Element Ball - my tribute to DX-Ball

[Kua]

I've tried to make a breakout game myself. About three years ago, I sent an e-mailed to Mike, asking different questions about how to make games. He sent a very nice reply, encouraging me to start learning. So I did, and this is my tribute to the great DX-Ball. I hope you'll not look at this as a plagiat of DX-ball, I really just wanted to create something inspired by it. :)

The biggest difference you'll notice from normal breakout, is the permanent "through ball". I did this because I wanted to put more action into the game. You may dislike it. I've also used a kind of pack-system, like Pocket Tanks and Super DX-Ball has. It still got some bug, and I'm aware of many.

http://www.spiddahest.com/screen_eb1.png

Download URL: http://www.spiddahest.com/Element%20Ball%20v.1.5.exe

Changes in v.1.5:
- New pack: Hardcore Pack (for those of you who wanted a challenge...)
- New animation when Dark Ball hits a block (I really like the new effect)
- Elements are more rare, especially Fire (as requsted)
- New font in the score
- Fixed a bug with the score-system


Hope you like it, and I'd be very happy about more suggestions. :)

I'm very open for suggestions for changes, or new packs! Please tell me what you think of the game so far. :)
(please excuse my bad english)

[Everlast]

Cool, And yes I did find some bugs, like that fact that your paddle can go off screen. I also noticed that all the scores are one. I played the normal pack (gray one to the far right) and beat several levels and got a score of 565. Then I played the Cosmo Pack and got over 800 and I wasn't even done with the first level...So my suggestion is make a different score sheet for each pack. :)


Finnally did you make this in C++ or in GM?

[blue_moon]

Gamemaker, I'd recognize that high score screen anywhere. Yeah, its nicely programmed, but the paddle can go outside the room. I can help there. Just PM me with anything if I am right about this being in GMaker.

[Zwaken]

Speaking of C++, I just got a C++ book and attempting to learn it :P

Very nice game too. I just played it, and it's very creative. My favorite element is the gamma element. 2nd is electricity and personaly, I think the fire is a little too godly. Still, nice game.

[jstrok7]

Yeah, it has some bugs, but game is awsome ! ;)

[Was It Me?]

Very cool! :)

I can tell that you put some work into it. Some very nice touches such as the transitions between screens, the dynamic cursor shadow on the main menu, and block destruction animations.

A few comments and suggestions (as per your request :))...

1. There are a few bugs, as already mentioned. Nothing that you can't clear up I'm sure. ;)

2. Too many "element" powerups in my opinion. Sometimes it seemed like there were 5 or 6 flying around at any given time. In my opinion, it would be more challenging to have a / the "standard" ball with no special abilities, and then make the "elemental" powerups a little more rare.

3. I'm not so sure about having the "through" ball almost all the time. Maybe make more of the bounce type of blocks in some future packs. I like the idea of "through" being the action most of the time, but I liked it when there were some bounce blocks here and there in some levels to throw in a little variety.

4. I lost the ball almost every time I got the "gamma" ball, because there were so many green colored things on the screen at once that it was hard to keep track of the ball. ;) Maybe the gamma blasts could be a slightly different color than the ball, or something else could make the ball more distinguished?

5. Also, I second Everlast's suggestion of having a separate high score list for each pack - if possible.

All of these are just my opinions of course. ;) I really liked it overall! Very nice. Did you say that you were going to release more board packs?

[???revived]

Very nice game. The powerups were certainly inventive, but a lot of them were overpowered, and I don't like the constant through-ball, but otherwise, it's certainly fun...

[blue_moon]

Actually, on second glance this game is pretty good. I like the possibility to go outside the room and the power ups are unique. I found a glitch where the three objects used to make the paddle can come apart... I'll upload in a bit.

[Everlast]

And I don't know if this is a glitch, but it took me a long while to beat one level because the ball kept bouncing strate up and down, no matter if I moved the paddle or not. The only way I could fix it is if it hit the very edge of the paddle.

[Slade]

I haven't played it yet, but from the looks and comments of it I'm guessing that it's as good as everyone says...

[Kua]

Thank you very much for all your replies and very good suggestions! I'll try to answer you as good as I can.

Cool, And yes I did find some bugs, like that fact that your paddle can go off screen.
It's not a bug. I wanted to give the player better controll of the ball by letting you take the paddle off screen.

