Even when you go to the area south of the NW village?

if thats the area with the pit and the egg, yeah, nothing seems to happen

I heavily apologise for this, but it appears the game itself fails to manage a particular variable properly. However!, there is a way. IF you have watched the radio room cutscene, open your save file in Notepad and edit the very first line.

Change

4.100000...etc

to

5.00000...etc.

That isn't the sort of variable which gets you anything good if you increase/decrease it, in fact it will most likely mess things up.

I can definitely tell the effort and energy you put into this.

Pros:

Good graphics.
Easy to get into - hard to put down.
Great learning curve.
Amazing, totally epic story-line.
Good music
No lag


Cons:

Annoying collision detection
Show message text boxes? With a game of this caliber, you could do better!
Repetitive sound (title theme carries over to the main space ship).
Too...addictive............

Also, I don't think you did a great job of hiding those music files . Use an encryptor DLL if you don't want people using them. Just some advice.

I really do enjoy playing this though. Basically - my opinion is that this game is really really great, but it lacks the polish so many GM games desperately need. Other than that, I have pretty much no complaints on this stellar game, and I know how hard you worked on it from ZFGC. My numbers may not mean anything to you, but overall:

8/10

And that is VERY GOOD. I wouldn't rate most GM games in the game creations section over a 4. I mean this is a game I'd actually play if I found it on the internet - I'd download it and play it, even if it weren't made with GM. This is what I love about this game - the way it pulls you into the story line. I especially liked how you implemented naming the character into the storyline. Good luck - not like you need it very much, especially considering you have 8 pages of replies. I agree with Jodder very much. Thanks for being so polite to everyone. Your attitude towards making your game, as well as towards the people playing it, has payed off.

how do you beat the part with the sliding blocks? Great game too.

A new error:

ERROR in
action number 1
of Create Event
for object status_control:

Error in code at line 63:

if dx=-1000 int=0 else int=1

at position 5: Unknown variable dx

Fix this. Each time right around the time I'm supposed to get the first sword in new samosa, the game suddenly crashes and ends. And then I have to restart from the beginning.

This game is quite randy, oh behave! 10/10... he deserves it, whoa 2 and a half years. My god, do you even have a life boy?

why is it sooooo slow? my comuters state of the art. and ir runs like molasis with you game? why?

how do i get past the sliding block puzzle?

This happens when you press P to pause. right? Get everything you need from NSV, until you're allowed to leave North, through the gate. Once outside, you should be able to pause without the game crashing. If this is so, save your game, and that bug will never bother you again. I have fixed it, but being on a restricted network, can't upload any files. There's a bug list and instructions on how to avoid/remedy them in the very first post.



There are several, but I assume you mean the very first one. Try using the tiles in this order: right-hand, upper, lower, left-hand. I think....

Reading over your first post, with all the various bugs and solutions, i can't help but get the feeling... there are quite a lot of bugs in this game where the solution is simply to "avoid doing x."

It might just be a good idea to put up invisible barriers over these areas, at the very least, so that maybe people won't find these problems in the first place. I mean, in most instances the solution explains that there are no important objects in these areas anyway, so why not just block the user from accessing these areas aftercetain conditions have been met?

Just a thought, hehe...

Or change the circumstances that cause the crash...

Brilliant game! I'm in the ice caves, running around and hitting what look like flying fish with swords... as you do ^^

I can see you put a LOT of work into this, and its the longest GM game I have ever played, it's really, really nice

Tobs

These bugs are only temporary. I can't upload new files at the moment, so there's no way to allow people to download the fixed game - the best they can do is simply avoid the conditions which produce these bugs.

Plus, all of them are fixed, generally being little more than one-character changes. Some of the no-longer-necessary rooms do actually have fun stuff in too, such as the pixel-size space invaders machine in the NSV radio room.

is there any buttons or controls to lie rais the speed it runs like **** on my comp. i downloaded twice and id really like to play it. one less vote in the cage so far :-/

I tested everything and streamlined it until it ran at at least 30FPS on my computer - if yours is at all recent then I imagine it's a problem with something like graphics drivers, but I don't know about that sort of thing.

darn i really wanted to play

Ok, thanks.

