Echoes 360 : What would you like?

[fog]

What features or changes would you like to see in the XBox360 version of Echoes?  A pretty straight forward question I hope

First a few points:

• Although I've already made a few changes and added extra game modes, this is essentially a port of the PC version which will be released at the minimum we can charge (200 msp) so don't ask for huge changes....although I will consider anything
• We can't do proper online leaderboards as Microsoft don't allow it, but I should be able to get a P2P system running that would effectively give Leaderboards for XBox Live Gold Members
• We can do Zoo Trials, but we can't do proper Achievements on the Xbox.  Again, Microsoft don't allow it.

So with those few points in mind what would you like to see, what did and didn't you like about the PC version, and have you any other requests or suggestions?

[JDog053]

I mentioned it before, but this seems like a more appropriate place to put it.

- A game mode with only the 3 asteroid types and a UFO enemy of some kind for bonusses.
- A few different bullet progression patterns depending on what style of play you prefer.
- A more informative scoring system (say how much you score for a kill and what if any multiplier you were on)
- A practice mode, where you can choose from a list of enemies and click as many or as few as you'd like.
- Local Co-op for upto 4 players, versus?

Other than that, everything is perfect. Although, I wasn't very keen on the snake asteroid enemy!

[TheKhakinator]

Other then making it superpretty (which I assume you're already doing) I can't think of much. Other then maybe game mode that turns the tables where they can shoot you to reduce your health but you can kill them simply by running into them.

[fog]

Excellent stuff.

Don't think I just want major suggestions either.  It's the tiny little tweaks that make all the difference.

- A game mode with only the 3 asteroid types and a UFO enemy of some kind for bonusses.

Yeah a classic Asteroids only game is already done.  No UFO right now, but I might add one.

- A few different bullet progression patterns depending on what style of play you prefer.

Not in Echoes I'm afraid.  I have plenty of fancy weapon customisation ideas but they are for another game.

- A more informative scoring system (say how much you score for a kill and what if any multiplier you were on)

Yeah that was quite an oversight in the original game.  Nobody complained about it, but not having a clearer scoring system and some sort of multiplier probably makes highscore pursuit slightly less meaningful.

I have a really interesting multiplier system in mind, but I need to test it out.  If I don't use it here then I certainly will be elsewhere.

- A practice mode, where you can choose from a list of enemies and click as many or as few as you'd like.

Some of the other game modes will allow you to just tackle certain enemy types so that's as good as you're going to get

- Local Co-op for upto 4 players, versus?

I have several multiplayer modes in mind, but it's a time thing and if I feel I need to drop a few features just to get this finished any time soon, then it's likely the multiplayer modes will be the first casualties.  We'll see.

Other than that, everything is perfect. Although, I wasn't very keen on the snake asteroid enemy!

Wah!  The red Asteroid Belts were my favourites in the whole game 

Other then maybe game mode that turns the tables where they can shoot you to reduce your health but you can kill them simply by running into them.

That's actually one of the alternative game modes I have in mind for mono.   I think it's more appropriate there so unlikely in Echoes.


Thanks for your input chaps.  Very much appreciated.  If you have any more then keep em coming

[TheKhakinator]

Yeah the red asteroid belts were GOLD. Well. Red. But classic.

[JDog053]

I mean, the snakes look cool, but they were a pain to beat in combat, especially when the screen was filled to the brim!

[TheKhakinator]

That's why they rocked so hard!

[DaZ Dicks]

An updated soundtrack by Hybrid Two

Dan

[T_M_C]

I have several multiplayer modes in mind, but it's a time thing and if I feel I need to drop a few features just to get this finished any time soon, then it's likely the multiplayer modes will be the first casualties.  We'll see.

I wouldn't advise that.

Dropping good ideas just to rush out the game seems a bit silly to me.  Patience is a virtue.   

Echoes is a great pc game and i wouldn't like to see an inferior Xbox incarnation.  Not that i own an xbox mind you.

My suggestions.
---------------------
1.
I would like to see a story associated with the game.  Or a story mode.

A bit like Weapon of choice, Where the player can choose a route to play, selecting planet to planet ( each planet being a new level ) with perhaps the goal being to reach the inner most star system in the galaxy.  Whereupon UBER BOSS fight ensues.   

