[tutorial] Beginner's Guide ep 2 - SHMUP (need criqituing)

Anything related in any way to game development as a whole is welcome here. Tell us about your game, grace us with your project, show us your new YouTube video, etc.

Moderator: PC Supremacists

Post Reply
User avatar
Moosader
Game Developer
Game Developer
Posts: 1081
Joined: Wed May 07, 2008 12:29 am
Current Project: Find out at: http://www.youtube.com/coderrach
Favorite Gaming Platforms: PC, NES, SNES, PS2, PS1, DS, PSP, X360, WII
Programming Language of Choice: C++
Location: Kansas City
Contact:

[tutorial] Beginner's Guide ep 2 - SHMUP (need criqituing)

Post by Moosader »

Heya guys-
I've gotten a lot of the written version of BGtGP:APSA 2 (ugk) written, but it still feels somewhat incomplete.

If possible, I'd like some people to read through and critique the guide, so I can get it to a good level of quality before creating the video versions. It's not as extensive as the version episode, as it doesn't cover how to use graphics/sound/etc, and doesn't even have that much code.

ODT (Open office) version: http://moosader.com/tutfiles/Moosader_BGtGP2shmup.odt
PDT version: http://moosader.com/tutfiles/Moosader_BGtGP2shmup.pdf

What I'm wondering:
* Does this make sense to you?
* Does this help you understand?
* Do you think you understand enough to make a shmup on your own after reading this guide and Guide #1?
* What do you think is missing? What needs to be explained in more depth?
* What do you feel like wasn't covered?

Thanks for any input!
User avatar
GroundUpEngine
Chaos Rift Devotee
Chaos Rift Devotee
Posts: 835
Joined: Sun Nov 08, 2009 2:01 pm
Current Project: mixture
Favorite Gaming Platforms: PC
Programming Language of Choice: C++
Location: UK

Re: [tutorial] Beginner's Guide ep 2 - SHMUP (need criqituing)

Post by GroundUpEngine »

-The structure is pretty good
-I think the game design part is decent
-Also the Bounding Box/Collision part was well explained
-The code deisgn went in depth and the diagram was nice

#I think some people might not understand the Singletons though
#The Creating Level's part could go a bit more in depth
#Particles?

So far so good I thinks ;)
User avatar
Moosader
Game Developer
Game Developer
Posts: 1081
Joined: Wed May 07, 2008 12:29 am
Current Project: Find out at: http://www.youtube.com/coderrach
Favorite Gaming Platforms: PC, NES, SNES, PS2, PS1, DS, PSP, X360, WII
Programming Language of Choice: C++
Location: Kansas City
Contact:

Re: [tutorial] Beginner's Guide ep 2 - SHMUP (need criqituing)

Post by Moosader »

GroundUpEngine wrote:-The structure is pretty good
-I think the game design part is decent
-Also the Bounding Box/Collision part was well explained
-The code deisgn went in depth and the diagram was nice

#I think some people might not understand the Singletons though
#The Creating Level's part could go a bit more in depth
#Particles?

So far so good I thinks ;)
Cool. Thanks for the input, it really helps.

Do you think it was too brief? I'm afraid it might start guiding the reader onto a raft and then kind of push them out to sea before they're prepared with a paddle or something. (Ok weird analogy)
User avatar
GroundUpEngine
Chaos Rift Devotee
Chaos Rift Devotee
Posts: 835
Joined: Sun Nov 08, 2009 2:01 pm
Current Project: mixture
Favorite Gaming Platforms: PC
Programming Language of Choice: C++
Location: UK

Re: [tutorial] Beginner's Guide ep 2 - SHMUP (need criqituing)

Post by GroundUpEngine »

Moosader wrote: Cool. Thanks for the input, it really helps.

Do you think it was too brief? I'm afraid it might start guiding the reader onto a raft and then kind of push them out to sea before they're prepared with a paddle or something. (Ok weird analogy)
np, lol nice analogy :D

Nah I think that a good Game Design and Technical Design is the key for making/completing a game, however the guide kinda tells you all the elements of a shoot em up; but then not so much about putting them together, which makes it too brief I guess ;)
User avatar
davidthefat
Chaos Rift Maniac
Chaos Rift Maniac
Posts: 529
Joined: Mon Nov 10, 2008 3:51 pm
Current Project: Fully Autonomous Robot
Favorite Gaming Platforms: PS3
Programming Language of Choice: C++
Location: California
Contact:

Re: [tutorial] Beginner's Guide ep 2 - SHMUP (need criqituing)

Post by davidthefat »