The bug list is frequently growing - I know you shouldn't reupload for every bug, but it's getting to be a hassle. I don't want to have to check the list everytime I'm playing to make sure it doesn't screw up. I'd suggest for every 5-10 bugs, you reupload. Just tell people to copy and paste their save files into the new download file so they can continue from where they left out without the bugs.

Still a great game though.

thanks for the help! This game is fun! But i am still on the third block puzzle! 1 and 2 had the same sloution I think 2 was enough.

Unfortunately, I can't upload any files at the moment, since I'm on a very strict restricted network. If I could, I'd do so for every bug, no matter how small. At Christmas I'll be briefly back on my home connection and will be able to do pretty much anything. Consider it a Christmas present. Hopefully by then all bugs will have been eliminated. That's what I need GMC for.



For the third block puzzle in the ice dungeon triple-puzzle room: note that one of the tiles you need is hidden below a block. Using the lower tile to raise the central column will reveal it, and remember to look at the floor - you're trying for a diamond pattern this time, not a square.

i am stuck on 2, i meant that i beat the first ever sliding block puzzle, and the first one in the three puzzle room.

Thanks again for being so polite Srehpog. On behalf of the other members and myself, we really appreciate it.

Another bug when you hit the glass on the ship, if you stay still the guy will walk right over you, trapping the character.

other than that, great but hard

9.5/10

Oh, and my other suggestion: Make a walkthrough.
Whoa, I just got to the helicopter boss. That is such a beautiful crafted, great graphics boss. Great job. WAY TOO HARD. I haven't beaten him yet.

One more suggestion:

The subtitle of this topic is "extremely good, apparently". It is extremely good. I'd suggest changing this. This makes you sound cocky and it isn't quoted, so it just sounds like your own opinion. Now neither of these things are true, but I'd highly suggest you quote a respected member from your post - for example, quote what Jodder said: "This game and Srehpog are welcome additions to the GMC" - Jodder.
That would be my subtitle.

I'm nitpicking, but that is a good thing - it means I can find almost nothing wrong with your game or this topic.

Fixed. Thanks for that, it's the sort of bug which gets missed. Worrying though - how many more are there? Hmm...




A walkthrough? Good idea. I'll start that today, up to D1 boss. Also, quote changed. Thanks.

No problem. I actually think that looks very professional.

Good luck. I didn't realize you could shoot through the barriers with your pulse rifle, so I killed the helicopter. Up to the dungeon next to the lake!

Yet another suggestion - sometimes, it was hard to follow who was talking during the cutscenes. You don't have to do so, but maybe you could put

Kesha:

Person Talking:

Etc. I'm still nitpicking, showing how hard it is for me to find problems. That is good.

Again, good job, and the game keeps getting better as I play it.

You mean in the live cutscenes with the little speech bubbles, or the drawn ones with font colours?

Sure is a good game
I like it.
Just a bit too difficult...

Nonsense, you'll soon get used to it.

Here's something helpful:

Village - Dungeon 1 Walkthrough

Each paragraph represents a different room.

New Samosa Village:

After listening to the NPC who wakes you up and entering your name, talk to the NPC sitting at the table facing south. He will give you the sword. Leave the building and continue south to the library, which has a computer symbol over the door. Inside, talk to the NPC on the left next to the SAT station and he will activate it. Head upwards onto the raised area and to the red computer at the back on the left, and save your game.

Now go back outside and head to the east of the village. Talk to the NPC in the small kiosk to open the crystal-collecting sidequest. A crystal image should appear on your HUD, near the health and Credits displays. Now go into the large building on the hill north of the kiosk, and go inside. In here, if you have 200 Credits, talk to the NPC on the left near the bath-like object (MPMR unit) to refill your health.

Talk to the NPC with a hat on in yellow on the right of the room (on the small platform) to receive the key to the village gate and a radio transmitter. Exit the building and go to the north edge of the village. Press Enter on the lock in the middle of the gate to unlock and open it. Head out into the overworld.

