itch.io

2 bugs from a play tester:

• sometimes the position indicator is not visible when advancing to the next level, moving the joystick makes it appear
• after setting a baby tree on fire, it does not get removed from the play area, and the flame animation really doesn't match the size

I think for the next release I will wire up more of the joystick controls:

• access to the tools
• title screen controls
• game over controls

I would also like the add the methane leak as that is basically the final part of the gameplay to be added.

• visible animation once methane is leaking
• trigger explosion on methane space with any fire or explosion
• add warning when leak starts
• add warning on last turns

I worked on some artwork this week and didn't have any updates to the game. I should have more time next week for another release.

Thank you

For the next release I'm looking to add joystick controls and changing the level progress. The gameplay is a little slow and levels take around 5 minute, making 10 levels too long. This is my thought:

• keep level 1 the same with trees and cows, keep 10% tree spawn and 30% cow move
• level 2 introduces rocks, so let's add a chance for meteors, use 10% event chance
• level 3 add abductions, increase event chance to 20%
• level 4 add alien invasion (adds cows without abduction) chance, use 30% event chance
• level 5 use 40% event chance

I think this will be a good starting point, will cut game time in half, and add action much sooner.

Thank you

That sounds awesome and I'm definitely interested, but I think there's going to be quite a few more months until I hit a solid v1 release. Maybe we can connect once I get a little closer.

Feedback:

• bug: when there's a burning tree and another is set on fire, the flame sprite moves but then disappears
• the next and current pipes are confusing and players think the next pipe is the one that they are placing, maybe use a flashing pipe/tool for the indicator
• needs some warnings related to the time remaining
• The computer turns are slow and it's a little hard to know when it's finished

Thank you.

I definitely plan to finish and only released it early so that I could get feedback to help push it in the right direction. 

This is looking great, and I can't wait to try it. I love the music.

Yeah, I'm trying to finish up a browser game at the moment, but then I have a puzzle game in mind for the C64. It's one that I started for the browser years ago, but I prefer C64 stuff now and think that will be my main focus from now on.

My kid is also wanting me to work on a centipede type game, but that's going to wait a little bit as I'll use that to learn assembly.

This game is coming along really well. 

A very cool puzzle feel where you have to think about the order in which you collect the diamonds so that you don't block the exit.

And I love the new custom bricks. Great job snake game buddy :)

That's great, thank you.

Thank you very much for sharing my game. I have also shared your links on all my pages.

Thank you Sparky-D,

I totally agree, C64 games and joysticks just go together. Unfortunately, the lack of joystick here was purely due how unresponsive it was during testing. The game running in BASIC just doesn't loop fast enough to capture the joystick input as it happens. This leads having to hold it in the direction you want to go to get it to work, making fast direction changes almost impossible. The keyboard on the other hand is read from the buffer where the last 10 keystrokes are stored. This allows you to type all of you next moves fast and watch the millipede perform them on its next moves, making U-turns and other multi direction changes easy to pull off. I think the only way to be able to replicate this with the joystick would be a complete rewrite of the game in Assembly language, as the game loop would run 100x times faster.

But I will definitely keep this in mind moving forwards. I do want to start making Assembly games in the future.

Thanks again, Steve