March 11th, 2010

Introducing Fluster

Hey guys it’s April 17th which means the original deadline for the indie game competition has passed! It’s been a little over a month since I decided to try to enter the contest, since then my friend, and talented artist, JZ and I have been hard at work to try to get something together — I think it’s time for an update! Before I show off the latest alpha for my game though let me just warn that 1) it is still rough (that’s the point after all!) and 2) the deadline has been pushed back to April 30. phew Anyway, here is my latest game, Fluster:

Click to play Fluster Play Fluster

So what’s this game all about? It’s a simple 2-d platformer with a twist, you’ve got a vacuum you can use to manipulate the environment. Right now I am aiming for about a 70-30 split between platforming and puzzle elements. I’ve tried to sprinkle optional puzzles throughout, though, for more advanced players.

Right now my top priority is to start adding some sound and music to the game. While I’m doing that my partner in crime, JZ, will continue working on the environments and character animations.

So what do you think? Please let me know in the comments if you found something in the gameplay, controls, etc to be off. Naturally I’d also like to know about any bugs you come across as well. Finally I hope you enjoyed this sneak peak!

Also, if you enjoyed Fluster please consider sharing it with a friend or social network :-)

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April 17, 2009 | Filed Under Game Development, Release 

comments

  • Hey Darrel, wow thanks for the thorough playtesting! First off, in case you haven't, check out the updated alpha for fluster which hopefully addresses some of the problems you're seeing.


    As for the part where the spring/key disappeared and you fell through to the last pit, I'm working on a fix for that right now! Also in the next build there should be a proper ending once you reach the bottom of the level, so get excited!


    Thanks again for your feedback, it's a huge help!

  • Darrel

    I agree with another comment I would like to be able to jump and shoot the guys out the vacuum. I would at times find myself hitting another button thinking I could do more with the Vacuum.


    Also I played this for 3hrs and drained myself I ran into a few bugs which s what I was looking for I noticed I was able to open a few door without the key. i.e I would suck up the key and I accidentally shot it out and it went thru a wall and I pushed a switch and walk to a corner and heard the door open. This is at the very beginning of the level.


    <ol>
    <li>I also noticed another area where your jump on the green springs for some reason the small spring disappears and everything move it on the platform of my choice it moves itself. Then the key disappeared and I was stuck at the bottom of this pit. This is the part that frustrated me the most I'm going to play it again tomorrow.</li>
    </ol>

    Overall it was fun and challenging because to me it's a trial and error game and timing the jumps will reduce the frustration as well. I'm determine to finish the level I always get far and get stuck at the same part every time.

  • Gornova

    With background is really cool :D
    Soon a better testing as always!

  • Paul thanks for your feedback. Based on your and others feedback we'll have to reconsider how to operate the vacuum and control the player. Perhaps charging to fire and toggling between options isn't worthwhile after all.

  • Paul

    I was thinking if you held up or down you would aim the vacuum in that direction but I just realized up/down is used to switch between blow/launch. It could become complicated with more controls.

  • Paul

    The guy reminds me of the fallout series.


    I want to do more with the vacuum. Flipping switches and picking stuff up is nice but it felt like the majority of the gameplay was jump and run.


    If its possible to use vacuum while in the air or running, you could do some neat stuff with vacuum aided movement. Like if you point down while in the air and blowing, it slows your descent -- longer jumps. If you get near the ceiling/wall and suck, you could cling to it.

  • Hey Paul, thanks that is really helpful feedback! We've thought about some more ways to use the vacuum and will try to work some of them in over the next couple weeks. From your feedback it sounds like you'd like to be able to aim the vacuum in multiple directions. If that's right do you think that would be too complicated in practice?

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