The Making of More Zombies?!

[PocketMonkey]

Hello all,

The Pocket Monkey team is at work on an upcoming iPhone game (duh...) :)

and we have decided to pull you along for the ride to see what it takes.

The first step is to hammer out details in a game design document. (Can't show that yet since we can't give out our position just yet...)

The Gameplay: Despite how simple a game appears from the outside, they do take a long time to program and develop. So for this project to show off how we are making the game, we decided to go with something somewhat simple but still entertaining, so we are turning this one into a "Highscore Survival Shooter", similar to iDracula or Minigore.

After that, we begin work on design concepts, such as characters, levels, and additional assets (weapons, interactive objectives, etc.)

First we had to decide on our hero, Bob. Bob is simply an office worker stuck in an 5 x 5 cubicle, but is destined for so much more. We ran through a few different sketches, but these 2 were the best. We are going with the second sketch as the first one looks more like a detective, not an office worker. These small details are very important for the story of the game.

http://img704.imageshack.us/img704/4010/officezombie2.jpg (http://img704.imageshack.us/i/officezombie2.jpg/)

http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/193/officezombie4.jpg (http://img191.imageshack.us/i/officezombie4.jpg/)

See BOB Run:

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/1241/animationnruningcopy.jpg (http://img59.imageshack.us/i/animationnruningcopy.jpg/)

Background: Oh, so delicious! I decided to make the background scalable vertically and hortizontally (Think Castle Crashers.) It really gives the game more depth and extra servings of awesome.

http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/9776/settingcopy.png (http://img130.imageshack.us/i/settingcopy.png/)

Some Weapons: Almost any good game these days needs to be action packed with guns, so here are some of those bad boys.

http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/8749/weaponscopy.jpg (http://img14.imageshack.us/i/weaponscopy.jpg/)

Join us as we continue to bring you the more...interesting... side of video game development. Rejoice as you don't need to see the piles of code and slashies and dots that really make the game. ;)

[ktfright]

nice. I wanna see what comes next!

[PocketMonkey]

nice. I wanna see what comes next!

Now you can! You can see the colored concept of our unlikey hero, Bob. It was JUST posted in the original post.

[PocketMonkey]

Long time, no post for us here in this thread as we show you how we are making our newest iPhone game!

Is the image below, you can see our hero, Bob, running and firing his trusty sidearm.

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/1241/animationnruningcopy.jpg (http://img59.imageshack.us/i/animationnruningcopy.jpg/)

Stay tuned as we reveal a little bit more over this weekend.

(P.S.: The first person to correctly guess what kind of game this will be earns an early copy of it!)

[TheSporkWithin]

Looks like a platformer/action game to me, based on the running and gunning sprite. Looks neat.

[PocketMonkey]

Looks like a platformer/action game to me, based on the running and gunning sprite. Looks neat.

Not a platformer, but it does have a bit of "A Quest of Knights Onrush" going on for it. Later today, I'll show you our background layout.

[jak56]

looks fun!

[Coops58]

Something like a 2D sidescroller, similar to zombieville... at least thats what the sprite is telling me :p

[PocketMonkey]

Here is one screenshot with the background. It is important for iPhone developers to create an atmosphere that is appropriate to the game but is also inviting to the players. Screenshots are very important for generating sales, so it is something that must be carefully produced.

http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/9776/settingcopy.png (http://img130.imageshack.us/i/settingcopy.png/)

[PocketMonkey]

Something like a 2D sidescroller, similar to zombieville... at least thats what the sprite is telling me :p

Good guess, but we've strayed away from the 1 dimensional moving path like in Zombieville and Sparta. We think you'll love it!

[BimBamm]

the draft looks better

[PocketMonkey]

the draft looks better

You mean for the character?

We felt that he looks too much like a cop/detective, where Bob is a simple office worker caught up in a problem above his pay grade. :)

[Random_Guy]

So is the character named Bob?

[PocketMonkey]

So is the character named Bob?


At least that is what everyone is lead to believe... ;)

Perhaps "Bob" is more than meets the eye.

[jak56]

Is it like one o those awesome arcde style beat em ups where the sprites are 2d but there's actually depth in the background? And maybe the gun I just one of the many possible weapons you can find!

[PocketMonkey]

Is it like one o those awesome arcde style beat em ups where the sprites are 2d but there's actually depth in the background? And maybe the gun I just one of the many possible weapons you can find!

I can happily tell you that you are not for off at all! There is a good selection of weapons that you can collect and choose from. :)

[PocketMonkey]

Anyone care to guess the enemies that Bob will be facing? Hint: They've been in other iPhone games at least once or twice...

[Bag of Awesome]

Zombies...

[PocketMonkey]

Zombies...

More Zombies?! :eek:

[Bag of Awesome]

You can never have to many zombies

[PocketMonkey]

You can never have to many zombies

So true, my friend, so very true.

[PocketMonkey]

Hmm... looks like the weekend is coming where we need to show off more of the game... oh noez! This is coming to quickly!

[eggzbacon]

Aliens???!?

[PocketMonkey]

Aliens???!?

Soylent Green is people?!?!?!?!?

[sleb]

"Its a cookbook!"
Thanks for taking us through the development, good information to see what goes into making the great games.

[conrem]

chickens ?

[Lonan]

let it be pirates. or even beter... zombie pirates!!

i like that you are sharing the creation process. how many people working on this?

[jak56]

ninjas!

