What can I say… bad weekend!

Get GAME HERE!(added DX dll)

I pretty much missed the contest so here is a three hour bare bones end of the world game. As minmial as you get really.

Weekend of Code

All aboard the fail-train. We got a few submissions but it seems the cholate confusion meant this WOC failed. I got a few entries from the regulars but the final years were too busy, fair enough. The second years on the whole display no motivation to make games, expected. The first years however have no excuse!!

Well here is my little project, I'm currently converting it to GameCube cause I liked the little game so much I'm making it my semester project for the cube.

Version 0.9

In Other News: SUCCESS!!

Yes folks after all the hard work I finally work in the games industry. I've got a job at Mere Mortals. I was in a wonderful position where three companies were intrested and I got a choice. Overall I'm on the top of the moon.

Its all very scary but I'll try as soon as possible to get another podcast up as soon as possible but understandably I'm really busy.

So I will see you all and you will see that HARD WORK PAYS OFF! I'm finally after years and years, during my third degree and after all the work I have broken in.

Now just to prove myself.... no I dont wake up daily terrified..... what I dont....... I will succeed..... no really........ shit I'm late for work!

Less than 24 hours left to.

Submit before noon on Monday.

Submit your game here!

Best of Luck

Theme

A to Z with a Twist is an exploration into racing games and freerunnnig games where we are trying to get from A to Z but we add something to make it interesting. BE CREATIVE AS POSSIBLE as the whole idea of this weekend is to take risks and explore. Focus on the twist not the racing. Make it as fun as possible.

Rules

• Graphics, Physics and Sound Libraries are allowed: Examples PTK, SDL, Box2d, Chipmunk, OpenAL ect...


• No games libraries are allowed. If in doubt as me.


• All code must be written from scratch in the weekend, no copy and paste or code reuse.


• All content must be made during the weekend: photos and scans are allowed.


• The final code and all things required to run the game must be uploaded to the website prior to Monday Noon (GMT). Uploader will be on site from Sunday Noon.
  

Examples

• Assassins Creed: Free running with killing.


• Stuntman Ignition: Brilliant Stunt along course.


• Destruction Derby: Destroy other cars.


• Mario Kart: Weapons.


• Chase Hollywood Stunt Driver: South African Hollywood Game

Anything Else

Have fun, grab some sleep. You can contact me using the feedback form on the site or I'll be hanging around in an irc channel. #ludumdare on Afternet.

The next weekend of code is on Easter weekend. Not planned but I kinda forget when Easter was back in January. Which was when the date was set.

We are currently asking a game company to supply us with the theme and some feedback. More info as it becomes available.

I will be putting up a new podcast this weekend on 68k ASM as promised along with the update for the first years as promised.

Its all been moving along at a rapid pace with interviews and applications ect... I'll keep you on the ball.

So my work load is nicley split at the moment between three projects.

• Gamecube Project: Basically we need to make a game for the gamecube that demonstrates its functionality and shows we know how to use it. Still developing the engine at the moment no game stuff started.


• Mobile Wii: Python on Symbian S60 on Nokia N95. Using the built in accelaromters to make a little game. Think of it as turning your phone into a Wiimote.


• Dungeon Delve (Working Title): Conversion of board game to Xbox 360 using XNA. Aims to be fully network playable amoung other things. Current state is rushing for a playable version.

Well I've been working really hard on Dungeon Delve but I'm learning XNA and C# as I go along. The main thing to make first was the editor. Its not complete at the moment.

Its missing only two things really: full triggers, and named monsters. Its not the easist tool but it works so time to move on. Below are some screen shots.

Welcome back folks. The new site is launched. We outline some PTK stuff that I showed the first years. We play a bit of catch up and talk about University work.

Topics

• Welcome Back


• Big Thank You


• PTK


• University Catch Up

Links

• Code Refrence


• Libaries, Source and Presentation


• PTK 2D Game Engine for Mac os X and Win32

- Claire Blackshaw

Hi everyone.

I presented a lecture to the first years on PTK my favourite lightweight 2D engine.
Full details can be found in Code - Reference section along with downloads.

I'll be posting the podcast to go with the slides on Friday night hopefully.

In other news the Dungeon Delve and Gamecube engine are sucking up all my time.
The aim is to get Dungeon Delve to a playable and presentable state by Tuesday night because there is a big meet and greet event with the industry on Wednesday afternoon.

As always feedback is loved and appreciated. Also use the feedback page if you have any questions.
Cheers and take care folks.

So its here the website's fresh coat of paint. Bear with me over the next few days as the goal is to have the site fully alive and kicking by the 1st March.

I can promise a podcast episode this week however and more intresting things to come. I'll be keeping you all posted.

The weekend is done and the coffee is finished.

Download Entries

Please leave and Read the feedback. I'm sure all the entrants will appreciate it.

Comments

Theme

One-Button Joystick

Friendly to all Ages

Collection Element

Details

Your game input can only be a directional input and an action button.

Up to 8 directions, keyboard or joystick allowed only one action button.

There must be an element of collection or pick-up.

