Platform Masters development (Sep 12, 2009) - overworld simulation

[ManfredMitchum]

Will you be able to level up certain things like HP and other skills in this game? I think that would be a fun aspect that would add tons of replay value.

[ulillillia]

In my other videos of PM, I've stated that it is possible to increase maximum HP. How this is done is currently classified. I can say, however, that there is no limit as to how high HP can go, at least, you won't be able to reach it within your life time (can you live for thousands of years?). HP starts at 20 but officially maxes at 999,999,999. Lives maxes at 999,999,999 as well (that'll take thousands of years too). The same goes for the score. Speed is sooner, but getting the height....

[ManfredMitchum]

Haha, you could have a day-by-day high score list of who has the highest HP, as you can just keep going up!

[ulillillia]

This really wouldn't work. What if someone fakes the screenshot (this shouldn't be too difficult) or, for more advanced users, hack their save file. Likewise the same can be done on every element, including best times. With 300 levels, a list of the best (first place only) would be rather lengthy. For the most part, much above about 400 HP really isn't necessary. As a side note, score maxes at an incomprehensibly high 9,223,372,036,854,775,807, but takes ~2250 years at best to do it....

[g0twav]

@ulillillia

Generate a MD5 hash of the screenshot and imbed it in the image, stenography.

[ulillillia]

I don't know what an MD5 hash is other than it being used to validate a file's integrity. I have no idea how to generate one either.

[MarioMastar]

@ulillillia You could do what I plan to do and have someone host video proof of their time, then test to see if that time by their method is actually plausable. It's probably the most accurate way to keep track of authentic high scores becuase I know all too well that people hack their scores, which makes online games terrible to even bother with that feature. Most advanced sites require video proof of a time or they won't accept it, even if it's a fraction of a second faster.

[ulillillia]

Since score can accumulate indefinitely, you're otherwise going to need several exabytes of data to store all that video information, even with a rather terrible 256 Kbps bit rate. Score maxes out at 9 2/9 quintillion, of which takes over 700 years to do at the fastest scoring I'm aware of. HP takes even longer to max out. Lives is the easiest to max out.

[MarioMastar]

@ulillillia Ah yeah. I just meant in reference to the fact that your game saves high scores for each stage. I know score goes up forever though, but that's just the over all score.

[AstonishingAce]

It's really fascinating to listen to your opinions on other games, as with your Bubsy and Sonic videos.

I really look forward to playing your game and seeing how the game reflects your earlier videos. I have high hopes!

[TheIrishswank]

Fail....

[DarknessMadeFlesh]

hey welcome back from your long break nick.

[BarrelRoll]

Cool stuff here. Your game seems like it's making great progress. Are you going to be using the proceeds from your book sales to fund any further development? I have been discussing your book with my friends and we are all eagerly awaiting for our copies to arrive in the mail. If you don't mind me asking, what is the profit you are making on each book? I hope making tens of thousands of dollars from sales is feasible as I would love to see you continue making games. Good luck with everything!

[ulillillia]

Sales-related stuff is classified. I'm unlikely to be using the profits for game development - I already have all the tools I need, except audio-creation (MIDI is fine and is about the best I'll get).

[MrWeirdGuy]

I think that instead of labeling the optional levels 12-15, you should do something else like, label them as X1, X2, X3, etc. Something like that. It could be kinda confusing to others that play your game. Or maybe you could just call the boss level 11, but in a bold font.

Also, I'd say get rid of the rainbow text. It just doesn't look good. Try using a solid light color with a dark stroke or drop shadow for a more professional look.

[bftwaim]

Uli, I bought your book! I look forward to reading it. You should post an update to youtube to spread the word.

[superfatdoe]

haha what reason is that, i agree with you btw people here are dumb

[valcaron]

"Coarse" language.

[XXXMASTERISEXXX]

Heh sorry, just realized, thanks for correcting.

[RealeloH]

deleted it so he didnt have to

[XXXMASTERISEXXX]

Oh, sorry. And true stuff mate, true stuff.

[jamespancake]

Thanks for the update! I hope I'll get a chance to play it sometime!

[Aristobulus500]

A few questions here, one related to the game and one not.

First of all, why do you bother keeping some things "classified"? I mean, I understand the purpose of some secret info, but even the stage names? It's obvious the stage north of world 5 has to be a beach world due to the flag placement, so why bother keeping that classified?

[ulillillia]

Pretty much every game company does it. They keep things secret until further in the development. They will get declassified though, but only through further development. It may be another 5 to 8 videos before the meaning of the other flags are are going to be revealed as to what they are. If it gives a clue, Lake Keveran is World 5, Keveran Forest (to the right) is world 6, and Keveran Desert (to the left) is world 4.

[BeavisSaves]

Uli, what is your favorite physics system in a game? I like the feel of Super Mario 3, myself.

[ulillillia]

Super Monkey Ball 2's Monkey Target before flight is my favorite, though its tied with SMB2's main game mode (the former for realism, the latter due solely to the extreme speeds possible).

[lonebard]

Looking great. I'm getting more excited about this game now. Anything I can do to help motivate you?

[ulillillia]

Not really. I've just now finished the text involves with the tutorial levels (not programming it, but in my design document - simply copy paste into const char strings is all I need for the programming part).

[joeyoh9292]

good for you =) also,, about my comment (i was trying to find my personal reply but couldn't....), when DO you think it's going to be released? (the game) and what will the book be? i never even knew you were releasing a book XD

[ulillillia]

Can't find one of your replies? Control+F is a good way to start - search for your display name and there you have it!  My book should be released any time now. If I had proof that copyright registration was successful (the case on the site is closed, but I can't tell if it was successful or rejected), I'd be posting it on Lulu right now. "Closed" status doesn't hint to whether or not registration was successful or rejected. It's otherwise ready to go as I type this.

