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[Julien]

Ok, I did not started a dev log initially because I did not intented to work much on this game, and of course I was wrong...

So, better late than never, I'll start my dev log on Blocus !



Better is some kind of Arkanoid crossed with a firework simulation.

Here is what it looks like :



What's worth noting that isn't obvious on the screenshot :

- You can either play an endless game with a constantly increasing difficulty or procedurally generated levels *
- The paddle is divided in three part (left, that send the ball to the left, middle and right). When a ball hits the paddle, it becomes warmer. If you can get it warm enough, the paddle will shoot very powerful projectiles.
- You can upgrade your paddle (It improves the projectiles)
- When you clear a column, the ball becomes more powerful and quicker
- The particles actually have physics and will collided with the paddle or the walls

*  The focus for the next patch will be on level, so expect it to change

And the game is available here : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=be.julien.blocus

You see a trailer on youtube, but it is outdated, so don't pay much attention :p (Keeping up to date with a traielr is really a pain in the ass ! -.-)

That's all for now

[mattestache]

Downloaded your game, a cool game to just relax from everything! Great work! 

[Julien]

Thanks a lot

I've been working on levels today, with my awesome level editor :D

[Julien]

Working on my level selection, nothing fancy so far :



But I've also added some particles to the paddle, it looks great !

And I've changed to sprite of the ball to add a dark outline. In fact, it's the same sprite at three different sizes and opposite rotations. The black one gets bigger if needed.



It really help to make the game more readable !

[Julien]

Here is another screen, with the lights on !

[Julien]

Done today :

- I tried box2d once again, nop, doesn't fit the arcade style of this game
- The number of particles emitted by the paddle is quadruple if it is below the line it should be. Gives a cool effect, kinda like the paddle turning on it's booster to get up.
- The number of particles emitted by the ball is highly reduce, but they are way bigger. And when the ball hits something, it emits a more particles for a few frames, kinda cool too.

[Julien]

In last update, I've added some particles around the paddle, lightning to the ball, and more particles when it hits something :



Working on a better ui and converting the XP to diamonds, because apparently on Android, people understand better what a diamond is than xp ^^

[mrKaizen]

Ehi, looks great. Let me download it.
Question: nice editor but I'm curious to know how it works, if you like to share of course.

[Julien]

Thanks !

It's kinda cumbersome. I've made columns in Excel that mimic my code, and I fill the blank with the level of the block I want

Example :

{   0   ,   0   ,   7   ,   7   ,   7   ,   7   ,   7   ,   0   ,   0   ,   0   ,   0   }   ,
{   0   ,   0   ,   7   ,   7   ,   7   ,   7   ,   7   ,   0   ,   0   ,   0   ,   0   }   ,
{   0   ,   7   ,   5   ,   5   ,   5   ,   5   ,   5   ,   7   ,   2   ,   1   ,   0   }   ,
{   0   ,   7   ,   5   ,   5   ,   5   ,   5   ,   5   ,   7   ,   2   ,   1   ,   0   }   ,
{   0   ,   0   ,   7   ,   7   ,   7   ,   7   ,   5   ,   5   ,   1   ,   2   ,   0   }   ,
{   0   ,   0   ,   7   ,   7   ,   7   ,   7   ,   5   ,   5   ,   1   ,   2   ,   0   }   ,
{   0   ,   0   ,   0   ,   0   ,   0   ,   0   ,   2   ,   5   ,   5   ,   7   ,   0   }   ,
{   0   ,   0   ,   0   ,   0   ,   0   ,   0   ,   2   ,   5   ,   5   ,   7   ,   0   }   ,
{   0   ,   0   ,   0   ,   0   ,   0   ,   2   ,   1   ,   2   ,   5   ,   5   ,   7   }   ,
{   1   ,   0   ,   0   ,   0   ,   0   ,   2   ,   1   ,   2   ,   5   ,   5   ,   7   }   ,
{   0   ,   0   ,   0   ,   0   ,   2   ,   1   ,   2   ,   0   ,   7   ,   5   ,   7   }   ,
{   0   ,   0   ,   0   ,   0   ,   2   ,   1   ,   2   ,   0   ,   7   ,   5   ,   7   }   ,
{   0   ,   0   ,   0   ,   2   ,   1   ,   2   ,   0   ,   0   ,   7   ,   5   ,   7   }   ,
{   0   ,   0   ,   0   ,   2   ,   1   ,   2   ,   0   ,   0   ,   7   ,   5   ,   7   }   ,
{   0   ,   0   ,   2   ,   1   ,   2   ,   0   ,   0   ,   0   ,   7   ,   5   ,   7   }   ,
{   0   ,   0   ,   2   ,   1   ,   2   ,   0   ,   0   ,   0   ,   7   ,   5   ,   7   }   ,
{   0   ,   2   ,   1   ,   2   ,   0   ,   0   ,   0   ,   0   ,   7   ,   5   ,   7   }   ,
{   0   ,   2   ,   1   ,   2   ,   0   ,   0   ,   0   ,   0   ,   7   ,   5   ,   7   }   ,
{   0   ,   1   ,   2   ,   0   ,   0   ,   0   ,   0   ,   0   ,   0   ,   7   ,   0   }   ,
{   0   ,   1   ,   2   ,   0   ,   0   ,   0   ,   0   ,   0   ,   0   ,   7   ,   0   }   


That I copy/paste in my code.

So yeah, it's ugly, not very flexible (What if I want to change to orientation of a block or something ?) But I wanted something very quickly.

I don't think I will use it forever

 

[monsterkillu]

Thanks !

It's kinda cumbersome. I've made columns in Excel that mimic my code, and I fill the blank with the level of the block I want

Example :................
..........

That I copy/paste in my code.
So yeah, it's ugly, not very flexible (What if I want to change to orientation of a block or something ?) But I wanted something very quickly.

I don't think I will use it forever

I also use hard coded stuff like this when i want to make things work quickly ...

Maybe you could setup a quick level editor with Flash, which is quite easy to make (i guess)..

[Julien]

I've never used Flash before ^^

If had to develop a level editor I would probably go with something integrated into the game, so I could distribute it as a feature

[Julien]

Working on a new ui :



I'm definitely not good with ui