So my suggestion is make a different score sheet for each pack. :)
I want to do that, but can't think of a way to save the scores to their different tables. I might work on this later. :)

Finnally did you make this in C++ or in GM?
GameMaker. I want to learn a variant of C later, but you have to learn to crawl before walking. ;)

I think the fire is a little too godly.
I think so as well. Therefore, the droprate for fire will be lowered in the next version, making it more rare.

Too many "element" powerups in my opinion. Sometimes it seemed like there were 5 or 6 flying around at any given time. In my opinion, it would be more challenging to have a / the "standard" ball with no special abilities, and then make the "elemental" powerups a little more rare.
Will be done. Especially the fire one, as mentioned above.

I'm not so sure about having the "through" ball almost all the time. Maybe make more of the bounce type of blocks in some future packs. I like the idea of "through" being the action most of the time, but I liked it when there were some bounce blocks here and there in some levels to throw in a little variety.
The through ball will stay. But I understand what you mean, and I can see that it doesn't challenge that much. Instead of removing it, I will follow your suggestion, and make the further packs with more "rock" and "metal" blocks. You may see a whole new kind of block in the next pack as well. :)

I lost the ball almost every time I got the "gamma" ball, because there were so many green colored things on the screen at once that it was hard to keep track of the ball. ;) Maybe the gamma blasts could be a slightly different color than the ball, or something else could make the ball more distinguished?
Yes... This is a problem. I don't want to change the color completly, since it won't make sense with red gamma beams. I could change the size/shape of the beams, or make the beams glow in another color. Another posibility is to make the ball larger/another color, to make it easier to keep your eyes on it. I need help here.

Did you say that you were going to release more board packs?
Yush. Right now, I'm working on "Hardcore Pack", trying to create a real challenge. After this, I'll be open for suggestion on new packs to create. :)

I found a glitch where the three objects used to make the paddle can come apart... I'll upload in a bit.
Ouch. Please explain how it happend, and I'll see if I can do anything about it.

And I don't know if this is a glitch, but it took me a long while to beat one level because the ball kept bouncing strate up and down, no matter if I moved the paddle or not. The only way I could fix it is if it hit the very edge of the paddle.
A strange glitch, wich I can not explain why happened. With straight up, do you mean constand 90 degrees?

[blue_moon]

Yeah, if you launch the ball directly into the wall and move your paddle around the three segments come apart... Its funny when I got three paddles on the field... Better fix that. I'd change the x/y coordinates of the lesser paddles to about -20+x(left)/20+x(right) of the big paddle every step, and jump to y of the big paddle. I am pretty fluent in GML and overall good in Gamemaker, but it looks as if you've got it covered. Loved the game, I paricularily found the gamma ball as not too powerful (good) cuz it kept missing. However, I noticed you mentioned new packs... Would those be made in code and initialized in the creation code for the whole room to place each individual brick? I've been wondering 'bout that... Or is it a new version per pack?

[jstrok7]

Maybe this is not a good idea, but maybe you could make expansion packs with new powerups, maybe to multiple and to make 6 balls of one and to make air, plasma, earth, stone, ice or light element powerups . ;)

[blue_moon]

I don't think multiplying the balls could fit in the element theme... But more power ups sounds awesome.

[Everlast]

There are really just 4 elements. Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, and if you get technicall you could include Plasma.

[blue_moon]

Well, Dark was indeed use. Therefore light could be used. I think an ice power up would be nice. The ball would go slow maybe... Cool both ways.

[jstrok7]

@Everlast - Incorrect, those are just primary elements .
There are: Fire,Water,Ice,Air,Stone,Earth,Plasma,Sonics,Elect ricity,Dark,Light,Gamma,Wood,Metal... and even more elements .

[???revived]

You're all wrong. All the elements are here (http://www.webelements.com/).

[blue_moon]

Actually, this game could be made even larger. Why just focus on fictional elements? Use real elements! Oxygen: ball has longer air time. Cobalt: ball splits upon collision with paddle into more balls. Etc.
EDIT: Revived and I posted simultaneously. However, revived, that chart is OUT OF DATE! Hah! Its missing Ununenium, and two others, or something like than... Its the 8th of the ten elements that decay from one to another in seconds.

