I built some custom editor extensions in Unity to help me make geometry for use in level creation.

The spraying object’s mesh is generated on the fly with a number of settings. It automatically generates the geometry, assigns UVs and adds additional colliders for game interactions.

CLICK TO PLAY

This prototype was built in Unity 3.5 and works on Android, PC and web. I used Unity’s built in physics of rigid bodies and joints for the parts which I think works great.  I’m aware of a number of bugs or strange behavior, and the interface needs work, but it is a prototype after all.

There is still a lot I want to do with this, and my kids have more ideas too. Hopefully I can get back to it in the near future.

If you have any ideas or comments, or a cool design you want to share, send me a note!

 

Minecraft Halloween 2012

I regret not getting more pictures and video, but there is always next year!

Play The Game

Jake in the Land of Falling People is a simple game where you play as Jake the Dog and you have to save people who are falling, as well as keep from being bombed. To do this, you use Jake super strech ability to punch and grab things in the sky.

You can play the game in a browser,  or on your Android device (download the APK).

When I heard about the Game Making Frenzy with Adventure Time, I mentioned it to my kids, three boys ages 9, 7, and 5. They were very excited. When the jam started, we spent about an hour Saturday morning talking about game design and ideas. The design had a lot of crazy ideas, which I feared I couldn’t program, but the basic idea was pretty good. Having Jake punch things out of the sky was a great idea with lots of potential. Inbitially you were supposed to switch between modes, for punch and grab, but that was unwieldy and confusing. The idea of punching, instead of grabbing, falling people in the sky was funny, but also frustrating. Development took place mostly on Sunday. The boys would run up and scan in a picture of an airplane and bombs and ask me to put it in the game, so I would. And the loop went like that, with me developing other core stuff as we went along.

The game is unfinished, but functions in a complete game loop. There is a lot that I didn’t get to, but I didn’t get a good start until Sunday. The “boss” and “power up” items were not implemented. Sound is missing and very needed. It’s also sometimes confusing as to why you lose the game.

The Unity3D framework was used as the core engine. Code was written in C# using MonoDevelop. Art was drawn on paper, then scanned and edited in Photoshop. Playtesting was done on PC, Web, and with Android on Kindle Fire and a Nexus 7.

There are a few known bugs (mostly showing up in the Android version because of timing and touch inputs), but for the most part the game should function on most resolutions.

I worked with my three sons to make this game.  Instructions are lacking, but quickly its punch the bad stuff, catch the falling people, and don’t die.

Play in your Web Browser

Download the APK for Android

Fireman Run is a game I’m developing with a few friends. It’s made in Unity, using C# and primary testing is on Android devices at the moment.

In the image above you can see a long length of track that I generated with a few inputs.  Additionally, it creates road rails to help keep the vehicle on the road.  It also creates a simple ditch on each side of the road from a simple profile. Additional options include material selection, which changes the road appearance.

It’s not often that I get to share stuff from work, but this is only a taste of what it can do. The project will eventually be released to the public. Hopefully some day I can share a video of everything it does.

The vehicles are from the Car Tutorial project provided by Unity.

I made this helper image as I worked to remind me of how things should work.

I’m most interested in the three major players and their press conferences.  Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft.  Each planning some big announcements and future plans.  Here’s what I think each major player will have to say.

Nintendo

My biggest interest for E3 2012 is Nintendo’s Wii U console?  Wii sales are essentially dead, 3DS not doing so well…  Can Wii U breath life back or will it show us something we didn’t know we wanted?   Can it show something beyond the Nintendo typical cutsie?   I expect that in typical Nintendo fashion, the Wii U will not focus on tech and be underpowered.  Also, the 3DS needs some life but I’m really meh about it so I don’t care much other that to see what they say about hardware.

Sony

I don’t follow Sony very much, but  I think Sony is in a tight spot and needs to react and show what they have to offer.  They have a lot of games to talk about and I expect a lot of Vita Vita Vita talk.   Sony could announce a price drop on the console, in reaction to the $99 Xbox console deal (rip off tactic).  I’ve heard some news about a cloud service, which could be streaming games like OnLive, but I doubt it.

I’m curious what Sony will say about the Move.  Remember the Move?  Will they give it more promotion or is it a dead peripherial?

Although unlikely, its possible Sony might hint at the PS4 in vague ways to let us know they are thinking of the future. I’ve been really adamant that Nintendo’s Wii U would steal the show and the other players would want to evaluate what Nintendo’s up to and how they fair, but Sony could see it as an opportunity.

Microsoft

There will be no new console announcement from Microsoft in my opinion.  They won’t want to take attention from the Kinect, and I suspect they will be very interested in how the Wii U goes.  Expect more dashboard/software announcements, Live crap, Windowz Phone blah, Windows App Store, meh.  I expect Microsoft to suck it this year as they try to further embrace casual.  I think they are going to approach this from a different angle, laying the groundwork for a Windows Phone, Windows 8, and Xbox 720 future.

I am very interested to see if their presentation makes them appear as if they are getting out of the games business.  On the other hand, Microsoft could have some awesome sh!t happening if they can really integrate the next console with Windows 8 and Windows Phone in a non-sucky/typical Microsoft way.  And maybe Zune has a future!

All in all, what they present should be telling for what could be their path for the next console.  Oh, and probably something about Halo.

Summary

I think Nintendo and the Wii U will steal the show and give us lots to talk about.  I think Sony will be on the offensive and will really pump some fun at us, showcasing the fun gaming “experience”, as well as promote the Vita in a way to make us want to get it.  I think Microsoft is going to be a flop, focusing on other casual crap we won’t really care about while missing the gamer audience.