63 replies to this topic

[Stubbjax]

Neon Runner - A simple, yet advanced, platformer game. Collect the crystals, shoot the enemies and have fun!

Category: Platformer/Arcade
Window size: 640x480

Version History:
21st of January, 2011 - V5.50 [Revamp, level editor]
28th of July, 2010 - V4.55 [Enemies, levels, features]
15th of March, 2010 - V3.35 [Too much to mention]
17th of July, 2009 - V1.90 [Heaps on new stuff]
06th of April, 2009 - V1.30 [New features as usual]
04th of April, 2009 - V1.20 [Added in shop and new features]
25th of March, 2009 - V0.90 [New levels and features]
23rd of March, 2009 - V0.85 [Mouse aiming]
22nd of March, 2009 - V0.80 [New levels and features]
17th of March, 2009 - V0.75 [Added in new features suggested by members]
16th of March, 2009 - V0.70 [Fixed bugs and added new features]
15th of March, 2009 - V0.55 [First release on the GMC]
28th of February, 2009 - V0.01 [Project started]

Screenshots:


Trailer (generosity of slorphead gaming studios):
Youtube - Neon Runner (old)

Download Neon Runner here: Link [size: 6.2 MB]

Edited by stubbjax02, 21 January 2011 - 01:20 AM.

[griffi]

I loved this game - great graphics, great gameplay, but a few things:

you can't complete level 1 because you die when you reach the arrow, and you should be able to duck.


4/5

[Stubbjax]

Hey, thanks for the reply. I have fixed the exit death bug. I realised that the spikes somehow where going through to the other side of the floor. Ducking is a nice idea, I'll add it in. Thanks for the comment.

There is a new version up. I have also added in portals, which teleport you to other portals. Screenshot below.

[Ruzzinator]

That is a very fun game!
Graphics: Same style of graphics through out, looks like neon so thats good. The end show_message could be made yourself with neon etc. 4/5
Gameplay: Hard but easy, killing was fun, easy controls helped. Great work there 4.5/5
Sound: Nothing, but I like where no sounds or music 5/5
Overall: Great game. Looks very sleek! 4.75/5
=D

[Pinpickle]

Wow - That was very nice indeed.

Okay, here we go.

Graphics : 4/5 Amazing, brilliant, almost perfect but there were just a few spots where it just looked out. For instance, the top and bottom ends of the electric walls that you could blow up, had their bright area going for just a little too long, which made the style just a little inconsistent. Also, fix up that font so it matches the game.

Sound : N/A Although, knowing your synthical skills, I'm sure you can whip up some very apropriate sounds for this.

Story : N/A No plot - No rating

Gameplay : 4/5 I can easily say almost perfect, but I just don't think what you have there is enough. I'm sure you will have more elements to the game when it has been more develloped, but I am rating it as it is.

Overall: 4/5 Great game, keep making it. I WANT MORE!!!

[A saurus1]

Very fun game. I like the neon graphics. I got stuck just after the second save spot because there is a trap lever there. the gameplay is great as well. Keep up the good work. BTW, what are those stick-looking things that you pick up?

[Stubbjax]

Ruzzinator - Sound 5/5? It'll will probably have sounds but I'll make it an option. Anyway, nice suggestion. I have added in a custom message box at the end.

Pinpickle - I am not sure what you mean with the neon barriers. How should I fix them? I will add more levels soon.

A saurus1 - Stick things? Could you possibly be talking about the crystals? The crystals don't serve a purpose yet, but I will probably add some sort of shop where you buy new weapons, weapon upgrades, levels, and more with the crystals.

Thank you for all the great comments!

[True Valhalla]

Cute little demo.

Loved the graphical style, and in particular the particles.

Weapons were a bit generic, except the one that shoots loads of little bullets, but overall the graphics were good.

Gameplay was also good, and can only get better =D

Keep up the good work,
-Tv

Edited by True Valhalla, 15 March 2010 - 11:03 PM.

