I just uploaded a new version with built-in Xbox gamepad controls, along with what I hope will be much smoother performance overall. Just needs to be reviewed/approved, and then everything should be good to go!
If you try it and notice anything not working, please let me know (because of the addition of a new item, you might get an error message if you play the game using an old save file. You should be able to canel the message and keep playing though until you reach the next save point)
That lag that you're experiencing is a result of my lack of understanding things when I first started creating the game, and I apologize for that! Unfortunately, fixing it would mean re-building the game from the ground up.
This is my first attempt at making a game, and I promise that I'm taking everything learned to make the next one better!
Hi HooterBabby, if you haven't already got joy2key set up, there is a pretty nice youtube video that walks you through everything.
I hope this helps!
I never considered making the game with controller support, but it has been brought up more than a few times! You can use Joy2Key to give the game a try with your gamepad though:)
It is a feature that I am adding to the next game though (and the overall controls will be MUCH simpler too!)
Hi Tazi, it might be somewhat rare to have enemies drop bomb ammo, but there are large bomb refills (you get 5 bombs) scattered throughout levels. If you aren't having any luck by going to previous rooms and re-defeating enemies, or already found all the large bomb refills, try describing the room you're having troubles with (and the level you're on), and I'll see if I might have made a dead-end in that particular room.
Thanks!
Thanks Gn0meSlice! I thought I had all the bases covered...turns out I was missing home plate. Durr!
It's too bad that you're experiencing such a lag when jumping etc, as tight controls are pretty key in platformers. I think the majority of people experiencing problems are running the game on a laptop or a slightly older PC, and believe the problem lies in the number of objects I used in each level. Unfortunately, fixing it would mean re-doing every single room.
Being my first game, everything was a huge learning experience, and I can promise you the next ones will be more enjoyable, I just hope you (and the rest of the people who have the same problem) won't hate me for eternity with how the Mayan Mystery handles! :P
Hey Azrael360,
Thanks for letting me know of the problem! I've fixed the bug in the source, but will wait to see if other problems come up before issuing another update.
Thanks again for catching the glitch :)
No problem Lunick, I'm just glad that what turned out to be a simple fix could have such a positive impact on the gameplay!
*UPDATES!*
Several changes have been made to the game file, and should be available soon:)
The overall speed of the character has been slowed slightly, resulting in much better responsiveness when timing your jumps
Items not respawning was an issue when you'd Continue after dying, and that's been dealt with
Getting stuck in a save room without bombs is fixed
Oh yeah, and a copy of Joy2Key is included with the game now, in case you aren't a fan of the control scheme on the keyboard! :)
All in all, I hope it provides everyone with a much less frustrating experience with the game!
I'm sorry you found the controls as frustrating as you do Lunick! The spikes are less prevalent in the rest of the game, if it's any consolation :)
Despite the finnicky controls, I hope you found some redeeming qualities in the game. I'll do my best to make my second game more polished!
I'm glad you like the game OTM_SAN :) As for gamepad support, it was suggested that maybe I include a copy of the program you're currently using, as it'd cover pretty much all the different controller styles. It's definitely an easier fix than the alternative!
That's a good discovery Orbinger, thanks for mentioning it! Luckily, the fix is very simple, and I'll be sure to include it with the next update...until then, you'll have to accept my apologies for trapping you in that room. Rookie oversight on my part!
The patch has been added. Thanks to the Desura team and their quick action getting it up on the site!
It seems like a fairly common problem as I'm finding out! It's hard to believe a file <10mb can slow down any computer. If it is a common problem with Game Maker games, and not necessarily my hackjob coding, then I don't feel quite as guilty! :O)
Still, it sucks that it's preventing people from enjoying the game...
Yeah, fullscreen isn't for everyone:) If you hit the F4 key, you'll be able to re-size the window to whatever suits you best!
Hi djnforce9, thanks for the question :) The way I'm planning these games out is kind of like a book. So the Mayan Mystery is the first chapter. You know that you're chasing down the bad guy, but don't know a whole lot beyond that. It takes you through a bunch of different settings before you find your way to the final showdown, from inside a temple, underwater, lava tunnels, and eventually a secret lair for the boss!
