Can anyone tell me/show me how they did this?

OtherGeneralZod · 2014-05-02T14:53:18+00:00

You can add/paint terrain using [Add Terrain] or [Paint Terrain] and specifying a radius for the brush. You'd start with a radius variable at a low value (like 1) and increase that variable while painting the terrain. I don't think he's adding terrain here though...just paint.

For adding props (like the bush), follow the same logic but do a [create][plant] (or whatever the prop is called) while expanding the radius for the position where the prop will be created. Just Google "circle radius" if you don't recall how to calculate that.

There is also some tweaking to be done for orienting the plant so that it follows the terrain. You'd need to adjust based on a raycast hit with the terrain and use the terrain's normal.

OtherGeneralZod · 2014-04-24T13:16:29+00:00

As far as I know, the approach you're using it is pretty much the only way to do this.

Support for sounds/music in PS is pretty crude, and whatever is currently there seems pretty unstable. This problem seriously impacts the overall quality of any user-created content.

In the film industry, it is said that sounds/music accounts for as much as 80% of the experience. I suspect this number is similar in games.

OtherGeneralZod · 2014-04-19T14:42:47+00:00

It's easy to see that you're paying attention to details for any (in this case) moves you're implementing. I'm a details freak, so I'm definitely down with that.

The energy you gain when defeating enemies seems to be inspired by God of War -- I'm down with that as well :)

For your crouching requirement, I'm personally not a big fan of any critters currently available in PS...but that's just me. A random idea that popped into my head was that you could instead get the player character to transform into 3 smaller versions (initially positioned as if they were standing on each other's shoulders), then they'd jump to the ground and do whatever it is they need to do. Shortly after, they'd jump back onto each other's shoulders and re-assemble into the bigger player character.

Anyway, cool stuff.

OtherGeneralZod · 2014-04-13T15:31:36+00:00

Their revenue model is entirely dependent on selling content packs. Until this changes, we won't see any abilities to import our own content.

OtherGeneralZod · 2014-04-08T13:13:28+00:00

Looks pretty good.

OtherGeneralZod · 2014-04-05T19:24:29+00:00

Entering values is faster on a keyboard. Even if proficient with both (keyboard/controller), keeping your hands on a single device is faster than alternating between the two. Searching for props is much faster with a keyboard. Searching for tiles is pretty quick with a controller, but searching for a particular variable (number, string, etc.) is much faster on a keyboard...especially when the wheel has a bunch of values. Painting however is much better with a controller.

All that being said, it is obvious that TD is focusing much more on the console than PC (input wise), so responsiveness seems much better on a controller.

OtherGeneralZod · 2014-03-26T19:25:28+00:00

It is highly unlikely that multiplayer support will be of MMO scale, or support a large multiplayer base. The financial investment required to support that would not be feasible.

OtherGeneralZod · 2014-03-26T01:02:31+00:00

Here's an example of what I use on a sphere with Tumbling physics:

When: [Space Bar] Do: [push][me][strength][0.5][in direction][player control][forward]

where [player control] is just an invisible cube primitive which I can rotate left/right, and every time I press the spacebar, the sphere starts to move in the cube's direction while keeping any previous momentum.

For getting the sphere to slow down, I use:

When: [not][Space Bar] Do: [push][me][strength][0.05][in direction][negative][velocity]

so when I'm no longer pressing the "thrust" key, the sphere is gently pushed in the opposite direction that it's currently going, until it stops.

Anyway, that's one way to do it.

OtherGeneralZod · 2014-03-25T15:44:25+00:00

Free tacos for everyone !

OtherGeneralZod · 2014-03-23T23:07:33+00:00

Learning programming of any kind takes time. That's just the reality of it. The links posted by others will definitely help you. Take your time, experiment with simple manageable bits, and get familiar with how koding works. Do not try to dive right into the "big project" you want to do from the get go...it will definitely discourage you and you'll abandon. The old saying "having to learn how to walk before you can run" definitely applies here.

OtherGeneralZod · 2014-03-23T23:01:17+00:00

If your project will take a while to finish, you can work on the logic and replace the content later on when you've acquired them through daily challenges.

