Build & Win Contest: Initial Details Thread

[Venetia]

Remember, the game doesn't necessarily need to be your ultimate brainchild or the coup de grace of all games you have ever wished to make.

We're only looking for a game -- with a beginning, middle, and end. If you can mash the buttons and make shit happen, and it sums up at the end with credits or "THE END" or something, well now that's a contest entry.

Of course, you may not WIN if you only do something really simple and small, but it's better than not entering at all!

We're a game making forum; show us your chops!!

One question: If we use engines created for Construct Classic/2 in our game that were developed before March 3rd, 2012, are we allowed to use them?

I am not sure what you mean. You have to use C2 Free edition (not Classic). And that's the engine ...
Are you talking about plugins or other resources you use to add features etc. to the game?

Yes, you are allowed to use plugins or resources or mechanics that were created before March 3rd.

You CAN use these things, but you'll earn more points by making things from scratch.

EDIT: Hey, does anyone know if I can find sprites for heroes and enemies in the resource section?
If so, I'll be heading there soon. Right now, I'm only aware that they host RPG Maker resources there.

There's all KINDS of stuff in the resources section. Years and years of stuff, if you search.

If that fails you, feel free to rip graphics too. Whatever helps you finish this badboy before the 1st.

 

[Glitchfinder]

What if the game has no end? In other words, it's semi-randomized and infinitely scalable, such as games like Bejeweled.

 

[Venetia]

Well even in Bejeweled, there are breaking points. You finish a stage, it says "Good job bro" and shows you your point total.

Anyway if it's infinitely scalable then it needs to obviously have either breaking points or enough content to be enjoyed to a point where you feel like you have completed something.

The point of the game can be entirely "play until you fail". And that's fine. Because once you fail, it's not GAME OVER necessarily, it's "GJ Bro here's how you did: X Y Z"
So then your inevitable failure would be your game's ending.

Or the game can just have like 10 stages you choose between, and once you beat all the stages, you have technically finished everything the game has to offer. And that's fine, you see that shit in casual games all the time. But the levels END, and that's the important part, you can't just have us doing gametimes and then it cuts off at some random point with no logical conclusion and says "THANKS FOR PLAYING :D".

That sounds like a very confusing answer but the simpler answer is: If it seems like a demo to us, it won't be an entry. It should be pretty easy to tell the diff between what one can consider a demo and what we could consider a standalone game.

 

[AeroLowe]

One question: If we use engines created for Construct Classic/2 in our game that were developed before March 3rd, 2012, are we allowed to use them?

I am not sure what you mean. You have to use C2 Free edition (not Classic). And that's the engine ...
Are you talking about plugins or other resources you use to add features etc. to the game?

Yes, you are allowed to use plugins or resources or mechanics that were created before March 3rd.

You CAN use these things, but you'll earn more points by making things from scratch.

Alright. I was thinking of using some premade examples such as puzzle games or shooter games or stuff like that, but it doesn't matter anyway, since I already decided yesterday to make a game out of scratch.

Thanks anyway. I'm heading to the resource section now to find sprites!

 

[anthonykojima]

Hi,

I'm already a Scirra member and I just saw the contest. I'm definetely in. Just have one question.
It's been more than one week I'm developing a game but at the beginning, it was only for the Scirra Arcade until I saw this contest.
My question is, can I post it for this contest too once I'll be done with my game?

I can already tell that my game will use more than 100 events (that is the limit of the Free edition of Construct 2). I will have to make do with that. Therefore, I want to make a game just about having fun. I will post some stuff about my game in the forum. Please Feel Free to take a look through my profile.

Thanks for this context and the information. (Sorry for my mistakes :cute: . I'm a non-native English Speaker and I really try to speak like american people but I can't).

 

[gRaViJa]

I think the rules state that the projects must have started on march 3th or later.

 

[BlueScope]

After looking a bit into the engine and working through the beginner's tutorial (that I can very much suggest to anyone, as it's quite well explaining features there are in this program), I'm quite disappointed in the program by one thing: There seems to be only good-old eventing (heck, they even took the term!!), and no scripting of whatever sort. I would've liked to throw a bit of PHP or Java in here and there... or maybe I can, and I just missed it? (and I've seen the AJAX object, however not quite sure yet how to utilize that in this context)

In general, by now I'm quite tempted to enter... even though I probably won't use the program later on much (except for rapid prototyping, definately) because of the relatively narrow path is appears to go, I'm kind of interesting what I can do with an engine that's so restrictive, yet very open and flexible on some terms. The 100 event limit is something I wasn't aware of until reading another's project thread just now, and that's somewhat of a hard thing to go with with the idea I got in mind... not only that, but I also got no internet at home right now, and there's no downloadable manual or even print versions of the tutorials available (just when you thought that people that awesome with HTML5 wouldn't need to be told how to make web pages :grin: ). Oh, and the usual time issues to get my seemingly-into-the-weekend-spreading job, my webpage, my photography stuff and Raven handled as well...
'Kay, here's the deal: I'll work on it on the weekend, and if I got anywhere by monday, I'm in this!