The next 'chapter' is going to change things up drastically, as well as reveal a little more of the storyline, but that is still a ways off at this point :)
Thanks for bringing that to my attention Elite_Boss_Narwhal! I re-wrote some bits of code here and there, and there should be an update to the game as soon!
Hey Carnival73, you can adjust the screen by pressing the F4 button and then dragging the window to whatever size you like. Once you reach a savepoint in the game, a .sav file will be created in the same directory as the .exe file.
If resizing the screen doesn't sort things out for you, I hope that CPU arrives quickly! :)
Thanks for commenting _poe_! I'm glad that you've got a feeling of hope now, it can be depressing when you work hard on something and don't get the results you want. Just got to try not getting discouraged and put in your best effort. You never know what might happen right?
Thanks a lot Kuznetovsky, that was the aim all along; to give the player a sense of nostalgia. I'm glad it worked for you:)
If you can hang on until mid-September, I'll have the full version ready to go, along with an updated demo that reflects the final changes made for the full version. The file available now is still fully playable though!
Thank you Leon! It did sting to read the email, but the only thing I can do is keep working on the game, and re-submitting. I'll be making a new video soon to help things a long:)
I can understand that there are a good deal of platformers, but my hope was that it would be left to the player to decide whether or not to try it out, not be blocked by the site...especially as an indie guy relying on any/all exposure possible!
I will definitely be looking into other hosting sites, though Steam is from what I've heard, even more restrictive. Being new to the whole indie scene, any suggestions for site would be really helpful, especially if you've had good experiences with them:)
Thanks,
Ryan
Hi feillyne, my intent with this whole game was to try making it like the games I grew up playing as a kid (in the 80's), so the features are all fairly straight-forward, and the instruction booklet is where you'll find the extras:)
I used the original Metroid as a guideline for the game, so there are lots of little secret passages and items to be discovered.
Perhaps the gameplay is too much of a throwback though? So many players love in-game maps and tutorials explaining what to do, where I more or less left it for the player to seek items and discover.
You're telling me Masakari! It was hard not to be bummed out about it, as I was under the impression that so long as the game is somewhat complete and playable, it would more than likely pass the grade. Not really sure where I went wrong.
As for TIGSource, I do have a thread in the devlog page:
Forums.tigsource.com
I got some great feedback from there and with the demo finished, thought the next step would be to try and gain exposure to players :) Perhaps there would be too many platform indie games, but last time I checked, the search function helps narrow down what players are looking for.
Will keep plugging away though!
Thank you snauts! I thought it met the guidelines at the time, but will wait until the game is complete before re-applying
Thanks for the comment feillyne, those are some good points. I am planning on re-submitting again when the game is done. I honestly thought that the game was crammed full of hidden passages and items to be discovered, but guess I was wrong.
Out of curiosity, when you tried the game, did you have the instruction booklet from the Addons section, or did you dive straight into the game? I would like to think that it'd make the game more enjoyable and help explain what you can find:)
Yes Theon, metroidvania...After many years of research and social debate, I coined the term to describe games which are of the non-linear side-scrolling exploration variety.
Okay, so I didn't come up with it, but it's a heck of a lot easier typing that compared to non-linear side-scrolling exploration game over and over! :)
They add a certain charm to the game that's for sure. I'm just hoping that it's more than just you and me who enjoys flipping through them! :P
Thanks notaclevername, I figured having an illustrated poem would be a slightly different way of getting players up to speed with the game's plot :)
I remember when I got my tablet. At first it was really strange, the stylus is larger than a pen but smaller than a highlighter, so felt a little awkward drawing with. The bigger reason though is having to look at the screen as you draw rather than looking at the paper (though I guess drawing with a mouse is the same in that respect). It'll be a lot nicer though, that's for sure.... congrats on the purchase :)
ScaryPotato
Ryan joined
I work in telecommuncations by day and make games by night. Currently polishing up the Mayan Mystery game and putting together some content for it on the site.