Mommy's Best Games, Inc. is an independent game developer founded in 2007. This is a view behind the scenes of our game development and marketing!

Nathan

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Pump up the Difficulty

Not-so-secret work has continued on for Explosionade! We've got the ExplosionaEditor continuing to improve, with a lot of new features including the ability to add full campaigns easily with a visual interface. On the game side one of the most requested changes for the game were "harder levels"! You guys want to die more, I take it?

With the noble endeavor of trying have the Explosionade's creatures to kick your butt more, I've been thinking of ways to work within the 'language of the game' to create new difficulties. I'm trying hard to not just go to obvious, easy methods for making things tougher like less health for your mech, or bullets taking off more damage, or instant-death spikes everywhere. I like how Explosionade is built and I think it's extremely important to preserve it's unique feel.

The new levels should present new, tricky situations to figure out, not just have you holding down the fire button and charging forward. Explosionade's levels have a 'infiltration' feel to them. You are invading these intricate buildings and strongholds built by the Horronym aliens. In the new, harder levels, you'll have to proceed more carefully, use skill when bouncing your grenades around, and have a real knack for shield bounces, all the while figuring out how to manage plenty of new enemy types.

Here's just a few new enemies that fit into the Explosionade world of tougher levels: 

'Fire spinner' (Horronym construct) mine which triggers on touch or damage. Once triggered, it doesn't explode, but continuously spouts a stream of flames, while spinning slowly in the air. It's invulnerable, but can be pushed and shot around the level as it bounces through hallways and shafts.


'Hopper Hive' (indigenous life-form) is a large fungus-like growth which is found under various overhangs. It drips out gelatinous 'hoppers' which are cephalopodal creatures, encased in protective jelly. These hoppers jump around tight enclosures able to stick to walls, and even jump under ceilings. The active jelly is corrosive and explodes on contact with the player's GRenaDOS mech, and the hive has a surprise of its own!


'Electromagnetic pulse beacons' (Horronym construct) generate a special energy bubble in a medium-sized range. They cause no damage, but your shield is constantly in danger of overheating when you're within their influence. Fortunately, you can destroy these beacons with appropriate force.

There's a gaggle of new tricky creatures like these we're creating for the new, harder levels for Explosionade. Also, one very large shake-up for the overall level structure is in the works as well. I'll explain it soon once we figure out if it works.

But how will these cool new, harder levels be available? We should be able to let you know soon! I'll include cool screenshots and some moving pictures and everything.

4 comments:

Quanrian said...

Nice to hear about updates to an already very polished game. I do have to say though I did find the game a bit too forgiving so the new enemies are definitely up my alley. Have you considered some sort of puzzle mode or just more puzzle elements to increase the difficult?

I am a Club Member now so I guess I will keep an eye out for the update in playtest.

Nathan Fouts said...

Thanks! Glad you're excited, I am too. Yes, the new levels will definitely be tougher.

What would you imagine a 'puzzle mode' would act like? Any similar game examples you've played?

Kevin said...

I know this is kind of off topic, but was Weapon of Choice the first independent game you ever made after leaving the industry?

Just kind of curious, sometimes most people have not made game until either getting into the industry or leaving to start their on company.

Nathan Fouts said...

@Kevin,
Yes, Weapon of Choice was Mommy's Best Games first game after we went independent.

Prior to that, I worked on Postal 2, Resistance Fall of Man and others at different companies.

And before all that I released a few small shareware games back in the mid 90's! Good luck finding them.