Category Archives: Misc

Argos: CICE MPV Project (Unity3D Master degree final project)

Details

Project: Argos: CICE MPV Project
Genre: 2.5D action-platformer, Unity3D game framework
Platform: Windows, Linux, Mac
Job description: Gameplay Programmer, Tool Programmer
Technologies: Unity3D, .NET, C#, Git, Source Tree, Argos.Framework (own Unity3D multiplatform framework)

Description

My final project for my Unity3D game development master degree coursed in CICE on 2017. A 2.5D cinematic action-platformer developed over a custom multiplatform framework (the true core of the project).

This project was developed while I was working on the porting to Nintendo Switch of Ginger: Beyond the Crystal in Drakhar Studio. During this period (3 months) I was working in the idea of creating a framework that ease the common tasks in a multiplatform development with Unity3D, like manage the input setup or the file system over the different operating systems or consoles. After finish my contract with Drakhar Studio, I was working on the playable part of the final project, the 2.5D platformer and how integrating the framework in his development. I made it in only 4 weeks.

The framework cover the following areas:

  • Input system:

    A single player oriented input system, based on Input Map assets witch defines actions and axes definitions for use in separate areas of the game like UI or player actions.

    This system is based on Virtual Axes that bring the posibility to define input based on keyboard, mouse and/or gamepad axes (sticks, DPads), and Input Actions to define actions like jump or shoot, using input from keyboard, mouse and/or gamepad buttons, DPad and triggers. Input Actions can managed from events, and both Input Actions and Virtual Axes can allow input rebind in runtime.

    This system nativelly support the popular game controllers like XBox 360, XBox One, PS4 and Nintendo Switch Pro Controller (on supported systems). The input system manages automatically a common map between different controllers, in a way to only uses a unique button list to setup the actions and axes. The system also allow the use of generic gamepads and uses a generic input map asset to setup the input map, also allow this setup in runtime.

    This system implement a custom Standalone Input Module and some custom components to bring full support on Unity UI components for UI navigation.

  • Multiplaftform file system layer:

    A file system layer to safe manage the basic file operations between Windows, Linux and Mac systems. The system manage a predefined paths to manage savegames, settings, screenshots and custom data folders on user document folder, and avoid errors on path formatting or creation/check the current folders.

  • Localization system:

    A simple localization system that allow to localize UI text elements with rich text formatting support. The system implements a simple component that manage the UI Text component content in realtime. For the project, this system was designed for only support English and Spanish languages.

  • UI components:

    A serie of UI components to bring some functionalities like doble click events, customizable text message events and UI input icon system to show text messages with keyboard, mouse or gamepad button or axis icon based on the common input map system implemented on the first point of this list.

  • Misc additions:

    Multipurporsal scripts and components with various ideas learned and implemented during this master degree on each practical excercise.

Argos.Framework, coming soon

Today, I'm working in this framework to pulished some parts and improved ones (Input System code and his editor inspectors) and rewriting others from scratch (file system, localization system and some UI components), and implementing new additions like XInput gamepad vibration support (with visual pattern vibration assets, to allow to design vibration patterns similar to the classic DirectInput Force Feedback patterns), GameJolt API integration (user session, trophies, leader boards and cloud storage) and more.

Other additions that I'm working is the XBox One support, via Universal Windows Platform, with XBox Live basic services (user session, user stats, leader boards and file storage). The goal of this is trying to unify this services with other like the GameJolt or Steam services (even consoles services like PS4, XBox One (not UWP) or Nintendo Switch) under an unique layer to simplify the development between platforms, the main goal of this framework.