[Everlast]

: Fire,Water,Ice,Air,Stone,Earth,Plasma,Sonics,Elect ricity,Dark,Light,Gamma,Wood,Metal... [/B]and even more elements .

Actually Water and Ice are the same. Stone, Wood, and Metal are part of Earth. Electricity, sonic, light and gamma are in the category Plamsa. And darkness is nothing. Anyway ???Revived posted a link to the elements. But here is something we can all agree on. Solid, Liquid, Gas..............Plasma. :)

[???revived]

Those are states of matter, not elements...

[Everlast]

Yes, but I posted it since we can't agree on the elements we can at least agree on states of matter. Anyway this needs to get back on topic. I wouldn't just have an "element" theme I would have many kinds of powerups. One that I have only seen in one "brick attack" game is. A powerup that makes bricks fall. This seems good, but if you get hit with one you lose a ball.

[jstrok7]

@revived and Everlast- I read it in one book, those are not the same elements .
The one you posted are chemical (real) elements, but the ones I'm talking about, are some of the Chinese elements and sub elements . (I read in book) .
And even lego says that stone, earth, plasma, ice, water and so on are different elements (lego bionicle), but not chemical elements...more like state of energy elements . ;)

[Kua]

About these elements, I haven't really thought so much about it. I'm just using things I think sounds ... element-ish?

Anyways, new version done! Did a couple of changes in this one:

- New pack: Hardcore Pack (for those of you who wanted a challenge...)
- New animation when Dark Ball hits a block (I really like the new effect)
- Elements are more rare, especially Fire (as requsted)
- New font in the score
- Fixed a bug with the score-system

Hope you like it, and I'd be very happy about more suggestions. :)

http://www.spiddahest.com/Element%20Ball%20v.1.5.exe

[jstrok7]

Nice update . :)
Hope, you make more elements becuase I really like them .

[blue_moon]

The paddle can still come apart, other than that, great! I liked the hardcore pack, how many levels are there?

[jstrok7]

The paddle can still come apart, other than that, great! I liked the hardcore pack, how many levels are there?

He said that he wanted to do so and that it isn't bug ! ;)

[blue_moon]

Actually, he did say he was going to try and fix it earlier...

[jstrok7]

He said that he will clear bugs, then later he said it's not a bug and that he wan't it to be so . ;)

[Zwaken]

There are really just 4 elements. Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, and if you get technicall you could include Plasma.

You're all wrong. All the elements are here (http://www.webelements.com/).

In one way, you're right Everlast, and in another, you're wrong.

Revived's point is where you are wrong. Technically, the elements are on the periodic table...

BUT, the elements according to older times, everything was made from fire, water, earth, wind.

It depends who's theory your going on. The scientist's or the cavemen's ;)

[Kua]

I think you guys are talking about two different things. :P

jstrok7: You're talking about what I said about the paddle going outside the screen? You're right, it's not a bug. I want to keep it that way.

blue_moon: You mean the problem of the paddle objects splitting up, that you talked about earlier, yes? As I said, I'm going to fix that. I'll try you're suggestion about setting the pieces relative to the center piece, rather than each of them being relative to the mouse pointer.

The paddle can still come apart, other than that, great! I liked the hardcore pack, how many levels are there?

It's 8. If anyone can do all 8 boards at 'Fast' speed ... they're good.


And finally, I'm glad you like the element power-ups! I'm testing out a new power-up right now, that I (personally) think is pretty cool. Hoping to get it ready within the next Pack/version release. :)

[jstrok7]

Ahh, yeah you're right, we're talking about different paddles . :)
Glad about new powerup. :)
OFFTOPIC:
But still sad...:(

[andylaw31]

I've quickly tried out the game, it looks good but a few suggestions:

1) Give an option to turn off the music/fx sounds so that you don't have to listen to the game's music while playing.

2) Include the use of the cursor buttons and space bar instead/as well as the mouse as for those (like me) using a laptop, it is didfficult to use the touchpad to move across the screen efficiently.

There may be a few other things that come up but I haven't had time to find them yet, I will post if I do.

[andylaw31]

Also, a pause option would be very useful.

[Samail]

A work in progress, but still looks very nice already. Quick question: Is the "Act of God" feature in the game?
(That's when there's only one brick remaining, and after some time, it is automatically destroyed somehow by the game.)

Oh, and where'd you get the BGM?

[wildgoosespeeder]

Great game Kua!