New guy here. Sharing my cab-friendly homebrew game

[slhomme]

Hi everyone!

First off, just wanted to say thank you all for this amazing forum. This is my first post, but I've actually been following it since last summer. It has been a HUGE help in building my first cab.  Here's a photo of the build (very inspired by the popular "Taitorama" from koenigs.dk.



I'll start a project topic very soon for more details about it.

One of the reasons that motivated me to build this, was to play on my own homebrew games. So I've just created a first game, and thought I'd share it with you all.  Nothing revolutionary, but it's pretty fun and very "arcade" spirit... and of course 100% cab friendly. Oh yeah and you can customized a little bit of it (changing the letters that the spaceship has to catch)!

It's configured to use the defaults MAME control settings, but you can change it to whatever you want. Personally, I included the game in my custom MALA game list so it launches/plays exactly like any other MAME games.

So I'm very pleased to share it with everyone here and hopefully you'll enjoy it



[youtube][/youtube]

You can download it over here. Should work all fine on Win vista, 7, 8 (I haven't tested XP though):
 http://thinkmojo.com/?wpdmdl=4380

There's also an Android version available on Google Play for those interested (free too):
http://bit.ly/LlCLgp.

Any feedback / ideas to improve the game are very welcome!

Cheers.

[Generic Eric]

Thanks for making your game available on the WIN platform and android.  I look forward to trying both.  If you have any pictures of your build progress or any tips to share, do so.  Folks love that.

[Le Chuck]

This game is FUN!  The music track is catchy the baddies chase you down, nice retro feel with some modern touches.  Good game man!

I'd like to see it vertical, seems like it's begging for a vertical orientation for some reason.  Awesome sauce tho, really fun!

[Slippyblade]

This game is FUN!  The music track is catchy the baddies chase you down, nice retro feel with some modern touches.  Good game man!

I'd like to see it vertical, seems like it's begging for a vertical orientation for some reason.  Awesome sauce tho, really fun!

Damn it, now I need to try it.

[pbj]

Best BYOAC member ever

 

[ark_ader]

Is the source code available?

[hsr]

Should work all fine on Win vista, 7, 8 (I haven't tested XP though)

Very cool.  Didn't work in XP for me though.

[mgb]

Thanks for the game.
I checked out the video, looks great. Its kinda like if bullet hell shmups were available in '78.
I will try it out soon

[Le Chuck]

Player ship and some baddies could be smaller, the big ships are fun tho!

[yotsuya]

Awesome project! Good job! 

[Generic Eric]

I don't know if this is practical, but how about global high scores?

This game is FUN!  The music track is catchy the baddies chase you down, nice retro feel with some modern touches.  Good game man!

I'd like to see it vertical, seems like it's begging for a vertical orientation for some reason.  Awesome sauce tho, really fun!

Vertical, yes please.

[EMDB]

Great game and a very catchy soundtrack.

Some requests:
- configurable resolution.
- option to disable scanlines (I have a hardware scanline generator)
- 1 coin = 1 credit.
- use points i.s.o. time.
- You can only use 3 characters although the predefined one are longer? It's not clear how many you can enter upfront.
- '.' and a '-' would be nice to enter initials.

[adder]

Should work all fine on Win vista, 7, 8 (I haven't tested XP though)

Very cool.  Didn't work in XP for me though.

here worked fine for me in XP

ps. nice work author

[hsr]

Should work all fine on Win vista, 7, 8 (I haven't tested XP though)

Very cool.  Didn't work in XP for me though.

here worked fine for me in XP

ps. nice work author

Updated my DirectX and all is working fine now in XP.

[DaveMMR]

Very cool - worked with UltraStick + 3 buttons without any issue.
As others have already said, vertical orientation option and points instead of time-based (plus three lives - I'm not a big fan of these "one hit and done" games of late.)

[slhomme]

Hi All,

Thanks for the feedback, glad to hear that people like it. Here's a quick list that tries to address everyone's feedback.

- Cab build progress
I will share photos/tips of the progress soon in a new topic.

