Maya Breaker Dev Blog Update 27: Back with a Revengence

Hello everyone. Great to be back. Unfortunately several life challenges hit me all at once, as my wife had medical issues, we moved house and I started a new job as a guest lecturer at Bloomfield College Game Design section.

Things were further delayed when we found toxic mold in our new house and had to live in a motel for a while.

Regardless, in two weeks (knock on wood) everything should be settled. The repairs should be done on our home and the semester will be over at college. I will be back to making regular weekly updates!

Thank you all for standing by me. I think you will be pleased with the new build forthcoming.

Maya Breaker Dev Blog Update 26: Hiatus

August of 2016 will be a break for me. Much work has been done, and testing has begun, but due to personal issues, I will need to stop production for a month. While actual work will resume in September, there are a few things you should know:

1. The game is still being worked on, just by other programmers.

2. My family is moving. My family added a new member this summer, my son. Because of this we need to move to a bigger dwelling. I will be without a home workstation for a  period of time, so work will really be impossible.

3. For those who have ordered the original soundtrack, it has been finished.

4. I just need a break. I've been developing for so long, I haven't had time to play any of the new games. I'm totally out of touch with my indie game competition and I need to learn about what gamers are expecting in today's market. So, yeah, I need to play some games.

5. Also, I need to read some books. I have many books on design I've bought but have been too busy to read. It would be better if I read them BEFORE I release my game.

Thank you for your patience. If you want to learn more, I will be teaching a workshop on Game Maker Studio at A Video Game Con in Parsippany NJ September 10th.

Maya Breaker Update 25: The Storm

Had the first playtest at Metrotech in Brooklyn Thursday. Got a lot of useful data. I still need more testers, so contact me at mike at x-raygames dotcom.

Things are going very quickly now, so more information in a few days.

Super Tester Saturday

http://bit.ly/1qdA5py

Super Tester Saturday is here! Please download and test my game!

Maya Breaker Update 24: Let Maya Open the Door

I'm expanding the game greatly since out last test. The fact of the matter was that the map was too compact. Everything was too close together, and there just wasn't enough space to finish one idea before encountering the next.

Because of this, I've had to redo the room transitions. The rooms were working well, but there were dozens of objects and scripts where there should have been only a few. Like taking apart an automotive engine, taking things apart means the whole thing doesn't run.

But don't worry, this is normal. In a few days everything will work as it did last week, more elegant code and that will make it easier to expand the game with new levels.

Everything will be ready for this Saturday the 9th for our next test! be sure to send me a Tweet! @Xanthous Ray

Maya Breaker Update 23: The Juice is Loose

I'm happy to say that things went very well last night at NJ Arcade Night! Thanks to Bloomfield College for hosting us. The players really responded to the new build, much more than ever before. It makes sense since I've been adding a lot of Juice to the game. Flourishes like pixelated lighting, gamepad vibration, screenshake, particle effects and so on. 

 

Players

The playtest went so well that I will be adding new features. An achievement-like system and a larger map to explore are forthcoming. 

Thanks to everyone who played, and look for a Super Tester Saturday on the 9th, where everyone can try the new build.

Maya Breaker Update 22: The Dust Clears

The final date of the 24th has passed. The game is working and the code is stable. The audio is in and working, as well as a host of new graphics.

However, I'm still not satisfied with the game as it stands. Because of this I will need another round of testing. I've commissioned an an additional track for the soundtrack. Also, there will be new assets made by a team of new sprite artists.

As for the gameplay, it's smooth. It still needs work. For that I will be arranging another super tester Saturday. I can't just throw it together, I need time to promote it. I will also be visiting NYU and showing the game to the game design students. I'm hoping for constructive feedback.

I won't be finishing the game, though. I'm hiring some ringers to finish the last few details. I've been at this for too long and mind has turned to mashed potatoes. And so, I'll be hiring programmers at my own expense. Goodbye tax return.

Look for more on the next Super Tester Saturday. Should be late March.

In other news, our favorite artist, Charochai has come back to do another picture exclusively for the soundtrack box art! Kickstarter backers will be the first to see it when they get their soundtracks in the mail.

Maya Breaker Update 21: The Last Roundup

No more updates for the immediate future. Every waking moment will be devoted to finishing the game at this point. My deadline is the 24^th. You will hear back from me in mid-March, after the dust has settled. If the game isn’t finished by then, I will have to hire an outside studio to cap this puppy off. That would be really bad for me.

So if YOU don’t hear from me in a while, that’s the reason. Thanks.

Maya Breaker Update 20: Things I won't be doing.

Another quick update. I'm working fast to complete the final build, and test data is coming in. Still need lots more so please email me if you can test!

Just a quick update for anyone curious about appearances. I only have a month left before my self-appointed deadline to finish Maya Breaker. So I will not be attending any cons, no Global Game Jam and no Magfest for me. I need to stay focused on the task at hand.

After we go gold, I will come up with a world tour, but for now I need to stay locked in my basement writing code.

Maya Breaker Update 19: 2nd Super Tester Saturday Today!

Today is the day.

Be sure to download the file on the Demo page:

DEMO Download

Then after you've played through it, fill out this survey:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/9Q5J22W

The goal is to make it to the surface of the planet. Up is always the way to go.
Try to get as far up as you can.

Known bugs:
The automap sometimes appears on rooms it shouldn't. And it won't start working until you beat the first boss.

The room you are in is listed if you pause the game, so if there's a bug, try to record WHICH room it happened in.

Thanks!

Maya Breaker Update 18: Second Super Tester Saturday soon

Tune in here tomorrow for a like to be a beta tester.

There will be a link to download the Beta Demo,
then another like to an Online Survey.

Maya Breaker Update 17: Maps

Finished the automap. You know that map in the upper right corner of Super Metroid? The one that tracks what screen you are on? I recreated in in GMS.

I'm sorry I don't have more screen shots. I've been working on the map, and giving away a picture of the map is like giving away the game.