January and TBTK v2.1 update

Time flies. Feels like it was new year yesterday and now January is gone. Well I like to think the month is well spent. I've spent the month working on TBTK, giving it the same face lift I've done to TDTK.

The update (version2.1) has since gone live on AssetStore a few days ago. So basically the new update has got:

• Major restructuring of most of the framework
• New and improved UI
• New Editors (more intuitive, undo/redo support, multi-instance editing, etc.) 
• Added support for square grid diagonal neighbor
• Added new ability: overwatch

It's a lot more work than TDTK. For a start the base game logic is more complicated. Took me quite a while to restructure and optimize it. But the end result has enabled me to add the new feature. I've been wanting to do that but the old code is just a little bit too complicated for more complexity. 

Then there's the UI. Unlike TDTK, I've reskin the it on top of remaking it with new code. I really enjoy making new aesthetic for the UI. And because I've done that, the UI in the demo (campaign mode) has to be redo too for consistency sake. 

All in all, I think it's worth the effort. Hopefully all you user (or potential user) will enjoy the effort I've put in.

Now that both TBTK and TDTK has been updated. The next thing I would like to do is update the art asset for both of them. The vehicles and turrets set I've been using have started to look a bit dated. And if I'm honest, they are not very well done and I recon I can do a better job this time round. So following image is a sneak peak of what's coming next. Keep in mind that it's very much a work in progress, not everything will make it to the final build.

Now while I'm here, I would like to announce that I will be away for two weeks starting on February. I'll be carry on working on this as soon as I'm back. Until then, please don't hold your breath.

Happy 2016! (and new TDTKv3.1 update)

It's a new year and boy I'm glad that I'm here.

Since the release of the new TDS-TK (TopDownShooter-ToolKit), I've been busy working on giving TDTK a overhaul. I know, my packages naming is getting a bit silly but whatever. At least they are adequately named. Back to the point, TDTK is now ready for another update to version3.1. I've made so much changes in the new update that I'm a bit tempted to version it as 3.5. But I will have to say very little of those change applies to gameplay and mechanic.

First, all the editors has been rewritten to improve its usability. Most noticeable would be the layout. I've put a lot of attention into making the editor more intuitive and explaining what each setting does. Then there's the detail like better integration between different editor windows and undo/redo, multi-instance editing for certain prefab and so on. Have to say, the most important of this all is that the code will be much easier to maintain and expand in the future.

The new UI

The next big change would be the new UI. The old UI is a bit clunky if I'm honest. It's done in the earlier days of unity GUI when I just started to getting the hang of it. Some of the code is even obsolete post Unity5.1. So the new UI, it's cleaner in term of code and better organized when it comes to arrangement in hierarchy. Not to mention it's marginally better looking (in my opinion). At any rate, any user who intend to modify it will have an easier time. Or at least it will serve as a better example for anyone who wants to make their own UI

Finally, lots of changes has been applied to the existing code base. Most of these are to simplify and optimize the code, or at least have it make more sense structure wise.

In a nutshell, I would say that all these have pretty much laid the ground work for TDTKv4.0. I cant tell you how much I have fight the urge to simply carry on, give everything a face lift and simply make it 4.0. But that would be a task for some other time.

So now that the update for  TDTK is done (It's now live on AssetStore). Moving on to TBTK.

TopDownShooter-ToolKit

Apparently I've never make any announcement post for my latest release on AssetStore. To make it up, I hereby announce that TDSTK is now live on AssetStore. And so is the subsequent update v1.1. Now I won't go through what TDSTK can do here. You can simply get that from the TDSTK main page.

Truth be told, TDSTK start from something I work for fun over the weekend. I'm quite happy with the way it turns out. It has a very flexible system that allows a lot of synergy between the weapons, effects, ability and collectibles. Any effects (damage, stun, slow, damage over time, etc) can used for any weapon, ability and collectible. Weapon can fire abilities, abilities usage can be set to behave like collectible or weapons, Collectible can grant weapon or ability or modified weapon behaviour and so on. It's not the same thing but it feels so much more free form and powerful then what I've done in both TDTK or TBTK.

The fact that I spent almost as much time playing the demo as I worked on it is a testament of how fun the mechanic is. Or I'm just so deprived of the simple pleasure of playing a simple top down shooter game that I find a simple demo so fun. I guess the new visual direction that I went for helps too. There's a strange satisfaction when every time when I shoot at something and it shatters into pieces. If you are sold based on what I've described so far, try play the demo yourself. You can find the link at the TDSTK main page.

Some of the behind the scene screen shot for the demo

On a more technical side, the implementation is objectively better. Most of this won't be immediately obvious to the user but it will be a lot more easier for me to maintain, update and expand the toolkit in the long run. For a start, the code for the editors are better organized and it support multiple instance editing when it can. Then the UI is done a lot more efficiently, drastically reduce the amount of code required. I'm planning to apply all this new techniques here to both TDTK and TBTK.

Of course, there's plenty of room for improvement and expansion. I can see myself adding support for some sort of character progression system, or inventory system, taking it very close to being an action rpg framework. A very exciting prospect indeed. What I'm trying to say is I will definitely trying to experimenting and adding new interesting feature in the future. Basically Just like what I did with TDTK and TBTK.

