8 replies to this topic

[GameGeisha]

- Game name: N-Core
- Category: Arcade
- File size: 9.06MB (8.06MB zipped)
- GM version: GM8
- Screen resolution: 480x272 (as per contest regulations)
- Changes screen resolution: No (as percontest regulations)
- Multiplayer: No
- Screenshots: Menu | Regular level | Boss level | Level selection | Level objectives
- Download links:
* YoYo Games (InstantPlay enabled)
* Direct download

Summary

N-Core was my entry for YoYo Competition 06, back in late August 2010.

In this short game, you play the role of a planetary defence cannon engineer. Your task: Save your planet from imminent destruction by invading "Sludgies"! Fire orbs into your planet's core to form powerful combos, unleash them at your unwanted visitors, and earn stars for new planets to defend!

Features

- 8 wacky enemy types and 2 bosses
- 20 unlockable levels
- Easy-to-learn, fun-to-play match-3 mechanics
- Original electronic music by Andrea Milana
- Update: Newly rebalanced levels, boss music and secret hints!

Gameplay video:


Enjoy! If you have any comments, questions or criticism about this game, feel free to post them here.

Edited by GameGeisha, 16 February 2011 - 05:16 PM.

[Desert Dog]

How do you shoot? The help file said tap down or something, wasn't working for me.

Flicking through menu's is a bit slow.

Nice polish, it's good looking, even if I can't figure out how to play.

[GameGeisha]

How do you shoot? The help file said tap down or something, wasn't working for me.

First you need to use the up key to align three orbs of the same colour next to each other. Then aim at or next to that orb group (which should now be glowing). Tapping down will release a charged shot which will activate the group.

Flicking through menu's is a bit slow.

Hmm, haven't heard that from anyone else as of yet, but it should be an easy fix.

Nice polish, it's good looking, even if I can't figure out how to play.

Thanks for the compliment. Now that you know how to play, how about trying it out for real?

GameGeisha

[Desert Dog]

Oooh, o.k. so if you've got 3 'stacked' you have to shoot beside them. Even after your instructions it took me a while to figure it out. Maybe I'm just a bit slow, but doesn't seem that intuitive.

O.k. so beat the first training level. Earned 1 star, then was sent to the main menu... that can't be right.

Also, when I go back, I can't play the next level, because that needs 4 stars. I retry the training level, hoping to earn another star, same scenario. Only I think I still only have 1 star.

Is this a bug?

(also, the game maay be lagging a bit on my computer, which is currently really sucks. Hence the menu slowness)

Edited by Desert Dog, 13 July 2011 - 11:59 PM.

[GameGeisha]

Oooh, o.k. so if you've got 3 'stacked' you have to shoot beside them. Even after your instructions it took me a while to figure it out. Maybe I'm just a bit slow, but doesn't seem that intuitive.

Initially I did design the game so that the orbs fired out immediately when a 3-orb stack formed, without the charged shot. The charged shot was a relatively late addition. Its purpose is partly due to giving the down button a purpose, but mainly due to the number of tactical options that it opens.

Here are three major ones:
- Charged shots can destroy unused orbs, which allows the player to undo bad shots.
- You can space two formations apart with a one-orb gap, and then fire a charged shot in the middle for a quick firestorm.
- Formations can be made ahead of time, and you can work on other ones while waiting for the target to move into place.

O.k. so beat the first training level. Earned 1 star, then was sent to the main menu... that can't be right.Also, when I go back, I can't play the next level, because that needs 4 stars. I retry the training level, hoping to earn another star, same scenario. Only I think I still only have 1 star. :(Is this a bug?(also, the game maay be lagging a bit on my computer, which is currently really sucks. Hence the menu slowness)

You're right, I should send the player back to the game selection menu in order to entice them to play more (it's a psychological technique that I ignored last year during production). Also, your observation revealed one problem that I didn't anticipate: World 1's colour concealed the red arrows above and below the level label. Press up and you should see the next levels --- level 1-2 and 1-3 need only 1 star to unlock.

And yes, I did design the game so that you can only get one star off each level. This avoids a problem that TNTBF had, which is being able to get through the game by grinding the tutorial levels and then finishing off the last level. I'll add a note about this to the help file, and add alternative messages to level 1-1 and 1-2 for when the player has already obtained the stars for them.

All this and a tutorial mode will come in an update fairly soon. I'm quite grateful that you've come to this topic and posted replies on it, about 200 others have come here before you and I never knew how they felt about the game. Perhaps if I get enough feedback, I may be ready for a more ambitious and polished rendition of this game...

GameGeisha

[Desert Dog]

You're right, I should send the player back to the game selection menu in order to entice them to play more (it's a psychological technique that I ignored last year during production)

Not just to the game select menu, but also have the next level up and ready to press go!

Also, your observation revealed one problem that I didn't anticipate: World 1's colour concealed the red arrows above and below the level label. Press up and you should see the next levels --- level 1-2 and 1-3 need only 1 star to unlock.

Ahh, now that I take a closer look I do see little red arrows.

All this and a tutorial mode will come in an update fairly soon. I'm quite grateful that you've come to this topic and posted replies on it, about 200 others have come here before you and I never knew how they felt about the game. Perhaps if I get enough feedback, I may be ready for a more ambitious and polished rendition of this game...

Ha, I know that feeling.
I think this game's got a lot of potential, for me (at least) it's unique gameplay, but still 'feels' flawed to me. I think mouse control would round it off a lot.. make playing shots that much simpler. Everything is pretty easily mouse-able (the z-x-x-c type combo's can just appear in the sky, click them before they disappear, charging can just be left click+hold while bar is charging up, etc)

Think about it, do. That said, I found Blackout quite difficult to play with, for similar reasons, and that came 2nd, so I know everyone has different tastes!

[GameGeisha]

Not just to the game select menu, but also have the next level up and ready to press go!

The level-up sequence is non-linear, so eventually you'll have to go back to the menu to choose a new level to play (perhaps in a new world!). Also, it is possible to survive a level and fail to earn a star, in which case you are still be blocked from entering a next level. I'll have the game take the player back to the level selection menu, and that's the furthest that it can reasonably go.

Ahh, now that I take a closer look I do see little red arrows.

The thing is, as the designer of this game I shouldn't force you to look this hard for the red arrows. Now that the problem is known, I plan to add a white glow to the arrows so that they stand out from the planet behind them. I'll try and get this in during the weekend and see what happens.

I think this game's got a lot of potential, for me (at least) it's unique gameplay, but still 'feels' flawed to me. I think mouse control would round it off a lot.. make playing shots that much simpler. Everything is pretty easily mouse-able (the z-x-x-c type combo's can just appear in the sky, click them before they disappear, charging can just be left click+hold while bar is charging up, etc)

The original game was designed for YoYo Competition 6, which explicitly forbade mouse controls. To keep the mechanics in context with the original concept as a key-controlled game as much as possible, mouse controls probably won't go into this version of the game or in the update. A sequel won't be limited this way (unless I pull this out again on another contest with similar restrictions).

GameGeisha

[Terrified Virus]

Lol looks funny

[Dlong88]

@Terrified Virus
If I could like your comment I would! It does look funny.