CyberKnights thread (Beta'rs use this thread)

[sgtcookie]

Well, first impressions. It looks like you have used what appears to be a replica of the ST engine. Not that that is a bad thing. Combat is a bit odd, get in range and then attack. In shops though there is a "..:" and a line space that is messing up the text box.

All in all it seems like it is going to be a very fun game. I will play it some more and let you know how I feel.

Oh, will there always be only two characters?

[darkmonk]

Hmm...Shall this be used as a bug reporting thread, or merely first impressions?

[boeu]

Was trying out my first job and they had 4 moves to my one. Started new game and now cant get off first map

[boeu]

Tried another with cheyanne and 'we need to talk chummer' dont work

[Cory Trese]

I am very happy that people have been able to get the game installed and I'm VERY pleased that some of you were able to complete jobs, change maps, etc.

I'm happy to respond to any reports of bugs, feedback or suggestions anyway they come in, e-mail, forum or blog posts.

--

Game Engine:
CyberKnights actually uses a new engine. It does probably look a lot like ST RPG's main map but the code is all new. As a result, I feel like I will be able to take the new game's architecture to larger scale efforts. CyberKnights actually shares about 50% of the code with Secrets of Steel.

Shop Text:
We are working to write the 548 shop descriptions that are currently filled with "..." No doubt a major creative text development task, and something that was a few days of effort for Star Traders. Right now, all the shop owners are nameless and the greetings are empty.

Characters:
In the initial release of the game we'll have 4-6 characters. Some of them will be "sandbox" versions of the same characters you can play as "storyline" characters. So Daniel will have a storyline and a sandbox mode using the same artwork. Also, character classes are currently hidden (like Star Traders RPG v1.0)

Initial Map
To leave the initial map you currently have to play as Daniel, get $250 and purchase the Computer, V-Chip and misc. equipment from Sonic the Innkeeper. At that time you are moved to the huge map as well.

Female Character
The second character's story isn't in place and is only filled with the test dialogs copied from Daniel. Just there as a suggestion of where the game's concepts are going, in terms of multiple inter-connected stories that can be played independently -- or ignored for pure sandbox play.

We will probably add a type of character that uses a player-selected sprite and no portrait artwork (the faceless sandbox character.)

[sebastian]

I took the $250 and bought more guns and ammo. I sucessfully equipped myself with 2 light pistols, i am hoping that means i have one in each hand and can spread 2 times as much lead, though inaccurate as hell if any of u have tried it in real life, the movies are full.of bologna showing the hero blasting away with a 9mm - .45 in each hand well... but I digress.

Hopefully I can get more $.

I see the resemblence to the game "cyberpunk" by steve jacksom games, i love it.

Am looking forward to see your representation of hacking.

Combat was kind of cumbersome, in my opinion, i like choosing an option, but if u only get to make one choice u can prolly do away with the done button and move along, much like in ST.

I defeated one enemy thus far taking no damage, and none of the random encounters have caused me any harm at all.

Went to a bar i beleive after leaving the hotel, asked for help and got the msg from the hotel guy saying he was just doing his job and has to make a living so pay the $250...

I am using an htc evo 4g.

[hashassin]

This makes me pine for "wasteland"....quit button takes three or four tries to exit game. Crashed when I received a text. Map scroll lags terribly in close zoom,but seems okay zoomed out. So far everything else I've tried seemsa to work, in some cases I can't tell, for instance I have a number of implants but am unable to see any effect from them so far. Combat hasn't given me any trouble. I haven't don't any missions yet, just wandering and exploring and seeing what comes up. Looks like its got potential. If you are gonna add a char where we can select the sprite can you add in user selected portraits? Load it into game via sd card? Not important but it would be nice. Imma go play more, this has potential!

[Cory Trese]

Hasassin --

That is great feedback, thanks a bunch.

Question: What screen was up when the text came in? Combat or main map?

I will look into user supplied portraits, shouldn't be that hard but I don't know anything about it.

Currently, a lot of the implants do nothing. The one that works really well right now is DataPort that lets you access the Global Matrix, Hack User/Admin access and steal paydata.

