armored Units. However, they did release a demo of the GSD entry which allows players to pilot various modes of transport.
D4RK3 54B3R didn't complete his GSD entry, but he posted a video. It's an alpha version of the sequel to Faction Wars. It looks like a pretty shooter. I'm guessing the class descriptions are more legible when not shrunk to 360p. ;)
D4RK3 54B3R's project will be using that of DarkCampainger. The latter's GSD entry was an update for his Static Lighting Generator. A 2010 C++ runtime library is required.
PopLava is holding a contest with $100 and Resource Center credits as prizes. Entrants will have 60 days to create an original game with an interface that should work in BYOND's upcoming Flash client. The theme will be announced tomorrow.
As my entry for the GSD, I released a version of my combative scavenger hunt, MeanderGall. It's my first project using maps procedurally generated by my Prim BSP and Prim Grid libraries. I'll have to do some multiplayer testing at some point and I can't decide whether I'm satisfied with the music, but try it out.
Unfortunately, this has been my first game release in quite a while and lifetime subscriptions to my multipass, Fooldom Come, were priced based on the expectation of future entries. I'm now pricing them according to a bundle of what's already there. Benefits in all of my present and future BYOND projects are now available for only $9.
Beyond BYOND
Remember that Schwarzenegger v. EMA petition from the Entertainment Consumers Association that I kept advertising? Free membership to the US/Canadian group is now available with sponsorship from Red Bull. It's a Flash ad on the right of the page.
The Extra Credits Innovation Awards were presented at Login 2011. The list of winners and a video of the presentation are both available.
Also on Extra Credits, the team recently tried to describe the cultural differences that explain why guns feature so heavily in Western (mostly US) as opposed to Eastern (mostly Japanese) games.
If that's not enough history for you, check out A Brief History of Western Action RPGs on Hardcore Gaming 101. For more of an Eastern focus, try their earlier post on 2D fighting games.
Experience deja vu as I shove yet another procedural generation link in your face. On #AltDevBlogADay, Pete Garcin opines what story-driven projects can learn from sports games.
Back in April, Pete Garcin also wrote about designing meaning in games. More recently, PC Gamer's Duncan Geere interviewed TigSource founder Jordan Magnuson about his "notgames" being better suited to the task due to their lack of rules. And on BYOND, my projects went from farting spiders to heart-wielding, brain-walking thralls. Deep.
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