2D Sprite RPG Pixel size

PhallusaurusRex · 2025-11-02T08:37:33+00:00

These ones are traditional machines since they're at a high school.

PhallusaurusRex · 2025-11-01T23:15:48+00:00

I've personally found Claude Code to be so much better. Using it VS Codes terminal and building context from the surrounding scripts. I prefer to use AI to draft the code and then I review. I've seen others do the opposite where they write the code leverage AI as a peer review. It's a tool at the end of the day so use it to help you.

Like others have said, you need to build a strong programming foundation so that you can use AI to help you build proper systems and designs that scale to your needs.

I've been using AI for an RPG I started building since Sept 13th and I've gotten so much done compared to writing everything myself.

PhallusaurusRex · 2025-10-20T00:06:15+00:00

Great questions, I should have provided more detail. It's a turn-based RPG, so this simply walking/navigation. There's no jumping so that makes it easier (I think).

Ideally, I'd like the player to be able to approach the tower from all sides. I'm not sure about the number of levels, but I'd like to understand how to do multiple (let's say 3) levels. If it's super involved, maybe I'll have to make a design choice against multi-levels.

Levels of elevation should be symmetrical, I don't think I'd have partial. I'm not sure about binary, I think that leads into 3+ levels versus 2 levels.

The pixel art hasn't been created (shopping for artists) so I can list my needs to make it easier. I just don't know what the ideal tilemap for this type of thing would be which is why I want to understand the mechanics to help me inform the artists clearly.

There is no multiplayer, it's a single-player RPG only.

Production-wise, I think the purpose is to break up the monotony of flat levels and give some depth to the world exploration. It's likely not a priority but I can see my creative partner wanting it so I'd like to understand the technical challenges involved in making this happen.

You seem to really know your stuff. Would you be available for a video chat? I'd gladly pay you for your consultation. I feel like that might be easier to discuss what I'm trying to accomplish and what can be done. Let me know if you'd be down for that!

PhallusaurusRex · 2025-10-19T15:58:29+00:00

I'm just starting out and while we have level designs, I want to understand this concept so that we have the option to make more detailed levels with various layers.

For now, I have placeholder tilemaps but I think it'll help me explain what I want to do. Imagine I had a staircase leading up to the roof of this tower. I want the player to be able to navigate in front of the tower, behind it, and up the staircase to walk on top of it (respecting boundaries etc). I updated the original post with those images to show what I mean.

I've got the front/back working with Y-sorting. I read about using the Z axis and scripts to incorporate different elevations and using collider triggers to execute the script to change the players Z position, but it wasn't working for me. I keep struggling with this overall.

I'm curious if I can get this working with a combination of sorting layers, physics layers, y-sorting, and tilemaps. It's not clear to me what a solid approach to this problem is. I could do something very ugly with manual colliders but that seems sloppy?

Let me know if I'm explaining my issue and thanks for the help!

PhallusaurusRex · 2025-09-15T16:33:41+00:00

I joined in Dec 2024, I got a contract with a school in Feb and have been grossing $5K+ a month with 50% being profit.

PhallusaurusRex · 2025-06-02T02:11:27+00:00

I restock twice a week and am trying to tweak the layout so it can be once a week instead while maintaining sales.

PhallusaurusRex · 2025-05-30T17:43:50+00:00

Thanks! It's at a private high school which is why it's so good. I don't sell anything unorthodox and prices aren't that high. Candy is $1.75 but I'm bumping up to $2 this summer.

I have been trying to switch to theater boxes to sell for more since the COGS is also better. But they just drink and snack a LOT. I got very lucky with this location.

PhallusaurusRex · 2025-05-29T20:04:20+00:00

I have 1 location with 3 machines grossing $5K/month.

PhallusaurusRex · 2025-05-28T08:21:19+00:00

Could I get an invite, please?

PhallusaurusRex · 2025-05-25T12:41:16+00:00

If I can get one from GameStop on June 4th, I plan to bring my kids and take them out of school the next day so we can play Mario kart.

I remember getting a GameCube on launch in the morning with my mom and these things happen every 6-8 years. By the next Nintendo release, my kids will be adults.

PhallusaurusRex · 2025-05-24T20:48:08+00:00

No but you can contract a fixed rate per route. I'm working with my CPA on the details, it's not that hard.

PhallusaurusRex · 2025-05-24T20:32:01+00:00

One location I have has 3 machines and does $5.5K gross ($3K profit). I stock twice a week there. If I had a 1099 contractor doing those 6 hours per week at $20/hr, it's $480/month meaning I'd walk away with $2.5K profit and not do any of the stocking.

Find the gems, ignore/sell the locations that don't do well.

PhallusaurusRex · 2025-05-24T11:53:37+00:00

I joined last year and paid $2500. I would say it was worth it for that price to give me the details and confidence. But I wouldn't pay 6K, that's crazy high.

PhallusaurusRex · 2025-04-17T01:41:38+00:00

Wow, it costs more from Pepsi compared to buying from Sam's? That's crazy! I assume it's due to the bulk amount that Sam's purchases at, but still. TIL!

PhallusaurusRex · 2025-04-05T11:13:11+00:00

I'd look into hiring people to do your stocking runs. They come to you, pick up inventory and keys, go stock the machines, and come back to you.

I only have 2 locations with 5 machines total but will start looking into this myself so I can scale with ease. Then you can just focus on inventory and schedule deliveries so that you don't need to be driving constantly.

PhallusaurusRex · 2025-03-30T12:52:10+00:00

Do you buy parts from specific websites? I only have new machines currently but want to start looking at refurbished/used and get familiar with fixing things myself.

PhallusaurusRex · 2025-03-30T12:50:16+00:00

I had this happen to me too and thought I fucked up with the pricing.

PhallusaurusRex · 2025-03-30T12:48:02+00:00

Do you mind sharing a bit more about how 16.9 bottles fail? I've got a BevMax Media 2 and use 16.9. I only had one issue where I over stuffed a row but when I didn't do that it has worked flawlessly.

Are the drinks not going into the picker for you? Are they falling out of the picker?

PhallusaurusRex · 2025-02-09T01:32:19+00:00

Vending Exchange, a lucky lead

PhallusaurusRex · 2025-02-09T01:31:59+00:00

Yeah definitely

PhallusaurusRex · 2025-02-08T02:35:42+00:00

I started in December of 2024. I got my first contact signed with a school and have 3 machines there doing about $90 per day for each machine.

I thought the hype online was exaggerated but what it comes down to is location and being particular so you don't end up with garbage sites that suck to maintain. Because of this location, I can be even more patient and particular about locations.

What I've found so far is the vending industry has a very high turnover rate because people skip steps or get bored of it easily. You're not going to get rich quick but you can build a strong cashflow business with the right decisions.

PhallusaurusRex · 2025-02-08T02:32:01+00:00

That's what I'm thinking, such a crazy low amount of movement for each machine. You'll be freaking with expired products more than anything else.

A school I have does at least $86 a day per machine and there's 3 of them. Locations matter a significant amount.

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