Waiting for episode 3... Can't get the damn collision right for the ground....
User avatar
Moosader
Game Developer
Game Developer
Posts: 1081
Joined: Wed May 07, 2008 12:29 am
Current Project: Find out at: http://www.youtube.com/coderrach
Favorite Gaming Platforms: PC, NES, SNES, PS2, PS1, DS, PSP, X360, WII
Programming Language of Choice: C++
Location: Kansas City
Contact:

Re: [tutorial] Beginner's Guide ep 2 - SHMUP (need criqituing)

Post by Moosader »

davidthefat wrote:Waiting for episode 3... Can't get the damn collision right for the ground....
This does have code for bounding box collision detection, if ye want. ;P
User avatar
Moosader
Game Developer
Game Developer
Posts: 1081
Joined: Wed May 07, 2008 12:29 am
Current Project: Find out at: http://www.youtube.com/coderrach
Favorite Gaming Platforms: PC, NES, SNES, PS2, PS1, DS, PSP, X360, WII
Programming Language of Choice: C++
Location: Kansas City
Contact:

Re: [tutorial] Beginner's Guide ep 2 - SHMUP (need criqituing)

Post by Moosader »

I've updated the later part of Lesson 2, the part on managers and other objects, if anyone wants to review that. Thanks.
User avatar
GroundUpEngine
Chaos Rift Devotee
Chaos Rift Devotee
Posts: 835
Joined: Sun Nov 08, 2009 2:01 pm
Current Project: mixture
Favorite Gaming Platforms: PC
Programming Language of Choice: C++
Location: UK

Re: [tutorial] Beginner's Guide ep 2 - SHMUP (need criqituing)

Post by GroundUpEngine »

Moosader wrote:I've updated the later part of Lesson 2, the part on managers and other objects, if anyone wants to review that. Thanks.
Cool!
Just checked it out, the code examples, etc.. are a good addition it definitely goes more in depth now ;)
User avatar
Moosader
Game Developer
Game Developer
Posts: 1081
Joined: Wed May 07, 2008 12:29 am
Current Project: Find out at: http://www.youtube.com/coderrach
Favorite Gaming Platforms: PC, NES, SNES, PS2, PS1, DS, PSP, X360, WII
Programming Language of Choice: C++
Location: Kansas City
Contact:

Re: [tutorial] Beginner's Guide ep 2 - SHMUP (need criqituing)

Post by Moosader »

Could some peoples give me some critiquing on Lesson 2 of the guide? I want to make sure I have good information before I do the video for this part.

Mainly, I write about using managers like LevelManager, ImageManager, SoundManager, and CharacterManager, but is this an alright structure?
I was talking to Bakkon about how he uses static members/functions in his base class so basically they act as the managers for all the children.

Is either way better than the other? Should I cover both? Do I have too many manager classes, should I have something more like an asset manager, renderer, and game state manager?


Thanks.
User avatar
GroundUpEngine
Chaos Rift Devotee
Chaos Rift Devotee
Posts: 835
Joined: Sun Nov 08, 2009 2:01 pm
Current Project: mixture
Favorite Gaming Platforms: PC
Programming Language of Choice: C++
Location: UK

Re: [tutorial] Beginner's Guide ep 2 - SHMUP (need criqituing)

Post by GroundUpEngine »

Hey, I've seen Bakkon's techinque it's pretty nifty imo. You should do both ;)
jacob.krustchinsky
Chaos Rift Newbie
Chaos Rift Newbie
Posts: 34
Joined: Tue Feb 23, 2010 10:18 pm

Re: [tutorial] Beginner's Guide ep 2 - SHMUP (need criqituing)

Post by jacob.krustchinsky »

I am a Moosader fanboy xP

- melts -

Looks great Rachel! It read clearly and I could understand each process well!
User avatar
MrDeathNote
ES Beta Backer
ES Beta Backer
Posts: 594
Joined: Sun Oct 11, 2009 9:57 am
Current Project: cocos2d-x project
Favorite Gaming Platforms: SNES, Sega Megadrive, XBox 360
Programming Language of Choice: C/++
Location: Belfast, Ireland
Contact:

Re: [tutorial] Beginner's Guide ep 2 - SHMUP (need criqituing)

Post by MrDeathNote »

This is a very well written tut, imo you should be very proud of it. I think you should teach the design that you believe in the most, you have enough experience to see a good design and if you believe in the design you can better convey your ideas to the reader. It's really up to you though, it's your series, your name's going on it. But all in all, i think you've done a great job so far, dont stop now!! :)
http://www.youtube.com/user/MrDeathNote1988

Image
Image

"C makes it easy to shoot yourself in the foot. C++ makes it
harder, but when you do, it blows away your whole leg." - Bjarne Stroustrup
Post Reply