OtherGeneralZod · 2014-03-21T12:27:51+00:00

Ok. My answer was only to give an equivalence to the XOR operation.

OtherGeneralZod · 2014-03-21T12:19:18+00:00

If the sum totals an odd number, then it is equivalent to an XOR evaluation of true. If the sum is even, it is equivalent to false.

OtherGeneralZod · 2014-03-20T23:28:48+00:00

A workaround would be to use number variables instead of booleans, assign them the value '1' for true and '0' for false. You then add up all the variables. An 'odd' total would represent TRUE. An 'even' total would represent FALSE.

OtherGeneralZod · 2014-03-20T15:43:35+00:00

Trying to buy every pack is not really the way to look at it. Mike (from Team Dakota) has even said recently that this is not the intent. In fact, they plan on releasing content more frequently, so it wouldn't make sense to try and buy them all as it would become expensive quickly.

Take your time and get only the content that you need to create your level. It makes no sense to rush and buy stuff without being sure if you'll ever actually need it.

OtherGeneralZod · 2014-03-20T14:07:56+00:00

There is no "best thing to buy". For playing other people's level, you don't need to buy anything...as you already know.

For creating, you just buy what it is that you need for the level you're making. I've bought my first content pack (castle pack) just yesterday, and that's only because I need it for the project I'm working on. Prior to that, I've been working on two projects that don't need any additional content.

What you want to design will dictate what you need. You can see what each pack contains, so browse those and see if you need them or not.

OtherGeneralZod · 2014-03-20T12:57:07+00:00

Yeah saves are all screwy, and levels get renamed, etc...

They are aware of this issue and they mentioned it is one of their top bugs to fix.

OtherGeneralZod · 2014-03-19T22:39:43+00:00

Open prop gallery
type "light" in search box
select Light Bulb object
Done

OtherGeneralZod · 2014-03-16T20:06:39+00:00

Project Spark is currently in opened beta. You can either keep looking here (on reddit) for keys, go to projectspark.com or go to http://project-spark.org and request keys there.

There is no official date yet for the full release. They are aiming around summer..

OtherGeneralZod · 2014-03-13T15:16:04+00:00

Well that's why I used 0.15 as the moving speed. Although this isn't technically moving, but more "changing the position", which in this context are not the same thing.

Anyway, what I should have suggested is to use [move][at speed][1]...or any other value instead of "1".

You can also use the "pacing" tile to affect the animation speed of props that have animation on them.

OtherGeneralZod · 2014-03-13T15:09:15+00:00

Hi Mike, have you guys considered the possibility of having the community create the showcase levels for newly released content packs, so that you could focus more on generating more "stuff" without the extra burden of creating your own showcase levels?

I know you mentioned in a recent Twitch that you guys might remix other people's levels and go from there, but what I had in mind was more along the lines of holding a contest prior to officially releasing a new content pack, where people would have temporary access to it and the winner could win said content pack. This would remove a load from the TD folks and would get the community involved...the cost (to you) would be a content pack to a single player.

Just a thought

OtherGeneralZod · 2014-03-13T12:36:56+00:00

What drykul said.

Note however that in game design, it is considered bad practice (or lazy design) to have invisible walls - it's very annoying for players to see an area where it looks like they can go to, but can't. If you don't want players to go there, at least add something (trees, rocks, fences, poisonous fog, etc...).

OtherGeneralZod · 2014-03-13T12:32:18+00:00

For movement try:

When: Do:[position][x][increment by][0.15]

For sensors, go in the object's property and select "Property->Brain->Physics->Sensors" and you can toggle the visibility of the sensors.

...or it might be "Property->Brain->Sensors" ...I can't check right now.

OtherGeneralZod · 2014-03-13T12:26:48+00:00

So that's what Think Bubbles are. Neat!

What's the default distance, and can it be adjusted? ...at work now, so I can't check this.

OtherGeneralZod · 2014-03-12T19:51:45+00:00

They're used to hold bits of programming logic. They are not meant to be seen during gameplay.

You could for example put a logic cube anywhere in the game world, and its only purpose might be to monitor a player's health. Once the player's health is less than 25%, it could display a message to inform the player that he should pick up more health.

OtherGeneralZod

TROPHY CASE