ONE LEVEL MINI GAME CHALLENGE (OF THE MONTH) :

Well i try to launch some new Thread

It exists in some 3D engines and 3D game making forums and in 3D modeling forums (game artisans etc ... )

it was one here , but it disapeared ... so i made a new one ,with very easy challenge : a MINI GAME (one level is enought) !


The MINI GAME CHALLENGE of the MONTH.

the idea is to make some very little game , with little gameplay.
BUT it must be FUN with GOOD GAMEPLAY, and have some CHALLENGE.

There is not prize, only the fame to show your game, your programming or graphic skills, so perhaps port it to mobile the day 3DGS goes mobile

Perhaps some post on AUM Magazine if this thread became popular ?

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Some rules :


- You must use 3DGS or Lite C only (any edition and version) !
- your game don't need menu, or a simple one
- your must show ONE COMPLETE LEVEL of your game
- You can use Shaders and any graphic plugin (you can make some Next Gen graphics for the mini game)
- You can use physics
- You must not use dumped graphics from commercial games and no illegal software or stuff without authorisation !
- You must be able to upload it on some sites for people to test your game also.

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Here is the challenge idea i have for January :


Make a simple temple run style game


Because it's PC and not mobile, the controls can use the mouse or keys and be precise, not limited to some three parallel tracks.

To avoid too much frutration i recommend a lot some CheckPoint in the level, specially if the level is very long ?

You can put also some difficulty menu !


Here is some inspiration :

Soundy fun, i i have some time left from my compiler i might join

Hahaha, I am going to win this on

Nobody can challenge my super smiley fighting against evil, alien, mutant smilies and epic boss dragons with the there inferno of flames ^^

Awesome idea.
I'll join if I will have enough time ( and a nice idea )

btw. when does the challange end?
EDIT: "[...] for January [...]" read this over

you don't need incredible idea , but lot more some graphic style and gameplay :

- futurist corridor run with aliens to smash (you could run and attack : you could avoid or attack at the right tile in running in front of the alien

- Lot of traps : you must jump or avoir by strafing or do a special action (click somewhere on the screen etc ... )

- For themes :
Medieval as a knight
Japan
Western
on road using cars
Futurist in some planet caverns or outdoor paths
Underwater tunnels using submarine etc ...
jumping on roofs of houses
you have the choice

For graphics :
Cartoon
Wow like style
Borderlands style
Next Gen graphics (with cartoon propertions or realistic ones)
Simple retro textures and low poly (but well done) models
etc ...
Wireframe graphics
Flat polygon style (virtua racing like )

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Just an advice :
Make it as simple as possible , you can make perhaps only 3 tiles variations and use traps and other stuff.
Don't pursue the best game, make it and finish a level, it already be a bgi achievment

Even shorter :
No tiles variation, always same road/corridor
Only 2 style of obstacles
One character hero only (it could be an human,animal, alien etc ...)

Well anyone is welcome !
I hope even newbies to 3D will want to participate (it can be a good start to learn 3D game making) !

The deadline is the last of january ?

What about sourcecode...free for all ... or compiled?

I think a Compiled version is a good idea to ensure that everything will work properly - especially if you're using features of higher gamestudio versions.
About providing the source code... Well I'm not sure if it's necessary but it'll be nice because I think a lot of people will be interested in it

What about sourcecode...free for all ... or compiled?

I think it reamins teh copyright of the author indeed, same thing for 3D art and textures etc ...

I don't force anyone to give source code or 3D art, only if people want they can give them ...

I don't think source code will be so incredible and have incredible secrets for such mini games ??

During free time i made quickly the 3D tiles.

Next texturing before character making !

Maybe I will try to create something for this contest. I have one question: Does all the content of the game has to be created by us or can we use for example models from stores?

Thats a good question.
The game I am making for this contest, contains models from stores.

You can't use Dumped 3D models or textures from games, and any other ILLEGAL stuff.

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So you can buy models, textures, tiles etc ... and use them, or find free Legal ones and use them.

how is it going guys? I hope I can finish my entry before the month ends

You seem to be the only one motivated ??

