Messages

1

Ask a Question / How to Create Visible Path / Arc a la Angry Birds?

« on: June 09, 2012, 10:40:37 pm »

In the game I am designing, the player would click on the Player-Character sprite, and the character's pose changes to a squatting pose. As long as the Left Mouse Button is held down, the pose is held, and a partial arc path appears, extending out from behind the sprite.

The arc shows the path the sprite will move when the Left Mouse Button is released.

Is there a way to create such an arc path in Stencyl, and, can that arc path be dynamically-adjustable as the player moves the mouse around?

2

Chit-Chat / Re: Leave School?

« on: June 07, 2012, 10:22:03 am »

Actually, I was of the mind that doing game development was not doing much to contribute to the world in a meaningful way.

After working in the industry, and then having tough financial times since 2008, I started feeling like wanting to be a game designer was a waste of my time. I started wondering if there wasn't a better use of my time and energies than thinking about designing games.

I became so disenchanted by the economy and by the games industry that I decided to quit it altogether.

This was followed by months of absolute despair, as I realized that if I wasn't going to be this anymore, what WAS I going to do? Nothing else gives me the joy that making and playing games does.

Slowly, I saw that creating diversions for people IS a noble endeavor, as it provides respite from the rigors of life. It IS okay to use game-playing as a coping mechanism. Life is hard and stressful and can be overwhelming.

So, why not make games for a living and try to make money off of that pursuit??

That has been my journey this past year, and I can attest to the fact that at least one person in this world HAS questioned the importance of game-making in his life.

Thankfully, I have made my way through the minefield of futility and am back to doing what I love most.

3

Chit-Chat / Re: Leave School?

« on: June 06, 2012, 10:03:59 am »

Irock, sweet sentiment. But there is no comparison to an extended period of full-time learning in a university environment.

I went to junior college, receive an AA. Went to UCLA, received Bachelors. Went to San Diego State, received Masters. Taught college and private post-secondary schools for 15 years.

What have I learned from thirty years of educational experience, and from running my own business while raising children?

That you learn a lot from LIVING IF you are smart enough to pay attention. But, you certainly don't learn a lot about a wide range of subjects simply by being alive and working full-time.

4

Chit-Chat / Re: Leave School?

« on: June 06, 2012, 09:27:43 am »

True, one can read and learn after college, but the reality is that Life gets in the way of learning.

The vast majority of people aren't diligent self-educators. And, once they start having children and full-time jobs, all free time is lost (unless disciplined time management techniques are employed).

So, the time one has at university to commit oneself to full-time learning is precious and rare.

5

Paid Work / Re: Need some help with level design.

« on: June 06, 2012, 01:26:07 am »

That is a pretty lame "theme." As it doesn't really communicate much.

BUT, given that that photo is all you have to go off of, how about a Weird and Wacky Playground?

6

Chit-Chat / Re: Leave School?

« on: June 06, 2012, 12:14:19 am »

Stay in high school and apply yourself even more. If you're THAT bored or intelligent, take Advanced Placement courses.

Then, go to college. Study something that will actually get you employed. Forget studying Game Design, etc. That is not worth paying for, as you can learn those things on your own, or through lower cost training programs.

While in college, STUDY. READ. APPLY YOURSELF. It will be the ONLY time in your life when you will ever again have the ability to learn so much within a relatively short amount of time.

What you learn, ALL OF IT, will eventually become useful later in life. In fact, life itself will become more enriched and open for possibilities than if you choose to be under-educated.

Are kids today having a hard time getting a job out of college? Sure. Most choose foolish majors. Others partied and slacked off during Summers instead of doing internships. ALL are being affected by this terrible economy and terrible political policies.

However, things will eventually improve, and jobs will return, and one must be prepared before being able to apply for them.

Education is never a waste, as long as you are pro-active about what you intend to do with it.

7

Paid Work / Superhero 2D Physics Game Needs Programmer and 2D Artist

« on: June 04, 2012, 01:47:40 am »

Hello, Stencylers!

I have written up the initial design for a 2D physics-focused puzzle game that incorporates rag doll functionality. I would like to form a collaborative trio in order to develop the game, and then release it for future profit.

I have written the game functionality, game character descriptions, and game level story arcs. The concept allows for extensive monetization.

I need an experienced PROGRAMMER who can implement the GUI, animations, and game play and enable me as the game designer to set up the "puzzles" in each game level. Programmer must be experienced at game coding in general, and proficient at physics coding in Stencyl.

I also need a 2D ARTIST who can create the GUI art, as well as, key frame poses for the superheroes' actions and reactions in the game. The style I am looking for ranges from cartoony / stylized to traditional comic book superhero style.

My background is as a professional game content designer and writer. I have also worked as a 3D modeler and animator for the past sixteen years. You can visit my web site http://www.eboncourt.com to see my work.

I am 1000% serious about this project and will only divulge specifics about the game to equally serious developers who first sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement. I will be asking the selected individuals to commit to completing a prototype of the game (which will be comprised of three fully functional game levels).

My intention is to present the prototype on Kickstarter in order to raise enough funds to pay for the development of the release version of the game (which will be 15 to 20 game levels). The trio will divide the raised funds accordingly to meet this goal. Division of revenue generated after release of the game will also be contractually agreed upon.

8

Chit-Chat / Re: How Robust are Physics in Stencyl for Non-Programmers?

« on: May 29, 2012, 01:23:17 am »

Collision Shapes, great. I didn't know the term. Glad to hear this is possible.

And, yes, I played with your rag doll example. It is very cool! I want to incorporate that type of functionality into the game I am making.

9

Chit-Chat / How Robust are Physics in Stencyl for Non-Programmers?

« on: May 28, 2012, 11:51:12 pm »

Hi. Someone on the Scirra Construct 2 game engine forum sent me a PM about Stencyl, and I came to visit.

The game I want to make is fairly simple but will incorporate a lot of rag doll physics with standard 2D physics. I'm not a programmer but will learn how to code using examples and by reading whatever I can find in Stencylpedia, etc.

I've been reading the Physics information on Stencylpedia, and wanted to know if you can place multiple collision points on a single sprite so that different physics actions occur when a particular collision point collides with another sprite.

Also, how well do physics-heavy games play using Stencyl?

10

Chit-Chat / Re: Introduce Yourself!

« on: May 28, 2012, 11:24:36 pm »

I'm a 3D animator and modeler in San Diego, California. I have worked as a game content designer for an educational company and as a card game designer for two publishing companies.

Now, I am interested in designing my own games and learning to program.