GraLL 2 – New levels, new video!
Tue, 05 July 2011
After a long break, I’ve gotten back to working on GraLL 2! I’d released a Windows build and fixed problems people had with getting it to run. The main problem seemed to be Python versions – including the Python DLL and standard library with the game seems to fix this. I had to patch the Python source code to have Python load up the supplied standard library and not search for it elsewhere on the user’s computer.
Also, I’ve fixed quite a lot of bugs, improved Player handling, made existing levels much easier and worked on two new levels. The first new level has a little puzzle involving Doors, Switches and a little ball that you can push around. It also introduces Teleporters. The second one introduces Jump Pads and Speed Boosts and has some fun jump sequences (one of them involving preserving momentum through a Teleporter). Here are some pictures:
And lastly, I’ve created a new preview video! It’s got footage from the levels done so far (which don’t really exploit dimension/gravity switching, turrets and magnets to the fullest yet), as well as from two ‘test’ levels I use to experiment with new features. Here it is:-
I’ve realised that there are enough obstacles now to allow numerous level design ideas. I’m sure there are many creative ways to create fun puzzles involving the existing obstacles that I’d never be able to come up with! And then there’s Python scripting, which allows interesting scripting sequences. For example, in one of the levels, when you pick up a key, a bunch of walls rise up to surround you, forming a trap, and you are ‘ambushed’ by a bunch of moving bombs. Even the opening sequence with the camera motion and GraLL turning on and breaking through the glass is completely scripted – the game just applies torques to GraLL at the right times.
So I’ve decided that for now I will just concentrate on making levels – trying to come up with creative ways to use the obstacles. Once I have enough levels I can arrange them in order of difficulty. The really hard ones can be put into a separate ‘bonus levels’ section.