- Vertical orientation
Will need a little bit of work, and might require some adjustments in the game play too (because more real estate in  the screen = easier to avoid enemies, so I may need to add more enemies etc, change ships speed etc)

- Is the source code available
Not yet, but I'm considering open-sourcing it. Just need to clean up the code and replace the music (which is a stock music that I can’t redistribute as is).

- Didn't work in XP for me.
Make sure to update your DirectX and also update directX 9. Some applications and games require DirectX 9. However, Windows 7 is installed with a more recent version of DirectX (11). go to the DirectX End-User Runtime Web Installer webpage and follow the instructions to install DirectX 9 and receive updates to DirectX 9 and previous versions of DirectX. http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=159853

- Global high scores
I’d love to do this, just need to find a reliable way to set this up. Might take me a little bit of time. In the mean time, don't hesitate to share your highscore!! I'm sure everyone would love to compare with other playes (I DO!) My personal best time is 3:09.

- Configurable resolution
Will work on it.

- Option to disable scanlines (I have a hardware scanline generator)
Will add the option to disable it.

-  1 coin = 1 credit.
Will add the option define how much coins is a credit.

- Use more than 3 letters for highscore names + include special characters.
Will work on that too.

-  Points instead of time-based
Could be interesting, although I really like it with a time base system. Might add the option to choose between time vs points

- 3 lives
Not sure about lives, it will change the game dynamics quite a lot, so I need to think about this (and how it could be implemented).

[Le Chuck]

Vert doesn't add any screen space, you just trade the current lateral maneuver for vert.  It's got a real shump feel to it so that's why I was recommending vert.  Look forward to the updates.  I like that stock music lol.  It's good stuff. 

[yotsuya]

I kind of like the time thing. Seems very old school to me.

[EMDB]

I get this error message on my cab running Windows 8.1:

############################################################################################
FATAL ERROR in Vertex Shader compilation
ShaderName: shader0

D3DXCompile failed - result

at gml_Object_O_Shader_Draw_0
############################################################################################

It works fine on my Desktop also running Windows 8.1 

[slhomme]

Try to update your directX 9. Some applications and games require DirectX 9. However, Windows 7 or 8  is installed with a more recent version of DirectX (11). go to the DirectX End-User Runtime Web Installer webpage and follow the instructions to install DirectX 9:

http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=159853

It's a fast and easy, and should fix the issue. (And don't worry DirectX9 will run alongside your DirectX11 without any issue.

Let us know if it worked (pretty sure it will).

[EMDB]

Try to update your directX 9. Some applications and games require DirectX 9. However, Windows 7 or 8  is installed with a more recent version of DirectX (11). go to the DirectX End-User Runtime Web Installer webpage and follow the instructions to install DirectX 9:

http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=159853

It's a fast and easy, and should fix the issue. (And don't worry DirectX9 will run alongside your DirectX11 without any issue.

Let us know if it worked (pretty sure it will).

Thanks! I assumed Windows 8 having DirectX 11 should be able to run this but indeed the DirectX 9 installation fixed the issue.

I added your game to the MAME wheel of my HyperSpin setup, created a preliminary theme and wheel image and adapted my HyperMap tool (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,134128.msg1382552.html#msg1382552) to be able to launch Space_Commander.exe i.s.o MAME when the game is selected.

[Slippyblade]

Ye god I suck at this.  My best so far is about 0:45...  The fact that the enemies can come in at arbitrary points of the playfield is what is screwing me. I think I'm to use to predictable waves.

[DaOld Man]

Welcome to the forum!!
Thanks for the game, it is pretty neat.

[Felsir]

- Global high scores
I’d love to do this, just need to find a reliable way to set this up. Might take me a little bit of time. In the mean time, don't hesitate to share your highscore!! I'm sure everyone would love to compare with other playes (I DO!) My personal best time is 3:09.

Check out https://parse.com/docs/ I've used it and it works great. Easy to implement. Store the scores in a parse-object and it saves it in the cloud. You can retrieve parse object with a linq-query like request. The site mostly targets mobile devices, but anything with an internet connection can access it. It's free for up to 1 million requests per month.

[pbj]

This forum will get your head all screwed up with all the nitpick feature requests.  You won't please everyone.

[yotsuya]

This forum will get your head all screwed up with all the nitpick feature requests.  You won't please everyone.

