For this week’s Thousander Club update:
Game Hours: 262.25 (previous year) + 69.75 (current year) = 332 / 1000
Game Ideas: 616 (previous year) + 12 (current year) = 628 / 1000
I now have menus in my Space Invaders clone. I had two choices with the implementation. I could have designed it in a generic way so that I could use the menu system anywhere, or I could hack it together so that I can finish this project quicker. As tempted as I was with the first option, I knew it would probably set me back another week or month. I want this project finished as soon as possible, and so I went with the second option. I wrote two classes, one for the main menu and one for the pause menu, but they each had a lot of the same code, especially when handling input. I also had to do some hacks to get the code to run correctly.
Frankly, if I changed the way the input system works so that pointers to handler functions could be submitted, then the input system could simply call the appropriate handlers whenever a key is pressed or released. It keeps the input handling code in one location and leaves less room for error in the remaining code. I would not need to do strange tricks in code such as setting variables to certain values because of the way my current input system works. If I want to work with the menu system some more, I am going to need to make it easier. There is no point fighting it when I can make it do exactly what I want.
Also, I need to start working with audio. The game has been silent long enough. At the very least I should have sound effects. I am going to mess around with Audacity and probably search for free sound effects online.
While the game will be technically finished with the addition of audio, I would also like to “tighten up” the graphics. The game looks terrible. I could do better.
Good job! You can even tweak it to your hearts content AFTER you finish it. The purpose here is so you get it done. Whatever you do afterwards isn’t impeding that. You may choose to take a month to tweak, or a month redoing your input system for next time. And in fact it’s a good idea to pick something from this project you want to improve for the next one. But again as I said… after you’re done.
Once you’re done, the second one will be so much better… Then you can plan the way you want from the getgo. But then don’t let that stop you from finishing project #2 either. Like I said, one aspect, you redo that one aspect, and then you work on the next project just like previously… just hack it together (except for the thing you choose to improve).
Left by Keith Weatherby II on March 26th, 2007