I hope you enjoy the current build of Sylph. Mordi and I have worked hard to make it kick ass. Let me know what you think or if you need help.
I’m incredibly pleased to announce that the latest alpha release of Sylph is available for download. Sylph is currently targeted at Debian-based Linux distributions such as Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Kubuntu, etc.
INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
Extract the Sylph executable (Sylph.gambas) from the archive you downloaded (Sylph Alpha 5.1.tar.gz).
Sylph is programmed in GAMBAS. To install GAMBAS execute the following commands:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:gambas-team/gambas-daily
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install gambas3
Once GAMBAS has been installed you may run the Sylph executable by double-clicking it or executing the following command:
gbr3 [path]/Sylph.gambas
SYSTEM RECOMMENDATIONS
Sylph uses OpenGL, so you should have the binary drivers for your ATI/AMD or NVIDIA video card installed for maximum performance. Vertical synchronization (vsync) is recommended, although Sylph automatically regulates its frame rate regardless.
Medium to high CPU, RAM and VRAM specifications should achieve a high frame rate (60 FPS).
Keyboard input (WASD, arrow keys, space bar and escape key) is fully supported, but a twin-stick gamepad is highly recommended for optimal gameplay (it is fast-paced).
CONTROLS
WASD Keys: Lateral (left/right) and Vertical (up/down) thrust
Arrow Keys: Lateral (left/right/in/out) thrust
Space Bar: Full-Automatic Fire
Escape Key: Back/Previous
Pause/Break Key: Pause/Unpause
F Key: Fullscreen/Window
Left Analog: Lateral (left/right/in/out) thrust
Right Analog: Vertical (up/down) thrust
Programmable Gamepad Buttons: Pause/Unpause, Back/Previous, Camera Mode, Semi-Automatic Fire, Full-Automatic Fire, Continuous Fire (see Flight Control menu)
F1 Key: Toggle MusicF2 Key: Toggle Ship Model Viewer
F3 Key: Toggle Slow Motion (60/30)
F4 Key: Toggle All Weapons
F5 Key: Toggle Invulnerability (red fields still kill you)
F8 Key: Toggle Debug OSDF9 Key: Previous Area
F10 Key: Next Area
F11 Key: Clear Area
Return Key: Increase Score
K Key: Kill First Ship
Tab Key: Upgrade
0-9-Backspace Keys: Create Ship
Page Up Key: Jump Forward
Page Down Key: Jump Back
WHAT’S NEW IN ALPHA 5.1
More music by Mordi (no more placeholder songs by Mecano Associates, Mark Seibert and Joey Carbone and Richie Zito), better bullet and laser collision detection by ordering/sorting ships, partial and full crew ejection from damaged and destroyed ships, proper base stage entry and exit, improved ship ground physics, ship part debris collision detection and deflection and the usual endless rounds of refinement and bug killing. While this is still an early release, I hope the well-documented debug features will prove amusing and a good test of the engine. A new capital ship with orbiting shrapnel has been implemented in 5.1.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR ALPHA 6?
With Sylph‘s “engine” nearing completion I’ll continue to create final assets such as stages/areas, ship models/textures, effective and interesting AI, weapon balancing, score (Mordi) and ensuring a balanced progression across the twenty stages.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW MORE?
Sylph: Project Miyaji
VasCorpBetMani
eightvirtues
mordi90
Silpheed