28 replies to this topic

[T. Westendorp]

• Title: The Flexible Platform Engine
• Description:
  Ever wondered how Platform games are built, ever wanted to change anything you like in a game with just the changing of a few digits? Have you? Then today, your dreams come true as this is the FPE where all this and much, much more is possible! I will regularly update or try to update this engine and will add anything I see fit!
• GM Version: GM7 or later.
• Registered: Yes.
• File Type: .gmk
• File Size: 0.25 Mb
• File Link: Host-a.net
• Additional Info: If you use this, you MUST give credit. See the help file for more information.
  
  
• IN THE SPOTLIGHT:
  Did you know...
  
  • You can change parameters on the fly using triggers? This brings a whole new range of possibilities!
  • The FPE is not only for use on the programmed-side but also graphical, and soon audio?
  • The FPE comes with a fully complete documentation?
  • There is a mechanism included for animated tilesets? (check the create event of oController)
  • There is a highly experimental functionality for costumes in build 3, which will be expanded later on?
  • Using the kill_player() script, you don't have to search up all your codes and append on what you want to happen when the player dies/gets hurt, just change the script!
  
  
• Contents:
  PARAMETERS
  realism
  doublejump
  waterfrict
  frict
  waterforce
  jumpforce
  trampolineforce
  ladderspeed
  watergrav
  grav
  watermaxspeed
  maxspeed
  wateracceleration
  acceleration
  conveyorspeed
  moverspeed
  fadespeed
  rot_speed
  icefrict
  showtime
  wateralpha
  woodcolor1
  woodcolor2
  stonecolor1
  stonecolor2
  leftkey
  rightkey
  upkey
  downkey
  
  
  OBJECTS
  oPlayer
  oController ***
  Solid
  oBlock
  Moveable
  oFollowerH
  oFollowerV
  oMoverH
  oMoverV
  Door
  Switch
  oSwitch
  oSwitch2
  oSwitchDoor
  oSwitchDoor2
  Key-ed
  oDoor...*
  oAppear...*
  oCount...* ***
  oAppearCount...* ***
  oKey...*

Special
oGhost
oNojumpsolid
oIce
oTrampoline
oNojump
oSolid...**
[/list]Non-Solid
oWater
oDJupgrade
oLadder
oTeleporterA ***
oTeleporterB
oConveyor...**
oMoveblocker
Traps
oFlail ***
oSpikes
Triggers
trigger_once ***
trigger_multi ***
trigger_timer ***
trigger_logic ***
trigger_treasure ***
Signs
oWoodSign ***
oStoneSign ***

*) These objects have 6 varieties, as-in, colors.
**) These objects have 4 varieties, as-in, directions.
***) These objects are part of the 'advanced' design (check documentation).


[*] Coming up next: (anything striped is done, but not yet released)
Fix bug 3.
The old-school Mill trap.
Blocks that fall after running over them.
Pushable boxes.
Lasers.
Running system with stamina (the jumping will cost stamina too).
Stamina nullifiers.
Stamina fillers.
Stamina non-recharger.
Walljumping.
Skidjumping.

[*] Bug-list: (anything striped is fixed in the currently released version)
1) Player can become trapped in appearing blocks.
2) Player cannot double-jump when in a not appeared appearing block.
3) Player can gain back lost double-jumps when on top of a non-appeared appearing block.
[/list]

T

Edited by T. Westendorp, 14 October 2009 - 08:25 AM.

[kvegas83]

Wow... I was dissapointed when you dropped the original platform engine, but I must say I'm impressed. You're off to a great start here AND I can't believe I hadn't thought of those disapearing/reappearing blocks! After all those years of the Double Dragon 2 Mansion of Terror, shame on me lol.

Now you're probably aware of this, but that block is able to reappear with the player inside it's bounding region, trapping the player until it vanishes. If you haven't fixed that in your latest build, i'd put in a simple check that would make sure the player isn't going to be trapped. If so, set an alarm for 1 to do the check again.

Keep up the awesome work! You definitely have a fan here!

[SparkzBolt]

Now you're probably aware of this, but that block is able to reappear with the player inside it's bounding region, trapping the player until it vanishes. If you haven't fixed that in your latest build, i'd put in a simple check that would make sure the player isn't going to be trapped. If so, set an alarm for 1 to do the check again.

