Minigame competition #44, Hurry! Time's running out!

Congratulations to Mechabowser for coming in second, and Ultramario and Elyk for entering.

The theme for this minigame competition is time limits. Your game needs to be centered around a situation with a time limit. A good example of such a situation is when Yoshi loses Baby Mario in Yoshi's Island. You may or may not wish to include in-game ways of increasing the time limit, depending on what your game's situation is.

As always, no old works and no pre-made engines, whether your own or otherwise.

The deadline for this competition is 8th 15th 16th when I get home from school on 18th March and NO MORE EXTENSIONS.

This post has been edited by mariobro27 on Mar 18 2009, 12:40 PM

I think I have an idea, though 2 1/2 weeks seems short. I hope I'll at least be able to enter something, because I've got a pretty tight schedule.

This post has been edited by Soiyeruda on Feb 18 2009, 07:04 AM

I could extend it by another week if that would help.

I'm in a team now with Guinea.

This post has been edited by Funky on Feb 18 2009, 10:01 AM

I don't really mind. In fact, I think it might help my procrastination issues a bit.

Oh, my idea in case anyone else plans to create something similar:

Shroobs have invaded a Toad-populated town. Mario must save as many toads from possession as possible. The time limit will basically begin at 60 seconds, and increases as you save toads, but decreases if a toad gets possessed. The more possessed toads roaming the city, then the faster the time limit can deplete. It'll implement a M&L engine (without jumping, just 8 direction movement).

This post has been edited by Soiyeruda on Feb 18 2009, 07:30 AM

Check your inbox, please.

Hmm...I'm thinkin of some sort of a game like arcade games where you have time limit and ever time you reach a check point you get a time boost. I know it sounds simple, yet I dunno if I can pull it all alone.
If anyone is interested in teamin up with me, I'd happy to team up.
My spriting skills are much more better than my programmin skills, btw.

Tri and I Teamed up.

This post has been edited by Slash on Feb 21 2009, 02:49 AM

PM ME. I'd be happy to sprite and select songs.

ugh, I hate time limits.

Though I'll see what I can whipe up.

Entering this one!

Time for keyser to come up with an interesting game mechanic then fail to complete his game.

BAM, IDEA!

This post has been edited by Keyser Soze on Feb 18 2009, 04:27 PM

Something I have always wondered about when it comes to these Minigame competitions:
You say no previous work or engines. If creating something in C++ or flash, does a base object manager/renderer count as an engine? Or do you mean mario engine?

I'll probably do something with a set path and time manipulation skills to reach a goal. (A la Sonic and the Secret Rings.)

EDIT: Nevermind solo project for meh (sprites are always nice though)

It usually tends to mean the whole thing must be created from the ground up (the engine that is, not the utility).

A manager/renderer? I'm not so sure about that one.

This post has been edited by Zero Kirby on Feb 18 2009, 09:44 PM

The rule is a general rule of thumb for Clickteam/Game Maker users. It's incredibly easy and unoriginal to just use someone else's engine and do little with it.


For C++/related languages/Action Script, such items you mentioned wouldn't be regarded as engines, since creating such things from scratch would demonstrate a lack of time to work on the real content of the minigame. To build those over and over would be taking too much time re-inventing the necessary wheel to get these minigames done within the time limit.

This. The rule that you're not allowed to use premade engines is mostly to avoid people using a finished engine, with all possible stuff and only need to add a few new objects to create a "new" game.
You do not need to come up with completely new code though. Some snippets might be useful, like if you have a generally working collision system, you don't need to come up with a new one. It should just be noticable that you put effort in creating that game rather than only recycling old works of yourself or - even worse - others.

Also, it is nearly impossible to find out that you did use a premade engine (especially if it has never been posted), so it's mostly a moral guideline. However if you've looked at some games on the main site, it is obvious that they were made with HE or something. If your game feels too similar to an existing game, nobody is going to vote for it anyway.

GM or MMF would in themselves already be engines for object and level management etc. but anything that's just technical stuff to make the game work is usually allowed.


tl;dr: don't use engines by others at all. you can copy and paste code snippets from your old engines into the competition entry if it's necessary, but try to code as much as possible from scratch.

k thanks
got someone

This post has been edited by Char on Feb 19 2009, 12:39 PM

Maybe I should enter this one. I just need an idea.

Dammit.. I'm urged to enter this, yet I HAVE to do homework. :<

Blerg. I'd join this but I don't have any ideas. And the time when I realize there's a new minigame comp that isn't already done/is too close to the time limit.

Edit: Wait does it have to be Mario related?

This post has been edited by XutaWoo on Feb 20 2009, 06:27 PM

Yes