New game release: Bubble Buster!

[BeyondtheTech]

I have completed my first Pocket PC game, thanks to Game Editor!

Bubble Buster 1.01 is available for FREE to download here at PocketGear.com.

Sporting excellent, detailed graphics and smooth animation, Bubble Buster will keep you and your stylus busy!



Some developer's notes:

* Transparency and Z-Depth was so fun to use here, as it was used for fading screens as well as the bubbles.
* Stereo sound effects based on location of bubble or item.
* The SaveVars/LoadVars command made it so easy to save the high score and other information.
* I initially incorporated in-game music with a simple 50KB 22kHz, 8-bit, Mono WAV loop, but it froze consistently on my Pocket PC. Perhaps Makslane could assist as to why it does that. It was since removed from the final release.
* Cloning of the bubbles made it very easy to handle.
* I added a screen shake to the explosion of the Enterprise (I'm a Trek fan, so it's an Easter Egg!) by playing with the view.x and view.y.
* I'm considering a "pseudo-particles" by using 1x1 pixels with transparency in cloned actors to simulate a bubble burst. If it works, it'll be in the very next update.
Lots more, but I'm so excited I can't think straight.

Download it and enjoy!

[BeyondtheTech]

Bubble Buster 1.02 is released, not even a few hours later!

I added the particle explosion by using ten (10) 2x2 and 4x4 sprites and it seems to work just fine, although I only have one set of those for popping one bubble. It's really unnoticable when you're too busy popping away at the bubbles, and it adds a nice look to the game, making it a little more lively.

I tried the Canvas Actor, but I couldn't click on anything behind it. It would have worked well if Makslane can make a truly transparent overlay. I would choose to erase the Canvas and it sent the whole thing black. There should be a way to erase the pixel or clear out the Canvas without providing a color (i.e Erase won't work). And the other thing about its transparent nature is that you can click through it, much like a Wire Frame Region.

[BeyondtheTech]

Version 1.03 is uploaded and is chock full of neat upgrades.

Added score multiplier, more sound effects, time warp mode, UFO, more statistics.
Changed cheat codes for Pocket PCs without integrated keyboards, some title graphics and text.
Redesigned control buttons for easier access.

I love Game Editor! Had a few crashes with the compiler, but I prevailed. Makslane, please help me get a working soundtrack in my game! It's crashing with even the tiniest loops on every Pocket PC I've tried (I even hard-resetted my PDA2k to make sure no 3rd-party software was interfering).

Thanks everyone!

[makslane]

I tried the Canvas Actor, but I couldn't click on anything behind it.

If you need put the canvas in the front of all actors, and need to click on actors behind, just put this event and in your canvas actor:
Create Actor -> Event Disable -> Mouse Button Down

Actor with mouse button down disable, will pass the event to any actor behind.

[makslane]

help me get a working soundtrack in my game! It's crashing with even the tiniest loops on every Pocket PC I've tried

I did to a test here, but I didn't get crashs.
Where can I download the game with this crash?

[BeyondtheTech]

I tried OGG and WAV files and it consistently crashed, but XM files seem to work just fine, so I added it into 1.04. I'll send you a test copy with a repeating WAV file so you can see what happens.

[BeyondtheTech]

Over 1,000 unique downloads from PocketGear and Handango since its May 12th release! AWESOME!

[Fuzzy]

Its a great little game! I take my ppc to work with me, and when we head out for early morning breakfast after the bar, I let my friends play it. They complain but cannot put it down. Good work!

[makslane]

Congratulations!

(did you send me the game with sound bug?)

[willg101]

Could you please release a windows version or something so I can try?
It looks soo cool and I want to try soo bad!

[BeyondtheTech]

Windows version, direct download of executable:
http://www.beyondthetech.com/downloads/ ... st-win.exe

PocketPC version, direct download of executable:
http://www.beyondthetech.com/downloads/ ... st-ppc.exe

[ingsan]

BeyondtheTech !
I hadn't seen it before but Your game is VERY COOL ! I LOVE it !

[BeyondtheTech]

Really makes me wish I sold it. Over 4100 downloads in 2 weeks, and not one donation. I think it's time to make Bubble Buster Advanced with additional options.

Anyway, I posted the game on TabletPCBuzz.com and JKonTheRun.com since the Windows (specifically the Tablet PC) version may prove to be a new market for Makslane.

I, for one, had a Tablet PC and was desperate to make some cool games before I sold it, but if Bubble Buster works well with the standard mouse events, I'm sure there'd be a bunch of people that would want to start making games for the Tablet PC (and touchscreen PCs like the Sony VAIO Type U series), and it would deservedly help fatten up Makslane's pockets.

[willg101]

This game is a very wonderful creation! I give it 6/5!!

[ingsan]