Adventure Game Studio

AGS Games => Completed Game Announcements => Topic started by: arj0n on Sat 14/08/2010 10:30:25

Title: Blockz [Playable Demo] - A Slider Puzzle Game
Post by: arj0n on Sat 14/08/2010 10:30:25


BLOCKZ [Demo]


My first AGS game :D
A sliding puzzle like the classic board game Rush Hour.
This demo contains 13 playable levels.

v1.3:Download 'Blockz [Demo]' here (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/games.php?action=detail&id=1341)

When starting a new level the game will be auto-saved.
When starting an already unlocked level, the game will not save.
When starting the game it will auto-restore the savegame, bringing you to the start of last played level.
A level will be unlocked when you finish it  :P.
You can replay unlocked levels by the level select menu, just click the on-screen star-button.
You can reset a level by using the on-screen circle-with-arrow-button.
Quit the game by clicking the on-screen Q-button.

Shortkey's:
L = Level Select
Q = Quit game

This demo still contains placeholders like for example the mouse pointer.
The next & previous buttons in the level select screen are not yet enabled since there's only one screen yet.

Screens:
Level 2:                                                                            Level select:
(http://arj0n.webs.com/agspics/BlockzDemo.02.Level2.png) (http://arj0n.webs.com/agspics/BlockzDemo.03.Levelselect.png)

Comments please...

Enjoy  ;)
Title: Re: Blockz [Demo]
Post by: on Sat 14/08/2010 11:01:30
Nice! I like this kind of puzzles very much, so it immediately got me hooked (current level: 5).

it's quite polished so I've got not much to say. A couple of things to make it better:



Will the game be divided in unlockable "worlds" too? That would be uber cool.

Nice addition to non adventury arj0n!
Title: Re: Blockz [Demo]
Post by: ThreeOhFour on Sat 14/08/2010 11:04:19
Fun!

I am up to level 11... but there seems to be slightly buggy movement with shift keys (maybe others but I didn't notice) and can't seem to get any further. Sometimes a shift key I think can't move will move - under another block - and sometimes one that I think will move will refuse to enter a square that is empty.

Also, level 9 was hard  8)

Nice work all round though!
Title: Re: Blockz [Demo]
Post by: arj0n on Sat 14/08/2010 11:36:28
Level 11 'shift key slider' bug fixed, thanx for noticing Ben  ;)

v1.1 is now up.
Title: Re: Blockz [Demo]
Post by: Matti on Sat 14/08/2010 12:44:03
'tis a fun game!

Quote from: Ben304 on Sat 14/08/2010 11:04:19
Also, level 9 was hard  8)

Yep, I'm stuck there.

Quote from: Arj0n on Sat 14/08/2010 11:36:28
Level 11 'shift key slider' bug fixed, thanx for noticing Ben  ;)

I encountered that bug in level 3 too.

Also, in level 9 I couldn't move a "page up" upwards. It seems that a shift key was the problem, but it was only diagonal to the key I wanted to move, it didn't block it. It worked fine though when I moved the shift key one field further away.
Title: Re: Blockz [Demo]
Post by: Tinytim on Sat 14/08/2010 13:04:38
Quote from: Arj0n on Sat 14/08/2010 11:36:28
Level 11 'shift key slider' bug fixed, thanx for noticing Ben  ;)

v1.1 is now up.
I've played level 12 four times now but it wo'nt access level 13!!?
Title: Re: Blockz [Demo]
Post by: Stupot on Sat 14/08/2010 13:15:32
Level 9 had me going for a bit aswell.

I was thinking you should have a move counter, not just so that a player can count his moves, but also it would be good for you, as you could get beta-testers to record how many moves it takes then to complete each level, and that might help in ordering the levels into some sort of difficulty curve.

Good fun litttle game.

Also, Q should be an Esc key, hehe... or even a Q key?
Title: Re: Blockz [Demo]
Post by: Radiant on Sat 14/08/2010 14:18:42
Nice game; I'd say it would be really improved by some fitting background music.
Title: Re: Blockz [Demo]
Post by: arj0n on Sun 15/08/2010 10:32:49
v1.2 is now up  ;D

@Mr. Matti:
The 'White-slider was not blocking the Home/Delete key slider' bug fixed.
Can't repro your 'couldn't move a "page up" upwards' problem in L9... ???
Can you tell me which of the page-up key's had a problem moving up when looking at the begin situation of this level?

