FBGD Antagonist Competition (Nov 2009 - Jan 2010) - 125 $ 1st prize

[Ryan]

It's a good thing Lachie isn't forcing you to enter.

[codezer0]

Hopefully I'll have something for this, good concept.

[Lachie Dazdarian]

Right...

Anyway, the first and the second place money prize have been upped by the courtesy of Jattenalle. Now it's 125 $ for the first place, and 50 $ for the second place. Also, the awards will now be payable via PayPal too.

[nkk_kan]

Lol! Awesome idea! You always come up with unique ideas
There should be quite alot entries this time (i hope)

This idea requires that one is skilled enough at FreeBASIC to set the technical aspects aside. See, I can't just "make a game" with this language. I have to make a game engine, I have to make sure everything works, and I have to spend a good few hours making sure all of my game variables are explicitly declared.

x=1

OOPS! I didn't spend a good ten minutes stressing over that one line of code, now it's giving me an error!

Quit whining and learn to code (or go use some of those game making stuff)...

[ssjx]

Not sure if we are sharing our ideas yet, but my game is probably going to be a pac-man game but where you control the 4 ghosts and have to catch pac-man before all of the dots get eaten.

I am thinking that the player will swap between ghosts to try and capture pac-man. Pac will probably be faster than the ghosts. The 3 ghosts not being controlled will be controlled via dumb AI. The pac/3 ghost AI (and i use that term very loosely..) will probably use line of sight so the computer controlled players don't cheat.

I haven't started coding yet so have not decided whether it will be single screen or scrolling or any other specifics but i think it could be fun little game if it goes to plan! Being chased by pacman could be very funny..

I am not looking for suggestions at this point btw, but thought that others may be interested in what my entry will probably be. This is all subject to change or course if this game turns out not to be fun to play...

[Tusike]

I have a question. If I tell my idea of the game, are others allowed to use it? I have two ideas and can't quite decide which one to make, and could use some help. I'm thinking two entries from one person aren't allowed.
Also I'm not sure the money is a good idea; there will be many people spending a lot of time to make the game, and instead of being happy because of what they had done, they will be frustrated as their work won't be rewarded. You should've announced the competition and in the end told us about the money, although this way more games will be created, and I suppose that's the point of all of this.

Good luck to everyone,
-Tusike

PS: I forgot to add that this antagonist idea is great! We really do have to think about how to make it into a fun game.

[Lachie Dazdarian]

ssjx, that sounds like a great idea. Hope you'll be able to construct a challenging PacMan AI. I think the fun factor will greatly depend on this. Here is an idea: The game could be level-based and the goal is to "protect" the level dots until a certain amount of time expires or PacMan loses all his lives.

Not sure how to answer your question Tusike, because ideas are, well....nowhere in the world you can protect them. You can only protect realized ideas, whether in some design (patent) or final product (copyright). I guess we should all rely in mutual fairness. As in sense, if one of the compo participants chooses an idea you didn’t think of before (independently) and makes it public, be so kind not to use the same idea or don’t participate in the compo. Or maybe try to collaborate with that person if the idea is really attractive to you too.

Not sure if I should not allow multiple entries. I'm hoping everyone will concentrate on one entry and try to compile it properly. I'll think about it.

Anyway, if you don't feel comfortable with sharing your ideas, then don't do so. If you wish, you can pick my brain regarding then via email or PM, or just ask some people outside the community.

EDIT:

And I don't think money prizes are a problem. ciw1973 held few compos with money prizes and nobody was really frustrated for losing. I won 2nd place in one (it was like 25 UK pounds award) and 4th in another I think. It was ok because I knew better entries than mine won. Just think of the money as a secondary and not primary motivator. I can't help those who participate only for the money. Their problem.

[ssjx]

>> The game could be level-based and the goal is to "protect" the level dots until a certain amount of time expires or PacMan loses all his lives.

I'm thinking of the level starting with a score based on the dots (e.g. 50x 10pts) that reduces with each dot pacman eats! This will be added each level to get a total score. Almost like a mirror universe pac man! Hopefully i can put together a working demo for next weekend!

[vdecampo]

Not sure if we are sharing our ideas yet, but my game is probably going to be a pac-man game but where you control the 4 ghosts and have to catch pac-man before all of the dots get eaten.
I am not looking for suggestions at this point btw, but thought that others may be interested in what my entry will probably be. This is all subject to change or course if this game turns out not to be fun to play...

Well damn if that wasn't the exact idea I was thinking of for this comp. I guess I'll go find another classic arcade game to flip around. 

-Vince

[ChangeV]

I am in.

In most of (J)RPGs, heroes kill slimes to level up.
Now, it is your turn being the life of slime, the lowest creature in the RPGs.
Lost in the forest, looking for your slime village...
It is all about the survival in the human world.

[StefanPN]

Just to check  in: "I am in!".

[Lachie Dazdarian]

4 confirmed entrants so far: ssjx, StefanPN, ChangeV and Zamaster

And few promised to try.

Cool!

[ssjx]

Just an update, here is what my entry looks like so far:

http://ssjx.co.uk/windows/pacman-ghosts.php

I'm aware of what needs fixing, tweaking and adding but i think this gives an idea of what i am aiming toward.

The idea is that you have to capture pacman 3 times to advance off the level (only one map at the moment), your score counts down for each dot that gets eaten so you need to be quick.

You can swap ghosts by pressing the number keys (1-4) and the ghost you contol is faster than the others.

Interesting things i am planning to add:

* Fruit - Reduces your score even quicker, gives the possibility of successfully completing a level but still ending up with a negative score.

* Vanishing walls - I think walls that appear/disappear could make things interesting.

* More maps - Currently there is just the one, i want to have 3-5.

* Ghost Stats - I like the idea of a Worms style screen with Most Useless Ghost etc...

Source is included but still rough and i have not tested on any other computer yet.

Anyway, enjoy!

[Lachie Dazdarian]

Looking good so far. Plenty of time for tweaking and additional features. Nice you got the basic engine already. Thought about changing the ghost color when the pacman is red? In this test I forgot few times the pacman was red as I was concentrating on the color of my ghosts.

[Zamaster]

If there's anybody who would rather do graphics than code please, help me out I'm desperate. We'll split the prize 50/50 if we win. PM me if you can!