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Binary Sparks - Weather Effect/Electricity Puzzle Game

Binary Sparks - Weather Effect/Electricity Puzzle Game

Binary Sparks - BETA demo released

7BiBUMU.jpg



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Recent updates:
UPDATE 18/9 - 2016

Demo bugfix version 1.1 out now

DOWNLOAD LINKS:

http://gamejolt.com/games/binary-sparks-demo/169624

https://drive.google.com/…/0BwMMcajDtxO8OVR3VUdRR0xEV…/view…

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Hi! I am now working on a puzzle/platformer game in Unreal Engine 4 called Binary Sparks. This game is in progress, and I am planning on releasing a demo this august (for Steam). I have recieved kinda good critics/responses so far. But I want to show off and if needed, some feedback if some things are bad, strange, confusing bad-looking or missing etc.

In Binary Sparks, you play as B.O.B (Binary Organized Bot) in a stranger futuristic solar system, where robots feed on sparks and sallad. To advance in the game you have to use electricity, lights and weather effects to your advantage. On each level there are contacts that must be connected to different corresponding plugins. Once each contact has been plugged in, Sparks will appear, taking B.O.B to the next level.

I might not come up right now about what more I should write so please tell me if this is to less description.
The game is in First Person Mode, played with WASD , enter and mouse keys, you can pick up items and carry them arround, push objects, jump and so on.

IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION OF THE PUZZLE ELEMENETS/GAME MECHANICS:

GOAL:
Gather all contacts and plug them into their corresponding plugins (Red contacts need to go to red plugins etc).
You have to use different switches to turn on/off and/or change weather effects, lights and electricity in order to reach all contact/plugins

OBJECTS/HAZARDS:
(Animated GIFs about game mechanics can be found under screenshots further down)

Weathers and switches:
[*]Rain switch: Activates rain for a specific nearby cloud (hard-coded).
[*]Rain: Used to take out fires.
[*]Snow switch: Activates snow for a specific nearby cloud (hard-coded).
[*]Snow: Used to freeze water and so on (that otherwise makes you fall through/"drown").
[*]Thunder switch: Activates thunder for a specific nearby cloud (hard-coded).
[*]Thunder: used to activate switches as metallic balls or to create short-curcuit.
[*]Buttons(red, blue, turqouise). Used to activate different stuff (different for each switch).
Sometimes, they activate invisible platforms with the same color as the button.

Collactable items(Could be carried with you):
[*]Rain box: A box connected to a cloud. Used if you need to activate rain on a specific place/location.
[*]Snow box: A box connected to a cloud. Used if you need to activate snow on a specific place/location.
[*]Thunder box: A box connected to a cloud. Used if you need to activate thunder on a specific place/location.
[*]Contacts (red, blue, turqouise): You need to carry these obejcts and plug them into the plugin(s) with the same color.
Sometimes when a contact is plugged in, it activates some switch that could change the environment somehow.
[*]Key: Used to unlock locks.
•(Magnet: Used to attract metallic objects. MECHANICS NOT FULLY IMPLEMENTED! May come up later!).
[*]Battery: If charged at a charger-station, can be used to power-up other objects such as bots (to aid you).

Hazards:
[*]Fire
[*]Water
[*]Electric Fence
•(Wooden boxes)

Other stuff:
[*]Teleports: transfers the player to a specific place (to the other corresponding teleporter).
[*]Raft: Used to travel along rivers/water etc.
[*]Doors. Often unlocked with a corresponding (maybe nearby) lock. A key used on this lock can oper the door.
[*]Goal Pad The place to go when all contacts have been plugged in and sparks has been created.

Style/Environment:
Space, stars, cubes, spheres, antenna-like-trees, pyramids, fans/windmills etc.

Game mechanic GIFs:

OrTdRng.gif


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a1fU8Rn.gif


pOotGee.gif


dChAeI4.gif


WwLtCYW.gif



Screenshots:

vZ8yDAb.jpg


WjrAwvd.png


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AM3Op6V.jpg


eYPx3GW.jpg


fHnfsLr.jpg


KhkrBP9.png

GAME MECHANICS VIDEO:
*Sorry for eventual framedrops
*This is NOT my trailer (it will be a lot better FPS)

VIDEO - Weather buttons, contacts, weather-boxes, teleporters, other switches:
https://vid.me/QHdq

VIDEO - Checkpoint, Minimize/Maximize spheres and copy sphere:
https://vid.me/vU9A

VIDEO - Raft, process volume, jump pad, battery, flashlight:
https://vid.me/mY2R

Official Game Page:
http://gamejolt.com/games/binary-sparks ... 9624#close

Facebook Release event:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1732555660363284/?ti=cl


I am looking for feedback and ideas. A fullversion will soon begin it's development!

