TetriQuest 1.0 Post-mortem

Published
by
tioneB
on 02/09/2007
in General and HexEngine
. 0 Comments

Most of my personal projects are started because I ask myself way to many questions. When creating TetriQuest, I wanted to know:

  1. Is HexEngine ready to create a simple game?
  2. Is it easy or hard to create an AI for Tetris?
  3. Could RPG-like element be implemented in the gameplay of Tetris?

And I couldn’t be happier because, with TQ 1.0, I was able to answer all those questions. Here’s a small post-mortem of what went well and what didn’t

The Good

Development was Rewarding

There is not a feature in this game that was not rewarding to develop. Having a working Tetris clone in a short period of time with my homebrew engine was great. And when I saw my AI being able to do 10000+ lines on average, I was ecstatic!

A New Found Passion

I was already intrigued by AIs and creating my own was so much fun that I started reading AI for Game Developer. I’m looking forward working on more complex AIs!

The Bad

A well defined milestone only mid-project

Version 1.0 is not all that I had in mind for TetriQuest and not having a well defined milestone led to some “oh shinny!” moments. I rectified the situation mid-project to bring it back on track.

Moving On

With 1.0 completed, I can put TQ aside for some time and get working on HexEngine and on the-secret-but-not-so-secret project codenamed Secret Prophecy.

TetriQuest 1.0.0

Published
by
tioneB
on 01/09/2007
in HexEngine
. 0 Comments

It is my pleasure to announce the release of the first public version of TetriQuest.

TetriQuest is your average Tetris Clone with an RPG twist added to it. For each line you clear, mana is added to to the field. You use mana to cast magics and try to survive against 3 AI; each with different settings. AIs are fast and rough, but you have an advantage they do not, you can cast magics!

Enjoy TetriQuest version 1.0.0 (1.37MB)

Progress Report 2007-09-01

Published
by
tioneB
on 01/09/2007
in HexEngine
. 0 Comments

Changes:

  • TetriQuest: AI thinking now doesn’t stop the drawing and updating of the game. Gives a more fluid experience. \o/
  • TetriQuest: If anyone clear more than 1 lines, it adds line cleared - 1 lines to each opponent field.
  • TetriQuest: The AI settings were already modifialbe globaly, but now each board have an AI config of it’s own. Allowing different AI setting in the same match.
  • TetriQuest: For each line you clear, mana is added to to the field.
  • TetriQuest: Mana: You collect mana by clearing lines with mana in it.
  • TetriQuest: Magics use mana.
  • TetriQuest: You can’t cast magic if you don’t have enough mana.
  • TetriQuest: Bug Fix: AI keeps it’s setting after it’s dead.

Challenge 200:
For this progress report : 20h
YTD : 108h / 200h

Todo:

  • J.I.M. : Do not allow an object to be push into another object.
  • Fix gif transparency.
  • Pixel perfect collision detection.
  • Rework the split of a tileset image. I should copy the pixel of the big image in the tile, instead of each time copying the big image and cropping it.

The Not-So-Secret Master Plan

Published
by
tioneB
on 14/08/2007
in General
. 3 Comments

4 and a half years ago, I completed 3 years of professional technical study in Computer Science (In Quebec, this is called a “DEC“). In the last semester of my DEC, I did an internship at Air Liquide Canada, developing web application for their intranet. At the end of my internship, I accepted the job ALC was offering me as a Web Developer.

Fast forward to September 2006. I’m in Japan with 2 good friends. We’re riding the train to go to the Tokyo Game Show. Stéphane is listening to music, Marie-Michèle is reading a book and I’m lost in my thoughts. “I’m living my biggest dream. I’m in Japan! I’m going to the TGS! … … where do I go next?”. When I came back from Japan, I decided that I would do everything in my power to make my 2nd biggest dream come true.

“Your trip to Japan will be a life altering experience” a good friend had told me. At the time, I had no idea how true those words would be! hehehe

Officially, as of August 31st, I’ll no longer work for ALC. September 5th will be my first day at University, where I’ll be on my way to earn my Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science. You got that right folks! In ~20 days, I quit my job to go back to school! If that is not life altering, then I don’t know what is ^_^

Going to university is only my first step in becoming a renowned Game Programmer. Since I still have a rent to pay, I’ll find a part time job. I’m aiming for Game Tester, since that would give me a good insight into the Game Industry process.

I’ll continue volunteering at IGDA Montreal and build a good network of “inside” contact. I’ll also continue working on HexEngine and other projects to add to my portfolio. With a good portfolio and some inside contacts, I shouldn’t have any problems to find an internship.

Then, to expand my network to outside of Canada, I’ll volunteer as a CA for GDC or maybe even go for the IGDA’s GDC Student Scholarships.

After 3 years, I’ll be a Bachelor and I’ll have all the tools to land a job at Ubisoft as a Game Programmer ^_^

What do you think? That’s a good plan? A bad one? What’s your master plan to break in the game industry?

64squar.es

Published
by
tioneB
on 05/08/2007
in Asides
. 0 Comments

You know the game where you move around peons to do your bidding and die for you? No no, not life… chess! I found this fun website where you can play with your friends or find new opponents. You can play realtime when they’re online, or by correspondence if they’re not.

Soo.. are you man enough to register on 64squar.es and send a challenge to tioneb? :P