@Tinytim:
When finished L12 you can now enter L13

Title: Re: Blockz [Demo]
Post by: arj0n on Sun 15/08/2010 10:42:49
@ Everyone:
Thanx all for the comments so far.

@ Bicilotti:
A 'click, hold, move mouse, release' way of sliding the blocks was also my idea but then I have to
find out how to do that. I skipped it for this demo because I had no spare time left [job]...
But I think I will try to change the way of moving the blocks into into real sliding.
[if it's not to hard to find a solution for it, I'm still a 'beginner' codewise....

I also like the 'divided in unlockable "worlds" idea.  Uber cool indeed but it will cost me way more time art wise.

@ Radiant:
Fitting background music might be added in the final version.
I hadn't time enough to add music for this little demo...

@Stupod:
A move counter was already an idea but I'm not sure if it will be added in the final version.

Title: Re: Blockz [Playable Demo]
Post by: straydogstrut on Sun 15/08/2010 10:47:25
Ah! I finished it (with the bug that means it just keeps repeating level 12) only to discover you've just fixed it=S Oh well, will play again later as I really should be doing productive things ;)

I think the bugs I saw have probably been covered - problems with overlap on level 5 as far as I can recall - so nothing else to report that I can think of. Level 9 was tough, and yeah, click and drag would be good.

Neat little game=)
Title: Re: Blockz [Playable Demo]
Post by: arj0n on Sun 15/08/2010 11:01:28
Reuploaded v1.2.

@ straydogstrut:
And thanx, level 5 slider bug fixed  ;)
Reuploaded v1.2.
Title: Re: Blockz [Demo]
Post by: Matti on Sun 15/08/2010 11:20:44
Quote from: Arj0n on Sun 15/08/2010 10:32:49
Can't repro your 'couldn't move a "page up" upwards' problem in L9... ???
Can you tell me which of the page-up key's had a problem moving up when looking at the begin situation of this level?

Here (http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/pgup_bug.png)'s a screenshot of the situation. I have to move the shift key to the left in order to get the pageup key to the top again. All I did before is moving these two keys and the home/delete bar to reproduce the situation.

Oh, and it would be nice if a single click on the arrowkeys would let it automatically slide into the goal (if there's nothing in its way of course).
Title: Re: Blockz [Demo]
Post by: Tinytim on Sun 15/08/2010 11:51:56
Quote from: Arj0n on Sun 15/08/2010 10:32:49
v1.2 is now up  ;D

@Mr. Matti:
The 'White-slider was not blocking the Home/Delete key slider' bug fixed.
Can't repro your 'couldn't move a "page up" upwards' problem in L9... ???
Can you tell me which of the page-up key's had a problem moving up when looking at the begin situation of this level?

@Tinytim:
When finished L12 you can now enter L13


Thanks ArjOn,can certainly enter level 13, but where has the cursor gone?
Title: Re: Blockz [Playable Demo]
Post by: arj0n on Sun 15/08/2010 12:31:10
v1.3 is up.

@Mr. Matti:
Thanx and fixed.

@Tinytim:
It seemed to be a roomload bug. It's fixed now, really  :P.
Title: Re: Blockz [Demo]
Post by: arj0n on Sun 15/08/2010 12:32:32
Quote from: Mr. Matti on Sun 15/08/2010 11:20:44
Oh, and it would be nice if a single click on the arrowkeys would let it automatically slide into the goal (if there's nothing in its way of course).
mmhh...
Title: Re: Blockz [Playable Demo]
Post by: Tinytim on Sun 15/08/2010 13:10:46
Quote from: Arj0n on Sun 15/08/2010 12:31:10
v1.3 is up.

@Mr. Matti:
Thanx and fixed.

@Tinytim:
It seemed to be a roomload bug. It's fixed now, really  :P.
Finished now,thanks :)
Title: Re: Blockz [Playable Demo]
Post by: Joe on Sun 15/08/2010 14:51:10
AGS Blocks!! Cool :D playing it
Title: Re: Blockz [Playable Demo]
Post by: on Sun 15/08/2010 23:04:24
Quote from: Arj0n on Sun 15/08/2010 10:42:49
@ Bicilotti:
I skipped it for this demo because I had no spare time left [job]...
But I think I will try to change the way of moving the blocks into into real sliding.
[if it's not to hard to find a solution for it, I'm still a 'beginner' codewise....