Design, graphics and code: Robin Andblom
Demo Music and FX: Ross Terry
 
I'd suggest making the text regular size and fixing your BBCode. I can't focus when it's screaming in my face, and people won't take interest if the post is a mess.

Looks interesting. I'm not quite sure what you want us to say as far as the game mechanics are concerned; there's no demo or anything so I don't have much to work with. The systems seem interesting enough, but I think I'll need to try it before I can comment anything useful.
 
ZenVirZan":ds5zdmqh said:
I'd suggest making the text regular size and fixing your BBCode. I can't focus when it's screaming in my face, and people won't take interest if the post is a mess.

Looks interesting. I'm not quite sure what you want us to say as far as the game mechanics are concerned; there's no demo or anything so I don't have much to work with. The systems seem interesting enough, but I think I'll need to try it before I can comment anything useful.


Thanks, I fixed the BB code size.

Thank you for saying its interesting. Right now I just want feedback and opinions (strange?). A demo is coming august the first:) Altough I could make a little teaser/trailer soon to show off how the game mechanics actually work/look like, if that would help.
 
A demonstration video would be better than screenshots for sure. Especially due to how the screenshots don't really convey much.

If you're looking for criticism this early, I'd suggest doing that.
 
Absolutely, I will do it later today. Although, its hard because I dont want to spoil to much because the first level is a tutorial level so I want peope to learn on their own. But no problem, Ill upload some videos and/or GIFS later today.

Thank you very much
 
ZenVirZan":2vpc33io said:
A demonstration video would be better than screenshots for sure. Especially due to how the screenshots don't really convey much.

If you're looking for criticism this early, I'd suggest doing that.

Sorry I had some computer troubles. A trailer will come up this weekend for sure:) I hope you wont lose interest
 
I'm no puzzle game expert (probably my least played genre) but the mechanics seem okay to me. I think as long as you focus on the polish and make sure to have challenging and detailed puzzles (without blatantly hiding info from the player), it'll work out all right.

The only game I've played that is similar is Portal, and because you work with what's on the wall (it's all in front of you to start with), you just need to put together strategies to use what you're given. This seems to be very different - the elements are very obvious, so I wonder how you'll make it difficult because the elements seem to be very linear.

That said, I only saw the tutorial, which is why the example is so linear. Time will tell.
 
ZenVirZan":1mc3m1n3 said:
I'm no puzzle game expert (probably my least played genre) but the mechanics seem okay to me. I think as long as you focus on the polish and make sure to have challenging and detailed puzzles (without blatantly hiding info from the player), it'll work out all right.

The only game I've played that is similar is Portal, and because you work with what's on the wall (it's all in front of you to start with), you just need to put together strategies to use what you're given. This seems to be very different - the elements are very obvious, so I wonder how you'll make it difficult because the elements seem to be very linear.

That said, I only saw the tutorial, which is why the example is so linear. Time will tell.


Portal is a HUGE inspiration for this game. I know how you think and I did the same but this is just the first (tutorial) level. I am already about to throw in some new elements to make it more complex. Also this video didnt include all the (listed) mechanics/elements.

Thanks anyways.
 
UPDATE 25/6 - 2016
NEW GAME MECHANICS IMPLEMENTED:

-Copy Sphere (to duplicate objects)
-Minimize/Maximize sphere (to shrink and turn the player bigger)
-Checkpoint
-Raft
-Battery
-Flashlight
-Jump pad/Bounce pad
-Post process volumes

VIDEO - Checkpoint, Minimize/Maximize spheres and copy sphere:
https://vid.me/vU9A

VIDEO - Raft, process volume, jump pad, battery, flashlight:
https://vid.me/mY2R


Please say what you think. Is something strange, complex, illocigal, bad-looking etc? How can these make the puzzles more complex and why? Where do these element fit in? Or are they not something you would love to play with at all?

Something else you wonder or noticed please say it!

Thanks in advance
 
Great news! Binary Sparks DEMO will be finished in some week or so, then the playtesting will begin! After that, the distribution and launching state will begin! You can still sign up for playtesting (by messaging me here).
Look forward to Binary Sparks DEMO. Coming soon!
/Regards
 
Demo bugfix version 1.1 out now!

BUG FIX LOG:
Teleport bugs
Golpad angle bugs
Camera lag jumping bugs
Respawn and checkpoint bugs

CHANGES IN V1.1:
Level 1 new button switch added
Level 2 new button switch added
Level 3 new contact type added
Checkpoint(s) added!

DOWNLOAD THE NEW DEMO BUILD FROM THE SAME SITE AS THE FIRST RELEASE:

DOWNLOAD:

http://gamejolt.com/games/binary-sparks-demo/169624

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwMMca ... sp=sharing

Enjoy your stay in the 9th dimension!

Thank you so much!

MY FB PAGE:
https://www.facebook.com/AmberCrownGames/

MY HOMEPAGE:
http://www.123minsida.se/ambercrowngames
 

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