Shmup Development (using XNA and C#)

Thursday, May 10, 2007

Download Bullet Hell Tactics Test 0.9.6 for Windows

This will be the one and only public testversion before the final demo is released. Before downloading, please read the requirements. If you are having problems running the game read the troubleshooting instructions. Please also read about how to play the game.

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BULLET HELL TACTICS TEST IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD. THE FINAL DEMO WILL BE AVAILABLE SOON.
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Download Bullet Hell Tactics Test 0.9.6 for Windows (32,5 MB)
Just unpack the zip file and run "BulletHellTactics.exe".

The testversion is there for download so you can tell me what you think about the game. Please give feedback if you download it, it will be appreciated a lot!

Please mail feedback to [address removed] rather than leave comments here.

posted by Kobingo at 9:55 PM

9 Comments:

  • I really like this. It's got simple, solid gameplay, plenty of enemies and seems difficult yet well-balanced. My only complaint would be that the aiming control scheme is awkward.

    Let me explain - the left stick is used for movement. This works great, because it's something familiar. The right stick is for aiming, which is also a familiar use for that stick, but it moves you at the same time, which is where the awkward feeling comes in. I keep expecting the right stick to _just_ orient my ship, but it also moves it, giving it two functions at once (which can be counter-intuitive). I hate to point to Geometry Wars, since this is only similar in broad-genre, but the control scheme there worked really well. You move with the left stick, and aim with the right - one function for each stick.

    The game should be difficult because of the enemies and situations - not because it's difficult to control. Overall I like it, I just find the control scheme really awkward, even after playing it several times to see if I can get a feel for it.

    By Blogger Kyle Schouviller, at 2:23 AM  

  • Good feedback! I understand what you mean, I also find it more difficult to rotate/aim with the right stick. Could you try to use the X button instead and see if you like that more?

    By Blogger Kobingo, at 8:38 AM  

  • Ah, much more intuitive. I found myself using the trigger to shoot, so I naturally placed my other thumb on the right stick.

    It's still a little bit weird to be moving around the point I want to shoot at. It is unique, but I'm still not sure if it's the best - I'd have to see it working the other way (aim around my center) to see which is best.

    But heck, I'm just one person - see what the general response is before making any big changes (or just do some play-testing / walkthroughs to watch what people think).

    By Blogger Kyle Schouviller, at 1:56 PM  

  • Also, when running the game... Did you have to install {smartassembly} to run it?

    By Blogger Kobingo, at 1:59 PM  

  • I can't wait till this weekend when I can install it. I've been dying to try this thing out since a buddy turned my attention this-a-way a few weeks back. Everything has looked good so far, and this control system sounds mighty interesting.

    By Blogger Asa, at 5:04 PM  

  • Yah, I had to hunt down {smartassembly} to get it working.

    By Blogger Kyle Schouviller, at 6:39 PM  

  • Hi I didnt download and try the test because its a pain to also download/install all the required XNA framework files. I did look at the demo movies on you tube and thought it looked very good. One day I will get around to having a play with XNA, and on that day, I'll also checkout Bullet Hell Tactics.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 6:42 PM  

  • Microsoft XNA Framework is just a 1,9 MB file to download and install so it's not that much. You are welcome back when you have it :-)

    By Blogger Kobingo, at 10:19 AM  

  • Unfortunately, some people also need to download a new version of the .NET framework, etc.

    I asked my brother to check out a very early demo of a scrolling shooter engine I was working on.

    He agreed to do so but when running the published package C# / XNA created it told him he needed to download .NET framework, XNA, and something else as well.

    After 30 minutes of his computer being "locked down" from this installation process he aborted the install.

    It's really too bad that Windows development requires so much freaking stuff to be installed to get something working. LOL!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 12:49 AM  

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