Soul Gun

Details

Project: Soul Gun
Genre: 2D Platform
Platform: Web (HTML5/WebGL)
Job description: Game Programmer
Technologies: Unity3D, .NET, C#
Links:
- Itch.io
: https://ex3.itch.io/soulgun
- Ludum Dare 39: https://ldjam.com/events/ludum-dare/39/soul-gun/ (510th position of +2500 games)
Source Code: https://bitbucket.org/VisualStudioEX3/malaga-jam-week-vi

Credits

Graphic Designer
Pablo Dapena

Game Designer
Carlos L. Hernando

Game Designer, Level Designer
Alberto Sageras Roman

Game Programmer
José Miguel Sánchez Fernández - [EX3]

Description

A game made for the Malaga Jam Weekend VI & Ludum Dare 39 Game Jams. A game made in 48h!

A 2D platform game with a gravity and energy mechanic. The player only can move on floor and shoot his weapon. Each shoot invert the gravity on entire level, enemies included, and each shoot consume a part of the player soul. If the player consumes his soul, then he will die instantly. The player can restore his soul when not shooting his weapon during a short time.

This game shared the MalagaJam and Ludum Dare themes: Atraction & Running out of Power.

The Esc4pe, a “primitive shooter” made with Unity3D

Featured tweet from GameJolt

Video reviews from itch.io & GameJolt

Today (August 4, 2018), the game reached +120.000 visits and +50.000 downloads, with a 4/5 avg. rate and featured on cover pages, on itch.io and Game Jolt marketplaces, in 60 days (near of 60.000 visits and 30.000 downloads between March and early May of 2017).

The game received a lot of feedback in the comments, and some users made video reviews with gameplays. This is a Youtube list with videos collected from user comments and Twitter searches:

Details

Project: The Esc4pe
Genre: First Person Shooter
Platform: PC (Windows, Linux, Mac)
Job description: Game Programmer, Game Designer, Level Designer
Technologies: Unity3D, .NET, C#
Links: Post on my blog, Visual Studio EX3, with more details (ES)

Downloads

Featured on itch.io marketplace with +25.000 downloads with a rate of 4/5 stars!

Featured on GameJolt marketplace with +40.000 downloads with a rate of 4/5! (Click on the thumbnail to view on gamejolt page)

Credits

José Miguel Sánchez Fernández - [EX3]
Game Programmer, Game Designer, Level Designer, "Voice" actor

Third party assets

Standard Assets & Cinematics Effects - Unity Technologies
 
 
Sci Fi Characters Mega Pack - PROTOFACTOR, INC: https://www.assetstore.unity3d.com/en/#!/content/19831
 
 
Scifi LowPoly Ammo Pickups - Pixelgraffiti: https://www.assetstore.unity3d.com/en/#!/content/12005
 
Yughues Free Palm Trees - Nobiax / Yughues: https://www.assetstore.unity3d.com/en/#!/content/13540
 

Amplify Color and FXAA Fast Approximation Antialiasing - Amplify Creations: http://amplify.pt/

Light Shafts effect - Robert Cupisz: https://github.com/robertcupisz/LightShafts

Camera Filter Pack (CRT Effect) - Vetasoft: https://www.assetstore.unity3d.com/en/#!/content/18433

Sound weapons & items effects are downloaded from Freesound.org site (http://www.freesound.org). All samples are under Creative Commons licence (Attribution 3.0 License)

Music themes "Hitman", "The Complex" & "Killers" are creations of Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) and released under Creative Commons licence (Attribution 3.0 License)

Description

This project is made as practical exercise for the "Master Degree in Video Game Development with Unity3D & 3DS Max Official Autodesk (MPV)" of CICE Madrid (http://cice.es/curso/master-en-desarrollo-de-videojuegos-con-unity-y-3dsmax/).

A "primitive shooter" developed in one month with technical restrictions based on the topics seen in class until the project start date. The game is not optimized (its performance is not stable).

Support XBox360 Controller in all PC platforms (implementing the input map for Linux and OSX following the information found on this wiki).

The game is initially designed to be played in 5~10 minutes (It can take 20~30 minutes to complete).

Developed and full tested under:
- Intel Core i5-2500 @ 3.30GHz
- 8GB RAM
- AMD Radeon HD 6800 Series (with Crimson drivers)
- Windows 10 Pro x64

P.D.: This game will not receive new updates, bug fixes (for now) or new version with more levels.

