Psy 350 Report post Posted January 19, 2015 Since I left Rockstar North in May last year I've been learning how to develop games for iOS using SpriteKit. I spent the first 3 months or so going through tutorials and a book which I bought and since then I've been working completely on my own game. I've built the whole thing from scratch, from the game engine to the mission script, animations etc. DuPz0r and DiO have done a brilliant job as my graphic designers and we're continuing to make good progress. Ideally I wanted the game finished within 6 months but it's a pretty huge job, especially for 1 developer and 2 part time designers so it's going to take maybe another 6 months but it's coming along well. I've amazed myself by just how much work goes into a game, even something as 'small' as this. I've been keeping a design doc up to date as we go and its coming on for 40 pages so far which gives you some idea of what's involved. It's not your traditional iPhone game (i.e. small levels, pick up and play, good for 2 minutes when you're on the toilet etc). It's a full - almost GameBoy style - platformer RPG. It features a turn based battle system similar to something you'd see in Pokemon and will feature a number of puzzles in each area as well as some hopefully fun mini-games. I'm hoping to have the full story take around 10-20 hours to complete (including all of the battles you'll have to do), which isn't bad for an iPhone game. If it's successful I'd like to re-develop it and release it on PS Vita or maybe the consoles as an indie game. Anyhow, it's yet another zombie apocalypse game. The basic story is that a Scientist wants you to help him find a cure by going out and getting samples from all of the different zombie forms. You'll have to battle them and kill them, then you can search their corpses for a specimen sample. You can also capture them in battle using a Lasso which will unlock additional data. The game is still very much a work in progress and the game engine is still under constant development, but quite a lot has been done so far and there is a lot of functionality coded and working including saving and loading data, an XP and ranking system for the hero, a full inventory system, a full dialog system, collectables, interactable items, containers which can be searched, multiple levels and sub levels, complex multi-layer UI and a pause menu system... I thought I'd let you guys know so you could offer any feedback on the development. I need to do a lot of work just to get the game into a state where it can be considered finished and fully working, but if you have any ideas which would make it a better game I'm all ears. I'm ideally targeting a release in June or somewhere around there, although having done nothing else but this for the past 9 months or so, I am going to eventually need to get a new job so the development might slow down a bit. Definitely want it finished and released by the end of this year. The game doesn't yet have a name, so if anyone can think of a cool and unique name for the game let me know. We have about 50 potential names but I'm not 100% happy with any of them yet. Working title is Not Another Zombie Apocalypse, although it's not completely unique. If anyone with design or audio skills wants to help out I'd be very happy for the assistance. There is potential financial reward for any work you contribute, but I can't guarantee anything until I see if the game makes any money when it launches. You would of course be listed in the credits either way. Here are some screenshots of the first few levels. I'll hopefully have a trailer style video to show off in the next few weeks. 12 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cuda 939 Report post Posted January 19, 2015 All I can say is that it looks brilliant! If I played any games and owned an iPhone, I'd be on the lookout for this! 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sheep 386 Report post Posted January 19, 2015 Looks awesome Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gtagrl 4317 Report post Posted January 19, 2015 It's coming along really well, Psy - looks like it'll be fun. What else will you need help with to finish up the game? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Psy 350 Report post Posted January 19, 2015 There's still a lot of assets which needs to be designed (level backgrounds, random items which can be placed in levels like mailboxes, trash cans etc) and a lot of UI icons for use in the pause menu. I've also done no audio or music for the game at all so far, so all of that needs to be done. Any ideas for missions or mini games would also be appreciated. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DiO 4730 Report post Posted January 19, 2015 I got a workshop at the studio I volunteer at regarding sound. I have adobe audition and my dad has a high quality mic he uses to record his guitar. I don't know how that will all pan out but I might be able to come up with some sounds. It will be interesting anyways. But I'm pretty stoked on how the game is coming along. Almost done the last bit of levels. Just need to work on some interiors, then going over each level with a bit more detail. can't wait to see where this goes. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DuPz0r 5361 Report post Posted January 19, 2015 I've enjoyed the character development and animation a lot, and am proud of how much effort has gone into the coding, graphic design, and environment design for this too. It will be worth the wait! