keep an Endless Sci-Fi Roguelike interesting?

[IBOL]

Ok I'm going to make it my goal tonight to get a demo up, because I want feedback on a lot of areas. I find this forum very helpful.

[guest509]

I don't do a lot of playtesting right now, but you can count on feedback from me on this one.

[IBOL]

here's a download link, but i'm probably going to start an actual thread for this over in the 'early dev feedback' section
http://forumfiles.thegamecreators.com/download/2485192
(I hope they let non members DL this - it didn't used to be a problem, and I find it a little insulting.)

here's a short youtube movie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZyYiQrZ0rI

now its bed time, with hours of work and no programming  

Code: [Select]

* numpad to move
 7 8 9
  \|/
 4-+-6
  /|\
 1 2 3

 BUT:
  - your Engines have an "MR" Maneuver Rating
it refers to how much you can change your HEADING  in a single move.
with an MR of 1, you can only make small course changes.
you have to circle around.

Example:
 imagine the numpad. if your last move was 8 (up), then you could move 7,8,9 (Up Left, up, up right).

as soon as you can get a MR 2 engine. do that. and a warp range >1 too.

commands can be displayed on screen . use right arrow key

* go to space stations to do stuff.
  all offered quests are winnable.

* you have a million credits, so buy whatever you want.
  might need to empty out your cargo hold though...

* you can't die, but the landing party can die on planets,
  either from lack of oxygen, or by taking damage over time
  (the more inhospitable a planet is, the more damage taken)

buy better space suits to last longer on planets.

[Q] quest screen
[I] install component
[D] dock, land, take off, leave
[W] warp - must be on warp point.
[F] fire ranged weapon
[+] cycle targets

[SPACE] bar performs "common action" dock, warp, ?



[guest509]

I downloaded fine.

[akeley]

Well - it works!

I know it`s not much in a way of a feedback, but since there`s no actual death/consequence it`s hard to comment on "gameplay". Hopefully it`ll be great. What we have here now is a fine basis for a great SF roguelike. A finely working engine for an RL space opera - I didn`t encounter any visible bugs.  And for a non-coder and a SF nerd like a me it`s already a mindboggling thing, especially that you make it look sorta casually easy to write ;)

Now with the code side mostly out of the way the real challenge appears - balancing this thing. Infamously difficult task when it comes to open world/sandbox/infinite games. Also probably need to decide if you`d like to keep it simple (though it already has plenty of features) or add more`n more stuff (an interestingly related  tale from the olden days: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/issues/issue_237/7041-When-the-Stars-Align)

Some random things

-oxygen tanks could be bigger - now you`re forced to take off and re-land to explore everything. Though, maybe it even makes sense...
-not sure about the inertia flight mechanics - sort of get used to them quickly and they could be  more interesting than "normal" ones - but sometime can be also infuriating when you circle something endlessly and can`t get close.
-what are those lil` star things?

All the best, hopefully the next build will feature some violence`n consequence ;)

[IBOL]

Akeley, you have given me something to aim for as far as this years ARRP:
AI. I will get those violence and consequences into the game this week.
I think the flight mechanic will stay , especially since you should be able to upgrade around sector 10.
The little stars are just impassible terrain (stars).
I upped starting oxygen to 50 and it will scale up to 200 or 300 with better suits.
I did get shipwrecks into the game and they are explorable. They also have their own variety of space monsters.

I will also go for mouse support, but the week is usually busy.

I read that article. I had an Atari 800 and my friend had trs80

[IBOL]

well, definitely no mouse support, but enemies have AI now,
and you can die. then the game starts over.
made a lot of fixes in preparation for ARRP.
should be releasing "Approaching Infinity 0.0.2" on sunday, sept. 22, 2013.

[IBOL]

ARRP:
Approaching Infinity, A Roguelike Space Adventure.
http://forumfiles.thegamecreators.com/download/2487087

Pilot a spaceship of your choice through an infinite sci-fi universe, exploring planets, gathering resources and technology, battling space pirates, and picking sides in an interstellar war that's been developing since the fall of rome.

most important commands:
 numpad or hjklyubn to move
 right & left arrow keys scroll helpful menus
 [F] to fire, [ + ] to cycle targets
 [D] to dock, land, or leave

What's planned for the game?
 - a randomized crafting system for components and devices
 - Random Officers with individual skills to help you
 - More Devices with more powers
 - unlockable ship classes
 - elemental monsters(!)
 - more alien races (Gruff, Tentaculons, Limoquee, Vordalene, Firaxughinians)
 - unique monster powers, and more monsters.
 - several major quest lines (at least 1 for each of the alien races.)
 - 3-5 different ways to end the game, and countless ways to just keep playing.
 - any great ideas from players and supporters!

[jim]

Ooooooooooooooooh. 

[akeley]

What's planned for the game?
 - a randomized crafting system for components and devices
 - Random Officers with individual skills to help you
 - More Devices with more powers
 - unlockable ship classes
 - elemental monsters(!)
 - more alien races (Gruff, Tentaculons, Limoquee, Vordalene, Firaxughinians)
 - unique monster powers, and more monsters.
 - several major quest lines (at least 1 for each of the alien races.)
 - 3-5 different ways to end the game, and countless ways to just keep playing.
 - any great ideas from players and supporters!

See you in couple of years then

Nah, just kiddin, seeing what has been done already I believe you might be just the guy to pull this one off. Downloading now...

[IBOL]

my plan is 6 months, so that's probably 9. but I have prototyped a lot of that stuff already.
the biggest thing will be the quests. they require the most new functionality.
but I started keeping track of my progress right in the code over a month ago, and it's amazing to see how its grown. it helps to be able to say "a week ago, my monsters didn't even move. now they're chasing me around a new type of planet, and i'm using the mouse to move, which I just did two nights ago."
I can see that I can make real progress.
the biggest obstacle is coding vs. playing. I left myself a little note in the game:

(I never go to bed on time though)

[guest509]

Ah yes. Discipline. The most important side of the creative coin.

My lack of discipline keeps me bouncing from project to project, idea to idea, only ever finishing 7DRL's. Lame.

Keep up the good work IBOL.

[AgingMinotaur]

Ah yes. Discipline. The most important side of the creative coin.

My lack of discipline keeps me bouncing from project to project, idea to idea, only ever finishing 7DRL's.

Good most of us have decades ahead of us to finish our grand-scale projects, before we're called away by the Great RNG in the sky

As always,
Minotauros

[guest509]

Yeah seriously. My infinitely talkie and design hell project is that 'supers' one I was talking about over in development. I don't honestly think I'll ever truly finish it. But I have a TON of fun with it.

IBOL is different though. He actually gets shit done. I like that. I can talk it, but I can't walk it so well. IBOL does both. And the innovative things about Random Realms shows he's actually good at it too. Jealousy!

[IBOL]

Jo,
when I get lazy or depressed, I read that post.
You were a big inspiration at the start of this project.
Mutual respect, my friend!
thanks.

Here's what the game is looking like these days, thanks to David Gervais.