[JakeX]

ColumnsX
Presented by GameCave

~~VITALS~~
Resolution: Selectable
Fullscreen: Selectable
Players: 1-2
GM Version: 6.1 Registered
Filesize: 10.4 MB (Lofi Version is 4.36 MB)

~~~Game Info~~~
Finally completed after months of polishing, ColumnsX is my remake of one of my favorite games of the 16-bit era, Columns.
Play against a friend or a computer controlled AI in a battle of gem-dropping supremacy -
And then upload your scores and see how you stack up with the best puzzle gamers in the world.

Features include:
- Classic puzzle game action
- An extremely capable AI opponent
- Brief tutorial mode that explains the basics of the game
- Online highscore and ranking system
- Unlockable badges for your user page (For 64digits members)
- Every player gets a banner showing their highscore and rank. (Example:)

- High-quality Mp3 soundtrack

~~~Controls~~~
Menu
Arrow keys - Move selection
Enter key - Ok

Player 1
Left / Right arrow keys - Move piece
Up arrow key - Cycle piece
Down arrow key - Drop piece
Enter - Start

Player 2
A / D - Move piece
W - Cycle piece
S - Drop piece
G - Start

~~~Gameplay~~~
The gameplay is pretty simple: You drop pieces into your playing field and try to make lines of three same-colored gems. Creating chain reactions nets you quite a bit more points then simple moves, however. And there's a few little surprises, as well. Actually, you'd be better off playing the game, or just watching the tutorial, to get an idea of how it works. Oh, and, if you don't have a friend chained to your wall like I do, there's always an AI to play against.

~~~SCREENSHOTS~~~


~~~Download Links ~~~
Full Version (Includes Music; 11.8 MB) - 64digits Gamepage
Lite Version (No Music; 4.8 MB) - Direct Link
So, go on, download it. You know you want to. And remember to reply here with any comments, questions, bugs, or even constructive critisism. So, yeah, I hope you enjoy the game.

~~~'Frequently' Asked Questions ~~~

Q: Who ARE these people?
A: If you're referring to all the people on the character select screen, they're all members of the GM community 64digits. If you're referring to some other people that you're seing, you should see a doctor.

Q: Who made all that music?
A: The game's ambient soundtrack was composed by Matt Hanson, with a few little tweaks here and there by yours truly. Except for my little fanfare. That was from a Megaman X game.

Q: What is the difference between each character?
A: In a nutshell, nothing at all. The whole character thing is just a little tribute to 64digits, as well as a good way to fill up UI space. Oh, and just for the record, there's a few hidden characters.

Q: This game is awesome!
A: That's not a question.

Q: How do I beat the AI?
A: You're probably just unlucky. Most of the time the AI doesn't play too hard. (Though, when it does, it does it really well)

If I recieve some good questions, I'll add them here.

This post has been edited by JakeX: 08 October 2006 - 07:47 PM

[ChIkEn AtE mY dOnUtS]

Woo. I played this on 64Digits and it ROCKS, All should play! 10 dancing stars from me! (Maybe one extra =])

I think I finally made a decision.

(P.S. My character is the best ;])

This post has been edited by ChIkEn AtE mY dOnUtS: 18 September 2006 - 11:35 PM

[Melee-Master]

I played this when it was WIP, and I have to say, it's really well done!

[REZ]

I've played this on 64Digits and I'm happy as hell I downloaded it. =)

This post has been edited by REZ: 18 September 2006 - 11:52 PM

[metalgearac!d]

I played this as a WIP on 64digits also, and I'm suprised it has so few replys. This game is awesome.

P.S. Way better than the last time I played it.

[victor33]

I also played the wip (which is awsome)

[JakeX]

Heh, well, good to know some people here like my little brainchild. Even if you are all members of 64d.
Oh, just because this game is in Creations, doesn't mean I'm done fiddling with it. I'm currently tweaking the ai so that it does a bit better at higher speeds.

This post has been edited by JakeX: 19 September 2006 - 05:55 PM

[FredFredrickson]

This game is good, and although I never played the original columns, it seems like a solid puzzler. The graphics are great, a good throwback to the 16-bit era with some nice effects thrown in. The sound is also top notch, fitting together really well.

