Axe Tossing
https://poopgoblyn.deviantart.com/ & https://vest.deviantart.com/
To play the other minigames for Project Applo, see:
title="FLASH GAME_Bootin by `vest, Feb 14, 2011 in Flash > Games">:bulletblue: title="FLASH GAME_Pickin by `vest, Feb 2, 2011 in Flash > Interactive">:bulletblue: title="FLASH GAME_Blastin by `vest, Jan 25, 2011 in Flash > Games">:bulletblue: title="FLASH GAME_Choppin by `vest, Jan 20, 2011 in Flash > Games">:bulletblue: title="Sign Fixin Minigame by `vest, Jan 12, 2011 in Flash > Games">:bulletblue: title="Scoop the Poop by `vest, Jan 7, 2011 in Flash > Games">
Bootin' - Pickin' - Blastin' - Choppin' - Fixin' - Scoopin'
EDIT:
See? Told you guys I needed input on this. While the general consensus of this game is "it takes a few games to get good at, but when you figure out the controls, I score consistently high," that wasn't good enough. You see, "it takes a few games to get good at" is not acceptable if, in the main game Applo, you only get a single fleeting attempt when presented with the mini-game opportunity.
It also takes only a few games to get really bored and ragequit. If people aren't having fun with the game the first time they're playing it, I as a game designer have failed my duty to entertain.
Tonight, after finishing up the 'Sign Fixin' minigame, we didn't have enough time to get a good rolling start on the next minigame so instead I opted to revisit some old ones and give them a second look-over with the lessons learned from the last couple weeks. This game definitely needed it the most. I improved the aiming mechanism so it not just shows the direction/power, but also pinpoints where the axe will be landing. I think I've got it calibrated pretty well. While the axe projectile visual is still a bit fussy lining up properly with the trajectory, the trajectory arc should still be a good enough representation so first-time players don't have to 'accommodate' before having fun.
After all, a game should be instantly fun the moment you're dumped into it.
Now, all your suggestions and feedback was absolutely invaluable last week, and I cannot even begin to thank you guys enough for all the observations and constructive criticism. But this is still testing phase, and not finalized, so I have to pain you guys again for help! If you find any issues, or are still having difficulty lining up your shots and getting consistently good scores, let me know and provide as much information as possible.
Thanks.
(End Edit)
Anybody with knowledge of games like Travian, Evony, and Ikarium will tell you that there are hundreds to thousands of very similar variants to the real-time building game genre. What makes it real time is that you tell a building to start construction via web browser, then come back to that website a few hours later and the building will be complete. Sometimes, it takes days. Maybe even weeks for some projects. But it's a highly lucrative market, one that caters specifically for the obsessive type of gamer without a lot of time to devote to actively playing a game.
But what about those who do want to make their gameplay experience more...active? What is there to do when the building queue is filled, and the resources are strained to maximum?
Well, your highness, get out of your palace and walk the streets of your empire, because it's MINIGAME TIME!
On project Applo, I will be making the Flash minigames which actually affect your kingdom. Short on resources? Jump into the lumbermill, and chop your own darned wood. Is that windmill taking too long to build? Nudge alongside the masons and line up those bricks row to row.
Want to recruit your army faster?
Then pick up an axe, and train those troops yourself. Show those boys why they call you king!
I'm uploading this game as a practice version. It won't affect your kingdom, and you can play it as much as you want without consequence. This is mostly done as a service to help you guys get accustomed to the controls, and develop your coordination. Office playtests have shown that players usually don't score well on their first attempt, but keep trying, I'm sure you'll figure it out eventually.
Also, explore a little. See what happens when you fling that axe off the screen.
Adobe Flash
Adobe Photoshop CS2
Wacom Tablet
CGTextures.com
Sounddogs.com
Comments appreciated. Criticism honored.
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