I also like the 'divided in unlockable "worlds" idea.  Uber cool indeed but it will cost me way more time art wise.

The demo is over! I want procedurally generated levels too.
Title: Re: Blockz [Playable Demo]
Post by: arj0n on Mon 16/08/2010 11:21:45
Quote from: bicilotti on Sun 15/08/2010 23:04:24
want procedurally generated levels too.
Hehheh, one thing is sure: when time is there I will release a full version.
Spoiler
according to plan containing 250 levels. For now I've finished 50 of them ;)
[close]
But things will progress slowly....
Title: Re: Blockz [Playable Demo] - A Slider Puzzle Game
Post by: cat on Sat 15/01/2011 13:29:24
Just started to play the demo and found a bug in level 2:

I can move the page-down-part of one block into the page-up-part of another block (i don't think this is intended, is it?)

The concept is interesting, the gui could need a bit more work. A single pointer mouse cursor would be nice as long there is nothing to look or take. Also hotspot descriptions on the menu buttons and a small tutorial (or at least readme) would be nice.

Looking forward to the full version!

Edit: Just finished the demo, very addictive!
Title: Re: Blockz [Playable Demo] - A Slider Puzzle Game
Post by: arj0n on Tue 18/01/2011 07:44:59
Two blocks moving into each other is never intented, that's but just a bug.
I believe it has been fixed in the version I'm working on, but thanx for mentioning it Cat.

Single mouse pointer & hotspot descriptions: has been added already in the newer version  ;)

Tutorial: never thought of it but that might be smart to add indeed.  :)

What do you mean with the gui need a bit more work?
Or is that the mouse pointer and the hotspot naming?
Title: Re: Blockz [Playable Demo] - A Slider Puzzle Game
Post by: cat on Tue 18/01/2011 08:56:43
Yes, mainly the mousepointer and hotspot descriptions for the buttons. And a move counter would be nice.
Title: Re: Blockz [Playable Demo] - A Slider Puzzle Game
Post by: arj0n on Tue 18/01/2011 09:09:26
Thanx for the answer.
A move counter, mmhh, I was thinking about having a timer running from x to zero but a move counter can also be an option...

So, what would fit best: timer or move-counter?

A timer can be used so the player can earn points:
e.g.: flawless [lot's of time left]: max points,
still some time left: few points or
time's up: no points.

or

A move-counter can also be used for points:
1 moves will cost you 1 point for example.
Title: Re: Blockz [Playable Demo] - A Slider Puzzle Game
Post by: cat on Tue 18/01/2011 15:17:41
I would prefer a move counter, but that's just me.
Title: Re: Blockz [Playable Demo] - A Slider Puzzle Game
Post by: on Tue 18/01/2011 15:38:37
Quote from: cat on Tue 18/01/2011 15:17:41
I would prefer a move counter, but that's just me.

+1
Title: Re: Blockz [Playable Demo] - A Slider Puzzle Game
Post by: straydogstrut on Tue 18/01/2011 19:25:23
Quote from: cat on Tue 18/01/2011 15:17:41
I would prefer a move counter, but that's just me.

I'd prefer a move counter also: More time to analyse the puzzle and try to do it in fewer moves.
Title: Re: Blockz [Playable Demo] - A Slider Puzzle Game
Post by: Wersus on Wed 19/01/2011 02:00:37
Yeah, me four (?). I don't think time limits are good for puzzle games. I prefer taking the time to think things through.
Title: Re: Blockz [Playable Demo] - A Slider Puzzle Game
Post by: arj0n on Wed 19/01/2011 08:10:13
I can see the 'time taking advantage' using the move counter, so move counter it is.
Thanx for the thoughts
Title: Re: Blockz [Playable Demo] - A Slider Puzzle Game
Post by: arj0n on Fri 18/02/2011 20:12:55
Minor update for those who're interested: working on the final version:
40 levels done now and started mixing some catching background tracks.

But, time to relax now...

[Only 2 hours left and then a DJ friend is throwing up a trance-techno
party with him at the decks till 05:00. Whoa, let the bass kick :D]
Title: Re: Blockz [Playable Demo] - A Slider Puzzle Game
Post by: straydogstrut on Fri 18/02/2011 21:30:36
Cool, well done for seeing it this far. I look forward to the final version.

Enjoy your party;-)