Re-submitted!

A few days ago, I re-submitted my game to the Windows Phone marketplace. I fixed all the faults and added some better visuals. In fact, the game is a lot more user friendly. I added an about screen and added volume controls to the settings screen. I fixed a lot of stuff and I think it was worth the effort. I also fixed a crucial problem with the force fields collision boxes. I am going to show you some before and after screen shots of my game and what I added:

Settings screen

I added the scale for the volume instead of just having it have an on and off switch. The volume works very well and I’ve tested it numerous times to make sure it works and won’t glitch or crash.

Before                                                                                   After

 

About screen

I added the about screen and put so information leading to here, my blog, and also put support information in it so if you have questions, comments, or feedback you can contact me.

Before                                                                              After

 (There was no before)

Enemies

I simply made them more detailed and less pixelated; I have to say they look a lot better because of the touch ups. A noticeable thing that I think is the most prominent and important is that the alien’s texture gets an added “Mossy green” feel and colour to it that I blurred in it to make it look distinct and uniform.

Before                                                                                       After

 

Start screen

I put the settings screen button and about button on the start screen and made the buttons more “buttonesque” than before. I also added better touch points so they would work better.

Before                                                                                                                  After

I changed a lot of the visuals and code, now my game is being processed and I hope it gets published. I have worked very hard on this and I hope it pays off. I am continuing to work on the update and I probably will not be able to publish it as soon as I’d like. Thank you for all your support so far and I hope you like my game!

               

Rejected!

Well, earlier this week I got informed by the Windows Phone Marketplace that my game has been rejected and will not be put on the Marketplace because of certain faults. Specifically four faults.

The first fault was that the game would crash when on the pause screen when the user would touch continue. At first I was confused but when I tested the game afterward and it did crash. I must have changed something by mistake right before I submitted it.

The second fault was that the application would close when pressing the back button from some screens. I discovered this after I submitted my app.  Things worked fine from the main screen and “back” worked ok when you were playing the actual game but from other screens there were “issues”.

The third fault is that when music is playing from the Zune Queue the game will play its own music at the same time. I didn’t realize that this was a requirement.

The fourth and final fault is that the game didn’t have configurable settings for the volume of background music and sound effects. I had a settings screen but it was only accessible from the “Pause” screen and the “settings” icon I used was not as clear as it could have been.

So, this is a momentary setback. I will certainly fix the game; I actually have fixed most of the problems already. This week I will have to work and fix all of the faults that I have not already fixed. I will try to fix the faults as soon as possible, as I know some of you are waiting for my game to come out. Until then I will be working hard and I expect to get it done by at least the 25^th and I might even add some features from the next version, which I had already started working on!

I guess it would have been better to pass all the tests the first time but I have to admit I learned some new things because of this rejection. “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger!” (Cheesy quote)

Update!

I will keep you guys posted on the update and the progress I am making. I plan on releasing the update soon after the game is certified which would be ideal but I am afraid that I don't think that will be possible based on all of the additions that is going to be in the update. The game as I posted right now, is just the bones of the real game as I intend it to be, the update is everything else. Today for the update I’m going to be cleaning up my code. This is in my opinion one of the hardest parts. The reason I’m cleaning code is because yesterday I was trying to put some music in and add some new things and I couldn’t do it because I just didn’t even understand my own code. Whenever this happens I print out all my code and look at it and decide what I have to do. Based on all the code I have right now it might take more than 2 days. Right now the release date for my update is uncertain and I don’t think it will be soon because of all the work I have to do. I will try to get it out as soon as possible but the update is going to have a lot so it may take a while. So I’m cleaning up code today and possibly tomorrow! 

Logan!

Youtube!

Hi I’m creating a Youtube video series tutorial for C# XNA Windows Phone.

                Please like and subscribe for more Youtube videos here's the first one. Enjoy. (With popcorn!)

Inspiration!

To do almost anything you have to be inspired. Inspiration can come from anything; TV, friends and family, an author, or someone revolutionary. The inspiration for my game came, not from the actuality that I love to play videogames. It was from my Dad. My Dad, when he was a teenager was programming for the Commodore 64. He created a game with his friend and quickly followed up with the sequel on the PC. I grew up surrounded by technology and computers. I used to play my dad's game on our computer always knowing my dad had made the game. It was extremely fun and I realized I wanted to make someone smile, or get mad playing or doing something I created. I played videogames trying to find out what I like in a game. I then fell in love with them. Eventually I would read or play videogames to get away from the world and just slow down.

 Right after I turned ten I went to a two week C++ camp and learned C++. I enjoyed it and then started to take semesters at the same camp after Christmas break. I learned the code I enjoyed making programs, But my journey doesn’t end there.                         

I researched what you could program C++, hoping to be able to program a game for the XBOX 360. Sadly C++ wasn’t the main programming language but C# was. I quickly switched over and learned C#. My Dad then told me about a brilliant new market that’s the Windows Phone. I quickly learned XNA and C#, to program for the Windows Phone. Deciding that I wanted my game to have gyroscope, I researched the code and drew a ghost to move around on a white background. That’s how Commando Ghost was created.

A couple of weeks later my Dad and I go to a code camp and my game started from there. Amazed by the ghost gyroscope, I decide that the ghost should battle aliens and charge into them to kill.

To create the actual game, first I drew the background, aliens and force fields. As I created the main menu I forget to add a settings button to change sound. So when I created a pause screen I added my settings there. Then I added the info screen which I put through many drafts before choosing one, the one now in my game. All of this eventually led up to my game now, and my journey.

                My game is not top notch yet. I just wanted to publish version 1 of the actual game and then update it drastically. I’ve already started working on the free update and there are going to be power ups, new enemies, better AI, new music, 6 different galaxies to play in and boss battles. The update is going to totally change everything. So when you first get the game if you choose to, remember…

Much more is yet to come…

And more, is sounding pretty good!

Submitted!

I just submitted my game and I am waiting for it to be certified by Microsoft. The submission process is long and tiring, or so it seemed because I was anxious to get my game submitted and first I had to fix some stuff to hand it in.  When I checked the guidelines I found out I had to add a Settings screen to control the background music and sound effects and then I had to create a number of screen shots.

For people who haven’t published a game. Here are the general steps:

·         First consolidate your program into a Xap file by changing the device setting to Windows Phone and debug to release. Then choose the Build Solution from the Build menu in Visual Studio, this makes the required Xap file. Find it and enter it on the App Hub submission web page.

·         Then name your game and include a short description and detailed description. Pick a price. I chose 99 cents.

·         Choose which countries your game will be available in – I chose everywhere!

·         Upload screenshots and artwork.

·         Choose download and certification information – if you want your game to be immediately available in the marketplace – I chose yes!

·         Then submit.

Sorry if I missed anything but you can easily find the list on Microsoft development websites!

I’m done!

I’m finally done Commando Ghost and as soon as possible I will submit it. I’m so excited and happy. I can finally look at my game and say “I did this!” I am so proud that I finished and happy when I saw people’s faces who were testing my game light up from enjoyment. I’m so excited and I hope you guys will buy my game. I will include code samples in some of my later posts to loop music or do really important stuff.

 

This is Logan, and I’ve made a game for the windows phone!