Damn eventers got to me... them bitches! :down:

 

[anthonykojima]

I think the rules state that the projects must have started on march 3th or later.

Ah yes you're right. I haven't seen that info. Thanks.
Have to start another project... :smile:

 

[Toams]

Theres javascript i believe

 

[gillenew]

Yay! let me from this! : D
but, I already have the standard construct2, can I still apply? I would like very much :biggrin:

 

[So fist]

Bluescope, you can install custom java script via plugins. Scirra has all the necessary documentation on their site. So the program is certainly more extendable past the eventing.

 

[So fist]

Here's the documentation for would be plugin designers:
http://www.scirra.com/manual/15/sdk

 

[Python]

This is awesome! I am kinda new to construct, but I think I'll submit a game. Now what should it be.....

 

[onzephyr]

I Joined these forums after reading about the contest on scirra.com/forum. I hope everyone checking out construct 2 likes it as much I do. In addition I wanted to post some resources that could be useful to those new to construct 2.

There are a few limititions to the free ediition to be aware of. The Family feature is disabled. max of 4 layers. max of 100 events. and no preview on lan. The most limiting is 100 events you can hit that pretty fast.

There are a large number of great community made free plugins, I suggest checking them out as they will save you time and events, you can find the "finished" ones here . http://www.scirra.com/forum/c2-plugins-and-behaviors-list_topic47002.html

A fantastic [How do I]Frequently asked questions thread exists here.
http://www.scirra.com/forum/how-do-ifrequently-asked-questions_topic45416.html

Beyond the online manual
http://www.scirra.com/manual/1/construct-2
A user has taken on the duty of producing a PDF version of the manual you can download here.http://www.scirra.com/forum/heres-the-manual-in-pdf-format_topic47926_page1.html

I hope some of this is useful, and good luck on your entry!

 

[BlueScope]

After just fiddling with the engine for a couple of hours (having a good idea definately helps), I can definately see the fuzz about this. Doing whatever is as simple as it gets, and once getting the hang out of making everything working together, the 100 events don't seem to be any restriction anymore... the missing families bother me much more, as that would be a convenient way to boost efficiency.
There are still a few negatives to the whole thing, though. I realize I was way too quick on my earlier assumptions, but there's definately the fiddly interface and the lousy, unprecise and unflexible collision editor that are in my way to fully enjoy working with this editor.

Either way... I'm going to submit something, as I really don't think the time issue will be important anymore... development is really lightning-fast, and I'd definately like to get a license on my hands for further use... (if noone of the people who already have one snag them away, that is)...it is an inspiring program, gotta give it that.

Btw, thanks for the helpful links in here... some of those are quite interesting!

 

[AeroLowe]

Those links are incredibly helpful.
I suggest everyone check out especially that FAQ, as it has a whole lot of neat stuff for everything!

And by everything I mean mostly everything.
Like platformers or RPG's or other stuff like that.

Construct 2 can be really amazing when you use it to its potential.
Someone even made a Super Mario Galaxy-esque game! And it's beautiful.
http://www.scirra.com/arcade/addicting- ... 8/airscape

 

[valkyriegames]

So will a judging criteria be put up somewhere for us to work with when making the games?

 

[BlueScope]

That would be interesting, as the only clue right now is

Post screenshots of it as you go. We'll be looking for people that really hype their game. It WILL affect your standings. Put a link in your sig. Tell everyone about it. Post it on our Facebook wall. Post about it on the Scirra.com forums. Shout it from the mountaintops. You shall SHAPE YOUR OWN DESTINY ~~~.

That basically spells "You, BlueScope, have no permanent internet access and no Facebook account. You want to win something? - :haha: Idiot."

But yeah, I suppose additional judging criteria willbe hard, as the rules state any game of any length, making the judging criteria quite wide-ranged. I guess they'll figure it out on the go, after sorting out the people without social media addiction

 

[valkyriegames]

Haha BlueScope you joker. Actually I'm also quite interested in how "hype" will be judged. Will it be from the number of views on your post? Will it be from the kind of things that you do? As for traditional criteria, will they be looking for things like 'funness', completeness, polish, uniqueness, and in what weighting?

It'll be really interesting when they release something for us to look at Hehe.

 

[BlueScope]

If I counted right, we now got 12 entrants. Well, plus those who said they'll participate in here but didn't make a thread yet. That means not many will get a license without working for it, eh

I like what I see overall... lots of different ideas, but at the same time, we're all moving entirely in the comfort zone of the program, with mainly platformers and shooters out there. I still think it's going to be quite a diverse outcome, just because of the wide angle of possibilities that's offered...