New ‘hero’ character
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New ‘hero’ character

So I’ve been thinking a lot about the overall game play and how the story / challenges pan out. After some careful thought I’ve decided that at the moment the game lacks any sort of progressive pace, so I’ve come up with two types of challenges which are more linked to a back story. 1. Normal Reprisal level - Island is completed once all enemy populants are taken out. 2. Power Collection - Island is completed once you have located and collected a new power totem somewhere in the island. The new Power Collection challenges will add pace to the game by gradually rewarding players with powers to use. And here’s an overview of the Reprisal Back story [draft!]: …………………………………………………………………………….. “You were once a powerful leader of a distant tribe and land with the ability to harness power totems of nature. With these powers you guided your people. Now you have been cast aside as three tribes who are at war have taken control and scattered your people and totems across distant lands. You must now guide your people to become a powerful tribe once again, collecting your power totems throughout the lands and overthrowing those tribes that stand in your way. Begin your Reprisal to reclaim your history …”
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So I’ve been thinking a lot about the overall game play and how the story / challenges pan out. After some careful thought I’ve decided that at the moment the game lacks any sort of progressive pace, so I’ve come up with two types of challenges which are more linked to a back story.

1. Normal Reprisal level - Island is completed once all enemy populants are taken out.

2. Power Collection - Island is completed once you have located and collected a new power totem somewhere in the island.

The new Power Collection challenges will add pace to the game by gradually rewarding players with powers to use. And here’s an overview of the Reprisal Back story [draft!]:

……………………………………………………………………………..

“You were once a powerful leader of a distant tribe and land with the ability to harness power totems of nature. With these powers you guided your people.

Now you have been cast aside as three tribes who are at war have taken control and scattered your people and totems across distant lands.

You must now guide your people to become a powerful tribe once again, collecting your power totems throughout the lands and overthrowing those tribes that stand in your way.

Begin your Reprisal to reclaim your history …”

Island 5 set afloat - Play Now Featuring Desert, Twisters and also Tidal storm … if you can find it!
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Island 5 set afloat - Play Now

Featuring Desert, Twisters and also Tidal storm … if you can find it!

The little people just got a little bit more clever. One thing that you may not have noticed is that your populants all have different traits depending on their age. As they wander around your land they get older and as such will eventually die unless they full-fill building a settlement or win a battle. New AI has been added allowing them to work out if they are getting too old and as such find the nearest friendly settlement to go to and re-charge their batteries.  [ Play it here ]
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The little people just got a little bit more clever. One thing that you may not have noticed is that your populants all have different traits depending on their age.

As they wander around your land they get older and as such will eventually die unless they full-fill building a settlement or win a battle. New AI has been added allowing them to work out if they are getting too old and as such find the nearest friendly settlement to go to and re-charge their batteries. 

[ Play it here ]

Developing a new screen mode in response to feedback. This new mode will expand the game screen to 800 X 600 giving the player more of a view. I’m still implementing this and deciding if it sits within my original concept for a ‘retro’ lo-fi game. Let me know what you think!
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Developing a new screen mode in response to feedback. This new mode will expand the game screen to 800 X 600 giving the player more of a view. I’m still implementing this and deciding if it sits within my original concept for a ‘retro’ lo-fi game. Let me know what you think!

New power has almost been finished under ‘Wind’. A Twister! These can take out buildings and suck up any populants that get in it’s way. Hope to get this into the playable demo for the next island update. Also another new land type is being added, Desert. Yet more pixels!
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New power has almost been finished under ‘Wind’. A Twister! These can take out buildings and suck up any populants that get in it’s way. Hope to get this into the playable demo for the next island update. Also another new land type is being added, Desert. Yet more pixels!

A.I. CPU ##…##

Started working on the CPU player’s A.I for controlling and unleashing their own powers against you. This is going to dramatically ramp up the toughness factor to conquer islands with each CPU player having their own play style. I’m not going to go into too much detail and bore you all with the in’s and out’s but the A.I looks for ‘interesting’ areas of the game area and weighs up what it should do depending on what it finds! Watch this space…

** Update made to demo link [v0.5] includes early A.I routines **

Below is a graphic overview of the A.I zoning and if a CPU player finds an ‘interest’.


