MMLL Development Diary

Lobo · **Reply #630 on:** October 16, 2009, 05:39:23 pm

Quote from: Flash on October 16, 2009, 08:04:42 am

That is strange? It would also affect the ghostbusters level with the car? Hmm I will investigate

and RIP as well.. This could only happen on a right conveyor hmm

Nope, it doesn't affect the ghostbusters conveyor nor car, they both work fine.
For a RIP, no flipping in my case at all, just those two levels that I've mentioned, the tombstone doesn't slide, oddly.

flash · **Reply #631 on:** October 16, 2009, 06:35:24 pm

I found the slippy sliddy bug on YF - fixed.

RIP PIR - this was fixed a while ago, but... I was worried i had missed something in the conveyor code.. Phew!

flash · **Reply #632 on:** October 16, 2009, 06:40:52 pm

Quote from: spacefractal on October 16, 2009, 04:02:46 pm

Can it show some cheat modes hided somewhere in the bonus levels as eastereggs or messages?

Howover any cheatmodes enabled should disable the hiscore at all (no possible to write your name on endgame).

Some of these cheats could example been (to start with, these boing):
- Unlimited Lives
- Unlimited Air
- No collision
- Level Skip
- Speed (if possible)
- Spectrum/Sam Graphics on all levels, except bonus levels (retro style, even I like Lobo graphics very much) using spectrum(oldies.xm music.

I added more instruments to the intro for egyptian to trying to hide the clicks very much as possible. its only way I can do and works pretty fine. still cliks, not not really annoyring.

I think cheats will be devulged(?) only when say, WW is complete and you complete a Bonus level? Or something like that?

Not sure about adding more cheats, but.. A turbo mode (Lobo liked that) may be quite fun?

Adding and grabbing all the original graphics for the LL levels would be too much time for a retrograde step IMHO. We do have levels with original graphics in the bonus levels (Spectrum and Sam) so that is enough nostalgia i think - though it is open to votes if wished?

Thanks for your work on the Music and your tireless effort mate - really appreciate it!! Can't wait for Superheroes..

Lobo · **Reply #633 on:** October 16, 2009, 07:01:04 pm

TurboTurboTurboHahaha! Yes, that would be swell as an add on, if possible.

Umm..what's 'Superheroes'?

flash · **Reply #634 on:** October 16, 2009, 07:18:27 pm

It is the completion music for WW.. From Rocky Horror.. It sorta follows on from the last level

Lobo · **Reply #635 on:** October 16, 2009, 09:28:11 pm

Ah that, hah, I thought it was some kinda game or something.

flash · **Reply #636 on:** October 16, 2009, 09:35:38 pm

The Superhero willy and the mutant tax inspectors from mars?

spacefractal · **Reply #637 on:** October 16, 2009, 09:37:55 pm

haha :-D, just finished it, a really slow and nice piece mixed in MM theme (yep, again). Now I have only the completion LL tune left (which I have idea to use a another classic song) for completion all tunes for LL, WW and also one for bonues levels (could mightbeen use few more? like the short blagger tune using the original samples?). I might missing few others I can look on and eventuelly click fix on some tunes (the most important is fixed).

HeadKaze can you send me list of small jingles I should look for TDG, this game does not use heavy use of music and all important tunes is in. Its few of them, but that ok for that game.

flash · **Reply #638 on:** October 16, 2009, 09:40:50 pm

Well done mate..

We still have plenty of memory left it you want to add anymore tunes LOL

spacefractal · **Reply #639 on:** October 16, 2009, 11:32:23 pm

I do like the speed as it are now, but could been have something a speed cheat. Another fun cheat could change the color palette to black which like the 2 WW movies. That would not effect the gameplay.

I would love to see both A and B (which I would prefer as jump button) buttons could been used as the jump button.

flash · **Reply #640 on:** October 16, 2009, 11:41:55 pm

I can add B as another jump button.

Speed cheat is in the latest beta mate!! (l/r/l/r), though the code WILL be changed later! See, sometimes I listen!! LOL

At the moment, just Willy is turbo.. Not sure if it needs all to go really fast or not?

spacefractal · **Reply #641 on:** October 17, 2009, 03:12:37 pm

Flash got before me, A was gonna to request a XMAS level as a bonus level

and yes I have just did a nice xmas song for that level (I did first seen the level after I created the song). The main sprite might need some cleanup and seen he got scaled down?