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One best option to motivate people should do to propose a downloadable working code and level, than let's people mod it in the code and 3D assets ?

I'm sorry but I just haven't got the time to work on it.
I've been busy in the past days and I don't think this will change in the next few weeks.

...so, I won't continue working on my entry but I wish all the people who are still working on theirs the best luck

It don't seem to be lot of people and lot of guys here have their own project ... so it can be too much extra work ?

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If there is no enought entries, i think next time to propose different challenges :
We give the working template and stuff , and players just have to work on ideas, gameplay add new stuff ...

I think in some Retro FPS challenge.

Ennemies could be spheres, cubes or any solid stuff , so no rigging and animation work !
It would be to you to choose the design , you could go for medieval style : long bows, stone walls etc ...
Or any other style ...

Another idea was to take some game : For example Metroid on gamecube and ask to anyone to re make only a room or part of any level : could you go on Flat polygon style, Retro Style or next gen style !

sorry ratchet,

your idea is great and brings probably an motivation-kick to the community.

but I'm running out of time this days. maybe take a seat at an following contest.

dont let get you down because the train starts rolling slowly

I propose some solution to gain some time, because i'm also on another 3D works and don't have too much time for the contest to make some entry (but i'll try).
If i had some third person template ready to use yes, more time needed, only tweaking animation and gaemplay, and all the time put on ideas and level creation

Retro look , Flat polygon could be good for next entries ... lot more faster creation ? well we'll see ...

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Do we have some Thir person template with A8 somewhere ?
I mean just character control and default Third person camera ?

I had the same idea with flat polygons :
(just seen today it exists some same style of game !)

Indie 3D Run game type

Ok i don't see any screenshot here is this thread

So i'm gonna extend the game until end february and i will put a little simple template and menu for anyone to download.

This template don't have the code on how to manage the level created (by code or in WED or imported in WED from external modeler).
It will just have the essential stuff :
- manage The Guard model running and jumping on platforms.
- check points
- number of retries
- game over / win screen
- menu to start, quit, select a character (red pr blue guard)

You should be able to make some game like that one ( perhaps not as beautifull !) :


So here is some people interested (and not only me ) ?

Let's the contest continue

Special thanks :
- Thanks to MasterQ32, he has given me the code that just works for that style of game
- Thanks to Kartoffel for the great Glow shader

since the very busy days are over and I'll have a free week in february (no school, yay!) I'll try to create something

But I'm a bit disappointed in the contest. (not your fault, ratchet)
It's such a great idea but somehow no one's really interested and that ruins all the fun and motivation...

Me to!
I am already creating a minigame for the challage.
i finally found time to work on it ^^

It is a swordfight combat minigame

It's such a great idea but somehow no one's really interested and that ruins all the fun and motivation...
Well people have their own projects, and we are not thousands of people posting in the "Work In Progress" thread also.
I don't know how much people is really active and have a solid game project ? (Dark BAsic have lot lot of programmers projects going on)
Ok i stop to do engines comparison !!
Perhaps the really active people just never go on forums lol

Perhaps at least we will be one or two people posting a plyable game ?


@Random :
It is a swordfight combat minigame
We talked about a platform run game , not fighting one, or perhaps you are mixing them ?

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The advantage of the challenge is to have some ready plyabale game to port to Android when it will come on 3DGS.

nice to know that at least some people are working on it.

but I thought it would be a temple-run-style-minigame - contest?

anyway, in my opinion it isn't be a bad idea to remove that temple-run-style rule.
It's a good idea but it would be nice to have some freedom for own creativity.

And maybe some others have a nice minigame idea / project and will join, too.

Well it was a mini game contest with a theme each month.
As there is not so many people interested, and because some prefer other style of game, why not letting the thread open to any game type, so no more month limit time also ?

So only one level mini game without limit time ?
Each people jut post their progress and screenshots here ?
And perhaps the final working game one day lol

Sounds nice, I've already got a puzzle game idea in my head

But I'm not sure if removing the time limit is the right thing to do.
Will there be any finished game without a deadline?
Where would be the excitement?