Truer words never spoken.

It's cool you want to accomodate requests, but remember, it's your program.

[slhomme]

So, I made a small update to the game to include some of the requests (I've updated the download link in the original post):

- Turn off/on scanlines (settings.ini)
- 1 coin = X credit (settings.ini)
- Made it more clear that highscore name is 3 letters only.

If you make changes to the settings.ini file, you might need to reload it while in the game (press "0" in the title screen, then "shift").

I started working on a Vertical version... but so far it's not a success, I have some few issues, I'll need some time to see what I can do about it.

I think next on my list is the global highscore, I really want this one! I'll have a look at  https://parse.com (thanks Felsir, for the suggestion).

I added your game to the MAME wheel of my HyperSpin setup, created a preliminary theme and wheel image and adapted my HyperMap tool (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,134128.msg1382552.html#msg1382552) to be able to launch Space_Commander.exe i.s.o MAME when the game is selected.

Looks really nice!!

In the mean time, don't hesitate to share your highscores

[zanna5910]

I think its really fun.  Great job man.

If you could create a demo video for download and include a logo so I can add to my hyperspin, that would be awesome!  If someone else has one, let me know.

[EMDB]

So, I made a small update to the game to include some of the requests (I've updated the download link in the original post):

- Turn off/on scanlines (settings.ini)
- 1 coin = X credit (settings.ini)
- Made it more clear that highscore name is 3 letters only.

Thanks! I think you should make global hiscores also optional. Not many cabs have internet access...

I think its really fun.  Great job man.

If you could create a demo video for download and include a logo so I can add to my hyperspin, that would be awesome!  If someone else has one, let me know.

Here's my Hyperspin theme. It also contains a wheel art. It's not very fancy, I'm not a graphics artist...

[zanna5910]

I think its really fun.  Great job man.

If you could create a demo video for download and include a logo so I can add to my hyperspin, that would be awesome!  If someone else has one, let me know.

Here's my Hyperspin theme. It also contains a wheel art. It's not very fancy, I'm not a graphics artist...

Thanks buddy!  I'll grab it when I get home tonight.

As far as brainstorming, it would be really cool if some spaceships only went in a pattern as well vertically down the screen, but could aim to shoot at you.  That way you had chasers and flyers taking up the screen.  I think its really fun as is, and the toon is really catchy.

[thrasherx]

The download link is dead.  Any chance we could get a new upload?

[slhomme]

The download link is dead.  Any chance we could get a new upload?

I just updated the link, you should be all fine now. (it's a direct link the zip file).   

[wp34]

The Windows link doesn't appear to be working.  Any chance you could update this?

[taylormadelv]

The Windows link doesn't appear to be working.  Any chance you could update this?

+1 but the Android version is fun!

[wp34]

The Windows link doesn't appear to be working.  Any chance you could update this?

+1 but the Android version is fun!

It agree.  Controls are tricky do to on a touch device but slhomme has figured it out with this game.

[Le Chuck]

I still have this saved (win copy) if the link is deadskis, I can help a brutha out. 

Still desperately waiting for a vertical oriented version, or the option to rotate it.  That would make this the bees knees. 

Was playing this a few days ago, really enjoy it. 

[DeLuSioNal29]

Link is dead again.  Anyone have it?

Thanks in advance!

D

[slhomme]

Hey guys,

Sorry about the dead link... I just updated it in the original post, so you should be able to downlaod it again!

Glad to hear you guys enjoy the game. One day I'll get back to it and make other modes (2-palyers, story etc) and possibly a vertical version too. Just need to find the time...hopefully before summer time!

Cheers.

[Le Chuck]

and possibly a vertical version too.
Cheers.

[wp34]

Hey guys,

Sorry about the dead link... I just updated it in the original post, so you should be able to downlaod it again!

Glad to hear you guys enjoy the game. One day I'll get back to it and make other modes (2-palyers, story etc) and possibly a vertical version too. Just need to find the time...hopefully before summer time!

Cheers.

Thanks!  I really enjoy the Android version and my cabinet wasn't done when you posted the Windows version originally.  I'm really looking forward to playing this on my cabinet.