Lobo · **Reply #642 on:** October 17, 2009, 10:28:24 pm

Well, at this point there are only two levels left before it's all done, so one of those two might be xmass themed somewhat. It's up to Flash to see then.

flash · **Reply #643 on:** October 17, 2009, 10:37:36 pm

Shh.. everything is secret...

oh..

2 levels yet... One will be a mad jumpy one, and the other is a ? er... hmmm.... um...

Oh god!

spacefractal · **Reply #644 on:** October 18, 2009, 10:59:06 pm

Again today I diddent created anything, due I'm got sig again :-(. Hope doing things finished next week..... I only have one final piece left and eventuelly fixing other tunes as well mightbeen extra tune for all bonues levels not using SAM graphics (apart the snow ones) and the level complete (can the normal sound not been used as well some speech or claps?

So I hope this game can been finished this month, and mightbeen next month for the TDG?

How much left is really in the game?

Nice speed cheat, but would been found if He got some blur when he run so fast......

flash · **Reply #645 on:** October 18, 2009, 11:04:48 pm

Sending out a new demo,

Can you check (anyone) on hardware?

It will not run on a DSTT card!

Lobo · **Reply #646 on:** October 19, 2009, 01:55:22 am

The latest beta runs perfect on AK2. Haha, turbo mode is excellent!

However, maybe only Willy should be turbo, not the enemies?

EDIT: One thing, The final barrier level, I see that spike thing is back down there where that key is, so...is that on purpose to make that key fake then?

One more thing, when you finish LL set, the top screen is screwed (missing victory text, just letter 'C' or something??), this is playing on hardware.

spacefractal · **Reply #647 on:** October 19, 2009, 01:04:36 pm

I checkout the newset beta soon and on hardware. I was something sig yesterday and little bit today, but I do created a studio version of the LL endtheme which is (lossy) based on a another classic, while using my own melody. Something Like I head ealier today a very great version of it on C64.

If Filesystem is used for the music to save memory (something like that way did for Warhawk), could the game been playable on DSTT? Its that card I normally seen selling in Denmark... Or some reason why it not run on that card?

flash · **Reply #648 on:** October 19, 2009, 01:28:59 pm

Quote from: spacefractal on October 19, 2009, 01:04:36 pm

If Filesystem is used for the music to save memory (something like that way did for Warhawk), could the game been playable on DSTT? Its that card I normally seen selling in Denmark... Or some reason why it not run on that card?

Warhawk DS (EFS Version) works fine on the DSTT! So, yes, It would also work

flash · **Reply #649 on:** October 19, 2009, 01:35:08 pm

Quote from: Lobo on October 19, 2009, 01:55:22 am

The latest beta runs perfect on AK2. Haha, turbo mode is excellent!
However, maybe only Willy should be turbo, not the enemies?

EDIT: One thing, The final barrier level, I see that spike thing is back down there where that key is, so...is that on purpose to make that key fake then?

One more thing, when you finish LL set, the top screen is screwed (missing victory text, just letter 'C' or something??), this is playing on hardware.

I think I will change just Willy to be turbo..

The Final Barrier is now possible with the spike. I had spent a couple of days working on the animation (as you know) and modifying the movement to get it as close to the original as possible. So, the spike is back!! LOL

The completion screen is in the process of me doing something with it. The letter is just a test of large character plotting and checking I have enough space. A story will appear on the top screen to close the LL episode and do a bit of a story to explain the WW episode.. It will work ok when done - I hope!

Lobo · **Reply #650 on:** October 19, 2009, 03:55:07 pm

Quote from: Flash on October 19, 2009, 01:35:08 pm

The Final Barrier is now possible with the spike.

Easy for you to say, I need GOD mode for this one!

spacefractal · **Reply #651 on:** October 19, 2009, 05:35:50 pm

You changed the egyptian level, I think that new level should been a hidden bonus level (or was it just a test)? I like the other "original" egyptian level very much.

I confirm the problem spike is now possible to jump over in the barrier level...... Not easy, but possible.

flash · **Reply #652 on:** October 19, 2009, 06:28:15 pm

Yes, the level has been swapped with 'end of the world'.

Stuart Campbel wrote the original outline to the game and when published in RG he had put 'mummy daddy' in it's place as he wanted to break up the Oric levels in the article.. But.. he felt quite strongly that his original level pick should be restored to use in the game.
I personally prefer 'mummy daddy'..

Stu has promised (should a recap be published in RG) that he will mention why he made this descision.

So, still looking good though.

I have added a display for when you clear a bonus level and set a record. at the mo, all times are set at 2.30 mins. If anyone gets a chance to set a better than average time in a bonus level (dont worry about Horace, this will be changed slighlty to match the original level and make it fun for a speed run), please let me know the times (i dont want them too hard to beat though), just mins and secs will be great.
I think it will be fun to add some times to beat!

