Piggy free 'em all (Puzzle Platform)

LINK UPDATED: 01/12/13

(made 1 new level, made some improvement, modified level selection menu)

Hi all, my name's Raffaele, I'm from Italy.

I begin this game just for fun, following the tutorial Building a platform game.

After some times and implementation, I decided to create a nice character and make my own graphics. With the help of some free software and the internet (because I like to draw but I'm not an artist), these are the results. It's my first game in Costruct2 but I think I made a decent work.

I lost my mind to implement the offline and online record, because array and sql was not so easy to understand for a noob like me. But they work fine now, after few tests and tries. Fortunately there are a lot of examples and tutorials in the Scirra website, with a lot of qualified people that share their knowledge: THANX! <img src="smileys/smiley4.gif" border="0" align="middle">

By the way, I create a puzzle platform, also for kids (I have one 4 years child who want to play my game all the evening! He's my best betatester, eheh!).

The things I have to change now are: the music (made with some loopy program) and some soundfx (like when Maialino "Piggy" land on the floor...).

I have to fix the "music off" button, it won't work well... damn! ;-)

Another "problem" is the font. I used a non-standard web font (Cooper black, like in the title screen) and not all the computers have that font, so they see a different font... I tried to use the font converter (in wuff), but it doesn't work (for now).

Here the link of the game (is in italian but easy to understand: "Gioca" means "Play", "Opzioni" is for the keys, and Credits... u know!):

Maialino libera tutti - The game

I also made a website, in italian language for now, because I'm not able to write decently in english (I mean without grammatical errors).

Here the link if u like to see:

Maialino libera tutti - The website

The name of the game is "Maialino libera tutti" that means "Piggy free 'em all" (the chickens).

My goal, is to distribute it for free with some paid advertising inside (I put the Scirra logo for free, <img src="smileys/smiley2.gif" border="0" align="middle"> ). If I can get some money in adverts, I can continue to make levels and spend some other time to make it for smartphones and tablets. I already implemented the touch part and it works fine with CocoonJS (about 60fps on iPad2 and 30fps on iPhone4). But it should be implemented better because it crash randomly... and I'm not so skilled to resolve the issue... <img src="smileys/smiley11.gif" border="0" align="middle">

I just begin to advertise my game through some italian site, but I would like to distribute also on Vuf (the planet of the Maialino's enemy, eheh). Maybe if there's someone skilled in this, let me know.

Keys: left and right arrow, up arrow for jump, Z to zoom out and see the discs (spin).

Objectives: free the chicken (find the key, bring the balloon). To increase point, get all the 3 discs and find the secret (that is in a secret and hidden place).

Good luck with the first 4 levels!

And let me know what do u think guys. But don't be too hard... <img src="smileys/smiley9.gif" border="0" align="middle">

PS: the lever in the game... is for move big wooden materials... I put the description on the website, but it's in italian!

EDIT: added some pic of the previous version...

<img src="http://maialino.comlu.com/images/Livello1a-large.jpg" border="0">

<img src="http://maialino.comlu.com/images/Livello3a-large.jpg" border="0">

After 144 views and no reply, I think I made a bad game... I was so satisfied for the results, it's so bad?

If someone can tell me what's wrong... <img src="smileys/smiley3.gif" border="0" align="middle" />

I think that it has much room for improvement, first I would add some more time for refurbishing the gameplay and its mechanics. You should also look into the graphic style for some platforms. I came to a problem where I couldn't see a ledge in the tree and was stuck for 30seconds.

I think you can manage to clearly mark where to go (at least in the early levels), and I think you can make the levels more "special" than they are now.

You should stop thinking about earning something on ads, and think about removing some of the signs.

But I can see where you are heading. If you manage to introduce some new and interesting gameplay mechanics, fix some issues with graphics and you fix some minor problems with gameplay, I think you can make a great and beautiful game.

I am looking forward until your next update to see what changes you have made, and what you are planning to do in the time to come. The future of this game is in your hands.

You can do it big as many before you!

-TheNormalGeek, signing off.

Oooooh! Thank'you TheNormalGeek! <img src="smileys/smiley1.gif" border="0" align="middle" />

Finally someone who tell me what is wrong with my game!

So, the major "problem" is that this game is too normal, right? Ok, in these days i'll try to add some improvements... I don't have added other things because i was thinking it was too heavy for smartphone, but at this point, better fix all without think to export to CocoonJS.

I already "highlighted" the semi-invisible tree ledge and now is much better. I also removed some ads signs.

I'll keep this Post updated when I fix some other things.