Project Jupiter (Cancelled Prototype)

Details

Project: Project Jupiter (Codename)
Genre: 2.5D Cinematic Action-Platformer
Platform: PC (Windows, Linux, Mac)
Job description: Game Programmer, Game Designer
Technologies: Unity3D, .NET, C#, PlayMaker (used to create base state machines)

Description

A 2.5D Cinematic Action-Platformer. This project is born as a result of a bet between friends. Since 2010, I have been doing small tests with Unity3D, but no projects or prototypes. This project has helped me to try to learn the basics of the engine and gain some experience for future projects.

The prototype implement a functional character player with some of basic states, with functional weapon. The development focused mainly on the player's implementation and the visual style for future game levels (mainly lighting tests and retro look & feel). The project uses free assets, include part of the Angry Bots demo assets from Unity3D 4.

This project was cancelled due to several technical problems with 3D assets (old assets from Unity3D 3 and 4 versions, not compatible with new material system in Unity3D 5) and other related problems.

Full prototype level gameplay

Current State (early 2017)

In September 2016, try a new approach to the concept of the game, using new assets, compatible with Unity3D 5. This is a capture of a prototype with the new material of the project, trying to recreate a control similar to that of games like Shadow Complex:

At present (January 2017) the project is based on the original concept discarded, more typical of games of the 90's like Another World or Flashback:

State of the project in January 9, 2017, some tests focused on player basic mechanics (run, walk, jump, fall, landing, climbing...). Implementing own character controller and FSM system (without PlayMaker).

Slot Bonanza for Windows 8 (porting)

Details

Project: Slot Bonanza for Windows 8
Client: Infi Apps (contracted by Plunge Interactive (Starloop Studios), studio responsible of the porting)
Genre: Slot Machine, Free to Play
Platform: Windows 8/Windows RT
Job description: Programmer, Technical Artist
Technologies: .NET 4.5, C#, MonoGame 3.0 Beta, Facebook C# SDK, Json.NET, BugSense, Sprite Sheet Packer, Visual Studio Express 2012 For Windows, Visual Studio Express 2012 For Windows Phone (as tool to compile assets for MonoGame project, with help of XNA 4.0)
Link: Slot Bonanza on the Microsoft Store

Description

Gameplay programmer for the porting to Windows 8 (Metro/WinRT app game).

For this job I worked as a remote freelance to the studio responsible to the porting project.

This project is a port of the original game from iOS to Windows 8 (Windows RT). I had to rewritten from scracth the original Objective-C code, based on Cocos2D framework, to .NET, C# and MonoGame 3.0 framework, and also had to adapt the game to the requirements of Windows RT platform and variable screen resolutions.

Pulpetes Forever

Details

Project: Pulpetes Forever
Genre: 2D Puzzle-Realtime strategy
Platform: Windows
Job description: Game Programmer
Technologies: .NET 4.0, C#, XNA 4.0, TLSA.Engine (own XNA Game Engine), Visual Studio Express 2010
Dev blog: http://ex3perience.wordpress.com/category/compo-cpes15/ (ES)

Credits

Producer, Game Designer, Level Designer
Eduardo Millan - SiPoX

Graphic Designer
José Zanni - Josepzin

Game Programmer
José Miguel Sánchez Fernández - [EX3]

Description

A project for the Game Jam in GameDev area of Campus Party España 2011. A game inspired in the classic Lemmings. The game was programmed with TLSA.Engine, a new version of my old game engine in Visual Basic 6.0 and dx_lib32 (an own game framework). This version is based in .NET, C# and XNA 4.0.

The restrictions of the Game Jam were: octopus, teleports and randomness.

