Diary: Co-op test level

[UPDATE] You can download the co-op test level demo installer here!

After a small spin-off I've redesigned co-op gameplay and put up a small, yet complex level full of co-op goodies to proof the concept. Camera is top-down this time as good overview over the level is essential.

Basically level is an get from A to B variation, consisting of various challenges that require co-operation:

• two way buttons for opening doors (requires active presence of one pawn to open door for the other one)
• different abilities of pawns (one is small enough to push through tight spaces, one is bigger and can carry items)
• moving of platforms to create a bridge to cross the chasm, reach button, etc.
• solving puzzles (correct sequence, subset, etc.)

Level is heavily based on using prefabs, kismet and archetyped entities, which saves a lot of time. One completely new feature is a puzzle that gives you control over all the actors in an area, allowing you to move them around to achieve your goal (e.g. create a bridge to be able to pass over a pit).

Don't forget to check the new videos on youtube as well! Two examples:

I hope you like it! In case you're interested in some technical background, I'm going to prepare and publish some tutorials based on my experience while working on this level soon!

Diary: Co-op gameplay

One of the ideas of how to improve current game concept is to add co-op gameplay feel:

• multiple playable characters in a level, different set of skills
• need to cooperate to reach the level goal
• e.g.: button at the end of small tunnell -> only smaller character can reach
• movable objects -> only bigger character is strong enough, etc.
• possible gameplay variations:
• singleplayer - switchable characters
• multiplayer:
• local co-op - splitscreen
• co-op

Anyway, I'm back on track, pushing development on and on ;). Today I implemented possibility to have multiple playable characters in one level (switchable). To proof this concept I've prepared a small level, you can take a look at this video:

Stay tuned for upcoming news!

Steam Greenlight & moving forward!

After being rather busy for the last few weeks doing my part time contract I'm back to UDK. I've some ideas I want to track and implement:

Co-op basics:

• two playable characters (ball-like robots)
• each with differing set of skill (switching gravity, jumping, moving objects)
• need to aid each other to finish a level
• local co-op gameplay/controls/mechanics
• switching between characters (to enable single player capabilities)

Stay tuned for some news in the days to come!

Steam news:

Furthermore, as Steam has reintroduced it's Greenlight for free (new concepts section), you can find this project on steam site now! In case you like it, feel free to endorse it or leave a comment. It is always appreciated to know what others are thinking. Thank you!

Project demo (installer)

In case you'd like to try my current very early version of the project, grab installer from this site: http://tinyurl.com/9pkgq8t.

Basically you'll get stuff covered in this video:

It can be played on keyboard or using X360 gamepad. All controls are shown on HUD, I hope gameplay itself is rather self explanatory, goal of each level is to collect given number of coins. Stored local leaderboards let you replay the level and try to achieve better time, or fewer steps, etc.

Demo contains 3 levels with differing gameplay, it's a bit shaky and physics tends to be very fragile but maybe you will find it interesting and can definitely share some ideas, what you did like, what not, etc. Any comments are appreciated!

Design ideas

Ok, so I have a sandbox testing playground of a game. But what to do with it next? Here are some of my ideas.

Settings:

• post-apocalyptic settings
• broken technology everywhere
• placement in space (old space station? stars visible through windows?)
• still partially functional
• main goal is to repair station (collecting necessary spare parts while moving through levels)
• levels are not fully accessible at start, you need to push correct buttons, levers to open some previously inaccessible corridors
• main character is a small robot (or robots?)
• body is basically a rotating sphere with some levitating head/arms
• cute stylisation as in contrast to bleak world

Gameplay:

• navigate through maze of corridors, get to the exit, fix given engine part, etc.
• use abilities, solve puzzles to unlock inaccessible level parts
• interactive environment: buttons, levers, inverse gravity fields, doors, elevators
• with level progress growing set of abilities (pushing buttons, controlling gravity, controlling elevators, moving objects, etc.)
• isometric top down camera?
• co-op gameplay:
• two robots with differing set of abilities
• one can push buttons (opens door for other robot)
• other robot can jump, move object (cover the hole in ground for other robot to cross)
• ...
• need to cooperate to unlock the path for other robot
• good for singleplayer (switching between robots) as well as for multiplayer (each player one robot)

My UDK project (intro)

Maybe you all know that feeling. A dream to do something on our own without the necessity to bend our ideas according to some bosses and company rules/views.

Being a developer with 2 released multiplatform AAA titles (Mafia 2 and TopSpin4 by 2K Czech) and currently working as a part of Warhorse Studios on a new historic RPG IP (Hammerheart), I've always wanted to do something independent (and not to mention my increasing interest in growing indie scene with lots of quality games coming out lately...).

As my time possibilities are limited (part time contract for Warhorse studios), I've chosen as a testing environment UDK by Epic Games. I know it's scripting only, but lot of things are already prepared and engine is quite accomplished and usable on mobile platforms as well.

Truth be told, many things are really complicated to achieve (and slow to learn) but nevertheless, I have now some very simple prototype of a platformer game.

You can check some raw video footage:

or follow me on twitter:
https://twitter.com/BorisZapotocky