My VVVVVV demake!

[arcticwolf15]

I have started a game using game maker, somewhat like VVVVVV! I call it... well... nothing yet. I still need a title.

Here's some pics:



It is available here. You can also download it in the bottom right. When you download it, you will get a zipped folder containing an application and the .gmk file.

I'd like some things from you guys:
Permission to use the VVVVVV sounds (from Terry)
Possibly a music track?
VVVVVV-like image for the application and stuff.
Loader images (background, load bar images. If you have worked with Game Maker, and you know how to do this, I would appreciate it)
OPINIONS!

What I'm trying to make the game into is a kind of arcade VVVVVV. I want it to be like the gravitron with difficulty progression. The only difference will be that there is score for time, the screen will become more and more flooded, and you have to flip manually.

Please, post your opinions, and feel free to help out.

Update Log:

1/17/11: It's playable! I still want to expand on it, but for now, it's kind of complete.
12/7/10: It has been a month, and I finally got more work done! Bouncy wires and background added! Still some bugs though. Also, adding Whirligig as a collaborator, since he helped solve some stuff. Some... sexy stuff.
11/7/10: Cleaned up movement a bit. Fixed the issue with gravity being breakable by moving and stopping in midair.
11/6/10: Instant Play support. You now do not need to download!
11/6/10: Game started, added to Yoyogames

[The Brass]

Glitchy and clunky, but that's expected from the first version.

I guess you're probably going to work on getting the movement right for the first few days, so there's little to comment on. When you get your unique idea implemented, that's when the real stuff kicks in. Good luck with the project.

I won't be denying an oppoturnity to see if I have any artistic talent. What file formats work?

[arcticwolf15]

Erm... PNG? I guess. I can't figure out the problems with the flipping and midair stopping. I'll see what I can do tomorrow.

[Shasharala]

Looks like it'll be interesting when finished. 

[The Brass]

There's the shiny sprite. I included both sizes; vvvvv runs on halved resolution so one pixel (i/e viridian's eye) is actually 4 pixels.

If you need a name, how about gmgmgmgmgmgm?

[arcticwolf15]

There's the shiny sprite. I included both sizes; vvvvv runs on halved resolution so one pixel (i/e viridian's eye) is actually 4 pixels.

If you need a name, how about gmgmgmgmgmgm?

Looks good enough... I don't know about the name so far. I'm trying to work out the projectiles. So far, my plan is that every 5 seconds, the spawner has a small chance to release an enemy. Every 30 seconds, a new one appears in that spot, making a greater chance. I'm trying, btu can't figure out how.

[Whirligig]

If you want, I'll gladly make the music. It probably won't compare to any of SoulEye's, but it's okay.

[arcticwolf15]

If you want, I'll gladly make the music. It probably won't compare to any of SoulEye's, but it's okay.

How many are you willing to make? I want a few, if possible.

Title screen music: Slow, kind of subtle, kind of like "Introducing VVVVVV"
Play music: A fast paced, epic music track
Play music 2: A somewhat slower, but still epic track

Also, looping tracks. Can you do this?

[Whirligig]

Sure. I assume you also want them to be chiptunes, right?

Looping might be a tiny bit of a challenge, but not too hard. It would be nice if I could select the part of the song to loop (some sound engines can do that), but I won't assume that's possible for the moment.

EDIT: Also, if you need any help with the programming aspect, let me know. I've had Game Maker for somewhere around 3 years by now, and I know a lot of GML and that stuff. Right now, I'd suggest this: instead of having random enemies every 5 seconds, have it check every step and based on a random probability make an enemy. The probability should stay low, around .01 at first, but slowly and steadily increase. I used something like this for Pearl's Gravitron in CCCCCCCCCC. Then again, that turned out kind of poorly, so maybe you should do something different, like use patterns (timelines would work best here) and execute random patterns in turn, like the Super Gravitron. That approach would probably work best.

[arcticwolf15]

Sure. I assume you also want them to be chiptunes, right?

Looping might be a tiny bit of a challenge, but not too hard. It would be nice if I could select the part of the song to loop (some sound engines can do that), but I won't assume that's possible for the moment.

EDIT: Also, if you need any help with the programming aspect, let me know. I've had Game Maker for somewhere around 3 years by now, and I know a lot of GML and that stuff. Right now, I'd suggest this: instead of having random enemies every 5 seconds, have it check every step and based on a random probability make an enemy. The probability should stay low, around .01 at first, but slowly and steadily increase. I used something like this for Pearl's Gravitron in CCCCCCCCCC. Then again, that turned out kind of poorly, so maybe you should do something different, like use patterns (timelines would work best here) and execute random patterns in turn, like the Super Gravitron. That approach would probably work best.

Alright. I guess that would be alright. I've never worked with timelines, since I am fairly new to game maker. I'll contact you if I need help.

[The Brass]

Okay, here's a background.



But that's not all! The background is composed of 5 layers. If you want, you can program each layer to move individually to create a "moving stars" effect similar to VVVVVV. I'm not sure if that's even possible in game maker, though.

[Whirligig]

It's easily possible in GM. However, right now arcticwolf is waiting for me to program an INI system and I, uh, haven't ... been ... working on it ... 

[arcticwolf15]

Don't worry about it. I actually feel like I could do it myself, but have been sidetracked with:

1. Soldexus (I BEAT THE SAMURAI NINJA BUSINESS MAN!)
2. Minecraft videos (Finally got a Youtube!
3. My mom being loopy from medicine
4. Chatting with my friend

And that's about it. So, do you implement the system by "execute script" commands?

[arcticwolf15]

GOOD NEWS EVERYONE! I beat Soldexus! [/offtopic] Oh, yeah. I also worked on the game a bit. Mainly backgrounds. Which are beautiful, by the way. What I'm working on now is the Bouncy Wires done and done. Tried to clean up movement, but I can't seem to get it to keep the vertical movement. Also, a few questions about highscores. Are they saved upon quitting, and is there any way to set them?


A pic of my work.

[The Brass]

Impressive. Any chance we could get to see that in action?