SPACELORE - WIP Asteroids homage - Godot Community Forums

SPACELORE - WIP Asteroids homage

megaflop

Hello, World! I'm new to godot, and am very pleased with it so far. As a first project, I'm making an Asteroids-esque game. It's not finished, but playable. I'd even go so far as to say that it's fun. It starts out slow, but usually by level five it's pretty exciting. I'll leave it here for your entertainment. Please let me know what you think!

itch: <https://megaflop.itch.io/spacelore>

Edit: current itch page text

Keyboard: WASD + V

Gamepad: Stick/D-pad + B

Shoot all of the asteroids to earn points and progress to the next level. Collecting powerups will help by improving your speed, firepower, and even giving you a deflector field!

This game is still in active development, more features will be added soon.

In 3264, invaders from the BLACK NEBULA entered the milky way galaxy, and atomized the Zorastrian homeworld in the Galactica Incognita. To meet this new threat, Earth proposed the formation of a military alliance. Arcturus was the first to join, and the GALACTIC COALITION was formed.

But, no sooner had the Coalition fleet assembled at Tau Ceti, than an invader fleet emerged from a wormhole, and scattered the coalition, causing heavy casualties.

Earth is now defensless. In a last-ditch attempt to save his homeworld, an earthling commander directs his squadron back through the same wormhole, hoping to find the Invader's COSMIC CONTROLLER, the directing mind of the enemy, and destroy it.

As a ship captain in that squadron, you represent the last hope of Earth, and the Galaxy.

megaflop

7892

I really like the style. The controls are a bit difficult at the beginning but you can get used to it. Its a pretty good project even if you would not be new to Godot!

The only problem I have is that there are black bars at the sides so you tp before you reach the screen/monitor border. Maybe allow different aspect ratios?

And if you want check out https://itch.io You could upload your game there as a browser game (you might get more people to test the game > more feedback) and if you dont want to make the game visible to everyone you can create a private link.

megaflop

Thanks! I took your advice, it's on itch: <https://megaflop.itch.io/spacelore> Yeah, the black bars need to go. What is the most annoying part of the controls? Is it the slow turn speed?

7892

@megaflop said: What is the most annoying part of the controls? Is it the slow turn speed?

Its not annoying, just difficult. I think its the general way the ships moves. Its quiet hard to move in the direction you want because you will still have sideways movement. Dont know if it would help (and could also just be my personal preference) but maybe rotate the ship with your mouse (look to mouse position)?

And if you have problems with the lag after the first explosion is spawned and you use particles: Add one particle instance to your camera and make it run instantly. Set the scale really small (to hide the particles). But they still need to be inside the cameras view!

megaflop

Update! Multiple minor improvements (mostly refactoring code, so nothing you can 'see') and a few new features:

press 1-4 to change ship skin
scrolling starfield background
asteroids will bounce off each other soon after being spawned
powerup graphics improved

megaflop

Also, about the controls: I guess it's an integral part of the genre for me, personally I like the challenge of having to plan out when to turn, thrust, stop, and fire. However, making maneuvering simpler for players who don't like the control scheme is something I want to do. In future, I want to make multiple ship types with unique weapons and attributes, maybe one of them will have an 'auto-brake' feature for those players.

7892

@megaflop said: Also, about the controls: I guess it's an integral part of the genre for me True. The more I play the more I like the controls. Its sometimes "frustrating" but its a core of the game.

What do you mean with "asteroids will bounce off each other soon after being spawned"?

megaflop

Well, Asteroids were always supposed to bounce off of each other, but there were some interesting bugs that happened if asteroids spawned in the same position. So I added a kind of 'arming mechanism', where asteroids will not bounce off of each other until they are no longer entangled. My solution is buggy, however (on exit area 2d -> 'arms' asteroid). A better solution would be to count the number of asteroids it is touching and arm when the count is zero.

megaflop

In the works: - zooming starfield - start screen

megaflop

Update!

Starfield now expands like the windows '98 screensaver
Every third level has a random starfield scroll direction
Added a start screen
Two unique ship types can be played by selecting them at the start screen

7892

The start screen looks nice. And I like how different both ships are. I prefer the second ship because of the centered gun. Is there a weapon overheat mechanic? Only problem I have is that wasd and v are hard to control with only one hand.

megaflop

Yes, there is an overheat/recharge mechanic for the red ship's gun. Putting a bar in the hud that shows the weapon charge level is on the to-do list. I'm bringing back spacebar. 'V' as the fire key was in preparation for two-player mode: If two players had to use the keyboard, one would use WASD+V, the other Arrows+P.

Erich_L

I really like it! I was able to get to lvl 6 on my second try. I didn't seem to notice any asteroids colliding and changing direction- but I wanted to. You made the ship hard to control which was great, but ships do usually have backward thrusters, I would think having small ones that let the ship slow down a wee bit when you press s shouldn't hurt anything too much, else the player is spending around a third of their time trying to find the exact opposite direction of their movement- still very fun the way it is though IMO.

megaflop

Update!

Some things have been cut temporarily because they are broken, others, just cut. Many new features have been added and internal changes made. Most noticeably:

blue ship can now strafe (hold fire button)
you can hit asteroids and not die (don't try doing this very often)
speed powerups removed

And there's more, but, really, It's more fun when it's a surprise.

Erich_L

I think just what comes up in the next level is already good enough of a suspenseful surprise. I'm playing to slay roids and fly around, not spend precious seconds to try and evaluate the effect of a power up. I'd appreciate a text tool tip that flashes at least the name of the powerup when you get one.

Edit after playing again: Double thumbs up to the changes! Slowing down is really nice and I love the engine fumes! I like them so much I think smaller ones should come from the front of the ship when slowing down =D

Zireael

I love the pixelated look - you really pulled this off <3