Posts

My tools 2

larzdk • 8 years ago on 3rd Alakajam! 

Since people are posting how they plan on making their games, I figure I might as well follow suit.

Code
Since I'm doing this as an individual, I don't need fancy version control, just basically a glorified undo / backup system. Also since it's a browser-based game there's not really anything to compile. A few years ago I wrote my own file manager in PHP and ace.js-based editor - I usually just edit things directly on the same server that will eventually house the game.

The really cool thing I'm working on before the game will be the engine. The engine has two main components: a WebGL-based renderer and isometric game framework. This was initially developed during the last Ludum Dare but in a rush to get it done I wrote some absolutely terrible code. So instead I am planning to tidy it up and add new features. This time, before the jam even begins I'll have an engine that can handle things like:

  • large terrains without too much lag
  • terrain elevation
  • nicer shore / water effects
  • proper A-star pathfinding and collisions (hooking into pathfinding.js)
  • different types of blending between terrain types
  • fog of war
  • particles
    Aim is to get it to at least 90s standards of isometric engines, although it's possible I won't get all these features implemented in time. I've already improved it with better resource loading and font handling, so I'm optimistic I can tick off many of the things on that list.

Graphics
Graphics are usually my worst-scoring area in game jams. But I've been trying really hard to improve.

Typically I'll use Photoshop for just about everything. Sometimes I'll do some hand-drawn sketches, especially if the game I come up with calls for more complex art. I absolutely suck at drawing isometric characters though. Given that I'm creating this isometric engine, I'm considering pre-drawing a "base" isometric character and basing my other characters off this design. I considered 3D modelling my characters and rendering those, but I'm even worse at 3D modelling than I am at 2D pixel art. For putting together sprite sheets I usually use an online tool called Stitches. For making seamless textures this is a website I use sometimes.

Audio
Audio is usually my best-scoring category. I tend to think it's really important in game development but often neglected.

For sounds I like to get creative around my house, and just record them with audacity (free) and my laptop mic. I have a couple of plugins that I use to master my sound effects and edit them until they sound the way I want them to. For example, me whacking the side of my printer sounds a lot like a catapult. I'm also considering, since I won't need to worry about my engine in this jam, that I might even have time to record my own voice. Voice acting could be fun to try.

For music, I start drafting out ideas using a free program called Anvil Studio, which edits MIDI files. Then I use a shareware program called Synthfont to play the various MIDI tracks using VST instruments or Soundfonts in my collection. The resulting sound is usually passable although not as good as professional DAWs. To make it really sound good, if I have time, I will usually rerecord the music in many takes using different instruments / sounds. Then I'd use Audacity to mix them together and master them appropriately.

What Programs will my team use? 2

TexasFed • 8 years ago on 3rd Alakajam! 

Well its going to come down to what the theme is but the ones we are planning to use is:

Unity
Photoshop
Blender

I'm in o// \\o \o/ 3

Tipyx • 8 years ago on 3rd Alakajam! 

And I hope this time I'll spend less time in make engine & tools and making more gameplay :), but I think I'm gonna learn a lot again :D
As usual, I'll work with :

  • Haxe + Heaps framework
  • ASprite + TexturePacker for atlases (maybe some photoshop)
  • Not sure yet of what to do/use for Music & SFX… I'll try to put the minimum at least this time :D.

Good luck buddies!

Maybe in? 2

NPC • 8 years ago on 3rd Alakajam! 

First Alakajam, I'll see what I can do.
Hoping the deadline of 11 days (!!!) will spur me to finish the C++/SDL2 engine I started for the event, so here's hoping it's not that bad…
Good luck to everyone competing!

I am in 1

ClaytonDoesThings • 8 years ago on 3rd Alakajam! 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChXdVQ8mm8UQBir87KaRgTQ?&ab_channel=ClaytonDoesThings
https://claytondoesthings.xyz/
Unity or p5.js

  • depends on theme.
    I don't really have an idea on a theme myself.

Yeah I'm in! 2

paperaero • 8 years ago on 3rd Alakajam! 

After the success of making something innovative from the 2nd Alakajam with Darkness, this time I'll definitely be inside.
I'll be usinnn (kinda of the same the last time)

-Clickteam Fusion 2.5
-Boesca Ceoil (if i have time)
-Aseprite
-My brain :3

Man I actually can't wait for this time's Alakajam… Good luck to all those participating as well! :D

So ready 4

Raindrinker • 8 years ago on 3rd Alakajam! 

I'm super in! Alakajam means a lot to me, it was my first serious-mode jam after making a lot of things I never finished, and Moonlight is now my favourite child. I got 2nd with it so the stakes are too high >.<

This community is a gift. I'm sure amazing stuff will come from this jam, a lot of themes sound delicious.

Cheers and happy jamming you great mammals.

I'll give it a go 2

larzdk • 8 years ago on 3rd Alakajam! 

First time Alakajamming! :D

Mostly because, in the previous Ludum Dare I developed a rudimentary isometric graphics engine in raw WebGL and I want to motivate myself to improve it. It's hard building both an engine and a game during 72 hours, so I figure giving myself between now and when this jam to starts to finish the engine, and then 48 hours to focus on the game itself, that should help me manage my time.

At least, that's the goal. I'll see what I can do. I like about half of the themes so far, so I'm pretty excited.

Looking forward to having some fun!

Alrighty. I'm in. 4

Oat • 8 years ago on 3rd Alakajam! 

I'm ready to jam, my dudes.

I'm in again! :D 5

DaFluffyPotato • 8 years ago on 3rd Alakajam! 

Looking forward to AKJ #3!

I'll be entering solo for my 3rd AKJ in a row.

I've been messing around with pixelart some more (for my MMO) and I'll be aiming for #1 in graphics! :D

Here are my other AKJ entries if you're interested:

Alchemic Archer(AKJ1):

Lollipop Ninja(AKJ2):

I'll be using:
MSPaint - artwork
Px Editor - artwork
Bosca Ceoil - music
Python 3 - code
Pygame - code
Audacity - SFX

Good luck!