Post by hcmffm on Jun 15, 2014 15:45:21 GMT -5
Great to see a new two player game! The intro music is VERY cool and fits prefectly to the game. The two player "Normal" mode is very good because it looks and feels very retro. And a great idea to support a two player mode on one controller! 
Well done, Chris!
Some things/ideas that came to my mind for Vector Pong:
== Two player mode: Buttons only
The two player mode on one controller is a great thing. Currently, one player uses the stick and the other player uses buttons. I think that's not so fair because the controls differ very much. Perhaps a mode "Two players, 1 Controller, buttons can be used.
== Double mode (Four players)
Perhaps there could be even a four player mode (= Double) when playing with two controllers. With each controller two "players" could be controlled, four players in the field in total (=Double). This would be very cool.
== In-game sound
The sound during the game is a bit boring and enerving. Perhaps there could be a bit more variation, e.g. just a soft or no sound when hitting the left or right side. And different sounds for the two players ("Ping" / "Pong") and the collision with the bumper(s).
EDIT:
Just downloaded the binary 1.0.2 and found that the sound fx have changed and improved. I like all sounds except the sound when the ball is "out"/lost. Perhaps another sinus sound could be used, here, to make it sound more retro.
== Gameplay: Ball angle
From what I can see the ball often flies in very large angles, i.e. it bumps several times left/right till it reaches the other side. I think there should be a more direct "angle" (and this might make the game more difficult) and the large angles should be the exception.
== New setting: Match points
In "Normal mode" the user needs 10 points to win the game. It might be cool to have a setting for different winner scores. E.g. there could be "10 (default)", "25", "50", and "100". With "100 points" you could play marathon matches against each other.
== Selection at startup
After starting Vector Pong the menu item "START GAME" is selected. When pressing button 1 the game starts immediately. It might make more sense to select the first option at start up. Otherwise people might happen to start an unwanted single player game.
== Retro font for score
The setup of the "Normal mode" looks very retro. Perhaps a (outline) retro font which matches the original "font" could be used for the score to make the game look even more "retro".
== Heading: "Options"
It's pretty obvious that there are three options, but a heading "Options" or "Settings" might be helpful.
== Bumpers: Option text (minor issue)
When switching game options, the full text changes. Except the option "Bumpers" ("Bumpers: Off/One/Two"). For consistency I think it should say "No Bumpers/1 Bumper/2 Bumpers".
== Spacing in scrolling text (very minor issue)
The spacing of the names in the the scrolling text is a bit inconsistent. Version number might look better without spaces. If possible, there should be an exclamation mark in "VECTREX FANS UNITE!".
== Scrolling "Game over" (minor issue)
Currently, at the end of a match there are two "Game over" text that scrolls through the screen. I think it would be better to have just one scrolling text at the top. Or one scrolling text on the side of the winner. (BTW, which player is Player 1 and which Player 2?).
Thank you for this new, cool, and very "retro" title, Chris!
Well done, Chris!Some things/ideas that came to my mind for Vector Pong:
== Two player mode: Buttons only
The two player mode on one controller is a great thing. Currently, one player uses the stick and the other player uses buttons. I think that's not so fair because the controls differ very much. Perhaps a mode "Two players, 1 Controller, buttons can be used.
== Double mode (Four players)
Perhaps there could be even a four player mode (= Double) when playing with two controllers. With each controller two "players" could be controlled, four players in the field in total (=Double). This would be very cool.
== In-game sound
The sound during the game is a bit boring and enerving. Perhaps there could be a bit more variation, e.g. just a soft or no sound when hitting the left or right side. And different sounds for the two players ("Ping" / "Pong") and the collision with the bumper(s).
EDIT:
Just downloaded the binary 1.0.2 and found that the sound fx have changed and improved. I like all sounds except the sound when the ball is "out"/lost. Perhaps another sinus sound could be used, here, to make it sound more retro.
== Gameplay: Ball angle
From what I can see the ball often flies in very large angles, i.e. it bumps several times left/right till it reaches the other side. I think there should be a more direct "angle" (and this might make the game more difficult) and the large angles should be the exception.
== New setting: Match points
In "Normal mode" the user needs 10 points to win the game. It might be cool to have a setting for different winner scores. E.g. there could be "10 (default)", "25", "50", and "100". With "100 points" you could play marathon matches against each other.
== Selection at startup
After starting Vector Pong the menu item "START GAME" is selected. When pressing button 1 the game starts immediately. It might make more sense to select the first option at start up. Otherwise people might happen to start an unwanted single player game.
== Retro font for score
The setup of the "Normal mode" looks very retro. Perhaps a (outline) retro font which matches the original "font" could be used for the score to make the game look even more "retro".
== Heading: "Options"
It's pretty obvious that there are three options, but a heading "Options" or "Settings" might be helpful.
== Bumpers: Option text (minor issue)
When switching game options, the full text changes. Except the option "Bumpers" ("Bumpers: Off/One/Two"). For consistency I think it should say "No Bumpers/1 Bumper/2 Bumpers".
== Spacing in scrolling text (very minor issue)
The spacing of the names in the the scrolling text is a bit inconsistent. Version number might look better without spaces. If possible, there should be an exclamation mark in "VECTREX FANS UNITE!".
== Scrolling "Game over" (minor issue)
Currently, at the end of a match there are two "Game over" text that scrolls through the screen. I think it would be better to have just one scrolling text at the top. Or one scrolling text on the side of the winner. (BTW, which player is Player 1 and which Player 2?).
Thank you for this new, cool, and very "retro" title, Chris!