[Stubbjax]

Cute little demo.

Loved the graphical style, and in particular the particles.

Weapons were a bit generic, except the one that shoots loads of little bullets, but overall the graphics were good.

Gameplay was also good, and can only get better =D

Keep up the good work,
~TV

Interesting that you mention the generic weapons. So I'm guessing you would like to see some different weapons? Any suggestions?

Thanks for the reply.

Edited by stubbjax02, 17 March 2009 - 06:24 AM.

[True Valhalla]

Hmm...weapons. They'd obviously have to fit with the game world, but possibly:

-A weapon that absorbs energy from those energy fields (resulting in the destruction of the energy field) to create ammo, which when fired does the same effect the energy fields have to you.
-A weapon that shoots little barbs (like 5) that stick to the wall they collide with, creating a electrical (or w/e) beam between the point and the player. Can be dragged over enemies for a short time before returning to player or fading away.
-A weapon/item that makes enemies run towards the nearest energy field. Suicide gun?

I could think of some more if you like where they're going =D

[Stubbjax]

Hmm...weapons. They'd obviously have to fit with the game world, but possibly:

-A weapon that absorbs energy from those energy fields (resulting in the destruction of the energy field) to create ammo, which when fired does the same effect the energy fields have to you.
-A weapon that shoots little barbs (like 5) that stick to the wall they collide with, creating a electrical (or w/e) beam between the point and the player. Can be dragged over enemies for a short time before returning to player or fading away.
-A weapon/item that makes enemies run towards the nearest energy field. Suicide gun?

I could think of some more if you like where they're going =D

Interesting... I like the electrical one because I could program that in and make it look awesome. A suicide gun sounds sort of odd. Maybe it could be an item of some sort that you throw at an enemy and it makes them go insane. I have an idea. Maybe each weapon could be fused with something else? Like you buy a flame upgrade and you can put it on a gun to make it fire type and damage plant-related enemies?

[True Valhalla]

That's a good idea. That would make the crystals actually worth collecting.

What other enemies are you planning to have? I noticed some enemies that had no real pathfinding, and just gliding through/over walls, etc. Are they going to be common enemies or are most going to be proper platform enemies? Are you going to implement some platformer mechanics (jumping, ect.)?

I'd personally like to see larger environments (space wise), such as outdoor areas. Even large indoors areas.

Will it be story driven?

[slorphead gaming studios]

That's a good idea. That would make the crystals actually worth collecting.

What other enemies are you planning to have? I noticed some enemies that had no real pathfinding, and just gliding through/over walls, etc. Are they going to be common enemies or are most going to be proper platform enemies? Are you going to implement some platformer mechanics (jumping, ect.)?

I'd personally like to see larger environments (space wise), such as outdoor areas. Even large indoors areas.

Will it be story driven?

cool game, reminds me of N. you should have skin options so you can change the neon to green, blue, white, ect. that would be awesome

[Stubbjax]

That's a good idea. That would make the crystals actually worth collecting.

What other enemies are you planning to have? I noticed some enemies that had no real pathfinding, and just gliding through/over walls, etc. Are they going to be common enemies or are most going to be proper platform enemies? Are you going to implement some platformer mechanics (jumping, ect.)?

I'd personally like to see larger environments (space wise), such as outdoor areas. Even large indoors areas.

Will it be story driven?

I will eventually add enemies with actual AI. Oh, and the floating enemies actually follow you when you aren't looking. Yes, I will design more levels soon. The game will have a storyline. One other thing, should I include a tutorial or is it immediately obvious what to to?

cool game, reminds me of N. you should have skin options so you can change the neon to green, blue, white, ect. that would be awesome

I have already tried to do so. I have concluded that I'd have to have a different sprite for every single colour, as there is no code to easily change the colours in-game. An easier option would be to have different objects different colours, although it'd kinda take the retro feeling out of the game. Also, neon is only red - all other colours are generated with other Noble Gases or by several colours of fluorescent lighting.