My gripes are the same as I listed on 64 Digits - That I found the character select to be mostly just a shoutout to people that, by and large, most others who play the game will not care about or understand. And the level-up effect completely obscures the view for a couple of seconds. Other than those (and the slight annoyance of the music starting over when you go back and forth between the title screen and the menu), everything is great.

Keep up the good work!

[JakeX]

Thanks for the comments, Fred.
The fact that the sound seems to fit together so well is probably due to the fact that all the music is composed by the same artist, something most people don't seem to consider when adding music to their games. Same goes for sounds, except they're all pulled from a commercial game.

I can't say I disagre with the dislike of the character select screen. I was, at one point, considering character-unique power-ups, but I wasn't sure if that would upset the gameplay balance. The screen filling flash was orignally implemented to provide a smooth transition between different level 'themes', something I dropped later into development. I suppose I'll change that effect if I make a major update to the game.

Anyway, glad you liked it.

[3t3rNAL_Payn]

I played this both as a WIP, and now as a Creation, and here's what I have to say:

First off: Right now, both links are dead. That's because 64Digits isn't working, right now. You might wanna mirror it.

Second off: About the game.

The graphics were fantastic. I loved them.
I can't hear sound on this computer... Damn computer...
As for the concept, well, you sorta have to look at it this way. Columns was a Tetris clone. This is a Columns clone. But, you did add a lot of polish, and individuality to it.
As for the Character Select. Being a member of 64Digits, I liked it. But, it might, as mentioned before, confuse some people. I think you might want to make it optional, or a possibly a Create-A-Character, where people choose an Image and a name.
The AI was pretty good, beat me most of the time But I'm not the world's best as puzzle games, either...

Overall, this was a great game, and had the polish that most GM games lack.

Excellent work, JakeX.

[ChIkEn AtE mY dOnUtS]

For the awesome-ness of this game, I will provide a download link:
ColumnsX

I do not guarantee this is the latest version, but I am pretty sure it is.

Also, 64Digits IS down, so the online highscores DO NOT WORK.

[mr.pacman0]

hehe, finally here, it's a beauty of a game... you can expect this to come on to the cagematch soon

holy crap, everybody who posted here is from 64digits... anyways, i'll be expecing my badges when V3 is up...

This post has been edited by mr.pacman0: 20 September 2006 - 01:01 AM

[gml_josea]

It is very good, very well made, even when it is a remake of an old game.

[JakeX]

Heheh, it's like half of 64digits hunted down this topic.
Anyway, gml_josea, most GM games people call 'remakes' are just games with a bunch of lazily ripped content vaguely resembling the source material. I made this because I had fond memories of Columns, not because, "Hey, everyone likes Mario".

Edit: Oh, and mr.pacman0, this isn't the place for overconfident speculation.
Even if it's really positive overconfident speculation.

This post has been edited by JakeX: 20 September 2006 - 05:58 PM

[sinkhead101]

Great game. The graphics are smooth and nicely finished. I love the shine effect on the gems. The effects are smooth and not over used, and the music fits the game perfectly. The menu is good, my only problem is that the music starts again on each screen.
It's even better for me because I'm a 64D member so I get badges.
10/10. Seriously.

- Sam

[JakeX]

I notice you like the word 'smooth'. I think the effects not being overused is a matter of opinion, though.
Also, I thought the music only restarted when you went back to the main menu... strange...

[Arcalyth]

This game rocks hard. I could play it for hours on end. The graphics are nice and the gameplay is great.

This is definitely a quality GM creation.

[RhysAndrews]

Finally released, and a great work it is. Kudos to you, JakeX. Gameplay, although based off another, is very good, and the rewards from playing the game (I.E highscores, badges, etc) is a very nice touch.

-Rhys

[JakeX]

Indeed.
I don't like cheaters. I really don't.
You just went on my list.
You don't want to be on my list.

And thanks for the compliments, Rhys.
...Wait, you're not just saying those things to get me to work on more stuff, are you?

[C-Ator9]

JakeX, on Sep 22 2006, 10:47 AM, said:

...
I don't like cheaters. I really don't.
...
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You... can... cheat...?
And how many hidden characters are there?