And personally... I don't care about winning. For me the wish to create a good game within the time limit was the actual challange and source of fun and motivation.

Also I'm usually not a fan of these "just do any type of game" contests without any specific task but in this case (just around 3 persons) giving strict rules won't lead to good results.

On the other hand, in general tasks like "make a platform-run game" are a bit too strict in my opinion.
Something less specific like "create a platform game" would be better.
It gives a target but still leaves a lot of freedom for the gameplay and idea of the game.

I'm still not 100% sure about the kind of game I will create but it will be something where you control a sphere (I think I will use PhysX).

I just had some geometry fun in blender and made 2 possible player models:

@Kartoffel :
Just use the glow shader on spheres and level and you'll have perhaps a solid shining mini game

But I'm not sure if removing the time limit is the right thing to do.Will there be any finished game without a deadline?
Where would be the excitement?
Ok so each months we will have some winner just for fame

Something less specific like "create a platform game" would be better.
Ok.
So i think incoming ideas will be something like :
- make a FPS game
- make a RPG/action game
- make a shoot em up
- make a beat them up em up
- make a adventure game
etc ...

But let's say for the first challenge, people can do any type of mini game.

I think we can extend the date to end of February caus there is nothing for now.

@Kartoffel :
Just use the glow shader on spheres and level and you'll have perhaps a solid shining mini game

I thought the same


and about the contest(s):

You can also keep away from genres and use tasks like:
- make a game that plays on the moon / on mars
- make a retro-style game
- make a game where this model has a key role (you provide a model, which people have to use as something important in the game)
- make a space game

...just to name a few things I currently have in mind.

Another suggestion for the next contests would be that you create a thread before starting the contest.
The thread can be used to discuss who would like to join the contest, how long it should take (I don't think
one month is always enough, especially if you have a lot of other things to do) and if some people think
the task isn't very good and should be "adjusted" or completely changed

Well why not a new thread for each.
For deadline , i think perhaps on two months ... but the challenge goal was a little like the 24hours games.
You make something tiny and a mini level.

Even for your speher game , once you control it , and have shaders, you just make one little level and that's it.
It's not a big finished game , but a little one with one level , minimum features, but polished.

You could have some low poly challenge also :
Keep the scene with level and characters low in polygons.

Well , we'll se on participation , number of people if we continue after the first one.

Yes some confirmed people here have already projects or stuff going on, challenges are most suited for people without a project in mind or beginners also to learn 3D game making.

Well why not a new thread for each.

What I had in mind is that you create a thread like this for every contest, just ~1 week before it's planned to start.
Then people can discuss about who'd like to join, etc. and if there are just one or two persons joining there is no need to start the contest.
But if there are enough people you post into this thread, saying that it starts now and from there on this thread is used as progress thread.

again, thats just an idea, probably retarded but why not?


For deadline , i think perhaps on two months ... but the challenge goal was a little like the 24hours games.
You make something tiny and a mini level.

Well... it's just my opinion of it but I think even a small minigame needs some time.
One or a couple of levels are usually not the problem. Good gameplay is making the most difficulties.
And if I want to create a game - small or big - it should have a nice, smooth gameplay and it should be fun.

I'm just not satisfied if the game I created has choppy gameplay and isn't fun at all.

A last question: Is this thread also used as progess-thread for the entries or will some contest-manager get mad when I post some progress?

Anyway, let's continue this contest or "challenge".
Have fun guys and make a nice minigame!

yeas , post as many screenshots or videos as you like
For a new mini game contest we will make another thread.

For the contest only one small level is reaquired.
you could make some RPG with 4 rooms connected, if the gameplay, RPG elements and fun are here.
You have not to make a complete first level only the begin of a level
This way people will be able to test your "prototype" game and already give feedback.
And this is a mini game style you could even remake with 3D and shaders all style of casual mobile games also.

