[COMPETITION] Drag Racing - CONTEST WINNER! - 1.1 Update Published

[Johny_G]

Summary
It's not easy to create a good game for Pebble that's actually easy to control. Just a very few made this right. But there is a pretty popular game genre that ought to be comfortable and fun to play on your wrist! Yes, it's a drag racing . Three buttons are just about right for this kind of game. Also, there's gonna be a zero BS factor. No waiting for gas, no double currency. Just a fair game designed to be fun.

Target platform
This game should be Pebble only. No companion app (for now), no JavaScript screens. So iPhone users are more than welcome to play along since the very first beta .

The challenge
I've already made some apps for Pebble. But none of them was multi-screen, and definitely none of them used real-time graphics. It's the challenge to make this happen, and balance the gameplay just right.

The extra challenge
Due to my huge work load, I only have 4 days to make it. Just two weekends and that's it. Can I make it?

The trinkets
I have decided to uncover the game info as I progress. So feel free to come back once in a while .

Peek at thewireframes:

Some screens:

Download:
https://apps.getpebble.com/applications/54033c6886b01c8c15000138

Source code:
https://github.com/JohnyGQD/drag-racing-pebble

Changelog:

1.1:
- New How to play screen with valuable tips and tricks
- Slightly modified difficulty and economy
- You can close the race results screen with the select button as well as the back button
- Buildings don't pass you that fast until you get a really fast car

Thank you for your support!

XDA:DevDB Information
Drag Racing for Pebble, Tool/Utility for the Pebble

Contributors
Johny_G

Version Information
Status: Stable

Created 2014-08-16
Last Updated 2014-09-19

 

[Johny_G]

Day 1 Update

I lost some time preparing graphics and recalling all the C knowledge I've already lost ). However, I have finished most of the screens, and some are in late work-in-progress stage (not pictured below). Also, most of the data structures are already finished.

 

[Johny_G]

Day 2 Update (retrospective of 18th August 2014 that I forgot to post)

OK. All the screens are done, controls are ready, basic physics is implemented, backlight control is safe and working. There I give you one new screenshot of the garage, and the wireframes above are complete now.

 

[Johny_G]

Day 3 Update

Okay guys! I'm glad to inform you, that the game is basically complete . I'm racing, I'm upgrading car, beating opponents and my own highscore, an the lanscape goes by fast as hell . I have added race progress indicator as well. I've also been doing some basic difficulty balancing, but the main testing phase comes tommorow. If everything goes well, first version can go public . New screens below are from actual game, no mockups anymore.

 

[Johny_G]

Day 4 Update

Good news, everyone! I have finished my extra challenge, and due to the lack of time, I was able to finish the game to complete all my quality standards within 4 days only! These have been really long days, but the game is done and it is great. I will keep playing to balance the difficulty just right, and release the game to the public during next week. I'm already really excited to see your feedback .

 

[Johny_G]

Okay guys, I'm ready to release this . Have fun!

Download:
https://apps.getpebble.com/applications/54033c6886b01c8c15000138

 

[Erovia]

Not a big fan of gaming on Pebble, but I quite enjoyed this one! :good:

 

[Johny_G]

Thank you very much .

 

[mcongrove]

I know that we're competition and all, but this is really cool :good:

 

[mcongrove]

Is it just me, or is there a bit of a cheat when it comes to nitro? When I first started playing my nitro was lacking compared to the AI, and one time I didn't use the nitro. It seemed like, because I didn't, the AI didn't either. The next race I used the nitro, and as soon as I did the AI used the boost and sped past.

It doesn't always work, but often enough to notice. And to use it to my advantage

 

[Johny_G]

No no, your opponent will always use the nitro. But when his car gets generated, he might get so little of it, that's barely noticable . Or he gets much higher acceleration and uses it so soon that you are still paying attention to your own gearing .

 

[mcongrove]

No no, your opponent will always use the nitro. But when his car gets generated, he might get so little of it, that's barely noticable . Or he gets much higher acceleration and uses it so soon that you are still paying attention to your own gearing .

Perhaps it's that he uses the nitro sooner than me. But I also noticed something else a little odd. Start the race, and don't shift up. The AI car stays with you for a good while; if you start shifting up only to keep him in view, you'll notice that he finishes around the 26 second mark (or so). Normally they finish right behind me in the sub-20 second range. Without shifting I'm still ahead at the 10 second mark.

 

[Johny_G]

Perhaps it's that he uses the nitro sooner than me. But I also noticed something else a little odd. Start the race, and don't shift up. The AI car stays with you for a good while; if you start shifting up only to keep him in view, you'll notice that he finishes around the 26 second mark (or so). Normally they finish right behind me in the sub-20 second range. Without shifting I'm still ahead at the 10 second mark.

I went through my boilerplate code, and it seems that it's not really possible. The opponent's time is never disclosed anyway, so it might be just optical illusion. The two cars are pushed together (a lot!) for rendering purposes, so you always see the relative position to your opponent . If it goes out of screen, it's probably waaaay in front of you already.

 

[Johny_G]

As you might already know - Drag Racing is one of the competition winners. Thank you all very much for your support! As the game is becoming kinda popular, I have released version 1.1 just now. Pebble firmware 2.5 is required to update.

Changelog:
1.1:
- New How to play screen with valuable tips and tricks
- Slightly modified difficulty and economy
- You can close the race results screen with the select button as well as the back button
- Buildings don't pass you that fast until you get a really fast car