The Art of Dying - 8-Bit Platformer w/ Level Editor

Started by DoorKnobHandle, Wed 18/12/2013 22:55:17

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DoorKnobHandle

The Art of Dying

The Art of Dying is a really challenging platformer I've made in AGS. It features two difficulty levels (really hard and unbelievably really f*cking hard), a six level campaign and a full-featured level editor. So you can make your own levels, then share them and find others to download and try to beat yourself on the official level sharing platform: http://dkh.agser.me/die. The whole project is also open-source, so go ahead and take a look at the source - it's not in great state but it should be useful to some I guess! Gamepads and other external controllers are fully supported, although the controls work nicely on keyboard as well.


Download (Version 1.1)
Download the Source (Version 1.1)
(build with AGS 3.2.1, requires the joystick plugin found in the game archive)

I produced four development diary videos, so if you want to get a first impression before downloading anything, take a look:


The Art of Dying - Dev Diary Entry #1: Movement
[embed=640,390]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_WmTg8Az9k[/embed]


The Art of Dying - Dev Diary Entry #2: Attacking
[embed=640,390]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=np4ixRjp5w4[/embed]


The Art of Dying - Dev Diary Entry #3: Enemies
[embed=640,390]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kD2iZJ7qs4[/embed]


The Art of Dying - Dev Diary Entry #4: Editor
[embed=640,390]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_5ryKGxWkM[/embed]

Please let me know what you think! Refer to the readme-file for the credits and some important notes. You can rate the game over on the AGS gamepage. Have fun, prepare to die a lot and make sure to let me know if you managed to beat the game. :)

CHANGE LOG:

Version 1.1

- fixed a crash caused by level filenames shorter than 4 characters (plus file extension)
- fixed an issue when hitting ESCAPE while the save level dialog in the editor was open
- improved the way decorations are placed in the editor, now you left-click to place, right-click to remove and use the left/right arrow keys on the keyboard to cycle through the available types of decoration

Tamanegi

#1
Wow... I watched the dev diary just the day before it was released and I didn't imagine it to be so hard. It's the Mega Man effect, just without level checkpoints. You run, you jump, you run again, and then you jump into a projectile that would not have hit you and you think to yourself, "Why the hell did I jump there?" And then you start all over again, because it CAN'T be that hard, can it?

Level 1 no problem, level 2 was hard, level 3 even harder, level 4 seems impossible already. On easy.

It reminds me of the jump'n'runs that I played on my C64, complete with retro chiptune music. I love it! The only thing I miss is the ability to duck or drop through floors while decelerating.
Don't Look! MAGS 12-2010
Mediocre Expectations Current development blog

arj0n


AprilSkies


www.apemarina.altervista.org

miguel

I can't unzip the file, I get : "This is the first disk of a backup set. Please insert the last disk of this set"

Happened twice...???
Working on a RON game!!!!!

selmiak


arj0n

Quote from: miguel on Thu 19/12/2013 15:23:52
I can't unzip the file, I get : "This is the first disk of a backup set. Please insert the last disk of this set"

Happened twice...???

Checked both files and it did work fine for me (unzipped using 7zip)...

Billbis

It works also for me.
The game is very polished! Congratulation for the released, DKH!
I am not that sure that my numerous dying are of great artistic interest. :=

miguel

I must have screwed up with my default unzip software...I know I did it before.
Working on a RON game!!!!!

EliasFrost

This is amazing, I wish the controls in the menu would also allow the d-pad on the controller, but it's a minor issue. Other than that it's a really great game, amazingly balanced difficulty. Gratz! :)

kconan


nihilyst

I keep dying on stage 2 ^^
Well made and polished. Great work! :D

DoorKnobHandle

Thanks for the feedback everybody, glad you're all enjoying the game from the sounds of it! Let me know if you've beaten it on hard mode, because I've yet to hear from anyone who did!

Matti


Great work, dkh, this is really enjoyable!

I haven't even beaten the 2nd level on easy yet, but I'm already working on my third own level ;-D. The editor is really easy to use.

I just wish there were checkpoints/spawning points. They would make longer levels less frustrating imo.

Construed

Spectacular! Especially love the level editor idea!
I hope to see some more AGS based editors from you someday!
I felt sorry for myself because I had no shoes.
Then I met the man with no feet.

kaput

There goes my productivity... Currently on level four, many deaths and some shouting and swearing later. It's really quite an addictive game.

selmiak

currently climbing back up in the last level and totally no idea how :D

also I tried my PS2 controller. The analog stick is recognised perfectly but not the D-Pad. But for precise control I prefer the D-Pad, any idea on how to do that? Or is it impossible with the plugin?

Khris

This is so cool, and I'd love to play it with my 360 pad. Doesn't work though. Weirdly, when it is connected, the game doesn't react to me pressing the down arrow key in the menu or any other key. Only the up arrow key works.
My older generic gamepad works fine though.

Just found a minor bug: when you walk off a platform, you can jump mid-air, then double jump.

Grundislav

FINALLY!!! After screaming for hours I finally beat the game on hard mode.

DoorKnobHandle

#19
Congratulations! You are the first person to beat the game and get back to me! :-)

@Khris: Hmm weird, so the analog stick down doesn't register? Or the d-pad down? Or are you trying to use the keyboard in the menu with the controller plugged in? It's weird because The Art of Dying has been tested by me and some of my betatesters with the X-Box 360 controller and nobody had that issue! Interesting that you deem walking off a platform and still being able to jump once, then one more time a bug. That's the way I thought/think it should work! :p

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