Upcoming Events
Unite 2010
11/10 - 11/12 @ Montréal, Canada

GDC China
12/5 - 12/7 @ Shanghai, China

Asia Game Show 2010
12/24 - 12/27  

GDC 2011
2/28 - 3/4 @ San Francisco, CA

More events...
Quick Stats
78 people currently visiting GDNet.
2406 articles in the reference section.

Help us fight cancer!
Join SETI Team GDNet!
Link to us Events 4 Gamers
Home » Features » GD Showcase » View Submission
Intel sponsors gamedev.net search:
Game Development Showcase
Track this GDS Entry
Kentis (OLD)
Developer   kentcb
GenrePuzzle
PlatformWindows
Downloads417

About: THIS SUBMISSION IS OUT OF DATE. See http://kentb.blogspot.com/2008/12/kentis.html for the latest version.

Game Info How To Play Downloads Comments



Please offer only constructive criticism. The intent of the GD Showcase is to help the developer create the best game they possibly can. Show them you support their efforts when posting.



Post Reply
Hi everyone,

This is my first game so I'd appreciate any feedback that will improve the quality of my future efforts. I'll consider implementing any requests on a case by case basis.

Here are a list of goals / non-goals for the game:

Goals
* Implement common features of a commercial game (that is, including stuff like high scores and options).
* Decent framerate and smooth rendering. Hit tilde (~) to get a framerate. I'm interested in hearing your machine specs and sample framerates.
* Smooth input.
* Windows 98 support.
* DirectX 7+ support.
* Nice cooperation with host operating system. eg. Yields CPU when not active, can switch to other apps and switch back with no problems.
* Arcade-ish feel.

Non-goals
* Originality ;)
* Support for compressed resources (MP3, JPEG). Hence, the large EXE size.
* Commercial grade graphics / audio.
* Perfect error-handling.
* Mouse support.

Thanks,
Kent

  User Rating: 1016   |  Rate This User    Send Private MessageView ProfileReport this Post to a Moderator 

I'm getting a steady 80-85 fps on a P3 1ghz, 256mb ram, 4mb intel integrated memory. Not too shabby at all.

Like you said, work on the input a bit. Turning blocks is too flimsy, in that if I hold the button just a bit too long it will flip, which really each button press should flip the blocks. Also, when I press down, I like it when it goes down a stutter at first, and then smooth sails to its place. Input should be your first concern.

There was a VERY nice arcade feeling on the menu. It was lost during the game though... maybe some more sound effects will beef up the feeling, but nothing irritating.

Windowed tetris is always good, for those who need a break at work. Alt tabbing wasn't a problem, which it can be for me on some more tasking programs.

Just work out the stiff feeling and the flimsy controls and it can be quite a tetris clone! I like it a lot.

  User Rating: 1164   |  Rate This User    Send Private MessageView ProfileReport this Post to a Moderator 

Hi alien3456,

Thanks heaps for your feedback - much appreciated. Let me respond to each of your points:

1. Input flimsy

Agreed. I've fixed this and uploaded my changes. Now rotating a block requires you to release the rotate key before it will rotate a further 90 degrees.

Similarly, the escape key must be released before it is recognised again.

Also, entering high scores is much nicer now because I introduced a repeat delay. That is, there is a delay before a keypress will repeat.

2. Input stutter for down button

If you were saying what I think you were saying then I agree. I fixed a minor bug that was causing the falling block to stutter at times.

3. Arcade feeling during game lost

Again, I agree. I think this is due to lack of sound effects and the fact that the music stops when the game starts.

I spent frustrating hours before the initial release searching for appropriate sound effects. I used what I found and intended to look again later. I

just spent another hour or so looking again and still couldn't find anything. I'll have to leave it as is for now.

As for music, there was no way I could find a decent enough loop that wouldn't annoy people after they'd heard it 100 times. Recall that compression

wasn't an option (not one of my goals) so the loop would have to be short. The shorter, the more annoying.

4. Windowed Tetris

Yeah, I kind of agree. However, it is too much work to support this now.

Thanks again,
Kent

  User Rating: 1016   |  Rate This User    Send Private MessageView ProfileReport this Post to a Moderator 

It's quite good, especially for your first game. However, I still can't figure out why the file size is so large.


Mike C.
http://www.coolgroups.com/zoomer/

  User Rating: 956   |  Rate This User    Send Private MessageView ProfileReport this Post to a Moderator 

Quote:
Original post by mike74
It's quite good, especially for your first game. However, I still can't figure out why the file size is so large.


6 background images at 800 * 600 * 24 = 8.2Mb (BMPs)
14 sounds effects and music tracks = 8.2Mb (WAVs)

My next game will *definitely* have resource compression ;)


  User Rating: 1016   |  Rate This User    Send Private MessageView ProfileReport this Post to a Moderator 

All,

It's been a long time, but I have made updates to this game. Specifically, I have added resource compression to cut the download size to less than 2MiB.

Unfortunately, I am unable to edit my submission and am instead hosting the game on my blog. See here: http://kentb.blogspot.com/2008/12/kentis.html

  User Rating: 1016   |  Rate This User    Send Private MessageView ProfileReport this Post to a Moderator 

All times are ET (US)

Post Reply
 
Info
 GDS News
 About the GDS


Genre
 All
 Action
 Adventure
 Arcade
 Educational
 Fighting
 Puzzle
 Racing
 Role-Playing
 Shooter
 Simulation
 Sports
 Strategy
 Traditional


Platform
 DOS
 Linux
 OSX
 Windows