Category Archives: Active Projects

All current hardware and software projects that I am working on.

Creating a Spiritual Successor to Blast Corps

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Just over a month ago I found myself looking to scratch a destruction itch that I didn’t know I could have, so to satiate it I had to turn to the only game (that I am familiar with) that could do this: Blast Corps on the Nintendo 64. I was immediately sucked in again. So much so that I decided to get all of the platinum medals and (subsequently) 100% in the game. Needless to say that I was once again hooked. As I was working on my 3D platforming game Besus: Journey for Vitality at the time, my brain was set in game developer mode. So as I was playing through Blast Corps, I was also breaking down how the various elements worked and how I might go about programming them.

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Playable Demo Released

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Finally, nearly a year after I began development I am ready to release the first publicly playable demo of Besus, featuring the first level Wind Turbine Valley.

Download the demo here!

Please keep in mind that items are subject to (and likely will) change.

Controls are as follows:

  • Movement: Left Joystick / WASD
  • Camera: Right Joystick / QERF
  • Jump: A Button / J
  • Grab Objects: B Button / N
  • Attack: X Button / K
  • Dive: Y Button / I
  • Look Mode: Right Bumper / U
  • Snap Camera Behind Player: Push Right Joystick / Y

If after playing the demo you find any bugs or have any suggestions regarding items that can be improved or changed, please use the following:

Besus: Journey for Vitality Development Blog – Volume 7

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The first development blog since the release of Unity 5, and with that release I naturally ported the project over. This development blog details that (and the changes made to the look of the game as a result of it) as well as:

  • Detail culling (to save on draw calls)
  • Diving/Sliding mchanism
  • Roll attack
  • Early boss battle development
  • A NPC which you race against (akin to Koopa The Quick)

From Prototype to Playable in One Year

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Almost exactly one year ago I began production on what I consider my dream project – a 3D platformer akin to the greats I loved growing up. My biggest obstacle however was my lack of programming knowledge as I mentioned in my other blog post about transitioning from UDK to Unity. I had played many other projects and seen the great things that they had implemented, but I knew I could never do this unless I learned to program. Not only was the language itself foreign to me, but an even more important element escaped my understanding: the logic. So I began to dissect the existing code base or “starter kits” from the asset store and see how it all worked. I was in luck as I was learning as the logic behind the code began to make sense almost immediately. Before long I knew what I wanted to do and how I could go about it, so now it was just a matter of putting that in to code. Continue reading →

Level Development Progress

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With all of the progress being made on the newer levels, I thought it was about time to add some new screenshots!

Please note that these are early alpha screenshot so it may be lacking details, textures, and the layout is subject to change.

Besus: Journey for Vitality Development Blog – Volume 6

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Finally after 4 long months, it is time for volume 6 of my video development blog series following development of Besus: Journey for Vitality!
Implementations and updates covered in this video include:

  • True analog controls
  • Jump height based on how long the jump button is held down
  • Special enemy abilities, respawns, and “death’s”
  • Preventing the player from continually running in to a wall
  • Crushers and spike traps
  • Player launcher (on a spline) and shooting from a cannon
  • New pickup to increase maximum (total) health
  • Level Two progress and the sidescroll area within
  • Overhaul of Kart racing mechanics and physics
  • New “ball rolling” side-game mechanics implemented

Besus: Journey for Vitality on IndieDB

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I just finished updating my new IndieDB page for Besus: Journey for Vitality. Although it is still pending authorization, the page can be found here.

Major updates will likely be the only ones to be added to the IndieDB updates page, so for those looking for more in-depth information on the development continue to check this one!

Besus: Journey for Vitality