Just Kissed Games

This is your last chance to join the first beta group. I'm 95% sure I will be sending out the first beta tonight.

Again, you must be a member of the forums, and in the "Beta Tester" membership role. Read the "Welcome to Beta?" posting for instructions on sending your device ID. I must receive your ID tonight before I do the final compile. Otherwise you will have to wait (probably Sunday for the next version).

If you are already a forum member, email me at picticon-at-gmail-com to request a Beta Tester membership role.

I've received a dozen IDs already. I'm almost done with the dual-interface switch. I have a few minor changes concerning the fire and air animations. Other than that, I'm ready to release the first round.

Please! Remember to backup your device before you install this. You might want to back up now to save time later. You will not lose your progress, but you will lose any saved game. If your game is currently stuck (the poisoned enemy bug), this version will also let your play again (or it should!) I'll have full instructions later on.

First beta will be released in a few days. If you have not visited the beta posting and followed the instructions, do so now. I've only received feedback from one person so far, and I know more than one person is interested

If you'd like to join beta, email me and I'll add you to the group. picticon-at-gmail-com
You will need an account on the forums. In your email, let me know your username. I will need your device ID as soon as possible. Instructions are located on the forum under the Beta discussions.

Also, if you think I've missed something from the checklist posting, I'd like to hear about it! If it is something minor, I'll try and get it in.

Current Update:
Fix multitouch bug. DONE (needs testing)

Create new graphics for the interface. DONE
Test and Tweak the zoom/scroll feature. DONE
Fix the "Sell" achievement. DONE
Fix the sound engine to co-exist with iPod music. DONE
Modify the texture engine to make room for more graphics. DONE
Scale the enemies to twice the resolution. DONE
Build/Upgrade animation. DONE
Modify (or replace) the towers to show a different graphic for each level. DONE
Enhance all missile graphics and such. DONE
Re-add the title animations. DONE
Add toggle for two interface mode. DONE
Nerf a few levels, mainly 5p/5m, and the easy/normal/hard challenges. DONE
Restart option in-game. DONE
Fix zero-score astar error (trap mobs for high scoring). DONE
Fix "Spiritual Conflict" goals. DONE
Reduce cost of Lightning tower level 6. DONE
Clear "Player x" when entering new name for a profile. DONE
Fixed nasty resume bug (poisoned enemy dies during resume). DONE
Reverse the speed toggling (normal->slow->3x->2x). DONE
Remove the start-up kissing sound in certain situations. DONE
Medal error by surrendering (should be no medals saved for surrender/loss). DONE
Add grid display option. DONE
Fix placement off-screen bug (slippery placement). DONE
Fix life display bug when resuming game. DONE
Enable zoom-in drag only if zoomed all the way out. DONE


Future Update:
Back button for the stats book.
Add "select square first" build mode.
Enhance the map graphics.
Improve help system.
Move the level data to files.
Add more levels and challenges.
Add more achievements, or at least achievement levels.
Re-do the achievement graphics.
Enhance the high-score list.
Path graphic on the level select screen.
Retry option on the score screen.

Okay, so... here it is. Let me know what you think, and if there is anything I can do to improve it.
Note that the numbers (lives, score, etc) will have an icon next to each for what it is. I just ran out of time tonight.

I've also spent the past two days fixing several bugs (including a real nasty one that would prevent the game from relaunching) and working on the fire tower.

I'm running out of time. But I'm getting things done. Water is done along with the other 4 towers mentioned earlier. Only earth, wind, and fire. (Isn't that a band?! haha) I've also squashed a few bugs, and gotten the game back onto the phone for testing.

Tomorrow, I have real life things to do. But I'll be back to work on Sunday. Enjoy this new preview.

Note in the picture:
Arrow: Star strike effect.
Ice: Mist cloud when tower fires. Clearer ice effect.
Electricity: Improved lightning. Light flash under tower when it fires.
These three towers are all but done. (Poison is 95% done.)



I've also done the following:

Modeled the Water tower, basically a fountain that grows in complexity.
Tweaked the following towers: Arrow, Ice, Electricity.
Added effects for: Arrow, Ice, Electricity, Earth, Wind.
Fixed a few bugs.

I have the following to do (that I can remember). I plan on sending out test versions this weekend or next week. This is not set in stone.

Tweak Fire, Earth, Wind, Snow, Bomb and Water models and effects.
Finish tweaking Poison.
Alter the interface, possible model the stained glass (doubtful).
Fix the a-star bug.
Fix the sound bugs.
Test memory size on phone.
Re-add title animation.
Adjust difficulties.

This might seem like a lot, but many of those items would only take a few minutes to a few hours. The hardest part is done now that I've got the towers modeled.

Fire tower. It is going to get a bit of work, but I promised to keep everyone up to date. So here is where the fire tower is at before I go to bed.



Update: I worked on Wind tonight. Gonna need a bit more work like Fire, but I at least have a baseline now. Only Water left!

I'm posting this as soon as the testing and graphics were done on the Poison Tower. No delays. I'll keep everyone updated as soon as I complete milestones.

I've worked on this for the past few days, including 12 hours today. phew

Happy 2009 everyone!

A new year brings new resolutions. One of mine is to get the update as done as soon as possible. I appreciate all those that have stuck by my decision to do things right, and I apologize for taking as long as I have.

I've done the modeling for the poison tower. It needs a few small tweaks, but I'll bet on everyone being surprised as to how it looks and how it acts. It is unlike any of the other towers so far. I'm so happy with it, that I'm going to use it as a basis for a re-done fire tower.

I've sketched out the fire, water, and air towers with a friend. I was struggling with ideas, but I'm pretty happy with what we came up with. It is now just a matter of modeling them in 3ds max. I will start these this weekend when I get time.

Ok, off to bed. Again, Happy New Year!

Lots done in the past few days! Here are Arrow, Earth, Ice, and Electricity in their (almost?) finished form. Fire is modeled, and just needs tweaking... each render of Fire is taking 5 minutes, so it might be a while. I might set up a render farm for the remaining towers as they will all use particle systems.

I abandoned the color scheme. And therefore, made Arrow red and Electric blue. Earth might get a re-texturing to make it darker... I'm not sure about it yet.

You'll have to trust me on the electric animations... OMG they are cool!

Sorry this is taking so long. It is a combination of things, but one of them is my perfectionism. Since I decided to do the 6 stage models, I'm going to do them right.


---------BONUS!----------

I don't like the arcing electricity on #5... this will be redone. #6 will have an electric "fence" around the base, with the electricity arcing towards the poles.

The "missle" portion will also be upgraded, as well as it emanating higher up, where electrodes are.

So, for the interface, I've been racking my brain for ideas. I was browsing medieval graphics on Google, and noticed a ton of stained glass... so here is my attempt. It is a rough mockup.

I'll add framing, and revamp the top part of the interface as well. The idea is the light shines through when the tower is available. The light turns green when you've selected a tower as well.

Does anyone think I should continue down this road?

I had an extended rant here.. but decided it wasn't worth it in the long run.

Notice the reflections, and semi-transparency of the ice. It's looks more like ice now. I'm pretty happy about this one now.

If anyone has any ideas for the remaining towers (wind, water, electricity, poison), I'm all ears. Remember, this is medieval themed. And there has to be six stages. This is proving to be quite the bitch.

Previews of THREE towers!