Early Prototype of Ice Slider Maze Graphics
Still Very much under development
I've been experimenting a bit with OpenGL to see how I can get the effect I want for Ice Slider. This prototype I've got running now is simply using two sprites for the snow ledges (a dark ground sprite and a snow sprite). …

This week I'm starting on the game graphics system for Ice Slider. I'm not sure how long this will take as I'll need to learn a bit more OpenGL in order to do this properly - I haven't yet fully looked into using depth buffers, stencil masks, or playing around with the alpha blending. Also from som…

Random Thought For The Day
All those MMO threads that keep churning through the forums have finally got to me. I like skimming through the design forum, but it seems every third thread is from some beginner trying to make a damn MMO game. I'm not entirely sure why it's got to me now as there isn't o…

Controls Menu
I decided to finish off one of the more complicated submenus first - the controls definition menu. Although Ice Slider is simple enough to get away without one of these, I really want one that I can copy across to future games. Plus it's always good manners to allow your players to def…

Random thought for today
Mad dogs and grad students play soccer in 33 degree heat.


Early Version of Main Menu for Ice Slider
Didn't get a huge amount done since last post due to aforementioned sports related activity, but I have got the bare bones version of the main menu up and working. It's pretty …

Random Thought for Today
It's the last week of 4E5! I'm feeling a little guilty I pulled out, but I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone has done. The one I'm most looking forward to trying is Drillian's "Mop of Destiny", because the flat shaded look reminds me of my favoured vector art style.

O…

Damn OpenGL graphics system. I spent a few breaks from my research coding today to hunt around for some info on how to build a good 2D graphics system (especially with OpenGL), but I didn't really find anything that made things any clearer. In fact, the titbits I found make things even muddier. I'v…

Brief addendum to my previous post:

After thinking about the problem, I came to the conclusion that it's better to get the system up and running first before I start mucking around with the internals of the graphics engine; that way I'll have a proper game to test it with. So the thing to do is cobb…

Random thought for the day
I'm not sure I really see the point for queuing up for several hours in the early morning for a game console on release day, but I am interested in how the PS3 and Wii shape up as gaming machines (especially since they aren't out yet in my neck of the woods). Happy to read…

Random Thought for the Day
I wonder what Wavinator is up to; haven't seen him post lately. Hope he's okay; the design forum just isn't the same without him.

It seems my short visit back home combined with a couple days of feeling slightly unwell and the somewhat unwise decision to order in that box …