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[ollobrains]

so what happened to development of 3079 got it in desura and its already stopped, well good luck with the next game work on the visuals as above and if possible throw a few more days of development into the existing games

[phr00t]

so what happened to development of 3079 got it in desura and its already stopped, well good luck with the next game work on the visuals as above and if possible throw a few more days of development into the existing games

3079 has seen lots of development: https://sites.google.com/site/3079game/version-history -- Basically, the game has reached a "critical mass" of features and there really isn't much "room" to develop further without overhauling large parts of the game. Most importantly, 3079 is stable & fun, and I'm ready to put all sorts of new ideas into a new game

Lots of work is going into Gentrieve 2's visuals -- mainly because Gentrieve 2 is a more focused game. I can spend more time on visuals & polish, instead of say, fixing multiplayer synchronization bugs (ugh!).

[phr00t]

Hey guys,

I made up a pre-alpha gameplay video for Gentrieve 2!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dx-w2qpWRhE

[freeformschooler]

SWEET! The textures in the purple area are kind of an eyesore (though not too much considering I'm a Doom 2 fanatic), but the gameplay looks pretty solid. I only have a few comments:

-The player's viewpoint seems to be unusually low to the ground for a shooter. Maybe it's a matter of perspective.
-The wide-open levels are rife with possibilities for platforming. I can see some platforms in the levels already.
-Oh goodness, water. The earlier screenshots gave me the impression that water was going to be used as a "map flooring" like in many games, but it turns out its used is going to be more creative instead. The part where you had to get enough jump upgrades (and eventually a swim upgrade) to get to the portal on the watery ceiling was nice.
-Never enough games that utilize grappling hooks.

And lastly, a question about the gameplay: one thing that missing for the most part in Gentrieve 1 was optional goals. Instead of Super Missile being merely a better missile, for example, its existence guaranteed that there would be a section of the game requiring its use. It may be hard to procedurally generate, but having areas that are hard to get to unless you do a number of things (backtrack, use tools creatively, look for hidden things) with nice rewards could definitely be entertaining in this kind of game. Do you have plans for anything like this?

[phr00t]

The textures in the purple area are kind of an eyesore

Yeah, I agree -- work in progress. There should, at the very least, be more color variation there.

The player's viewpoint seems to be unusually low to the ground for a shooter. Maybe it's a matter of perspective.

I tried working with the viewpoint higher, but it leaves less room for jumping -- since you hit your head on the ceiling much quicker. I'm planning on having the player be a versatile rolling robot, instead of a tall-standing human(oid), which should explain the low viewpoint.

The wide-open levels are rife with possibilities for platforming. I can see some platforms in the levels already.

Yeahp -- the rooms are currently being generated with platforms too packed together, but that will be fixed

Glad you enjoyed the water stuff There will be little pools of water, and later lava, acid & tar (but you don't really see that in this video yet).

And lastly, a question about the gameplay: one thing that missing for the most part in Gentrieve 1 was optional goals. Instead of Super Missile being merely a better missile, for example, its existence guaranteed that there would be a section of the game requiring its use. It may be hard to procedurally generate, but having areas that are hard to get to unless you do a number of things (backtrack, use tools creatively, look for hidden things) with nice rewards could definitely be entertaining in this kind of game. Do you have plans for anything like this?

I do have some "optional" items, like "Advanced Vision" (see secret doors and enemies through walls) & shields, which I was planning on putting in secret rooms, or "optional" rooms. I also plan on having Save Game, Health Recharge, Ammo Recharge & Map Reveal rooms (something Gentrieve 1 didn't have). I'd *like* to have some of these rooms be made "tricky" to get to, but it will be a challenge to procedurally generate a door that is tricky, but not impossible to get to (but I'm sure it can be done!)

[freeformschooler]

Ah, saving/map revealing rooms. Definitely a good idea. I can see the Metroid inspiration picking up even more.

[getter77]

Honestly hard to say how well the "player is a ball" thing will go over----as another big factor to the Metroidvanias was the character herself and projections into thereof, to say nothing of the evolving visual looks and whatnot as power were unlocked, new suits, etc.

We there aims for some general narrative and specifically scripted set-pieces or...?

[phr00t]

Honestly hard to say how well the "player is a ball" thing will go over----as another big factor to the Metroidvanias was the character herself and projections into thereof, to say nothing of the evolving visual looks and whatnot as power were unlocked, new suits, etc.

We there aims for some general narrative and specifically scripted set-pieces or...?

I don't want Gentrieve 2 to be a Metroid Prime "clone" -- e.g. I don't want to reproduce every element of Metroid Prime just because I am making a 3D metroidvania game. I want to add in and tweak my own elements. For instance, Gentrieve 2 is going to be designed for "Speed Run" videos -- so the player will be a more versatile ball that can fit through tighter spaces and have more jump clearance. I know in Metroid Prime you could transform into a ball, but you can't do any combat, or perform many abilities like double-jump, while in "ball" mode.

I'm not a fan of scripted elements... they are predictable. Gentrieve 2 is all about unique content -- I don't want to feel like I'm playing the same world, or story, over and over again. However, I do want there to be some story, but I am working on the gameplay and "feel" of the game first. Once that gets nailed down, then I can design a story that fits in with the "feel" I chose.

[phr00t]

We there aims for some general narrative and specifically scripted set-pieces or...?

I've been working on the general narrative:

Many “Mass Generators”, which are often used to automatically generate robots and buildings for peaceful purposes, got stolen to create rogue robotic installations. However, thieves are generally terrible programmers, so the robotic installations came out awkward and the robots aggressive. As a result, the thieves abandoned the installations, if they were able to escape at all. You are in charge of controlling a versatile military probe, designed for finding Mass Generators deep within robotic installations, deactivating them, and returning them to official custody. Be warned, when a Mass Generator gets deactivated, its creations become unstable and eventually implode — so you must exit the installation as quickly as possible!

I've also got a HUD coming together:



Thanks guys
- Phr00t

[freeformschooler]

Hey Phroot, I don't mean to sound bleak, but is the game going to be made anyway even if it doesn't get funded on Kickstarter? I'd still buy it directly of course.

[phr00t]

Hey Phroot, I don't mean to sound bleak, but is the game going to be made anyway even if it doesn't get funded on Kickstarter? I'd still buy it directly of course.

Gentrieve 2 will most definitely be made, I'm making great progress on it now -- I just won't have extra money to pay professional artist & testers, and the "Speed Run" contests will have smaller prizes. However, I still plan on having contests and getting professional help as people buy it directly I hope all of the KickStarter backers go buy my game from BMT Micro (via my website @ http://gentrieve.wordpress.com/) if it doesn't get completely funded!