Tx again and I'm open mind for other suggestions! <img src="smileys/smiley2.gif" border="0" align="middle" />

Hi, it's cool, good attention to details like the close blurry vegetation. Sometimes it is not clear what is part of the game and what is just a background, like those platforms in the trees, and the goal in each level is not percetible right away.

good job.

ilraffo

Not a bad game at all! Has nice graphics, and it's a cute little game. I'd just make the exit area a bit more obvious and would try to improve the menus.

Wow ! great game, great intro, art work/graphics but an usual platformer, way better than some other games in scirra arcade. btw, what language the game is it in :) ?

Decent graphics, could be better if it had more consistency <img src="smileys/smiley1.gif" border="0" align="middle" />

Good work!

Thanx to all! <img src="smileys/smiley4.gif" border="0" align="middle" />

I get ur suggestions to make it more consistent and more "platform style", take a look at the changes here:

dl.dropbox.com/u/17088838/Maialino16/index.html

I think I have highlighted more the platform and I make a clear indication to the exit (and when u can exit). Added other HUD details (how many discs found, treasure found, points) and a thing that can't miss in any platformer game: collect STARS! (in this case, APPLE!).

I'll keep you informed when I finish (I have to improve the menu, change the points assignemt and I wanna remove the possibility to die or lose energy... the truck can only push away the piggy).

Stay tuned and thanx again (I'll put u all in my Credits, ;-)

Ah, the game is in Italian! <img src="smileys/smiley36.gif" border="0" align="middle" />

Ok guys, I think with your suggestions I made the game a little better. The apples make it more consistent (when I test it, I was forced to get them all!), improved the menus (I'm very happy for the "results" menu, pick some inspiration from the app "Where's my water", ehehe), fixed the music off problem (now ur choose it's stored in the array, so when u play and turn it off, it will remains always off!).

If I can, I'll make new levels with pushing platform and so on...

I have to make some original tracks for the music... but for now doesn't matter.

Piggy free 'em all - Updated version (12-22-2012 - Post apocalypse day)

Ok, let's save your records! XD

Thanx again and Merry Christmas to all! <img src="smileys/smiley10.gif" border="0" align="middle">

<img src="smileys/smiley30.gif" border="0" align="middle">

Just some new comments:

Some places are "invisible" because you can just jump high enough to reach the spot.

Some apples are just there for backtracking (feels like a chore).

I think you should at least in the first few levels make the apples "guide" you to the exit not just spam them everywhere on the screen instead of breaking the immersion with arrows and/or pointers.

Very nice graphics.

Should do something about the graphics in the titlescreen/menu?

When you get the key, please let us pick up the balloon at the same time.

New game mechanic: While holding ballon you can "glide" when falling.

These are just some minor improvements that I am sure you are going to do something about sooner or later, but just wanted to let you know ;)

Hi TheNormalGeek! I like the idea of the apples that guide the pig through some sort of path, will be the next modification.

Other apples are put random, just for points.

I don't understand the invisible places you mean, if you press the "Z" key you can zoom out and see where to jump...

Don't you like the title screen graphic?

I'll think for picking balloon and key at the same time... but it change some things that I have to reconsider...

I like also the idea of glide with balloon. I can do a lot of things with this "improvement", but I also change some things in the levels. Todo list! <img src="smileys/smiley2.gif" border="0" align="middle" />

In these Christmas days I can't really go ahead, hope next year!

Happy new year to all! [<:o)]

I love your game. Despite it being in a different language! I like the art style, and the background are just great in my opinion. Just when I played it, my FPS fell to a crawl and I couldn't experience the full potential of your game.

Tx Waffle! I'm happy you like my game! <img src="smileys/smiley4.gif" border="0" align="middle" />

For the fps, what kind of configuration do you have? Have u an accelerated video card? In my game I use "only" 4 layers (the 5th is the hud), so it isn't so heavy I think... and the only big sprites are the background (that I have separated in smaller parts). Btw, I tryed it on an old notebook and is not very fluid, is about 25/30 fps. But I don't know how to increase its performance, I'm not a programmer, sorry... <img src="smileys/smiley5.gif" border="0" align="middle" />

<italian mode on> IlRaffo... ma non sarai mica quel "raffo" di "quella rivista di videogiochi?"... in ogni caso fa piacere vedere un po' di italiani qui nella community.

Il gioco ? bello, il camioncino del terzo livello mi ha fatto bestemmiare non poco <img src="smileys/smiley1.gif" border="0" align="middle" />.

Migliorerei un po' la schermata di selezione del livello che, secondo me, non ? all'altezza dell'ottima grafica durante il gioco.

</italian mode off>

Anyway, Maybe it's my PC but the game is strangely slow on firefox... no problems (as usual) on chrome.