- Posts: 1504
- Joined: 22-October 10
- Gender:Male
- Location:Sydney, Australia
- Project:Construct stuff
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Construct, for those who are unaware, is a lesser-known, open-source game creator that provides a free alternative for those who don't want to fork out the cash for MMF2 and GM. In many ways, it's like the former, but its event system makes MMF2's look utterly archaic by comparison.
Though it's not very well known, and it can be somewhat buggy due to its 'beta' status, I love it to bits. I've seen some absolutely incredible things come out from its community, and, well, I tried to port Sonic Worlds over, using Damizean's original attempt at a port as a foundation.
Then I realised that a straight port was not worth it, and started from scratch using Construct's 'Custom Movement Behaviour', trying to replicate the classic Sonic physics in a different manner. I'm no expert on engine creation, though, so you know how well that went. After a ton of hard knocks, some help from one of Construct's devs who even helpfully incorporated a feature into the behaviour to make things a lot easier, and some work, well... I managed to come up with this.
As shown at SAGE 2010, Sonic Construct Worlds is now effectively its own beast, no longer a straight port of the MMF version. And it comes with two levels - the basic test level (which is highly incomplete), and the Clock Tower, a Castlevania-based level that has Sonic run in, and run out, while dodging enemies and Death along the way. The 'custom edition' has gone through multiple iterations, with this being the best so far.
However, it doesn't really need to be said that this engine needs a LOT of improvement before it can be anywhere near as good as its MMF cousin. Seriously. The physics need serious improvements, for starters. In its current state, it's kinda shite, to be honest. Even Sonic 4's physics are probably better than this.
Current Features:
* On Step movement, and automatic velocity angle change. I couldn't have done it without Davo's additions!
* Sonic 2-level movement functionality (though the physics need serious work)
* Loops and stuff!
* Platforms!
* Rings!
* Some monitors!
* Shields! (which don't have any special abilities yet)
* Multiple skins, including Tails, Knuckles, two versions of Sonic...
* A multiplayer prototype, allowing for literally up to ten players. Four is more realistic, though.
* And did I mention it's open source?
To be done:
* Rolling momentum, skidding, etc. Basically, momentum in general needs serious work.
* The current way of handling falling off slopes and stuff isn't very good, that needs to be fixed as well.
* Currently, the player doesn't move along with moving platforms. This needs to be rectified as well.
* The rest of the test level needs to be filled in.
* Need to fix up the additional skins, and add special abilities.
* The last five monitors.
* Super Forms.
* Some gimmicks.
* Unfortunately, the multiplayer prototype has made a nasty problem rear its head - the current method of utilising 'loop layers' is more or less useless with more than one player.
* It's also caused the shields to not destroy themselves when replaced or the user is damaged.
Basically, the whole engine is open for people to get into and improve. I intend to iron out all the bugs, fix up the momentum stuff, and all that jazz, over time.
Sonic Construct Worlds Alpha 5!
Though it's not very well known, and it can be somewhat buggy due to its 'beta' status, I love it to bits. I've seen some absolutely incredible things come out from its community, and, well, I tried to port Sonic Worlds over, using Damizean's original attempt at a port as a foundation.
Then I realised that a straight port was not worth it, and started from scratch using Construct's 'Custom Movement Behaviour', trying to replicate the classic Sonic physics in a different manner. I'm no expert on engine creation, though, so you know how well that went. After a ton of hard knocks, some help from one of Construct's devs who even helpfully incorporated a feature into the behaviour to make things a lot easier, and some work, well... I managed to come up with this.
As shown at SAGE 2010, Sonic Construct Worlds is now effectively its own beast, no longer a straight port of the MMF version. And it comes with two levels - the basic test level (which is highly incomplete), and the Clock Tower, a Castlevania-based level that has Sonic run in, and run out, while dodging enemies and Death along the way. The 'custom edition' has gone through multiple iterations, with this being the best so far.
However, it doesn't really need to be said that this engine needs a LOT of improvement before it can be anywhere near as good as its MMF cousin. Seriously. The physics need serious improvements, for starters. In its current state, it's kinda shite, to be honest. Even Sonic 4's physics are probably better than this.
Current Features:
* On Step movement, and automatic velocity angle change. I couldn't have done it without Davo's additions!
* Sonic 2-level movement functionality (though the physics need serious work)
* Loops and stuff!
* Platforms!
* Rings!
* Some monitors!
* Shields! (which don't have any special abilities yet)
* Multiple skins, including Tails, Knuckles, two versions of Sonic...
* A multiplayer prototype, allowing for literally up to ten players. Four is more realistic, though.
* And did I mention it's open source?
To be done:
* Rolling momentum, skidding, etc. Basically, momentum in general needs serious work.
* The current way of handling falling off slopes and stuff isn't very good, that needs to be fixed as well.
* Currently, the player doesn't move along with moving platforms. This needs to be rectified as well.
* The rest of the test level needs to be filled in.
* Need to fix up the additional skins, and add special abilities.
* The last five monitors.
* Super Forms.
* Some gimmicks.
* Unfortunately, the multiplayer prototype has made a nasty problem rear its head - the current method of utilising 'loop layers' is more or less useless with more than one player.
* It's also caused the shields to not destroy themselves when replaced or the user is damaged.
Basically, the whole engine is open for people to get into and improve. I intend to iron out all the bugs, fix up the momentum stuff, and all that jazz, over time.
Sonic Construct Worlds Alpha 5!
This post has been edited by Candescence: 10 January 2011 - 10:15 AM
