henke on 13/3/2015 at 12:54
PC version updated, link in first post. Left work early today and rushed home to update it, because here at HENKECOM, we care about you!
Like I said I'm still looking for a game studio name.
Random_Taffer on 13/3/2015 at 16:03
Hey this looks great! I shall try it later.
Congrats on the beta!
Studio Name: Moist Hanky Studios
Or some humorous play on your TTLG name.
Hidden Hanky Games
Hanky Panky Studios
Tomi on 13/3/2015 at 21:40
Hey henke, I played your game! I think it's a piece of fun! :mad:
My first impressions:
"oh god, this is QWOP with stilts."
"jesus christ, how am I supposed to get all the way to the finish when I can't even move two steps forward without falling?!"
"oh lord, this is the most annoying game ever... argh... but I must try again...
"argh!! okay, one more try, and that's it..."
And then, about twenty-seven more miserably failed attempts later, the controls suddenly started to feel quite intuitive and fun! It wasn't anything stupid like QWOP after all. I still don't know how exactly it works, I don't really think about it when I'm trying to walk, it just feels somehow logical. It just works, you know. (Does that make any sense?) The game provided me with a few good laughs when I tried to save myself from falling, but my pathetic attempts at regaining balance just made me fail even more dramatically. Anyway, it felt like I had actually achieved something when I finally learned to walk with these damn stilts. :D And from that point, the rest of the game was pretty much smooth sailing...
... okay, not really. :p I think it was still challenging as hell at times. The level where you have to survive those big falls ("Big Steps" or something) especially was frustrating and took quite a few attempts. I survived the first two jumps quite a lot of times, but for some reason always failed the very last one. I'm not sure if it's a "feature" or a bug, but I landed on my face in that level a lot of times, but still managed to "crawl" to the edge of the platform and drop down to the next one by scrambling the buttons. I even managed to stand up again once by leaning against the wall! Please don't fix that though, I think it was a pretty fun way to finish the level. :D
The time limits seem pretty good to me now, I never had too much time left in the end, and my attempts at rushing to the finish when time was running out always ended up in failure. Just surviving each level was challenging enough and I have a feeling that a lot of people wouldn't even get through the first level. Maybe award a gold/silver/bronze medal according to the time?
My favourite level? It may have been the one with the bridge. It was nice and short, and it took a little bit of skill to knock the bridge down. Perhaps one or two little gaps before the finish line would have added a little more variety in it. Or actually, "Shoddy Roadwork" was even better. It was the only level that felt like a little puzzle, I really had to think about the timing and plan ahead where to step with each stilt. I liked how all levels were rather short but still challenging - please keep it that way. The catapult one at the end was kinda silly, it wasn't that hard or anything, but I thought it was all about luck. Then again I suppose that it was only supposed to be a fun way to end the game (and it was, although the camera angles could have been a little better there) so it's alright.
The game looks pretty good already! Stilt Fella himself is nicely animated and looks cool. I used the side-camera most of the time (it didn't really work in some levels though, for example Big Steps or the catapult level), I found it to be the easiest to play with, but unfortunately most of the details (I didn't even notice the cactuses in the background until I switched the camera angle) can't be seen in that one.
To answer the rest of your questions:
Stilt Fella is a great name! Don't change it.
I played with a X360 controller, it worked perfectly.
Is it any fun? Yes, it is a lot of fun.
Game studio name? Dunno, I'm terrible at coming up with any sort of names.
It took me a bit more than an hour to get through all eight levels, and even though I was frustrated for most of that time, I was frustrated in a good way. :p I'm already looking forward to playing the next version! Some new levels would be fun, but you will have to think of some new features/challenges to keep things interesting. Thanks for letting us test your game!
Kolya on 14/3/2015 at 01:34
I have no legs and I must walk (on stilts!).
DLC: Oscar Pistorius Extension (Guns!)
Pyrian on 14/3/2015 at 05:18
Quote Posted by henke
About the time limits, dang. I've gotten so used to playing the game over the past 3 months I'm probably underestimating the difficulty. Will increase the times, and yeah I have considered outright removing the limit. What does everyone else think?
Maybe just score 'em? Have three tiers based on time, or some such (bronze, silver, gold). So, no limit, but maybe some pointing and laughing. ;)
Renzatic on 14/3/2015 at 05:28
Quote Posted by henke
Like I said I'm still looking for a game studio name.
Henrik L. "Slater" Hermans III Esq. In Association With Killdozer Industries Presents Fun Games Involving Physics And Most Likely Trucks At Some Point Studios.
Renzatic on 14/3/2015 at 05:29
Or if you want to go with something short and sweet: Helicopter Town Studios.
Kolya on 14/3/2015 at 11:38
A few thoughts: If you cannot make this fella a realistic human, make him a two legged robot. The learning curve for just walking is frankly too steep. I suggest to create several versions of that walker bot, with varying degrees of hand holding, so you can start with one that is super easy to control but limited in some ways, eg it can only move back and forth. With harder control schemes comes more freedom to move, ie the ability to turn. Next: Getting from point A to point B through terrain with obstacles. Next: Some simple enemies and guns with rising degrees of kickback.
//And before anyone throws their hands up and says: "Nooo! This isn't what it's about. This is a physics puzzle game!" I have to say: At this point it is a more an interesting test for a control scheme than a game. It's extremely hard to control and not much fun. But it could become something more playable and fun.
henke on 14/3/2015 at 14:00
Thanks for the feedback all. Especially thanks to Tomi for that huge write-up and sticking with it all the way to the end. :)
RE: Bronze/Silver/Gold times, this is something I've considered but never got around to implementing. I think it'd add to the replayability as well so I might add it.
RE: making it easier. I might add a second starter character that's easier to handle. Stilt Boy or something.
Briareos H on 14/3/2015 at 14:45
Quote Posted by Kolya
A few thoughts: If you cannot make this fella a realistic human, make him a two legged robot.
But half the fun is laughing at an apprently legless cowboy falling down repeatedly!
BTW I like the game, I've only spent five minutes on it and passed the first level but I'm definitely coming back soon for more.