[XXXMASTERISEXXX]

Ulillillia, did you remove my comment, because it is on? Please tell me, you keep removing my comments.

[ulillillia]

The only time I remove comments is if it has offensive content (e.g. flame wars, insults, etc.), spam, or uses bad words (the words that are beeped out on TV). If neither of these are involved, the comment stays there essentially forever.

[XXXMASTERISEXXX]

Did mine contain that?

[ulillillia]

I have no idea. I don't have a clue as to what your comment was about, or even where it was....

[Bongores]

Will the tutorial level be optional?

[ulillillia]

Yes, the tutorial level is optional. It's sole purpose is to explain any new game play elements introduced in the given world. You even have unlimited time (and thus no difficulty setting)! Items, deaths, score, etc. have no effect on the main game either so die all you want without worrying about game over.

[XXXMASTERISEXXX]

@the person who thumbs downed my comment

By the way, i said i will watch this video on monday, because my dial-up is like 1-5 kbps and is extremely faulty. So on Monday, i will download this video straight away, after school.

[WaluigiSoap]

Are you going to make this open source?

[ulillillia]

No. The odds are less than 1%. The only open source thing I have right now is the program for processing my songs, of which really doesn't have much use.

[MagikGimp]

Do you have a 'release' date yet? Are you going to sell the game?

[ulillillia]

PM has about an 85% chance of being completed. TSO is around 60% and my 2D RPG is indeterminate. I cannot guarantee a release date, however, for any of my games. Even for PM, I cannot guarantee it'll be released before a rather distant 2015. All games have over a 99% chance of being for sale if completion is done (100% chance is impossible - nothing is ever guaranteed, by the laws of physics).

[TheBrokenSaint]

yay been waitin for an update ! :)

[RealeloH]

This video made me say 'heck yes!' and pump my fist.

[MarioMastar]

Awesome! Nice to see Platform Masters again. I thought you dumped the idea because of the lack of videos and all the Final Fantasy. So nice to see it again, because this inspired me to work on my game too...

[ulillillia]

Like I had with TSO 2.4, I'm at it and off it repeatedly. I go at it for hours for a few weeks then stop for a few months. Neither TSO, PM, or my 2D RPG are abandoned. PM has more potential for sales than TSO and on top of that, its simpler and more motivating. Thus it's far more likely to be finished before TSO. I'm, however, still expecting more stalls to occur. The only stalled one is my 3D RPG - that's been stalled for several years (since 2003 or something).

[mystapler]

I think there aren't enough 2D platformers being made nowadays, so Platform Masters would be very refreshing to see. I'd definitely give it a try.

Btw, have you heard of the new 2D Sonic game being made? It was only announced a few days ago. Apparently it'll be for PS3 or 360, but Sega hasn't announced what systems yet. But it will be 2D. I think it's great to see another 2D platformer being made.

[ulillillia]

Hopefully the 2D Sonic has the same game mechanics (except for the scrolling speed limit) as the Genesis ones. Trouble is, it costs a serious fortune to port PM to any of the consoles outside the basic Windows computer. The concept and simplicity of the design shouldn't be the problem. Unlike most games, I focus on player freedom. You won't reach the max score in over 2000 years and far longer than that for the lives, let alone HP and attack. It'd be neat to see PM on a console's game box!

[johnabutts]

Yo Uli! The Microsoft XNA Game Studio framework allows you to publish games to the 360 cheaply, and I mean CHEAP. Ever wonder what the advantages of a C-like language with managed memory allocation so you don't have to worry about malloc() are?

[ulillillia]

Even then, it's out of reach because I don't have any Xbox consoles so I can't test it there anyway.

[johnabutts]

All development and testing is done on your PC until it is published, you don't even need an Xbox. Besides, think about the logistics: you retain 70% of the total purchase price under the XNA publishing agreement. If you sold 1000 copies at one dollar each (and your internet fanbase would easily cover that ;) that's seven hundred dollars, more than enough to cover an xbox. It's pretty much like leveling up your dollars.

[ulillillia]

Does Xbox have support for Windows GDI functions like AlphaBlend? In addition, all controls are done on the keyboard, rather than a controller. These elements may cause problems with Xbox porting.

[Moterola]

You started work on a 2D RPG?! Is there a playable demo for it? I'd enjoy seeing your take on the genre.

[ulillillia]

I've had the 2D RPG in the works since 2006. The bulk of what is done is planning. Almost everything about it is classified, but what isn't is expect the expected - shops for weapons, items, spells, etc., battles, caves, towns, status effects, stats, and other such things.

[N0Lif3]

Hey ulillillia, do you have any ideas for screen transitions as you enter a level from the overworld map?

[ulillillia]

A simple fade is all I can really do without draw count problems.

[GamerNGF]

It looks great!

[ribbon98]

some good progress!

[XXXMASTERISEXXX]

Yay, i'll watch it on monday.

[joeyoh9292]

can't w8, hope i can buy it for christmas XD looks REALLY good =)

1st,1st,1st =P

[ulillillia]

Highly unlike this Christmas. Even with 12-hour days at it, I'm highly unlikely to finish this. You are, however, far more likely to get my book by Christmas. I saw about a week ago that my case with copyright registration is closed, but the site doesn't indicate whether it was successful or rejected. I may have to wait until I get that form in the mail.

[Moterola]

Do you have a preview of your book on your website? I'm really interested in reading it, although I've got no idea what it's about.

How much do you plan on selling it for?

[ulillillia]

My book will be for $12.95 without a doubt, but only on Lulu.  For retail, only done if enough sales have been made, it'll probably be around $19.95, given Lulu's calculators.