Rock Run: A Game in Development

[Dale]

So anyways, during my current between contracts period, I've decided to create a little casual game that I can whip up, chuck on the Windows Store, and maybe make a couple of bucks to keep some money coming in.

The game is a BoulderDash style game (collect the diamonds, avoid boulders, bugs and other nasties) and has only a couple of simple game rules.  In the last week I've been able to get the structure of the game up and running, including loading of text file levels and settings.  This makes it much easier moving forward.

You'll notice a couple of things:
1. My graphics is the crap.  Hey, I'm a coder not an artist.  :p
2. The game is at what you could call an "alpha" state.  it's a game, but not complete, tested or polished.
3. Yellow box is start, red box is finish (opens when enough diamonds are collected) and star is currently player.

Here's some screenshots of the current game:

[Buster's Uncle]

Would you like something like "Game Developer" or "BBR Games" for a user title?  Promotion, y'know?

Would you be looking for any help w/ graphics, or are you thinking to keep it quick & simple and yours. all. yours?

What timeframe do you anticipate completing this in?  What sort of profit would satisfy you, and how likely do you think that is to happen?  I don't know anything about the Windows Store...

[Geo]

Sounds like the kind of game for a portable device, but you say it is intended for the Windows Store? For microsoft-based computers thus?

[Dale]

Would you like something like "Game Developer" or "BBR Games" for a user title?  Promotion, y'know?

"Indie Dev" would be cool. 

Would you be looking for any help w/ graphics, or are you thinking to keep it quick & simple and yours. all. yours?

Well for assets I was thinking of crowd sourcing this, then pay a local to come up with the goods.  But if there's offers to give it for free, I ain't gunna say "no". 

What timeframe do you anticipate completing this in?  What sort of profit would satisfy you, and how likely do you think that is to happen?  I don't know anything about the Windows Store...

Simply put, it'll be done when it's done.  ASAP preferably.  It should be finished as far as I can get it (ie: to asset polishing) in the next few weeks.  As for money, any money would satisfy me.  That'd be an improvement on my current state.   

Sounds like the kind of game for a portable device, but you say it is intended for the Windows Store? For microsoft-based computers thus?

Well it can be for tablet or PC.  Seen plenty of games like this on PC.  BTW, Windows Store caters for Windows tablets too don't ya know? 

Anyways it's not really a choice option.  Whilst I can android and iOS it up, XNA (Windows) is my primary area.

[Buster's Uncle]

Well I'm willing to put some serious effort in, if my art skillz meet your needs, in return for a professional credit and you promising to remember who yer buddy is if this makes you rich.  All rights ceded to you completely.  Let me know what you need.

Gonna title you now.  Enjoy.

[Dale]

Cool.  Full credits in the game of course.  That's a gimme.  And if I make a $million I'll remember who got me there.   

Art as you can see from the screenshots:
- boulder
- dirt
- bedrock (hard, can't break through)
- brick wall (hard, but can be broken by explosions)
- two coloured doors (start and finish)
- player icon
- 4 frame explosion animation (make 4 separate pngs)

All gfx 32x32 pixels, png, with alpha transparency.

[Buster's Uncle]

Deal.

Hmmm.  I need to look over your screenies and think about it first, but if I can wrap my head around your needs -and as a smilie artist of some proven accomplishment, I think I can do good work at that size- this ought to be reasonably easy.  Naturally, I'll need to create from scratch so you can't run into problems with that part of IP rights; I like to cheat and adapt pre-existing work when I can, but no problem.

I'll try to have you a first installment in the next 24 hours.

[Dale]

Had a thought.  Instead of "bed rock", I'd rather have steel with rivets.  That will make it stand alone aside from all the other tiles.  This particular tile is supposed to be the game border, so it's function is to hold everything in.

I'll link to build downloads when I can so you guys can test it out.

[Buster's Uncle]

Sounds good.

A steel girder segment is probably much easier to do and make look like something than bedrock, so all upside.

[Buster's Uncle]

BTW?  I'm going to end up having to MAKE time for this.  I haven't gotten anything substantial done in days, only reading and sending PMs.  I've got substantial things in need of doing onsite, but there's never enough time - something I'm sure you're familiar with.  Heavy rests the head...

I'm committed to making this a priority, though.  Content is king, and this is that.  And so, substantial.

[Buster's Uncle]

I'm not satisfied with the shininess to look metallic, but this will at least give you something to play with while I figure that out.

If you can rotate, this will serve at least for now - otherwise, let me know and I'll post a horizontal straight and three more corners, which will take seconds apiece to do.

Are there color limitations and I'm overthinking it?

Copyright 2014, BBR Games

[Buster's Uncle]

Is this a little more like it?  Warmer or colder?

Copyright 2014, BBR Games

[Buster's Uncle]

I believe you can tell what this is.  Would segments w/ irregular edges and corners out to help simulate digging be useful?

Copyright 2014, BBR Games

[Buster's Uncle]

Alternate take...

Copyright 2014, BBR Games

[Buster's Uncle]

Sorta thing you had in mind for doors?

Copyright 2014, BBR Games