gnome 2.0, Increasing hype for NCFC. Click!

Some people who have been around here for some time probably remember my first GOOD engine that was AME (All Mario Engine). However due to crappy coding, it could not be continued and thus was scrapped and the remains of it narrowed down to what you know as Super Mario Bros. DDX today.

SMBDDX wasn't as fancy as AME usually was with all its features, special jumps and power-ups and whatnot. And the simple engine of SMBDDX didn't quite satisfy me as a programmer even though it was pretty close to the original experience of the real SMB.

So during finishing SMBDDX I was also starting a new project, another engine with dozens of fancy features like AME. It was named GNOME, Guinea's New and Original Mario Engine, but was soon canned due to the same problem as AME, crappy coding.

So yea, finally having finished SMBDDX and released it at the NCFC, I decided to take another shot at this engine and did everything from scratch again, still based on the original GNOME with the same graphics and general features, but with a better coding style that is satisfying me so far and seems not to lead to a dead end.

The name is gnome 2.0 and today I introduce to you, taking my birthday as a special occasion to do so, the first screen shots of gnome 2.0 and a list of stuff that you will find in it. Some guys might probably have clicked in my sig in the last days and found two teaser mini-screens that showed two features of gnome 2.0. Thanks, both of you!

I won't talk much about the features of gnome 2.0 because in terms of Mario's moves, you've probably seen everything before. You know, Backflip, Longjump, Wallkick, Spin Jump, Ground Pound etc.
But yea I'll let the screenshots speak for themselves so you get a general idea of what gnome 2.0 is.
However, I just remembered some things that DO make it special indeed:
What makes gnome 2.0 special?
-The engine is designed to run at virtually every framerate between 1 and infinite. (while it is suggested not to run below 20 fps) So that means if you have a slow comp, you can run at less fps, if you have a fast one, you can try to go with 120 fps or whatever you like. I will probably make it so the game automatically runs at the max fps available.
-You have customizable keys and joystick buttons -> joystick support. I for my part play with the Xbox360 controller and it feels pretty good.

If you're lucky I'll also release a video of a test level later this day, which will give you even more of an idea how fluent it will play.

[/text] So here you get some screens:


Your average Mario landscape. Note how all of the tiles and backgrounds were made by myself, so yea, original graphics ahoi


Perfect slope checking allows Mario to slide down slopes and knock out some goombas


You have probably seen this in the little teaser screens, but this time it also works on water: Koopa Shell Surfing!

Gameplay Video
Engine Test
Mirror Download
^ This is a rather early engine test. That means the engine quite *works* the way it should, but it's not really polished. Expect better graphical effects, more sound effects, background music and stuff in the final version.
The purpose of this is, that you can comment on the basic physics and controls. I want your opinions on how hard or easy or natural it is to perform Mario's moves. I for my part am happy with them, but I have also worked on this engine for quite some time, so I probably got used to it automatically.
For more details on controls please check the README in the zip.
Speed Test


So yea, comments would be appreciated, even if there's not much to see.
I'll answer questions, too, if you have them.


And to take one question away: NO IT'S NOT GONNA BE OPEN SOURCE!

Discuss.

EDIT: gnome 2.0 is supported by Phlegm, Potentially Helpful Level Editor for GM. You might want to take a look at it.

Whoa, this was unexpected. The custom graphics look neat.

Can't wait for more.

I have updated the first post with the features of gnome 2.0 concerning the programming and not the gameplay actually.
That would be to play at any fps you'd like and also to use a gamepad and configure your personal button/key layout for gamepad and keyboard.

Also, thanks Ultramario!

Looks great so far. If it's better than AME, this is going to be awesome!
Also, wonderful graphics, good job. The sky color looks rainy... I just don't like the color.

This looks great, I can´t wait to play it

What items are you putting in the engine?

This post has been edited by Darkyoshi on Mar 19 2008, 08:48 AM

Looks awesome, what will the video be about?

GNOME v1.0 was awesome already. I can't wait for version 2.0.

Looks and sounds jawsome. Can't wait for the video.

Side Comment: No matter how much people beg you, I hope you NEVER make your engines open source or I would have to hunt you down and kill you. =p

First of all, thanks for your positive comments.

Next, I'll answer some comments:

Funky:
I'm using an LCD screen, and I've noticed colors look different on different screens. I will try to look at the color at another screen to check if it really looks bad.

Darkyoshi:
Items planned so far:
Regular Mushroom: Fills all blue hearts and adds one red one until you have maxed them out (6 hearts)
Coins: 8 Coins fill up one blue heart.
Heart: Fills up one blue heart.
Fireflower: Makes you Fire Mario (yes, classic for the win)
Random item that makes you the flying Mario from SMG (and don't whine about unoriginality >_<, I'm not using that one because I can't think of anything better, but because it fits with other gameplay elements you will find later on)
And a secret powerup that will be unlocked once you complete the game lol

Dr. D. Lizardman:
The video will show most of the stuff already programmed in motion, so you can see how the physics work and how graphics and stuff look in motion. You'll also see the other feature from my teaser pics in my sig.


Also:
Anyone who wanted this in open-source: blame Mason, because he'll kill me if I give it out. =)

You are planning to add the starman?

Looks awesome.

Darkyoshi:
I'm not entirely sure about the starman, but it's very possible.


Also: Gameplay video uploaded!
Enjoy
And excuse the absence of sound/music.

look no further for a definition of quality

Looks awesome, make this open-source, I could learn from it and DON'T LISTEN TO MASON, Magikoopa's can't kill you, he's only bluffing.

Not if ignores Mason.

That bit of text was in the first post before Mason replied.

True. I just wanted to make fun. Mason has nothing to do with it. It is not and will never be intended to go open source.

Ah nuts, well can we expect a test demo out soon?

~* TESTING TIME *~

Go to the first post and download the *.zip.
Read the ReadMe and enjoy the first public engine test.

Also please comment on the physics and controls, especially Mario's moves. If they feel not right, please give suggestions on how to improve them.
The rest is explained in the enclosed instruction manual in the ReadMe.