More Details

Now go get coding you little code monkeys. You can find me on irc.afternet.org in #ludumdare .

So get ready for a great weekend of code. The code weekend page will be uploaded at 1800 on Friday. So we don't expect a huge weekend but we are all ready go go.

A huge thanks to all the people that are helping set it up. Huge thanks to Mark Sample, Lead Designer at Eutechnyx. Thanks to him, Chris, and code-works we are trying to make this weekend more relevant for young game programmers and get the most out of it.

So drop by on Friday and come join us for a great weekend of code.

The next weekend of Code is here.

I've been talking to the guys who run our course at Northumbria and a few hopeful third parties about getting more out of these weekends.

So I cannot promise anything yet but its open to all, but focused at games students. I'm hoping as I said to get some companies involved but we will see what happens.

What I can promise: Thee weekend will happen. It will only take a weekend and will involve making a game in a weekend.

Everything else is uncertain. Give us your feedback.

We talk about the weekend of code. We talk about essential game design and inheritance. So come and join me and Neil.

Topics

• Weekend of Code


• Base Structure


• Inheritance


• Static, Dynamic and Reinterpret casting

Links

• Inheritance at CPlusPlus


• Game Object Structure: Inheritance vs. Aggregation


• Weekend of Code Entries

- Claire Blackshaw

The Handins are well in.

Thanks to everyone who entered.
I cannot say how great it is you took the time to code together a game in no time at all.
Your efforts rock as do you all
Claire

The voting begins tomorrow.

Download entries here. More polished version will be up on the site one the contest is done.
Where possible they have been made more compliant but we had a mix of win32, sdl(win/linux), and ruby.

• Magnescape: A Shoot-em-Up with Magnet Balls by Neil


• GraviTux: OS wars with Magnets by Alice


• Lander: Lander Remake by Jase


• Maggilz: Swarm Magnet Racer by Claire

Podcast

Will be thrown up tomorrow with the voting page.

The theme is announced as Magnets / Gravity.

For more details please click here .

So this weekend we are having a weekend of code. Basically the competition is simple. You have a weekend to make a game.

The Rules and Hints can be found here.

Final Themes

This is the final list of themes for this weekend. The official theme will be announced at 1800 on Friday (UK time). So without further delaying they are.

• Braaaaains!: Anything brains related


• Magnets / Gravity: Attraction and Repulsion


• Generated Content: No loading of graphics sound or levels. All generated on the fly.


• Squirrels: The furry little devils


• Ricochet: Use of rebounds as core element


• Transform: Transforming or Shape-shifting


• Construction: Building (please avoid Tetris)

RSS
iTunes Link
MP3

[Warning: Non-technical cast. Normal show style returns next week.]

So we are back!

I've moved into a house of Crazy. Prepare to meet.

Jason: Web Head

Neil: Audiophile and Angry Guy

Dash: The Dutchman

Dan: The Last One

Together they make my new home the Pixel Place the place it is.

Weekend of Code

More on Monday but this coming weekend we are having a weekend of Code for the Games course students but outsiders are welcome. Its a simple theme game, no game makers comp. You have from 18:00 on Friday till 24:00 on Sunday to make a game from scratch.

South African Comp

So there is this great competition being run by some guys in South Africa which brings me out of the overtime coma. They are running a competition for an educational game which is sadly only open to South African citizens. *Rushes to dig out passport* Wooopeee! So I'm going to be taking part in that.

Not only did this bring me out of the overtime coma but it also allowed me to see some GREAT stuff ahppening on the ZA scence. Checkout this mag they are making its a great project.

Feedback Page and Podcast

Anyway I was updating the sight and found that the feedback page was broken when I added an anti-spam snippet, and no one could tell me the page was broken because well the feedback page was broken.

The podcast is on a slight pause till I get some feedback from the last episodes (yes it does matter) and I'm desperately trying to find a reliable co-host. So here it is folks. The requirements are simple. You must be a student or someone actively working to break into the industry. You must be reliable and that is it.

Hi guys and girls, I'm crunching through my maths assignment and what not. I had a few spare hours today but I threw them at an incomplete entry into LD48. I know I know priorities.

Go check out the contest though over at wavelength.

Come join us for another great 48hr game comp. Ludum Dare! This weekend we join the insanity known as game development in the truest spirit of creativity and basement coding.

Ludum Dare

RSS
iTunes Link
MP3

So I promised to continue the game framework discussion would continue. This week we dive a bit deeper into organising things.

Topics

• Our big first year maths assignment


• A quick talk about Headers and Objects


• Creating STL compliant Objects


• Using STL to manage data


• Event Handlers and Message Queues

Links

• Mumit's STL Newbie guide


• Source for this Show


• Data Structures


• PTK 2D Game Engine for Mac os X and Win32


• STL Containers

- Claire Blackshaw

RSS
iTunes Link
MP3

So lets get started on a little project. We shall from scratch create a PTK game framework which we shall be expanding on.

I'm not throwing you guys in the deep end yet but I hope to ramp up to speed soon.

Links

• Helper Files


• PTK Libary


• PTK Forum


• STL Guide for next week

- Claire Blackshaw