Finally, some shameless self-complimenting. The new tank and turret set I've made for the toolkit, quite nice aren't they? 

Coming Soon...

Taking a break from MechCorp, I've been working on something new (you can probably tell from the gif above), a toolkit about top down shooter, fittingly name TopDownShooter-ToolKit (very original I've no doubt).

Now I'm not going to shed all the detail here until it's done.This is just a quick post about what's coming.

Like TBTK and TDTK, this new toolkit is aim to allow building of as many kind of top down shooter gameplay as possible. User can build custom unit, weapons, abilities, collectibles of their own within a reasonable confine. The toolkit should accommodate most of the gameplay mechanic found in typical design.

Unlike TDTK and TBTK, the structure of the new toolkit is a lot more free form and open ended. It support a variety of objectives for each level. It also comes with various utility tool for level design to create various set piece. I have to say, I've lost count of time I end up play instead of testing the demo scene. It's quite fun! I can sure see myself working on this for a long time to come, there's so much potentially fun stuff I can add with this one.

Personally, I find the most satisfaction in the coding. Which is a lot more better than my past work. Now that I've done that. The OCD in me is urging me to go back and revise TBTK and TDTK with the new improvement I've made.

At the moment, I'm polishing stuff up and working on the documentation. If you are still guessing, yes this is coming to AssetStore, unless it's rejected for whatever reason. Until then, enjoy these sneak peak.

Timed survival in arena - taken from one of the demo scene

Some of the editors, perhaps you can tell what feature are supported from these

Endless side scroller, checked.

MechCorp Update (9th October 2015)

Before I start a wall of text, I've uploaded an alpha build. So if you are interested or have time on your hand, please give it a go. I will gladly accept any feedback. So here you go:

>> MechCorp Alpha Download Link <<

If you need some fancy stuff to convince you, take a look at this:

Now we got that out of the way, so what's new in this update. Well, as usual, a couple of a big change and a series of small tweaks, which feels like a lot to be honest.

For a start, a new contract system has been added. These contract will act as the objective in each section. The player complete a contract in one section, then move on to other section to pursue the next contract. The contract varies, some have multiple stages and objective and some are very straight-forward. The spice things up a bit, each of the contract has a set time. The contract is considered failed if it's not completed in time. This should give the player the dilemma to rush or to give the squad time to recover after each battle.

Then there's the new system where player can assembly their own mech, provided they have the blue print for the mech. The blue print can only be obtain via random encounter through exploration.  Building new mech will also require parts, which can be collected from various source. So instead of purchasing new mech from the shop at a cut throat price, there's another alternative.

Repair system has been changed as well. The player can choose to repair damaged mech at any time for a fee. However it takes time to do the repair and mechs going through repair cannot be deployed for battle.

Other than that, the main UI flow has been overhaul some what, to give the player more sense of traveling to another location and make a stop. Each location has random job listing, which are basically one off battle player can choose to engage in for various reward. Finally, player can now dock in station for a fee to past the time. This serve as a way to rest the crew to boost morale as well as waiting for the mechs to be repaired.

So basically these are the major changes. Now if you haven't give the demo a go. Do it now!  :)

MechCorp Update (27th August 2015)

It's update time again. In fact it has long overdue. Good thing that I've actually got quite a lot of stuff done. The game is approaching its beta state at this point

So, the most notable different between the last update is the visual. I have overhauled almost all of the UI. You will notice in the screen shot I have got custom produced asset now instead of placeholder. The star-map have been enhanced with some really cool parallax effect. Everything has been made to be more interactive in general. The difference is dramatic I have to say.

Moving away from visual, the most important stuff is I've made quite some change to the game itself. Apart from the existing resource that the player need to manage, a morale system has been added. The morale would affect how the units perform in a battle. They would have some impact outside the battle. Let just say it's not a good idea keeping the morale of the crew low. Of course the morale is affected by how well the squad is doing on a whole.

Then there's combat. A new flanking system is added so that unit's facing is taking into consideration in an attack. Attacking a unit from the rear will grant a bonus. So it's a good idea for the player to try to flank the opponent while keeping their own back covered. This is to give the battle another layer of tactical depth. There's actual reason now to try to move the unit around other than just getting them into attacking range.

To compliment the new system, a considerable amount of work has been put into AI. The AI will take advantage of the flanking. Some AI unit will actively try to flank the player while some will be very defensive. All in all, it makes for a more dynamic combat.

 

So I guess that's all the update I have for now, unless I talk about the less exciting stuff such as save system, or goes into detail explaining all the tiny detail and polish. So until next time.

Demon Rise - A game made using TBTK

I just have to make a post about this. Apparently this beauty, which is built using a modified TBTK, has been released on AppStore and I have missed it until now. I can't comment on the gameplay as I don't have a working iOS device to play this on. The dev says he plans to release it on Android so here's hoping.

Ignore the fact that I've never play it, it looks gorgeous. Look at it.

Being involved in the development (to a certain extent) of something like this does makes me proud. Very proud indeed. If you have an iPhone or iPad, go download it - https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/demons-rise/id951205464?ls=1&mt=8