Also, the completion is coming on (LL). I decided to go for a textual story in the top screen of a few pages. This is slightly animated as it has wipes as a new page is displayed. At least it will link LL and WW modes.

spacefractal · **Reply #653 on:** October 19, 2009, 07:31:46 pm

The graphics on that level fell a bit unfinshed and with wrong platform colors and wrong enemy sprite? Or just me? I think it being worked out.

Yes I also might prefer "mummy daddy" too (I like that level), but that level could of course unlock "end of the world" (whcih the story by now clearly is made for a hidden level) which would been fun to speed run....

or it could been 21 levels instead of 20 levels?

I think 2:30 is nice start time, so you have possible to do some speed. Nice idea. Could the score and hiscore not been replace with the time and best time instead? No reason to do score here and can been removed.

flash · **Reply #654 on:** October 19, 2009, 07:51:01 pm

The score could be removed, but.. I think it makes it consistent.

With the times, I don't want to start them all on 2:30.. I would like to have a rough time set for each level to give players a reasonable time to beat!

spacefractal · **Reply #655 on:** October 19, 2009, 07:58:32 pm

I have to say I do NOT like the level changed, since the article clearly used "Mummy Daddy" as level 3, and I would except that would been followed the officiel article as its are (even it was meant for a another level, he did NOT do that when the article got publised).

Gamers simply except to play the same levels used in the article too!

Instead the Out of the World (which the graphics need some more work on that side, but still can use the egyptian theme) should been a bonus level instead, of course unlocked from the Mummy Daddy level.

flash · **Reply #656 on:** October 19, 2009, 08:06:41 pm

Quote from: spacefractal on October 19, 2009, 07:58:32 pm

I have to say I do NOT like the level changed, since the article clearly used "Mummy Daddy" as level 3, and I would except that would been followed the officiel article as its are (even it was meant for a another level, he did NOT do that when the article got publised).

Gamers simply except to play the same levels used in the article too!

Instead the Out of the World (which the graphics need some more work on that side, but still can use the egyptian theme) should been a bonus level instead, of course unlocked from the Mummy Daddy level.

The story at the bottom with fit it all together.

My intention was to follow Stu's plan. This was originally different from the article and he has asked for this amendment. I liked the original level, but... The level swap is more in line with Stu's original vision. This is also a sandy level and works well to keep the creepy figures from the first level to tie it all together.

Mummy Daddy does work really well as a timed bonus level. Though I must set some times on them!

spacefractal · **Reply #657 on:** October 19, 2009, 08:09:47 pm

but was not in the article all people have read which have the magazine.... Some people might fell wrong.

I trying to beat some times.

RevStu · **Reply #658 on:** October 19, 2009, 08:36:11 pm

Quote from: spacefractal on October 19, 2009, 07:58:32 pm

Gamers simply except to play the same levels used in the article too!

Gamers have no right to "expect" anything, this isn't their game. The only reason Mummy Daddy went in the Retro Gamer piece was to break up a big block of Oric levels which wouldn't have looked good on the page. In my original vision of The Lost Levels way back in 2004, it was The End Of The World which appeared between The Airlock and Hall Of The Mountain Kong.

http://worldofstuart.excellentcontent.com/mmspecial.htm

It makes far more narrative sense there, and it's a much better level. Mummy Daddy is a lot more suited to being a time-trial bonus stage, because it has much more scope for improving times due to the larger number of enemies.

spacefractal · **Reply #659 on:** October 19, 2009, 09:04:00 pm

The new level still need some graphics work on the foreground. I think the background is nice, but would been nice to see a little pyramid (could been a little one) in the background and let the witch to been replaced by the skull (from the Daddy Mummy level) and the black platform mightbeen more bright? Elsewise it feel more a arabian theme than egyptian theme. The Cruncing platform in the start is not easy to see and have died a lot here, while the rest is pretty easy.

Also I completed first 9 bonus levels with I shorted the titles and the times was:
- ho: 30 secs.
- bl: 48 secs.
- Re: 53 secs.
- Ch: 47 secs.
- Ny: 32 secs.
- Bi: 66 secs.
- Bo: 56 secs.
- Ro: 46 secs.
- My: 44 secs.

In the Horace level:

In the most time, I mostly just jump over the plant and the star without taking the star. Was that in the original, because that its really annorying when that happens?

Yes I need a little jingle for the halt screen :-D