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CaPn bOnEs 8527 Report post Posted January 19, 2015 dup's putting that college degree to work ... looks cool tho, i was watching the development in the gold forums, i'm rooting for much success!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GunSmith 2452 Report post Posted January 19, 2015 Level design looks amazing, even in-progress. I was taken back to San Andreas with that basketball court against the orange sky. <3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DuPz0r 5361 Report post Posted January 19, 2015 dup's putting that college degree to work ... As is DiO & Psy 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mercy 30 Report post Posted January 19, 2015 Well I don't have many transferable skills to help here but I'm sure there are plenty of people who would have something to give. If you wanted some testers you'll have plenty of those too including me. It looks great and has a nice hint of comedy which is fantastic. It's really nice to see you guys come together to make something like this. Hats off to you all. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CaPn bOnEs 8527 Report post Posted January 19, 2015 dup's putting that college degree to work ... As is DiO & Psy true … but aren't you the only one with an actual degree in game design? i thought psy was web, and dio graphics? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DiO 4730 Report post Posted January 19, 2015 dup's putting that college degree to work ... As is DiO & Psy true … but aren't you the only one with an actual degree in game design? i thought psy was web, and dio graphics? ya pretty much before the game I've never done pixel art. kinda just dove in head first. im getting pretty good at it 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
River 649 Report post Posted January 19, 2015 I may be able to help with music or with sounds. I have a pretty decent studio at my place. Let me know some specifics on what you want. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Massacre 7646 Report post Posted January 20, 2015 Hit a nigga up, if you ever need a writer for anything. Kind of need the work, since that webcomic never panned out. Seriously, fuck you guys. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Qdeathstar 1763 Report post Posted January 20, 2015 why don't you just write a game, massacre.... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Massacre 7646 Report post Posted January 20, 2015 Because then I'd have a script sitting around, not being used by anyone. Might as well be a Starbucks employee in LA. Or anyone else in LA, for that matter. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jizzy 633 Report post Posted January 20, 2015 There should be a level where the protagonist must fight his way through the IGTA Asylum. QD, Massacre, Dio, etc. as bosses. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Qdeathstar 1763 Report post Posted January 20, 2015 If you write the game massacre, I'll learn how to code on the iPhone...... Can't be that hard.. I was able to learn most of c++ in a few months Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CFO Charles 827 Report post Posted January 21, 2015 So Android port for non-iPhone users? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Psy 350 Report post Posted January 22, 2015 Very unlikely it'll be ported to Android. From everything I've read, it's pretty difficult to make any real money from apps on the android market and it's built exclusively in SpriteKit which is an Apple-only development tool. It would have to be rebuilt completely to be ported to Android. The same thing will also be the case for PSN, however in the event I need to redevelop the game for Playstation, then it's been successful and I'll probably hire other developers to help with it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Qdeathstar 1763 Report post Posted January 22, 2015 out of curiosity, why is it harder to get your money on Google apps? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Psy 350 Report post Posted January 22, 2015 Not entirely sure, I just know that Apple apps generally average up to 10x the revenue of similar apps on Android. A bit of info here http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2014/04/07/which-platform-is-most-profitable-for-mobile-app-d.aspx. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Qdeathstar 1763 Report post Posted January 23, 2015 hmm, Im thinking this is related to in app purchases... on the apple platform you have to connect your phone to q computer and download software to bypass the charges for coins or power ups for some games, where as on android, you can download an app that does it since it is a more open environment..... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rob 1390 Report post Posted January 23, 2015 I have absolutely no transferable skills that can help this project, except I'm an extremely cynical prick. I'll gladly pick holes in this amazing project. out of curiosity, why is it harder to get your money on Google apps?my guess is a lot of play store apps are free. Most on apple store are paid. Also I believe the selection criteria is much stricter on apples app store. Allowing quick knock offs of popular games to pop up on the google play store. I'd like to point out all of this is guess work. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
