lamar's Forum Posts

  • Looks like LitteStain found your problem and yes always check your image points in animations or they will jump around like Mexican jumping beans which is not bad if that is the effect you are after lol!

    I usually center my first image point and then right click and click apply to all animations or apply to whole animation and that way they all have the same exact image point.

    You can also do that with added image points and for collision boxes.

  • Hello

    I'm playing around with Pseudo 3d. I've been using JoyfulDreamer's tutorial and have found it quite useful. after a little bit of trial and error I got it working nicely.

    But then I tried to add rotation and it does not seem to work. at first I tried setting the screen X and Y to the functions return values, but that did not work. Then I tried adding them to the non rotation values, but that seems to be worse.

    The issue I am perceiving is that strafing by the wall without rotation works. the closer you get the faster it disappears off screen. But rotation seems to only move it in a little circle around it's original position. and will not fly off screen rapidly if far away.

    thanks

    JoyfulDreamer's tutorial.

    https://www.scirra.com/tutorials/534/pseudo-3d-games/page-4

    link to the project

    https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/57156226/Pseudoquestion.capx

    Can you please upload and link to JoyfulDreamers original CAPX.

    It is no longer available on the game because of Scirra arcade issues and I would like to see that in order to help you and it may be of use in my games.

    JoyfulDreamer The CAPX is no longer working in the arcade and I would sure like a copy if possible?

  • OK here is the tutorial I wrote for this with a CAPX example:

    https://www.scirra.com/tutorials/9448/how-to-create-an-item-examination-screen

  • I use that in my point and click games.

    You can reposition an item sprite to the center of the screen and then enlarge it using the Size command for that sprite and then either when they click on the sprite or after a set time put the size back to what it originally was and put the sprite position back where it was.

    Example:

    On Note Clicked: Set Note Position X and Y (center of your layout is best)

    ............................: Set Size of Note Width and Height (larger dimensions for users to see)

    .............................: Wait 5 Seconds

    ..............................: Set Note Position X and Y ( where you want the note to return to)

    ..............................: Set Size Of Note Width and Height (Original dimensions)

    That works well for examining an object and you can also set the cursor sprite to a magnifying glass when it is over the object so they know to click on it and take a look and then reset the cursor to normal when the enlarged sprite is reset to original size and position.

    If you want it to look real fancy create a sprite of an examination frame and background and set that in the middle of your layout and make it invisible. When they click on an item to examine make that frame sprite visible and set your item sprite to the position of the frame and enlarge it.

    That make the item stand out so it can be seen. Then make the item sprite return to original size and position and make the examination frame invisible. Makes it look snazzy like the pro games.

    Guess I should do a tutorial on this huh?

    OK here is the tutorial I wrote for this with a CAPX example:

    https://www.scirra.com/tutorials/9448/how-to-create-an-item-examination-screen

  • > ...so I am now publishing on Itchio, Kongregate and other arcades because I don't feel the Scirra arcade is helping promote our games and has some unresolved server issues with CAPX files and loads get screwed up leaving my games in 404 limbo.

    >

    While I agree with most of your points I understand why they wouldn't want to implement Ads anyway.

    Even if there were ads you would still need to have at least 100 visitors to accidentally click on them to be able to get what? $0.03?

    I wrote a tutorial today explaining how game developers can make a lot more than 3 cents a click off banner ads you might be interested in:

    https://www.scirra.com/tutorials/9447/how-to-integrate-amazon-associate-ads-into-your-games

  • No takers? :/

    Well, I still think using the bullet behavior and On Line Of Sight and Pathway behaviors might be better to get that boomerang to return to you instead of falling off the screen but do what you are doing and maybe someone can get that boomerang to return every time.

    Best!

  • I have been integrating Amazon Associate ads in my newest games so thought I would write a tutorial explaining that process:

    https://www.scirra.com/tutorials/9447/how-to-integrate-amazon-associate-ads-into-your-games

    Game developers need to be aware there are many ways to monetize your games besides click banner ads that most people never click.

    One way I have found that brings in more revenue and is easy to implement and allows me to choose the content of ads in my games is using the Amazon Associate Program.

    I became an Amazon Associate when Amazon first launched the program and I have had a steady revenue using their ads in my media which includes on my website, integrated ads in ebooks and videos, and recently I have used them in games I publish.

    In order to use Amazon Associate services and ads you must join the Amazon Associates program and you will need a dedicated website in order to get approved to be an associate.

    You can get a free webpage from any service but I recommend you get your own domain name before applying to be an Amazon Associate and they will look over you website to make sure it meets their standards so don't put anything on your website that might not meet their approval.

    You will also need a bank account routing number for direct deposit and a SS number for IRS tax records.

    Once you are approved as an associate you can use the associate service to create banners and store fronts for your own website and the great thing about using Amazon ads is if someone clicks on a banner and buys ANYTHING you will get a percentage of the sale and the more clicks the higher that percentage will be and up to 10% on some purchases.

    I recently included a test Amazon ad in a game I am publishing and on the first click someone purchased a Japanese soaking tub for $167.51 and I made 8% of the sale or $13.40 off that one click and I did not advertise a tub. It was a game ad and they just decided to purchase something else on Amazon and I still get a percentage of any purchase they make after clicking on one of my ads.

    That is a lot better than 3 cents a click now don't you think?