Field: North Outskirts:

There's very little you can do in the field at the moment. Head north five screens to the mountain lodge. Go inside for Coffee, a gambling fruit machine and a ball minigame on the first floor if you wish. Otherwise, head north again past the lodge to reach the highest mountain peak. Walk up to the small rocky pedestal at the end of it and select 'Yes' to launch the next cutscene.

After the cutscene, head south into the tunnel to reach a cave filled with ice. Go through the entrance set in the north wall on the pond to reach the first dungeon: the ice caverns.

Dungeon 1: Ice caverns:


Getting the first key:

In the first room, save your game at the terminal. Then head east.

Head north, avoiding the enemies and especially the ice trap in the middle of the room.

Avoiding the ball projectiles if you can, hit all four red switches on the ground with your sword within a certain time limit to unlock the north door. Go through it.

Use the tiles to arrange the nine blocks into the square shape which appears on the floor. The order is: Right-hand, upper, lower, left-hand. This unlocks the door east. Go through it.

Go south.

Cross the water by staying exactly in the middle. This makes it more difficult for the water snakes to harm you.

Go east, but do NOT use your sword on the enemies. If you do, you'll see why.

Three more block puzzles:
- Upper, right-hand, lower, left-hand;
- Upper left, bottom right, bottom left, centre top;
- Left, bottom, centre (just revealed), top;
If you press the wrong tile and get the puzzle stuck, hit one of the red switches to reset the puzzle.

In the next room, in each square of blue tiles, step on one of them in this order:
- Upper right square, bottom-right tile;
- Lower left square, top-left tile;
- Lower right square, bottom-left tile;
- Upper left square, top-right tile;
Head east.

In the next room, hit the red switch to start the puzzle. Then hit each coloured spinning enemy with your sword in this order:
- Green
- Red
- Yellow
- Blue
...to unlock the doors. Go south.

Miniboss: Intent Form: Link
This miniboss is composed of several pieces and will chase you if it detects you. It can 'see' further when it's facing you and when it's not moving. Only the 'tail' piece is ever vulnerable. If you sneak up on it and attack its tail, it will chase you. To survive, run behind one of the walls of torches and out again, trapping the miniboss behind them, then run away until it loses interest. Repeat until dead, then grab the small blue crystal which appears in the centre of the room. Head north.

Head west.

Head north.

Hit the switch to disable the line of traps, and head west.

Unlock the door by placing the crystal in the pedestal in the middle of the room. Head north.

Getting the rifle:

Head north.

Here, you can go either east or west.

West:
Cross the room avoiding enemies and projectiles, which may knock you into the pit. Hit the projectile source with your sword to disable it, and/or head north.

Walk across the moving tiles and head east.

Hit the red switch to unlock one wall, then step onto the red tile to get off the raised section. If both walls are unlocked, go north, otherwise go south then east.

East:
Cross the room avoiding mortar shots and pits. Head north.

Avoid flame traps and pits. Head west.

Hit the red switch to unlock one wall, then step onto the red tile to get off the raised section. If both walls are unlocked, go north, otherwise go south then west.

Hit the small target-shaped switch with your sword and fight all the enemies to unlock the door. Open the chest, then go south.

Weapon obtained: Pulse Rifle

Getting the second key:

Return to the entrance room by going south four times, then go east.

Avoid the ice trap, and go north.

Shoot the two targets on the north wall with your rifle while avoiding the ball projectiles to unlock the east door. Head east.

Head east.

Head east.

Walk onto the raft and hit the two red targets as you pass below them to raise the block in the water. This will make you head north.

In the tunnel, fire at the small red switches to lower the nearest block each time. The direction to face for each switch is:
- Right
- Up
- Left
- Right
...and you will head west.

Here, you need to hit specific switches to lower the next block in your way before you hit it. The order is:
- The furthest south switch on the wall (face left);
- The furthest north switch on the wall (face up);
- The switch on the platform in the middle of the room (face up);
- The furthest east switch in the room (face left);
- The furthest south switch in the room (face down);
- The switch on the south platform (face down);
After landing, use the stairs.