Agree. Thats the main problem I had.

[T. Westendorp]

Heh, it certainly took a long time to make this and I don't plan on letting this engine fall anytime soon so you're in luck. I will fix as many thing as I can in the next build. I will make a list.... (also, a funny thing to do is play around with the values of doublejump and realism )



T

Edited by T. Westendorp, 19 July 2009 - 06:32 PM.

[kvegas83]

About those dissapearing blocks... I added that to my engine and rather than using a check to see if they CAN reappear, I simply made them non-solid. It keeps the timing consistent, and the player won't get stuck. No extra collision code, either... I simply used my jump-thru platform as a parent object, and that was that. Just some advice :-)

[guvnor]

Great engine! Please say that you're eventually planning on taking on slopes and stairs in a later release!
(trying to create proper Castlevania style staircases has got me completely baffled at the moment).

[kvegas83]

Great engine! Please say that you're eventually planning on taking on slopes and stairs in a later release!
(trying to create proper Castlevania style staircases has got me completely baffled at the moment).

Funny you should bring that up, I'm having that same problem at the moment. I want to do mine like the newer style (Rondo Of Blood) where you can land on them from a jump... but I can't wrap my brain around any of it yet.

[T. Westendorp]

I, myself have never played Castlevania or everything alike.. If you can try to explain what you meant with Castlevania like slopes/stairs I might be able to help you. ^^ Anyways, I'm making great progress on build 2! Keep coming back to check status!


T

[@Alex@]

Hey, This is a good engine.

I've recently released a W.I.P that uses some of this engine. If your interested in having a look.

http://gmc.yoyogames...howtopic=443957

[Schyler]

Nice engine, 7/10. Maybe walljumping?

[T. Westendorp]

You should check the to-do list, it was already in it. :3 And Alex, I'll check! Be sure to send me the link to the final game when you release it.




T

[guvnor]

I, myself have never played Castlevania or everything alike.. If you can try to explain what you meant with Castlevania like slopes/stairs I might be able to help you. ^^ Anyways, I'm making great progress on build 2! Keep coming back to check status!


T

ECEBEII has come up with a pretty simple method of implementing slopes, though Castlevania stairs are bit more tricky.

Basically, you've got your player here:


If he presses down+left while walking above these stairs, he will descend like so:


If he only presses left, he will pass by like this:

[guvnor]

He can now either press up+left to climb these stairs:


Or continue to press left and pass directly through the bottom of the staircase as a non-solid.



I've tried using variations on ECEBEII's rather simple slope check code:

for (i = -2; i <= 2; i += 0.1)
{
	if (place_free(x + hspeed, y - abs(hspeed) * i) && (!jump))
	{
		y -= abs(hspeed) * i;
		exit;
	}

// if cannot climb slope then stop smoothly at wall
while (place_meeting(x + hspeed,y,obj_solid) && (hspeed != 0))
	hspeed -= sign(hspeed) * 0.25;
}

but I haven't had any luck making it function as a solid slope while pressing up or down + direction, while simultaneously making solid = 0 when only left or right is pressed.

Edited by guvnor, 15 August 2009 - 02:13 AM.

[T. Westendorp]

Hm, I might look into slopes later, but I'm nearly sure I wont add them (too bad :s). But I don't bring only bad news, I have good news too! In fact, build 2 is ready (can't yet upload it though, since host-a is freaking out)!



T

[omario]

GREAT

[T. Westendorp]

Build 3 is out!

[Dylijn]

Great I really like it, now the only thing it needs is Physics and it would rock =D

[goldensox]

Looking forwards for the next version!

[CoolGamrSms]

There's something simple and physics related that I don't like. Basically, if the player stands on the block that moves from side to side, and jumps, he goes straight up, somehow completely losing the momentum he had. That's the only problem I found.

Edited by CoolGamrSms, 04 November 2009 - 09:46 PM.

[JTbrih]

Hi, nice engine. Just have a quick question though, I want to switch out your walking sprite for an animated one. Alas, when I try do do so it just stays on the first frame when I test the game. How do I fix this?

Edited by JTbrih, 04 November 2009 - 10:26 PM.