    I use ads relevant to my games so in a Football game I use Amazon ads related to football and the ads may be to other Football games or to Football collectors items or memorabilia that my users might be interested in and inserting the ads is very simple and you can use rotating ads so the user will see a new ad each time they play.

    I also use ads for things that are very hot in the news and in my latest game I included an ad for Zelda: Breath of the wild and Horizon a PS4 game.

    Once you get your associate account you should spend some time on the associate page learning all the ad methods you can use but inserting ads is as easy as choosing an ad subject that would fit well with your game and then copying the image and link.

    You will set a sprite to the image and use the WEB Object to open the link in another window. Use another window so you don't interrupt your users game play. That window stays open even if they stop playing the game so the user can make a purchase or browse for other items of interest and any purchase made from that window will be recorded to your associate link and you get a percentage of the sale.

    Here is a picture of game ads I included in my last game:

    Here are the links I used from my associate account that open when you click those pics:

    AD1: http://amzn.to/2lAbbmV

    AD2: http://amzn.to/2mhFCgh

    Don't worry- the links will open in a new window on Amazon and no purchase required. Now look at the top of the browser search box and you will see my associate link included in that website link so I will get a percentage of any sale made after that link is clicked.

    I believe this is a great way for game developers that want to monetize games to make some extra revenue and my average Amazon revenue is around $300 a month and it goes up much more around the holidays or when a special or really hot product is included in my ads and I get a higher percentage because I have been an associate for quite awhile and Amazon rewards high yield associates.

    I included a simple CAPX so you can see how I set up my ads and you can start today by getting an Amazon Associate account!

    CAPX:

    https://static3.scirra.net/uploads/articles/9447/Amazon%20Associates%20Example.capx

  • > Particle effects require webgl be activated.

    >

    It's already activated !

    > Are you using a 3rd party plugin?

    >

    What do you mean ?

    Are you using the built in particles effects or a particle plugin you installed not created by Scirra?

  • When I want to cause damage I usually throw in some fire and explosions effects. Hell that looks good in any game lol!

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  • Particle effects require webgl be activated.

    Are you using a 3rd party plugin?

  • > The lack of quality kinda concerns me too... Feels like it hurts the more polished games by association.

    >

    > Perhaps some sort of "Testing / Experimenting" category would be the best way to go, since that's what most of those crappy games are, just someone testing something. Sometimes just testing the Arcade itself, really.

    >

    > And having that category ticked by default when someone uploads something may be a good idea too.

    >

    > I posted a kinda crappy game myself, to be honest, and I think it should not be competing in space with the more robust projects. I would use that "testing" category if there was one.

    >

    i like the idea... but its not something new... is been like this for years... and probably wont change.

    the system that could be followed is the newgrounds process... they have a very effective way of sorting low quality games from example/tutorials/and good games.

    but who has time for arcade page? its tedious and hard work ... i bet scirra team will fix it.. but its not a serious life threatening matter at this point, the opposite actually, it has good serving service as it is... more content, more pages indexed, more people typing game in google, more being driven here etc etc... simple SEO.

    but i do agree with you with the sorting of games.

    That is the direction I was heading with my arcade website to take just the best of the best Scirra arcade games and make a dedicated arcade to showcase those game but then the Scirra arcade crashed and every game threw a 404 error and I had to relink them and now CAPX files don't even work in the Scirra arcade.

    I have also tried to get them to remove their large ad on the load screen so visitors can see the game not the same Scirrra ad on every game but Ashley doesn't seem to think the games are what attracts people to the engine apparently. They could do a small ad and have the same effect.

    Anyway, there are other arcades out there and Scirra isn't the only engine in town and and if they can't adapt to a changing market I guess they will learn the hard way.

    Added: The other thing I have suggested is monthly game Jams to attract the best developers and if you look at many of the top games on Scirra arcade they were made for a Jam somewhere. Offer some free C2 and C3 licenses and cheap prizes like a Scirra T-shirt as prizes to attract people and developers will always flock to a good Jam.

  • Use on animation finished.

    On Sprite Animation "One" Finished: Set Sprite animation "Two"

    Do that for each animation.

    Or you could just put all the frames in on single animation since you want them to be played on after the other but if they have different time rates that may not work.

  • I want the player to move without having their angle changed, doesn't the 8dir behavior force that?

    If you don't want the angle changed set 360 smooth to off in the 8 direction settings.

    You can also set it to move in 4 directions or 2 directions.

    It can be used either way.

  • > I don't use plugins for something as simple as direction and movement controls.

    >

    > The plugin doesn't stop when it should and continues to try and go left and it does not address acceleration properly.

    >

    > My suggestion is get rid of the plugin and use the 8 direct commands which adjust for acceleration.

    >

    Ok, that makes sense but I would like full 360 movement so should I use the custom movement behavior? Or is there a better one to use for something like this?

    8 directions has a 360 in the settings if you are using a single sprite or you could use the car movement.

    Custom movements are not as well defined by acceleration as 8 direction but can be used.

  • You can also check for an overlap at offset.

    If player platform is overlapping jumpthru at, X=0 Y=4 (for instance) then (whatever action you're hoping for)

    Yup that works too but I was thinking if you create an invisible sprite to check overlap you could use it for many platforms that might be at different positions on the screen so no writing additional events to check overlap at offset.

    It is just something I use a lot in platformers and blank sprite triggers are very convenient.