Some system whereby the player can choose his route and what levels to play.

I was always disapointed with the pc virsion of echoes because there was no end to the game and it just got ridiculously hard at the end level.


2.
Boss fights.
Not perhaps on every level, but at major points throughout the game.
Would be a player goal to aim for and be a nice motivator.


3.
Load / Save options.


4.
I'm also thinking along the lines of user created content in some way too.  But i don't really have any suggestions at present.

TMC

[TheKhakinator]

I was playing Echoes on PC, having been tempted back by the memory of the Red Asteroid enemy.

Then a friend was chatting to me so I Alt-Tabbed back.

And I realised what Echoes on 360 needs.

Alt-Tab support.



What's the deal with the release, when/if will we see it on PC?

[fog]

An updated soundtrack by Hybrid Two

I've already suggested it on our private board.  It's upto you guys whether it happens or not and nothing to do with me

I have several multiplayer modes in mind, but it's a time thing and if I feel I need to drop a few features just to get this finished any time soon, then it's likely the multiplayer modes will be the first casualties.  We'll see.

I wouldn't advise that.

Dropping good ideas just to rush out the game seems a bit silly to me.  Patience is a virtue.   

Echoes is a great pc game and i wouldn't like to see an inferior Xbox incarnation.  Not that i own an xbox mind you.

I agree....to an extent.

I'm just at the point, for health and time reasons, that I really need to decide whether the extra effort needed for these modes will add proportional value to the game or not.

As I said, if I have the time and energy then multiplayer modes will still be in.

1.
I would like to see a story associated with the game.  Or a story mode.

A bit like Weapon of choice, Where the player can choose a route to play, selecting planet to planet ( each planet being a new level ) with perhaps the goal being to reach the inner most star system in the galaxy.  Whereupon UBER BOSS fight ensues.   

Some system whereby the player can choose his route and what levels to play.

Now this throws up a whole set of different issues.  If you keep adding gameplay features then when does it stop being Echoes and when does it become something different entirely

It was only ever meant to be a stripped down, pure shmup so that's what I'm aiming for maintaining here.  But hell, I write shmups, so there's every chance that I'll throw a boat load of these features and suggestions in the next game.

I was always disapointed with the pc virsion of echoes because there was no end to the game and it just got ridiculously hard at the end level.

I actually have 3 new enemy types designed and tested.  I know a lot of people got to level 10 then there was nothing new to see, however introducing different enemy types earlier would lengthen the game and, if I get the difficulty right, it should be a real challenge for players to get to level 10 this time.

4.
I'm also thinking along the lines of user created content in some way too.  But i don't really have any suggestions at present.

Now user created content is something I'm actually very keen on and I've mentioned it elsewhere on here several times.  It's unlikely in the 360 version due to the whole thing being a closed network and the exchange of data between players is very restrictive.

For the PC version though I'd love to do something that ships with  level, bullet pattern and fx editors.

Will there be a PC version.....

What's the deal with the release, when/if will we see it on PC?

Man you ask all the difficult questions   It's not something I've honestly given much thought to.

It shouldn't be too much work so I just need to decide whether the extra features of the new version justify replacing the previous PC one.  The new version would have higher system requirements than the existing one as well so I also need to decide whether that's justified.

At least I can tell you that it should have Alt-Tab support as XNA does a much better job of handling stuff like that than DBPro did (or rather didn't).

[JDog053]

I just need to improve my skills at the game. I was always better at Crack and Mono... (sorry, I mentioned it again it wasn't a sugestion though...).

Still, i'm looking forward to whatever you produce!

Maybe, early next year there will be a thread like this, oh I don't know...Tension 360: What would you like? Now that'd be sweet!

[TheKhakinator]

It was more a joke that Alt-Tab is unneccessary on the Xbox but yeah

Playing some Echoes one minor feature that'd be nice is a timed unpause - when you unpause it shows you the screen but doesn't actually start again for 3 seconds, to give you a chance to get your head. It also defeats that old 80s slow-mo technique with the Turbo start button.

[donny]

i'd like new releases for pc, pleeeeaaase

[TheKhakinator]

i'd like new releases for pc, pleeeeaaase

Yeah you tell 'im!

I'm sure we'll get a new PC release when fog's good and ready.