Head east.

Head east.

Avoid the enemies by walking between them as they pile towards you, and open the chest on the platform to receive a second crystal. Then walk onto the hole which just appeared in the floor to return to the ball-projectile room.

Head south.

Head east.

In the entrance room, fire at the grey pillar to knock it over. Cross the water and go east.

Here, hit the ball enemies with your sword towards the blocks on the stairs to create a path through them. Head north.

Unlock the door by using the second crystal. Head north.

Getting out...

Head north.

Head east.

Walk over to the smashed radio box on the lower area to launch a cutscene.

BOSS: Possessed gunship

This boss has four attacks:
- Machinegun (high speed) which does not aim for you, but fires straight ahead of the gunship.
- Machinegun (med. speed) which will fire straight at you if you are within a certain angle of the gunship's front.
- Unguided missiles, which will deploy and fire straight down towards your outcrop.
- Guided missiles, which will home in on you and explode on impact.

To avoid these attacks, use the rocky walls which are scattered across the area. But be careful - they can only take a limited amount of damage. To damage the gunship, simply fire at it. If you hit one of its missiles and it's close enough to the explosion, it will take even more damage. Shoot the yellow sac-plant on the right-hand wall to generate ammo, or if you run out, use your sword.

When the gunship is destroyed, head east.

After the cutscene, head south.

ooo oo can i make a walkthrough i love making those but i first have to beat the game sigh here i go wish me luck

ill rate when i play a little

Dammit. A nice game, for a Game maker game at least. Puzzling puzzles you got there! I'm not really that keen on this genre, but it's nice to fiddle a while with this game of yours every now and then.

Um. By the way: Why can't you talk to NPCs from all the directions? It works only from below in most cases... Well, it's annoying, but doesn't really affect the gameplay, so... Yeah. A decent game.

Hey man... i really like your game... but... as soon as i heard samosa... i got hungry ... i'm kind of indian (dad is from a heavily india influenced area, malaysia) well anyway. samosas are an awesome deep fried food... so uh... you might want to rethink that name... lolz

Hi again. After the boss right after you get the bombs (the boss comprised of four "towers" spinning around the room and you have to hit them when the orb in the center is blue). I exited, saved, and returned - and the teleport panel was gone. I have no way to proceed with the game. I can't find it on the bug list.

Yeah... I've stopped playing this game due to the game-destroying bugs.

I relize that its hard, but this game would get much more positive reviews and do better in the cage match, etc. if these ever-mounting bugs were eliminated.

I know you can't upload. For your next game, make a patch sytem. If you don't know how to do this, just put information in a text file, and execute it during game to change variables, add objects at specific places, etc.

Why do you think I chose it in the first place?




This is a bit odd; that teleport SHOULD be the only way to proceed, but it happens that destroying the boss does actually allow you out of the dungeon anyway. The point with this dungeon is that it's in pieces all over the place - methinks you didn't check your 'Directive' box, because as far as I can see it should direct you to the lake...for example, the small building in the south-west quadrant? Go there. You'll like what's inside, I promise.




There shouldn't be any actually fatal bugs, as long as you avoid them. Wouldn't getting to the all-powerful super-duper-uber game boss be worth it? Hmm? It's not that bad...




You're all correct, of course, it appears that making a game of this scale bug-free is more difficult than I imagined. People always seem to find interesting ways to ruin their quest. I'll try and find a way to get an update of the .exe out. Your old save files will work.

In that case heres the one I got...

Well, I checked my directive, and it said I hit a switch. I saw a switch in the room where I beat the boss, but I never even touched it. I'm guessing if you save after you beat the boss, it automatically marks the switch as hit, even if you didn't hit it. Quite funny. Just tell me if the water-jet scene comes afterwards; you have 120 seconds before it blows up, and you have to manuever your way around that cavern-like area in the water. Is that correct? If so, then no problem.

That's really very odd. That variable is initialised in the object's create event. There should be no way at all for that to happen. Do you know how an initialised variable could be read as missing? And do you remember what exactly was going on when you generated that error?



