Island2Live

I could not resist and bought the kit today ... actually 30 minutes ago. Because I've paid via PayPal I could download the files immediately (it's an electronic download only). All in all six files:

Release_Notes_-_v1025.txt
Shoot_Em_Up_Kit_User_Guide.pdf
Shoot_Em_Up_Kit_V1.025.exe
Shoot_Em_Up_Kit_Patch_V1.025.exe
Shoot_Em_Up_Kit_V1.025_for_Win7.exe
Shoot_Em_Up_Kit_Patch_V1.025_for_Win7.exe

Because I still operate on Windows XP SP2 - yes, don't laugh please - I've installed the non-Windows-7-version of course. Installation went smooth ... but immediately after starting the kit I get an error from Windows:

»Shoot Em Up Kit.exe is not a valid Win32-application«

Doh? Well, maybe the supplied patch helps. But after installing it still the same error message.

I know those errors sometimes appear when you try to run a 64 bit application under a 32 bit Windows. Later one is my system. So I consulted the documentary. No hint about the Windows version. But the web site explicitly states:

»OS: Microsoft Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7 or Windows 8. 32 and 64 bit versions are supported.«

Well ... I've contacted »Tall Studio« (the makers of the Shoot Em Up Kit) ... and now I am waiting for their answer.

 

[Update]

Exactly after 1:10 hours John from »Tall Studios« - the company who produces SEUK - wrote back via eMail and announced help. An other two hours later he mailed me a ZIP file containing a new runtime. Problem is still not solved ... but hey ... whow!!! That's what I call customer relation!

Today I got an eMail from »The Game Creators« (TGC): The they are offering the »Shoot 'Em Up Kit« from the company »Tall Studios« at a discount price of $49.99/EUR 36,99. Not sure about the original price though.

To be honest I've personally never heard of that. But anyway that's a more than interesting price - or better say it's a »steal« if it holds up with the expectations raised from their website. Judging from their website it looks like you can create Shoot-Em-Ups (SHMUPs) for the PC without any programming. For me it's very interesting just because the last two weeks my interest for SHMUPs raised again and I was already thinking some hours about a concept for a SHMUP.

The offer runs up until 14th April. For THAT price ... well ... I am personally more than tempted.

Because I am not only a software developer but also a gamer - and a heavy retro gamer btw. - from time to time I order some old games. This one is a »new« old one ... or an »old« new one if you wish. I am talking about the game »Last Hope« for - now it comes - Sega »Dreamcast«. Yes, THE Dreamcast who was abandoned by Sega at around 2002 if I recall right. So we are are now 12 years later and fearless game developers continue to develop games for the consoles.

»Last Hope« is a so called »memorizing horizontal side scrolling shooter«. Do I hear »R-Type«? Yes, you are definitely right. Last Hope borrowed much of it's DNA from that classic arcade shooter. It originated on the »Neo Geo« console - an other long abandoned system - and was developed by the German team »NG: DEV TEAN«. It was published on cartridge (!) for the »Neo Geo« (!) in 2006! The team later ported the game to Dreamcast and also did - in a later run - a modification which they call »Pink Bullets«. The game is a little bit easier now and it has - you bet - pink bullets in it.

This morning the postman dragged me out of my bed handing me the game I bought - as new! - on eBay. Yes ... me, me!

From time to time I stray through the web in search for interesting game developer sites for independent developers trying to catch inspiration and judging my own work against others. Today I stumbled over this one which blew my mind away:

GLBasic
www.glbasic.com/main.php?site=…

As far as I understand it's an integrated development environment incorporating the BASIC programming language especially for game design. Well, nothing special so far. We probably all know »Dark Basic« from The Game Creators which has the same goal. But wait, the platforms your game will run own makes the difference: While »Dark Basic« only supports Windows PC as the platform with »GLBasic« you can export to the following platforms:

• Windows PC
• Macintosh
• Linux
• iPhone/iPad/iPod
• Android
• HTML5
• HP / Palm WebOS
• Windows CE / Windows Mobile
• GP2X / Pandora

I would say this is BUNCH of platforms. For non-commercial 2D-projects the language is for free. 3D-projects require a one-time-licence which runs for EUR 80,00 in Europe (USD will probably realtime calculated when you order in USD).

Since BASIC is such an easy language to learn and it surely is the entry into programming I though this is something worth mentioning here.

Today I got an interesting news through Twitter and Gamasutra:

For a limited time Yoyo Games is giving avway their »Standard«-version of the gaming engine »GameMaker« for free. As far as I understand the Standrad verion differs from the »Free« version by the limitations in the ressources you can use in your game. Meaning: You don't have any limits with the Standard-edition. Like with the Free version you can publish your game to Windows, Windows 8 and Mac.

They also offer the following: You can get the »Professional« version for only $35 (normal price: $99) if you own the Standard version. This means effectively you can get Professional for $35 even if you never owned any version of GameMaker.

The Professional version adds several abilities like »TeamFeatures« (not sure, probably if you are developing in a team), access to the »Developers Service Portal« (important if you are stuck with something in the development, don't underestimate this!) and »Mobile Testing« (very important in my own special case). Export to various mobile platforms costs additional modules though (between $99 and $299 depending on the module you need).

As always: stay focused,
Henrik

Announcment at Yoyo Games
www.yoyogames.com/news/207
Article at Gamasutra
www.gamasutra.com/view/news/21…