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[phmongeau]

Hi,

I almost finished this game, the engine is mostly done. I still need to finish menus, make some better graphic and levels, but the gameplay will stay mostly unchanged.

How to play:

Use the arrow keys to rotate the platforms. Try to get all the coins and reach the goal.

use Q return to the menu.

Edit: Game is now on Flash Game License

click on the image or here to play the game

Before finishing it, I'd like to get some feedback from other people. What do you think of the gameplay, controls etc.

[klembot]

This is a fun little diversion. It was a little bit unclear sometimes as to how it decided which platform I was controlling -- I think it's going by distance but this led to a few instances where I didn't get enough time to adjust a platform I had already rotated.

It's interesting in that I actually found it easier to control the marble when I used steep inclines rather than gentle slopes, as I initially tried.

[phmongeau]

It was a little bit unclear sometimes as to how it decided which platform I was controlling -- I think it's going by distance but this led to a few instances where I didn't get enough time to adjust a platform I had already rotated.

When I started the game I had it changed the platform focus when the ball collided with it. It was really hard to control so I switched to this system where you control the nearest platform.

There might be a better way to chose the platform focus so if you have an idea I'll try to implement it.

Anyway, thanks for you feedback!

[klembot]

Just a random thought, what if left-clicking a platform rotated it counter-clockwise, right-click to move clockwise? I have a feeling this would change the feel of the game considerably, though.

[phmongeau]

I don't think you can handle right clicks in flash, but this could have been a good way to control the platforms.  :|

[cai]

Just a random thought, what if left-clicking a platform rotated it counter-clockwise, right-click to move clockwise?

More like left click to rotate counter-clockwise, right-click to open a menu...  Damn you, Flash!

I found the the controls made sense, but that I sucked at using them.  I often made the guy fly waaaay past where I wanted him to land.

Have you considered just having the marble's weight control the platform?  It'd be an entirely different game, but would probably be pretty interesting...

[phmongeau]

Have you considered just having the marble's weight control the platform?  It'd be an entirely different game, but would probably be pretty interesting...

I'm not sure I understand what you mean.

Are you talking about controlling the ball as if it was a guy in a platformer and when you fall on a platforms your weight make it rotate?

[cai]

Yep, exactly.  Might be hard to get the platforms to throw you, but I'm sure with other interactive objects it could be worked out.

[phmongeau]

It might be a good idea, but it would make the game completely different.

I might try something like this in another game, or just for fun, but I don't think I want to do it on this game.

[cobalt1001]

Very cool mechanic and the controls were actually pretty intuitive (aka. no real problems understanding which platform I was controlling).

Reminds me of QWOP though. The game is really hard because it requires an almost inhuman level of precision in controlling the ball.

Basically: It's really frustrating the amount of times you accidentally lob your ball beyond the reach of any platform and die. Eventually someone could conceivably get good enough that they wouldn't die every 5 out of 6 plays, but most players will have moved on by this point.


I would do one of three things:
--------------------------------
1. Add boundaries so it's harder to drift out of the play area.

2. Add some method of controlling the ball when it's airborne (make it sluggish though, so it's still about using the platforms to move). This might make the controls too complicated though.

3. Cheat slightly. Add an algorithm that makes the ball subtly drift left or right towards the nearest platform.


PS: If you don't know what QWOP is, try it here:
http://www.foddy.net/Athletics.html

[Tyranus]

I love the simple gameplay! I really like it. Is a little bit hard... ok ok, its hard but I think the controls are righ and are very intuitive.
The only suggestion I have is that you must try to make easier levels. Add boundaries, and some other helpers to simplify (magnetized plataform, ropes etc) then remove it in the more dificult levels.
 
I really like it just how is now

Greetings!

[phmongeau]

Hi, thanks for the feedback!

I'm really happy that you guys like the gameplay. I know this game is currently really hard, those levels were made for testing the game.

I'm currently making an whole new set of levels that are easier and have a much smoother difficulty curve.

PS: If you don't know what QWOP is, try it here:
http://www.foddy.net/Athletics.html

I knew this game and damn it's hard!

[Valenti]

Hi phmongeau, I like your game so far but it's way intense.  The problem I found when playing is that once you've built up momentum in your ball, it's very hard to lose it, especially with the massive drops.  I had a few ideas after playing it that I'd like to share. 

Firstly, if the ball has been travelling to the left for a few platforms, and the next platform is beneath and to the right, you could put a little wall on the platform to help stop the ball flying out of bounds.  This might make the game a bit easy during some levels but it's something you could add in the beginner levels while the player is getting used to the controls.

Also, like I said before, the game is intense even on the levels you have at the moment.  Once the ball moves, it's never going to be stationary till the next stage.  I was thinking that you could have buckets after so many platforms that catch the ball, killing the momentum and giving the player a chance to catch their breath.  Then to continue, they would press x or something and the bottom would open to drop the ball and the stage would continue below.  These could also be used as checkpoints and the end of each stage.

I hope my ideas help in some way, let us know when those new levels are up and running!

Valenti

...

PS: If you don't know what QWOP is, try it here:
http://www.foddy.net/Athletics.html

lol what is this, I don't even...

[phmongeau]

I just uploaded a new version to Flash Game License

http://www.flashgamelicense.com/view_game.php?from=dev&game_id=12590