[tylertv]

This is a cool idea, code gets boring, but the art side is always interesting. I suppose there are some people out there who don't agree, but they're math geeks.

Is it an adventure style game?

[PocketMonkey]

It is a high score survival shooter, like iDracula or Minigore, but it is not a twin stick shooter.

[PointOfLight]

I think the villains are mutant skeleton zombie vampire rodents with bad attitudes that know karate. Their name is Fred and they are controlled by an ape holding a stone torch called Caesar. Long live Caesar.

[PocketMonkey]

I think the villains are mutant skeleton zombie vampire rodents with bad attitudes that know karate. Their name is Fred and they are controlled by an ape holding a stone torch called Caesar. Long live Caesar.

No no, Super Ninja Mutant Cyborg Enviro-Pygmies are the greatest threat to the free world!

[PointOfLight]

No no, Super Ninja Mutant Cyborg Enviro-Pygmies are the greatest threat to the free world!

Not when they can be so easily flicked off an island and fed to the sharks! Sharks with lasers on their heads... one MILLION sharks...

[PocketMonkey]

Not when they can be so easily flicked off an island and fed to the sharks! Sharks with lasers on their heads... one MILLION sharks...

Hmm... that sounds like a great idea for an iPhone application... I bet no one has thought of that yet!

[jak56]

It is a high score survival shooter, like iDracula or Minigore, but it is not a twin stick shooter.

i think zombieville USA comes to mind here

[PocketMonkey]

i think zombieville USA comes to mind here

:) A great game, indeed, but ours is quite different. For one, this one has a scalable environment. 2.5 D if you will.

[PocketMonkey]

We've updated the original post with some of the weapons we are adding to the game:

http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/8749/weaponscopy.jpg (http://img14.imageshack.us/i/weaponscopy.jpg/)

[MyLilPWNY]

by 2.5d do u mean like castle crashers?

[PocketMonkey]

by 2.5d do u mean like castle crashers?

Yes. :)

[jak56]

Yeah, I mentioned that thought in an earlier post. Mind you, you've already got me!

[Crow]

This concept art looks amazing! I have a few questions however;

1) Will there be several characters to play as, and more can be unlocked by playing as certain characters through the game (a la Castle Crashers)?

2) How long is the overall game going to take to complete?

3) When can we expect this game to hit the app store?

Thanks :D

[PocketMonkey]

This concept art looks amazing! I have a few questions however;

1) Will there be several characters to play as, and more can be unlocked by playing as certain characters through the game (a la Castle Crashers)?

2) How long is the overall game going to take to complete?

3) When can we expect this game to hit the app store?

Thanks :D

1. As of right now, we only have our unlikely hero Bob as the main character.

2. The game is a highscore survival shooter, a la iDracula or Minigore. Completion is based upon your untimely death. ;)

3. We are looking at an early March release.

[Crow]

Sounds great! :) One final question, will you guys be updating it often?

Thanks.

[PocketMonkey]

Sounds great! :) One final question, will you guys be updating it often?

Thanks.

We'd absolutely love to continue to update this upcoming game. However, it is becoming very risky for indie developers to build games for the AppStore. If we get featured, then you can absolutely believe we will update this game with everything it deserves. If we don't and we only sell 2 copies, then sadly, we must begin work on another game.

But, seeing as this game is going to be teh awesome, that means we will update it every day!

[PocketMonkey]

It's gettin hot in here!

Well, not really... but this game does have a flamethrower which is pretty rad, if I do say so myself... (which I do!)

We are oh so close to revealing the delectable deliciousness that this game is that it is making my tongue tingle in tantalizing temptation.

[originalcopy]

Awesome artwork there! May I ask what program you used to make both Bob and the weapon sprites?

[Kris Jones]

Awesome artwork there! May I ask what program you used to make both Bob and the weapon sprites?

Photoshop 4 is the main program. Sometimes a few others for some minor needs, such as illustrator, but if you are an aspiring artist, I'd say that Photoshop 4 is your best bet.

[originalcopy]

Photoshop 4 is the main program. Sometimes a few others for some minor needs, such as illustrator, but if you are an aspiring artist, I'd say that Photoshop 4 is your best bet.

Ah ok, so the entire animation sprite sheet for Bob was done from scratch in photoshop? Must have been a lot of work. I thought you used some sort of 2d sprite animating program.

[Kris Jones]

Ah ok, so the entire animation sprite sheet for Bob was done from scratch in photoshop? Must have been a lot of work. I thought you used some sort of 2d sprite animating program.

Nope, sorry. We pride ourselves on all-hand drawn art work. :)

[PocketMonkey]

The game has been announced! check it out here: http://forums.toucharcade.com/showthread.php?threadid=46181

[originalcopy]

Nope, sorry. We pride ourselves on all-hand drawn art work. :)

Ah, ok, awesome. Someday I hope to be able to make as good quality sprite work are you do. :)

[PocketMonkey]

Ah, ok, awesome. Someday I hope to be able to make as good quality sprite work are you do. :)

Oh it just takes a little luck, a bit of talent, a dash of hope, and a plethora of good looks. ;)

[PointOfLight]

Oh it just takes a little luck, a bit of talent, a dash of hope, and a plethora of good looks. ;)

So how do you guys manage :p

[PocketMonkey]

So how do you guys manage :p

We hire cute models and usurp their good looks to become more powerful than ever! Megatron unite!