Here's a screen shot of the game with different colours.



If I am going to have the floor as different colours, I'll have to add in a new tile set for each colour.

Thank you for your comments.

[True Valhalla]

I thought it was immediately obvious how the game was meant to be played. No tutorial needed, yet.

One thing that I forgot to list, the Shift key to change weapons. Clicking the Shift key constantly triggers Sticky Keys on most PCs...that's very annoying. May I suggest you change that key? I was on a laptop using the touchpad, so I didn't test if the Mouse Scroll changed weapons (if it doesn't, I'd add that too). Also, I'd like to use the mouse to target, instead of having it directional based

"Oh, and the floating enemies actually follow you when you aren't looking"

Yep, picked that one up. I think I died more times on the environment than enemies.

-Tv

Edited by True Valhalla, 15 March 2010 - 11:04 PM.

[Stubbjax]

I thought it was immediately obvious how the game was meant to be played. No tutorial needed, yet.

One thing that I forgot to list, the Shift key to change weapons. Clicking the Shift key constantly triggers Sticky Keys on most PCs...that's very annoying. May I suggest you change that key? I was on a laptop using the touchpad, so I didn't test if the Mouse Scroll changed weapons (if it doesn't, I'd add that too). Also, I'd like to use the mouse to target, instead of having it directional based

"Oh, and the floating enemies actually follow you when you aren't looking"

Yep, picked that one up. I think I died more times on the environment than enemies.

~TV

Mouse aiming would require me to reprogram A LOT of the game. I guess I'll add it in anyway. Also, I'll change the weapon scroll to the Ctrl key, but it'd be hard to add scroll wheel support as the wheel on my mouse is busted, so I can't really test it.

One other thing, would you like the game with different colours or all red?

[True Valhalla]

From the screenshot, I'd prefer multi coloured.

[Pinpickle]

Hey, you could make all the sprites greyscale and use image_blend.
And have some sort of a slider to change the colours.
Although, multicoloured does look pretty cool.

[Stubbjax]

From the screenshot, I'd prefer multi coloured.

I'll implement multi-coloured neon later. I need to decide what colours to make things, and as simple as that may seem, it really isn't. Having lots of bright happy colours really makes the game look childish.

Hey, you could make all the sprites greyscale and use image_blend.
And have some sort of a slider to change the colours.
Although, multicoloured does look pretty cool.

Nope, doesn't work. The image_blend function blends the image. I want a function that changes the sprite's hue.

Major update! I have fixed several bugs, made a few minor graphical improvements and added in two new levels. And how could anyone forget the addition of mouse aiming? Have fun!

Edited by stubbjax02, 24 March 2009 - 05:31 AM.

[AuthenticKaizen]

interesting project. good work. lets see how this game will be with added sounds, multi color! , more challenging gameplay and some other improvements.


few suggestions:

-making weapons and upgrades cheaper (after i got the 4th level i had only 360 crystals and i only bought the machine gun + the needed capacity upgrade)
-consider to make the pistol as your standard weapon available for free. that way you can always switch to that weapon and dont get stuck in the game.
-more bullets (or unlimited...cause i first choose the machine gun and when i entered the 2nd level i ran out of ammo (cause i didnt bought the capacity upgrade...and even when i bought it the bullets ...and even when the player dies you dont have your ammo refilled. so you have to restart the whole game....)
-some kind of a weapon that you can charge.
-wasd movement instead of cursor keys...cause its more convenient with the mouse aiming.
-it should take less bullets to open the doors
-adding grenades (RMB)
-more balancing: level 3 and 4 you get ammo but in level 2...no free ammo.
also: level 4 is unfair and not really beatable.

neon graphics...i like them, so check out those 2 great games

gravitron
http://xout.blackene.../Gravitron.html

thrust extreme
http://wiebo.wordpre...om/my-pc-games/

Edited by AuthenticKaizen, 10 April 2009 - 07:33 PM.