Q&A

I’ve received various questions so I thought I’d take this time to answer them!

“Which graphics software do you use for pixel art? What methods about pixel art?”

I use PhotoShop and zoom in nice and close. Years ago I would have been using Deluxe Paint 3 on my Amiga!

“Could you add a fullscreen mode ? It would be GREEEAAAATTTT. (And an android app would be nice too.)”

I have been looking into a fullscreen mode but more for a stand alone desktop version. I’ve managed to get the game running on a HTC Sensation and it’s pretty sweet. It does however need some serious rethinking of the controls to cope with touch screen which will take time … 

“Will you release any of your source code?”

… I’ll never say never :D Will be after the release though.

“I adore Reprisal, and unfortunately never got a chance to play Populous. :( My question for you is; how long have you been developing in flash and what happened to that awesome-looking-dungeon-crawler-esque-game? Because I love making games (even though I haven’t finished/released anything :P) and I would really like to learn things.”

Thanks! I’ve been using Flash since it was called “Splash” which I played with at art college. I’ve grown with it over the years but I only just switched to the newer AS3 for this game. Making the switch was quite smooth and all my original fears about the learning curve were unfounded. It’s SO much faster than AS2. 

Ah yes, the dungeon game. “Battle Keep” This is still being developed and will hopefully be out soon. Its a multi player game and you can follow more here: http://www.last17.com/

“Are you the author of the music? it’s amazing!”

The music is great, it’s been made by Eric Skiff. Some lovely retro chip tunes. 

“Do you have a twitter account?”

Yep! it’s 16bitsperpx :D 

++ Playable Island 4 ‘Big Freeze’ released [v0.4] ++  Another beta island has been released to mark a new release of the Reprisal engine. Island 4 - ‘Big Freeze’ supports some early versions of new terrain types. Various bug issues have been fixed and you will be able to play with a new power on island 4 - ‘Big Freeze’, but you will have to find that! Don’t forget you can gather populants by placing and gathering them with your ‘Waypoint’ marker power.
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++ Playable Island 4 ‘Big Freeze’ released [v0.4] ++ 

Another beta island has been released to mark a new release of the Reprisal engine. Island 4 - ‘Big Freeze’ supports some early versions of new terrain types.

Various bug issues have been fixed and you will be able to play with a new power on island 4 - ‘Big Freeze’, but you will have to find that! Don’t forget you can gather populants by placing and gathering them with your ‘Waypoint’ marker power.

Friday, Day 224 into development. So I decided to quickly do a little round up. Looking at Mine Craft today I realise how easily the game could have taken on some of its game play mechanics. The early engine for Reprisal was based on a ‘block’ generated landscape (see above image) and was very fast to create. Wanting to move it towards the current angular less block feel did take a fair bit of thinking about, maths and code but from a design point of view I think its working a treat. I do however like the idea of making players mine or gather resources to let them build and terror-form land rather than waiting for mana collection. I’ll be thinking about this a bit more. In other news the game will now be including different world types which is purely cosmetic at present and has easily double and tripled the graphics workload! Also been addressing some usability UI issues to help you locate which tile your on easily. Hope to get my head down with a new release update soon.
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Friday, Day 224 into development.
So I decided to quickly do a little round up. Looking at Mine Craft today I realise how easily the game could have taken on some of its game play mechanics. The early engine for Reprisal was based on a ‘block’ generated landscape (see above image) and was very fast to create.

Wanting to move it towards the current angular less block feel did take a fair bit of thinking about, maths and code but from a design point of view I think its working a treat. I do however like the idea of making players mine or gather resources to let them build and terror-form land rather than waiting for mana collection. I’ll be thinking about this a bit more.

In other news the game will now be including different world types which is purely cosmetic at present and has easily double and tripled the graphics workload! Also been addressing some usability UI issues to help you locate which tile your on easily. Hope to get my head down with a new release update soon.