Here are some first screens of the playermodel

EDIT: A prototype of the physx player movement is now done.

Strongly reminds me on "The Ball".

That's a compliment... just in case ...

maybe i will also give an entry
i don't know if it will be a small game, but i have a good idea

By small it means a small level mainly, and perpahs light in features.

Is there any prize or so? Or just for fun?

No prize, i don't have money lol
Well like i said if you make a fisrt playable level, you could keep it to later port it to mobile and sell it on Android pltaform if people find it good.

No prize...
or actually the prize is fun and fame

But imo this is more like a callenge than a contest.

The challenge is to create a little minigame with nice gameplay within the time limit.
If you manage to do this and people like it you won

Who created the best game is rather unimportant. (besides that, "best" is always just a personal preference)

I started making a small game about 2 hours ago. Working on the level now, as soon as I'll finish it (maybe tomorrow) I'll upload.

I think i got my idea now:

@MQ32 programming a virus? how dare you!

not only one!

3DGS A8 vs. Norton Antivirus?

player model and code is now finished.


(full gallery) ( mediafire's image hosting is a bit slow, sorry for that )

@Kartoffel, nice effects, lightning and textures! Kartoffel, let me give you pat on the back .

How did you do that ?
ther is bloom on sphere, but have you attached a blue dynamic light ot it ?
what shader is on the floor ? does it reacts to the dynamic light ?

yeah, he has normal mapping on the floor with a dynamic light above it. Im pretty sure at least, nothing really that special. Still it looks cool, very good aesthetics.

You can see more of Kartoffel's awesome work here:

http://www.opserver.de/ubb7/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=415554&page=all

Hummel's? Potato-Man is Hummel??? O_o I thought they are two different users..

since the objectshader uses the entitys red green and blue value as glow color (with a little brightness modification) I just increased the spheres lightrange.

Yes, the ground reacts to dynamic light.

Hummel's? Potato-Man is Hummel??? O_o I thought they are two different users..

I am Hummel?
that's new to me.

Here:Does it mean, that you are Hummel? This is actually second time, I've noticed that people are calling you Hummel


Was made by HeelX:

I guess for this post:
But I'm not sure

Well I guess we've got a little misconception here

To clear things up:
I am not Hummel

probably Uhrwerk posted the wrong link, I don't know...

@kartoffel, one thing about the ground normal map... I assume its generated, you might want to take the source texture and darken the lines betweent the tiles, that way when the normalmap is generated it considers those lines as "deeper" it will give a more realistic effect. and look less like just noise.

I never use 100% generated normalmaps or heightmaps. (especially generated heightmaps suck)

The normalmap is generated from a heightmap (done by hand) and mixed together with a normalmap generated from the actual texture to get some more fine detail.

I usually do it like this with all my textures.

But indeed the specular reflection looks like it's just some noise normalmap.
I think this is caused by the high specular exponent I was using there.

To clear things up:
I am not Hummel

LOL

I just mixed up the user names. Probably because Hummel was doing lots of shader related stuff as well. Sorry, Kartoffel.

I'll take it as a compliment

Some examples of what i call small games :
Caus Mobile will come, i can put Ouya games as good examples :
ouya world trap game
Cap Chronicles
lonely golem
dungeon game
mech squad

You can find ideas by simply watching Android games also !

is this fun contest still on ? deadline end of february any kind of fun one level demo ?

if so i might be having something to

Yes, it's end of February, and any genre of mini game finally.

oke i am in

After a long break I'm getting into Gamestudio again; I'll try my best fo have something for the contest in the end of February

Oups the date has come too much fastly.

I'm lot more buzzy elsewhere, so i don't think i will be able to participate

It seems people are lot more buzzy with their projects and coding and don't have time for challenges.

ratchet@ I had two projects for this challenge, but cause of the HDD crash I've lost them. But I'm pretty sure, that there are some guys, who is going to show some nice games here.

I could not make the deadline as i am still working on my game.
Part of it you can see in my latest showreel

http://youtu.be/NdCJpELKJgA

at : 01:19