Tyotus: The Story
Just a bit of background…So I’ve decided to go into a different direction with this character and game “franchise”. Initially, I wanted to make a platformer with a huge, immersive story. Here are some screenshots of that.
I can only imagine what people reading this would think the game is about. But yeah, sadly, I’m going to have to scrap it. It was a 4 month, on and off, labor of love…but it’s time to trash (well, not everything…) this project and start fresh. I realized that it was too ambitious of a project. So, it’s time to scrap the idea, and move on to my next endeavor.
And to do that, please welcome…
TYOTUS: The Run
Yes, an endless runner. A procedural-ly generated endless runner. What this means, is the platforms are automatically generated and randomly placed, within specified limits.
I currently don’t have any gifs for the game play so far, but the previous picture pretty much sums up how it looks right now. I was in the process of writing out the story, but lost motivation due to real life occurrences. However, I am back, with the intention of posting my progress to this medium every other day. Posts will be laid out as follows.
What I worked on:
What I will work on next:
Gif/Screenshot of gameplay:
This will help me remain accountable, and actually make progress on the game. I’ll hopefully be adding to it daily. There has been progress, but it has been really slow. I am excited about what it is becoming.
I still hope to keep the story political, but way more light than what I was doing in the previous game. I’m also treating this as a passion project, rather than thinking of ways to monetize it when it’s done. A future goal would be to gain money from these games, but right now, I want to create, share, get feedback, and improve.
Thanks for riding with me.
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Update 1/29/2017
I’ve decided to keep updating this story, rather than creating a new story for each update I do! It will save time, and my stories will look way less cluttered.
I think I’m going to stick with this “update every other day” plan. I got a lot of work done over the weekend! I’ve decided that I’m going to release the game and host it on github/google drive, and just share it like that…I’m not trying to gain any money…just trying to show that I built an endless runner, with a story mode if anyone is interested!
WHAT I WORKED ON:
Here’s a list of everything I got done:
- Implemented a “Lose a Life” system
- Wrote out the major conflicts in the story and the settings in which they occur
- Replaced city backdrops so they match the planned story
- Implemented faders, and ran a build to confirm filesize wasn’t too big (17MB)
- Coded the “map pieces: story
So yeah, a lot of progress. Looking at the list, it doesn’t seem like much…but in code, it was quite a bit to do. I’m content though!
What I will work on next:
- Finish map pieces level, and decide how I want it to end
- Start coding first city level & write the dialogue for the scene
- Figure out characters and their role in the big city
- Decide what kind of obstacles I want to exist in the different parts of the story
(I probably won’t get to all of those within the next two days, but it’s all good. Just keeping a list of things that need to be done.)
Gif/Screenshot of gameplay:
All in all, dope progress! Will update again on January 31st!
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1/31/2017
Wow, almost didn’t want to update. So tired. I didn’t realize how much real life would play a role in fatigue. But, I got a lot done (I think)!
What I worked on:
- Handled taking damage (get hit once, or fall into a hole, you lose a life)
- Allowed shooting for boss battle level
- Fully developed boss level
- Handled boss damage, and boss shooting…pretty much everything that deals with the boss
What I will work on next:
- Story for before and after boss level
- Start coding first city level & write the dialogue for the scene
- Figure out characters and their role in the big city
I realized last update I was thinking too far ahead, and not taking into consideration I am a “teacher” now haha. But it’s all good. Progress is progress! And this game, although incomplete, is playable, challenging, and fun! I can’t wait until I have the finished product!
Gif/Screenshot of gameplay:
I am using the Egg Pod/Spaceship as placeholder art. I don’t know what I want as the first boss yet hahahaha. Cheating a bit because I implemented a safety net for testing purposes. But yeah, that’s my update! Another one coming on the 2nd!
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2/2/2017
Going to try to keep this short and sweet.
What I worked on:
- Fixed the build so I can play through entire levels without having to leave the game
- Finished boss battle…so now it runs smoothly and as it will in the real game…from fading to user/boss dying
- Removed safety nets from boss level
- Finished ending of boss battle
- Finished story of boss battle
- Wrote some general dialogue for the next level
I think that’s it. It’s been slow because of real life…but as we get closer to the weekend…things will change.
What I will work on next:
Still some of the same things…
- Start coding first city level
- Figure out characters and their role in the big city
Gif/Screenshot of gameplay:
Rough two days. Better times to come!
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2/5/2017
So I messed up haha, but it’s okay. Going to start over with the every other day thing.
What I worked on:
- Coding first city levels
- First city characters & story scene
- Random Item generator for level 2
What I will work on next:
- Finishing level 2 item generator level
- Coming up with something to do next (A boss for level 2)
- Writing story for level 3…coming up with what happens in the mountains/forest
I have some wiggle room with things to do next. I’m happy with progress though! Everything is moving, and I really like what I’m coming up with!
Gif/Screenshot of gameplay:
Till next time!
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2/10/2017
I would feel bad that I haven’t been updating this, but I am making progress, so I’m not too sad! Finally on level 3…level 2 (high level) is complete. I need to work on some bugs and stuff, but I’m happy with where this project is going, and I’m also very happy with the speed. I will definitely be able to release to the world by late March (or even earlier!).
What I worked on:
- Finished item generator for level 2
- Finished chase level (boss for level 2)
- Implemented obstacles for levels after 2
- Fixed Background generation for levels after 2…(too lazy to go back and refactor other code right now)
- Big story concepts
What I will work on next:
- Finishing story for level 3. (I have an idea in mind…just need to write it down before I forget it)
- Code story for level 3
- A way to make the boss for level 3 harder than the first
- Level 4 (mountains, collapsing platforms)
Should be fun!
Gif/Screenshot of gameplay:
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2/12/2017
Good progress! I really like where the game is going! It’s pretty late (10:24) and I’m feeling pretty tired…. Here’s to progress.
What I worked on:
- Level 3 stories & Boss (Very proud of how the boss battle turned out :) )
- Started level 4…
I need to figure out how to make level 4 different…and harder. Not 100% sure how yet, but this creative binge I’ve been on has been nothing but fantastic. I’m sure it’ll continue.
What I will work on next:
- Level 4 challenges
- Level 4 Story
Gif/Screenshot of gameplay:
As each day passes, and more progress is gained…I get more and more excited about sharing this.