That's the one. If you think 120s is too much, say so. I don't know how challenging people like their games. Beaten it yet?

great game mate it is probably the only gm game i actually enjoyed playing...maybe except seiklus

News!



The ark22.zip package is now free of all the bugs reported. This version doesn't play in 640x480, but windowed mode instead. The finished version will, though. Thank you all greatly for your help.

A replacement ark22_exe.zip containing only the modified .exe file is also available for those who already have the music. (In .ext format, rename to .exe to play).

There is one thing which I'd be grateful for, though: if you are playing Ark 22 and you find yourself in the situation which once generated one of the ex-listed bugs, please verify that the bug HAS been eliminated. That would help a lot.

Now you have no excuse. The game boss awaits!

I hate the block puzzles! I HATE THEM!

but seriously i do. they bring down the fun.

I like them.

Hey. Repost the updated version at the top.

I was in the first dungeon I think. I remember beating the weird colored things and then I was in the pause menu and then something else I can't remember.

Is the object connected by ancestry to any other object?

Does any other object generate the errored event artificially using an event_perform method?


Oh yeah, did you manage to figure it out before the update was uploaded.


----------------------

And as for a competition, offer a prize to the first x number of people who beat the game. Does the game have hidden cheatcodes or easter-eggs?

Or you could offer a special version only to those who beat the game, maybe with some extra goodies or something....

it's a bit hard... you should make a tutorial, if possible, but incredible game otherwise, good enough for you to even sell it! (not trying to go off topic here...) it's confusing in the beginning, cause you don't know what you're supposed to do, unlike most RPG's, they tell you what you need to do, but i guess this is because of the play time, oh well, incredible game, best loading and title screens i've ever seen, even for console games compared to gamemaker, and it's just incredible... no wonder it's been out for under a month and it's already in the cage match! incredible, ingenius, i think few people, if anyone, can match this games' skill...
edit: the pause screen works just fine for me...

Here's my review...

Sprites are pretty good, even though some are just edited lttp sprites. I don't blame Srehpog, though. Isometric sprites are hard to make, and those are better than I could do. The graphics are pretty simple, but fitting.

The music is really good, especially during boss fights. Very unique!

The sounds are okay, and I really like the sounds some of the bosses make. Reminds me of metroids!

Gameplay is pretty much like zelda, but not much could be different anyway. Might run kinda slow on some computers.

The storyline is pretty good, so far as I know. I like how it's all mysterious. But why are all the people obsessed with coffee? You must have spent some late nights working on this.

The overall fun is superb, and this is definitely the best GM game I've ever played. Congratulations! I see why it took you two years.

They were in Link's Awakening, no? Right before that absolutely awesome 'walk-over-each-tile-in-the-room-only-once-but-walk-over-them-all' puzzle. That was great. Too many GM objects required for that though.....or some too-fancy code.




I thought I did?




No, it's a unique object which is created whenever you take a hit, runs an alarm (and is persistent so you can change rooms), and then resets your state to 'able to take hits' when it runs out and destroys itself. The 'shake' variable defines whether or not the object will make the view shake just after you get hit. Everywhere but the flask miniboss, this is false. The 'shake' variable initialises itself to 0 in the create event of the object. That's why I can't understand how it could be counted as unknown...




Thanks. Now finish it. The flask works these days so you can extend your working life bar by 2 or 3 times...

What do you do after you head to the part with the pit and the egg?
I just had the radio scene, and fixed the variable in my save file.
But they tell me to head back to New Samosia, i head there and someone says everyone went North and East.
Would that be to the village with the lighthouse?

Hmmmmm.......

Maybe I should try again in the new version, but I won't have the time to play in the next few days.

I'll tell you if it happens again.

This game is awesome!!!!!! I have never played a better GM game in all my days. 10/10, no questions asked.

I am stuck..... . I am stuck in the lighthouse, I cant get past those stupid guards. Any tips???
Also, I found the phone number in the building and put it in, but it didn't work. Is there any certain way I'm supposed to type it in?