A bit quiet

I hope that your mum is getting better... Take as much time as she needs... Family always seems to make us aware of our priorities...

No easy way to change the subject....

Now that you have mentioned it... I have been working on a "skin change" for Pong in SDL, RC and QB64...

SDLBasic was a 'no brainer' as it already has a collision detection system built in. Finding a collision system that would work for both RC and QB64 was fun to find... not.

Finished a playable version for RC...

All I have done is basically changed the graphics a little; Added a simple menu; Music track and sound effects...

Always open for suggestions...

The menu is crude but works. I have found a couple of "free" animated images that I could work into the menu. The "blocks" are 70x20 and that kind of limits the type and size of the "crawlies". When you refer to "each brick should release a critter", were you implying that the critter should "replace" the brick or allow the critter to "crawl" down the screen? I have seen some pong games that will place a wall across the bottom for a period of time... but bouncing off the bottom all the time? I dunno... I spent many, many, many nano-seconds coding the "missed ball".... But sounds like a cool idea... "shooting at"? Implies that the player either has the ability to always shoot or there would be a system of "power ups"... Ok... That would mean a method of tracking and timing power-ups... Ammunition management... Multiple hit bricks... Possible critter animation... Ball types... It's not sounding so "simple pong" or am I getting too far ahead? lol... It's gone 1:30am and I need to get some sleep... Say G'day to your mum for me and tell her that I hope she get better soon?

J

Bplus,

Ok. I haven't forgotten about the game. Been searching for free assets - if not found then make them - but I made the unfortunate mistake of letting my wife know what I was working on... Told her about your suggestions and the brick transformations; falling object system; enemy tracking system; bullet tracking and ammunition tracking systems as well... She then added her 2 cents and suggested that, one of the power ups - a flamming ball - when it strikes and object (brick and or enemy) the "ball" would break up into 3 other balls and move in multiple directions... Similar to Bomerman... All these systems... No pressure, right? lol

I think one system at a time would be best... for 'me' anyway... multi-tasking is not my forte... lol

The screenshots that were posted earlier were from the completed 'basic' (no pun intended) version. I have 'that' version in both QB64 and RCBasic. I usually prototype using SDLBasic - mainly because I have been using it longer than QB64 and RCBasic - and will start as soon as possible. Also considered an extra level of difficulty by changing the "health" of the bricks. ie: Level 2 will require two hits to destroy a brick and more so as the levels continue... just a rogue thought... Well... for 6:38am I thought that was pretty good... lol

I think level 1 should remain "as is" so as to lull the player into a false sense of security (or confidence). Level 2 would require 2 hits per brick. Perhaps the top row of bricks may introduce critter transformation. Level 3 would require 3 hits per brick and a critter for each brick. The last level back to one hit per brick with a critter for each brick. I was thinking that, if a critter hits the paddle, either a life is lost or points are subtracted. If the critter reaches the bottom of the screen it will pop up to the top. The ball will treat each critter as a brick that will give a higher score when hit. Of course, all of this is a "wish list". Whether or not I can code this is another question... lol

As always... Open to suggestions...

J

I hope your mother is doing better bplus! Mothers are a precious thing and it is tough losing them, especially losing them like how I lost mine.

johnno56, cool looking break-out-like game!

Me personally, I haven't been doing very much coding lately either, especially after my last laptop literally fried on me and I had to resort to an older computer that needs a better video card. The on it does have only has 64MB of memory and no hardware acceleration.

But, that doesn't mean I haven't been busy.

Well... I'm not very productive for 5-6 days a week due to my new job's work schedule (7:00 AM to 4:30 PM - get up at 5:15 AM, go to bed at 9:00 PM).

While I still try to maintain my Facebook group (now with only 49.6k members) and my Discord server (about to hit 600 members), I have only two projects: ModernBasic 128 Studio and my new udemy course (where I will be teaching C++). Well, those are my main two projects, the others are just my websites that I slowly work on as well.

While I am not able to do any "real" coding for either major projects, due to the video card issue, I am still making tons of notes every chance I get.

Thankfully, I am using a beautiful note app called, "Joplin", on my PC (in Windows only at the moment - Linux doesn't seem to like my video card) and my Android phone. Those app instances are connected together through Microsoft OneDrive, where it saves all notes in the "cloud", and I can sync my data on all devices from there. So, if I have ideas at work, I can add them during break or lunch.

Since my udemy course will primarily be video, I will be teaching C++ through animations and story telling. I will not be seen in the videos (50-60 hours worth, done in 10 minute short videos).

The animations and special effects will be done in OpenGL, coded in C++, and all the graphic elements will be hand drawn and/or painted by me.

I have been sketching out some of the objects that will be used in the videos, and plan on coloring them with water-colors, Bic Intensity Medium Fineliners, Bic Intensity Fine Fineliners, and Bic Intensity Ultra Fine Permanent Markers. I may use some of my acrylic paints too.