[rudeboy]

As a fan of this style of game - overall, I think you've got a winner here... Obviously there's a ways to go, but it's also kind of cool to see it in the proto/dev stages. The install went fine for me.

Have had several firefights and random encounters so far. Haven't managed to take on a job / earn more cash / change maps yet, but intend to try that next.

I like the AP style of combat (and the fact that the baddies resemble Alex from a Clockwork Orange); it's a little confusing when the initial combat begins and I'm not quite sure where on the map the baddies are - but with a map that big I'm not sure I have any actual suggestions at this point. I'll ruminate on it a bit more.

FWIW, Chyanne is almost playable at least for a bit and a few approaches on the street (people gave me money!) - but eventually when I try to approach or engage someone it crashes. Obviously she's not ready for prime time yet - I knew that when I tried it - but I thought from a dev perspective that might be good to know.

Looking forward to pushing it further!

Running unrooted Vibrant / Froyo.

[Cory Trese]

RudeBoy -- thanks for the feedback. How is the scroll performance on Vibrant? There are two scroll engines (one zoomed out, one zoomed in) that seem to have different characteristics on various devices.

The AP style combat is one I like. Right now with only 1 friendly team member is will get a little dull, but that is easily fixed with more AP, more characters. The introduction to the battle will soon have a "scroll around and show the bad guy groups" introduction. Also, the breaks between Rounds / Phases will be better illustrated so the player can keep up with what is going, when they should expect to go next, etc.

Thanks a bunch for the feedback and giving our in-development game a shot.

It def. has a ways to go ... hopefully we can all work to land it somewhere fun =)

[rudeboy]

Yeah - on my Vibrant the zoomed out scroll is very crisp, and comes to an abrupt stop as soon as I lift my finger.

The zoomed in scroll is a bit more fluid, and has a small "easeout" taper, slowing just a bit before it stops... It also continues to scroll a bit more after I lift off the screen - more of a "throw effect."

Hopefully that's what it's supposed to be doing? :=)

Keep up the great work! We're all pulling for you...

[Cory Trese]

Rude -- there are two scroll systems at work -- the old Star Traders style (1:1 x/y with 0ms pause) vs. the new CyberKnights style (1:0.8 x/y with 400ms pause/decelerate)

I was trying out a little A/B testing to see how it worked. The awesome challenge of Android is that I have so few devices (4 types + emulators) compared to the 385 that are on the market.

I will make the decelerated scroll system an option that runs at both zooms so that you can control the behavior and see which ones works in 4 combinations (old scroll + native tile resolution, new scroll + native tile resolution, old scroll + zoomed tile resolution, new scroll + zoomed tile resolution)

Currently only two of the modes are available -- native resolution + new scroll and zoomed resolution + old scroll

[hashassin]

I think this game is begging for physical keyboard input myself.

[Cory Trese]

Fair point. While I have been lacking in a physical hardware keyboard myself I feel that my games have suffered as a result.

[sebastian]

I just had a combat in which i apparently ran out of ammo, i could not finger out how to reload, i unequipped both my pidtols and continued fighting, apparently with my fists, though it still showed a pistil being used and apparently still toasted me using up ammo? I had bought a box of ammo previosly so s reload should have been possible.

I love the back n forth switching and the art for the combat scenes

I had previously managed to go negative on funds, trying to find out how i did that, i didnt notice til later, i wad -5 before i got my first 250 in sandbox money.

Edit: found reload button. /slap self

Edit2: at time of first edit i was in an encounter with 2 foes, i was trying to flee by using my movement points to go in the opposite direction, i am assuming fleeing is not an option, i have not left the starting map yet, i did scan the map while talking to cabbie, nice n huge, but anyway, apparently u r not allowed to enter buildings when in combat movement mode, taxi will not give me a lift anymore due to heat so i am about to find out if i can leave the map w/o taxi assist... but ANYWay, sorry for rambling, after i editted the post to say i found the reliad button i switched back to game which was still in combat movement mode and it was mostly frozen, i could change zoom and load the menu for options but that was it, went to a black screen with the left status tab visible after i loaded options in the menu abd backed out to return to the game. I went back to menu, quit, it went to main menu, hit continue and it reloaded game to right where i had been but no more combat encounter.

I hope u followed that ok...