Right, so I’ve got my first few sprites done (two dangerous bugs, and the medicine that is going to be your weapon against them). I know technically this is more like “toxin fighter”with the chemical warnings, but after a whole load of attempts at drawing bugs I decided to go with things I could draw…

I’ve only added the basic code – collision detection etc. – but I’m quite proud of the graphics (I can normally draw graphics about as well as I can ride a unicycle). I guess the “monochrome” theme has been a blessing – it definitely makes sure the colour(s) match.

Now I’m going to start working on the gameplay a bit more – the simplest way would be to go with a space-shooter type game, but that’s a bit unimaginative. On the other hand, at least I know that would be fun, so if I can’t come up with an addictive idea I might resort to that.

I’ve been laying down the code since my last post and I already have a screenshot to post.  Basically the traincars currently come flying out of the left and head to the right past the various cactus, rocks and other western detritus that I will hopefully add for ambience.  I’m really liking the look of it so far.

Now, I have to code a player cam to track the train cars through the world coords.. fun fun!

I have chosen the theme Balloon!. I think my color is going to be yellow. I’m itching to start coding even though I’m not supposed to yet. Normally I use C++ and SDL, but I’m considering using Flash as its capabilites might be better suitied to my project, though I’m not sure how to go about it.

If I do use C++ and SDL I’ll use my special library, which I am releasing right now here, if it’s not too late to be official. Please respond if you know for a fact this is valid or invalid! This is my own library, PlatyGame version something or other.

EDIT: I just realized this, apparently the compo already started.

Ok, so I’ve got an idea for a lil game that I’ll whip up tomorrow. It’s going to use The Tower secondary theme and will be brought to you by the color Pink.

I’ll be using my usual c++ with allegro.

I’ve decided to have a go at the MiniLD – this will be my first 48hour challenge, so my main aim is simply to have a working game at the end of it, and I’m not aiming too high.

I’ve chosen the theme “infection”, and I’m going to be working in Python with PyGame.

The idea I think I will go with is very simple – you play the part of some kind of medicine fighting off infections by zapping them somehow (I still have to work that bit out… I’ll see how the graphics turn out)

I have picked ‘Trains’ as my secondary theme for this Mini LD #6.  “Monochrome” is the primary required theme of the contest.  Instead of making a full game for this competition Matrin has tasked us with a limit to make the game a single-level.  Everyone who submits a game will have their game be one of the levels in a game “wrapper” that will join them all together.  The common theme being monochrome.

I want to create a game that will be of limited scope yet still fun and not too small.  I am trying to work out what size the level should be of my monochrome train game.

My current idea is a kind of 2d platformer that takes place running along a moving train.  You will have to watch out for tunnels and obstacles that would sweep you off the train if you are on top of a train car.  You will have to move quick enough that you aren’t on train cars that will become disconnected and drift backwards after a time.  I’m going to impose a time limit through the fact that if you don’t reach the train engine in time to stop it you will die due to train crash.  You will start at the end of the train on the caboose and have to work your way along.  I may make it old west themed as well.  You will have to fight off bandits on your way to pull the brake at the front of the train.  Perhaps I’ll have a minimap at the top that will show the trains progress on the level so you can know how close you are till the end instead of just time limit.

I’ll be using Ruby / Gosu gamedev library again for this competition.

Here is initial mockup:

I have added a score limit to the rules. You are only allowed to give a max of 1000 points in your game.

I will participate to this new challenge. The main theme is “monochrome” and I have choose the second theme “build the level you play”.
My idea ? A background in green (yes, it is really beautifull, the green) and a small character who need to go in a goal.
With your mouse you can make a segment which is dark. The character can move on this, but he is few lazy, and stupid, like a lemming. But be carrefull, segments become gradually light and when the segment has the background’s color, it disappear ! So if are not attentive, he will fall and, if this fall is too long, you loose ! So, I must begin the code …

The themes for miniLd #6 are up. Link

Have fun.

Here is a link to the wiki entry for MiniLD6, where you can see the start time, read the rules, select themes,…

Please leave comments if you think i missed something, or if things are unclear.

Some of you probably want to see the framework that I planed for MiniLD#6 collab competition. Well, here are the first screen shots.

The framework is made in python 2.6 and pygame, I have learned how to do it from keeyai’s CGL, but I haven’t used any code from it, because I found it too well crafted for it’s own purpose, and not flexible enough to use it for my framework.

The current framework source can be downloaded here, under Download, and more screen shots can be found under Glog. ( I know the site is an ugly mess, I am going to get to that).

I hope a lot of you like the MiniLD idea, and a lot of you decide to enter. It will be fully opened, so even if your game won’t run with my framework, you are welcome to pick out one of the themes for yourself.

For a simple explanation of the compo rules, look at older post.

Because there was some confusion around my previous post, here is a more detailed description of the way this MiniLD will take place.

At the start of the competition (which will be anounced soon enough) i post the name of the main theme, and a list of themes, that the competitors can select from. A competitor selects one theme from that list and writes it’s name next to it.

The competitors then creates a new game from the main theme, and the theme he selected from the list. The game doesn’t have a menu, insteed it should just have a simple start screen with brief instructions.

After 48 hours the competition end. Each submited entry for MiniLD#6 is then taken, and loaded into a framework which I will create. The entries are then run inside the framework, like levels of a game.

For now, the platform of interest will be windows. If it will be possible to port all the entries to linux and mac, then hopefully there would also be a version for those platforms.

In a nut shell: you get two themse, create a simple game, I take that game and stick it together with other entries, creating on bigger game.

I hope this is clearer than before.

Time for another mini Ludum Dare competition. This one will take place on the 10th and 11th of January, since the first weekend is very close to the holidays.

The idea behind this one is, to take all of your entries and bind them together in what would look as a single game. To achieve this, this MiniLD will have to themes. The main theme, the red line of the competition, will be the same for all, and set by me. The second theme you can pick out for yourself from a list of themes and reserve it for yourself.

Technical details, start time, etc. will follow.