White & World

Campus Party 2010: "DesarrolladorES Game Jam" Videogame Showcase

Campus Party 2010: "DesarrolladorES Game Jam" First Prize Presentation

Details

Project: White & World
Genre: 2D Platform-Puzzle Adventure
Platform: Web/Flash
Job description: Graphics Designer Support
Technologies: Flash, Action Script 2
Dev blog: https://ex3perience.wordpress.com/category/compo-rapida-cp2k10/ (ES)
Download: white_and_world_cp2010_flash_player_windows.zip

The ZIP file include the Adobe Flash Player 32 bits for Windows and the SWF game file. Run the CMD file to launch the game.

Credits

Producer, Game Designer
Eduardo Millan - SiPoX

Game Programmer, Graphic Designer
José Zanni -Josepzin

Graphic Designer Support
José Miguel Sánchez Fernández - [EX3]

Description

1st place in the Game Jam of Campus Party Spain 2010!

A project for the Game Jam in GameDev area of Campus Party Spain 2010. A 2D platformer-puzzle adventure with the mechanic of create and destroy by the action of eliminate the enemies in the correct order.

The restrictions of the Game Jam were: black & white theme, puzzles, create & destroy.

P.D.: At the beginning, the idea was a I will program the game, in Visual Basic 6.0 with the TLSA Engine, an unfinished own game engine based on dx_lib32 (an own game framework) that can be found in this portfolio. The early prototype was made with it, but at last hour, we decided to use Flash and Action Script 2 for the final development.

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Aquanoid (CP2K8)

Details

Project: Aquanoid (CP2K8)
Genre: Arcade
Platform: Windows
Job description: Game Programmer, Graphic Designer, Level Designer
Technologies: .NET 3.5, Visual Basic .NET, C#, dx_lib32 (own game framework), Visual Studio Express 2008, MS Paint (as level editor)

Description

A project for the Game Jam in GameDev area of Campus Party España 2008. This an Arkanoid game with altered mechanic: the pad/player float on water. The water level goes up every few seconds. The player dies if reach the block level or the ball touch the water.

The game defines her levels with small bitmaps images of 12x12 pixels, where the color pixel defines the type of block.

The restrictions in this Game Jam were: water, puzzles and comic style.

T.L.S.A.: Argos Operation

Details

Project: T.L.S.A.: Argos Operation
Genre: 2D Point & Click - Graphic Adventure
Platform: Windows
Job description: Game Designer, Game Programmer, Graphic Desisgner
Technologies: Visual Basic 6.0

Description

Point & click graphic adventure game. Attempt to improve the concept implemented in the previous game, TLSA: The Light Star Adventure. This time, the game had the ability to display larger scenaries, the player could move with the mouse, making a side-scrolling movement, like a 180 º view.

This time, the elements of the game, like the characters, already had basic animations and sound effects. The game development is unfinished, due to the complexity of developing in Visual Basic 6.0 Windows Forms and User Controls system. The result is an advanced prototype of the concept designed, a little achievement.

The graphics are own made ​​freehand with mouse in Microsoft Paint. The sounds are a mixed of samples from other comercial games.

T.L.S.A.: The Light Star Adventure

Details

Project: T.L.S.A.: The Light Star Adventure
Genre: 2D Point & Click - Graphic Adventure
Platform: Windows
Job description: Game Designer, Game Programmer, Graphic Designer
Technologies: Visual Basic 6.0

Description

Point & click graphic adventure, in first person, set inside a spaceship, being attacked and boarded by enemy soldiers. The player taking the role of a prisoner who manages to escape from his captors and aims to try to escape alive from the ship.

The player can navigate the corridors of the ship, interact with various elements of the enviroment (look in wall panels, input controls, access to computer terminals, investigate corpses...), talks with characters (the conversations could have various lines of dialogue with different ways and results), inventary, which could be used with scenarios, and even was available ability to shoot enemies in specific scenes.

The game had only one level, the corridors of the ship and some rooms, giving a total of 15 different locations. The game had several situations, either by death or specific situations (terminate arrested by soldiers, for example). Were available automatic checkpoints to avoid losing the game progress from certain points. The graphics are own made ​​freehand with mouse in Microsoft Paint, and static, without animations. The game hadn't sound or music.