Alternate Reality X - Back on track

It's taken me a long time to start getting back into Alternate Reality X but I finally have my most recent version up and running again on a different computer, with the latest version of the Code::Blocks development environment and the latest packaged release of the SFML multimedia library. I've used both of these for some time for ARX development and it's good to get these new versions installed and working properly with my most recent ARX code before I get stuck into the next stage of development.

I still have some of the new artwork to incorporate into the current version as well as lots of things I see in the program and on the screen which I really want to tidy up. Next step is to draw up a list of these issues that I want to fix for the next release and then start fixing them. I'd also like to get some new content into the next release as well as just bug fixes so let me know if there is something you really would like to see me work on next.

Alternate Reality X - Next Steps

Firstly I feel I should explain my long silence on these pages, the forums and the ARX facebook page. Since August 2013 I've been extremely busy at work and at home with some big work related projects and deadlines, changes within my family, some travelling away from home and then to top it all off various family illnesses (myself included). Nothing serious but something had to give and that was my game development interests. All of these have meant that I have had little or no time to spend on Alternate Reality X. Anyway I am back now and keen to get back to work on ARX. Thanks for your patience and continued support during this time. Sorry for not keeping you up to date. Whilst all the above has been going on I've been thinking about ARX and my next steps for when life became less frantic.

I've been struck recently by how buggy the current version is and how my code is now desperately in need of a major overhaul. It's frustrating for players to put a lot of their valuable time into playing the game, only to come up against some serious bugs that I'm not aware of or have not had time to fix yet. I'm not beating myself up for this as I've effectively learnt everything I know about game programming through the course of developing ARX so it's not surprising that a lot of what is there has not been implemented in the best possible way and is not very flexible. I'd like that to change and I have a few ideas how to go about it.

I've also a strong desire to make it much more accessible in terms of multiple platforms (Mac OS X, Android etc). I've just bought an Ouya and I've had a great time trying that out and would love to make a version of ARX available on it. For those of you not familiar with the Ouya it's an Android based "micro-console" based around a Nvidia Tegra 3 chipset similar to a Nexus 7 tablet. It's available with a controller for $99 in the US and £99 in the UK and all the games are free to try. It's targeted very much at the small or independent developer and appears to be right up my street for the sort of the games and development I'm interested in. I was playing The Dungeon on it (under C64 emulation) on my living room TV yesterday which was pretty cool. As the Ouya is Android based, any games I develop for it would be easily ported to other Android devices. Windows will remain the primary platform for any development.

I'm not looking to change the basic presentation of the game much in terms of the current 3D engine and the 2D display for encounters and menus but I would like to bring it more up to date and make it easier for new players and players on other platforms to enjoy. There is Android and iOS support for SFML in progress and the new release of Unity 3D now provides functionality for making 2D game production easier (which ARX primarily is). Unity of course allows you to build different versions of your game across multiple platforms very easily. SilverAR has been working on his Unity AR so I wouldn't want to tread on his toes but his project is very different to mine, being a modern, full 3D Alternate Reality.

Probably a bit premature just now but I've started looking at firms who can produce printed boxes - I would love to have real fold out boxes similar to the original ones that Alternate Reality shipped in and full printed manuals (on the green / yellow paper of course!). Everything would be rewritten to expand on the original City and Dungeon documents.

 

I've also got several pieces of great artwork from Ted which I want to get out to players as soon as possible as they will really enhance the game in my opinion.

Let me know your thoughts.

Collection Fever

I blame YouTube. A few of the channels I subscribe to have had videos recently where people have received boxes full of classic PC games or have unboxed old computers I have fond memories of. Last week I browsed through eBay for old computers, games and accessories and I've been taking a regular look since then. I hadn't realised how active the vintage computer market was.



My first console - An Odyssey 2 known to me in the UK as a Phillips G7000
 

I haven't bought anything yet but I came close to buying a Commodore 64 on eBay. It wasn't quite what I was looking for though (in terms of accessories and games) and the final bidding went a bit higher than I thought it would. You can even search for Commodore 64's and buy them through Amazon it appears! In addition I really want to create a much more comfortable work and play environment / office at home with a proper desk. This would provide enough space for a couple of old timer computers in addition to my main work set up.

The original model of the Commodore 64 which I had back in the 1980s

If I do go ahead and buy some old equipment I want to use it - I don't want to just have them sit in a cupboard or gather dust. I would play some of the original games and would possibly be interested in trying a bit of old style game development. It seems the tools are out there now to make this a lot easier. Maybe a "Stone of the Citadel" "light" edition on the Commodore 64 :)

So what would I be interested in? My first console / computer was an Odyssey 2 but I never really liked it very much so I think I would skip that. An original "Breadboard" Commodore 64 would be my first choice. I was lucky enough to get a new C64 when I was about 11 years old and had it up until the 1990s. Lot's of memories of playing Elite, Alternate Reality: The Dungeon and Ultima IV -  good times. I followed that with an Amiga 500 which I went on to replace with an Amiga 1200 when it was released. The Amiga 1200 was reluctantly sold about 1995 to pay for a holiday to Egypt when a promised job extension fell through. A decent Atari 8bit machine and Spectrum (rubber keys version of course!) would also be good. Which model of Atari would people recommend as I'm not really up to speed with the various models. Obviously it would need to play Alternate Reality well! I'm also interested in picking up old games across most platforms - mainly RPGs.

The original Commodore Amiga 500 which I used to play Eye of the Beholder and Speedball 2

I also fired up the CCS64 emulator and had a lot of fun with my son playing Commando, Elite and Delta. He especially enjoyed Commando (which reminds me to get Mame set up properly some time) and just kept having "one more go". Just shows how a 30 year old computer can still be fun for a child who has access to the modern gaming platforms.

Do you have any tips or stories on collecting? Either post on the blog or drop me an email at acrin1 @ gmail . com. Any reasonably priced, good sources, preferably in the United Kingdom but will look internationally too. Funds don't allow for spending much so I'll be looking over the long term but would love to hear any related advice or experiences.

Alternate Reality X - The end is in sight!

Taking a break from enhancing the combat in Alternate Reality X I thought I would add some of the final elements of the game such as the Dungeon's final level and the end game. It's nice to get a change of focus and pace from time to time and helps to prevent me getting burnt out by working on the same thing for too long. Now that I have the final pieces of the game completed I will fill in the remaining gaps so that all the quests are complete and the game can be played through to completion. There isn't much more to add to make that possible other than putting in a few special locations - most of which are simple coding wise as they are not very interactive.

Exploring a strange corridor in Alternate Reality X

 

I thought about posting some additional screenshots from this section but didn't want to risk spoiling the ending of the game by posting the final screens and text for those who may not have seen them before. Hopefully these other screens will keep you going in the meantime.

Where will the elevator take you?

We just might have a completed Alternate Reality X by the end of 2013 which would make me very happy. Thanks for your continued support.