iPhone Buggy Bang Bang -- Simulated Tank Warfare on Six Wheels

Discussion in 'Upcoming iOS Games' started by bram, Feb 25, 2013.

  1. bram

    bram Well-Known Member

    Jul 22, 2009
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    #1 bram, Feb 25, 2013
    Last edited: May 6, 2013
    Buggy Bang! Bang!
    Simulated Tank Warfare on Six Wheels

    Developer: Abraham Stolk (INDIEvidual)
    iTunes: Buggy Bang! Bang!
    Release: May 5, 2013
    Game Modes: Single player and two player death match.
    Price: free
    Support for: Retina displays, Game Center, Multi Sampled Anti Aliasing.
    Vehicle: Six Wheel Drive, Four Wheel Steering.
    Camera Modes: Driver Tracking, Gunner Tracking.



    My name is Abraham Stolk, I am an indie game developer. My main claim to fame are the 7M+ downloads of my Crane Simulator.

    My upcoming game is called Buggy Bang! Bang!. It will feature head-to-head multi player combat with accurately simulated physics.
    See this video of an early network test to get an idea how accurate the tank-tank collisions are, e.g.
     
  2. oooooomonkey

    oooooomonkey Well-Known Member

    Jan 15, 2011
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    Nice ill keep watching to see how this comes along
     
  3. bram

    bram Well-Known Member

    Jul 22, 2009
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    New shader

    I'm using a new shader for Buggy Bang! Bang!
    Still the buttery smooth 60fps, but looking less flat now.

    In the shot, the buggy is making a wheelie.
    The nice thing about four-wheel steering is that under wheelies, steering remains 100% functional :)

    [​IMG]
     
  4. drelbs

    drelbs Well-Known Member

    Jun 25, 2009
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    Color me very excited, I am sooooo looking fowrard to this! :D
     
  5. bram

    bram Well-Known Member

    Jul 22, 2009
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    Dev update

    Thanks Drelbs,

    A quick update: the Game is coming along nicely.
    It currently has five single player levels, and two 2-player maps.
    The 2-player matches will be death-match or capture-the-flag and will use Game Center for match making and leader boards.
    The network communication will be peer-to-peer, so no servers involved.

    In most single player matches you will battle against an AI tank.
    The AI aims a lot quicker than humans, and is deadly accurate against stationary targets, so you have to outsmart it and make sure you stay covered.

    Not sure yet how to monetize it. I think I will go with ads, and a small IAP to remove ads. Monetization is not a primary concern at this moment, I want to concentrate on building a user base first, and then later think about purchases.

    [​IMG]
    Match making is region based to ensure low network latencies. I will be battling in the pacific league myself, against you San Fran gamers :) I think LA is one league to the east.

    [​IMG]
    One of the arenas. The red line is for debugging AI. The enemy tank has not spotted you yet.
     
  6. bram

    bram Well-Known Member

    Jul 22, 2009
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    Ctf

    Screenshot from a Capture-the-Flag mode.

    [​IMG]
     
  7. bram

    bram Well-Known Member

    Jul 22, 2009
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    Trailer

    So the game is nearing completion.
    I expect it to be released soon.
    To prepare for the release, I created a trailer.
    Watch it on youtube: http://youtu.be/eoMWHAU7RRM
    Enjoy! - Bram
     
  8. oooooomonkey

    oooooomonkey Well-Known Member

    Jan 15, 2011
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    Looking good.
     
  9. MidianGTX

    MidianGTX Well-Known Member

    Jun 16, 2009
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    Holy crap, a new game from bram and I didn't even know. Day one download for me :)
     
  10. Sambobsung

    Sambobsung Well-Known Member

    May 19, 2012
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    This is so sick. It's amazing.
     
  11. bram

    bram Well-Known Member

    Jul 22, 2009
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    Almost here

    The game is almost here!
    I just uploaded my build to Apple for review.
    Currently, the average review time is a week or so.

    I've added a progression system, so you can work you way up from private to corporal to sergeant to lieutenant to captain to major to colonel to general.

    - Seven levels in single player mode.
    - Online matches via GameCenter.
    - Instant replays showing kill from opponent view point.
    - Super sharp retina graphics.
    - MSAA.
    - Physics powered by OpenDE.
    - Online leader boards.
    - Achievements.

    And it is all free.
    Single IAP available to disable advertisements.
    When it's out, pick up a free copy and tell your friends so you can kick their butts.
     
  12. oooooomonkey

    oooooomonkey Well-Known Member

    Jan 15, 2011
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    Nice been following this for a while. Can't wait to try it out

     
  13. polygonplay

    polygonplay Well-Known Member

    Awesome trailer! Loved Bram's other games and will definitely download this.
     
  14. bram

    bram Well-Known Member

    Jul 22, 2009
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  15. MidianGTX

    MidianGTX Well-Known Member

    Jun 16, 2009
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    I've just played through the AI/tutorial levels, haven't tried multiplayer yet as it's getting late here, so that'll have to wait until morning. I would have preferred not having to turn on location services as I've had my iPad for around nine months now and not once have I needed to turn it on, doing so just for one app kinda feels unnecessary.

    What I do know though is that I love the AI levels! I'm actually not a huge multiplayer gamer anyway, so maybe this game isn't quite for me even though I'm a fan of your other work. I know it's focused mainly on PvP, but I'd really like more single player content added. The tank simulation is great fun, watching those wheels roll over and react to the scenery is strangely entertaining, and being able to ramp it up onto it's back wheels feels absolutely spot on. The hill climb was definitely the highlight, so more stuff like that would be amazing; challenging terrain with enemies sitting atop high vantage points, having to collect a series of flags or reach a certain area, etc. I'm not sure if you built the game to support more than two tanks at once, but it would be fun to see how that plays out.

    So I'll give the MP a shot tomorrow. Right now my opinion is mostly positive, but mainly because I'm thinking about the potential there is for more content, the core mechanics are too good not to want to build upon. Hopefully I'll enjoy the multiplayer element too :)
     
  16. bram

    bram Well-Known Member

    Jul 22, 2009
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    Thanks MidianGTX,
    This is very useful feedback.
    Location service is used so that you are only paired with players in same region.
    But the requested accuracy is very coarse, so it should be able to locate with WIFI only, without GPS.
    I'll consider more elaborate single player levels.
     
  17. oooooomonkey

    oooooomonkey Well-Known Member

    Jan 15, 2011
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    #17 oooooomonkey, May 6, 2013
    Last edited: May 6, 2013
    Right I've played through a few of the tutorials, straight away it leaves me wanting the steering controls to spring to the middle like how the gas/brake controls do.
    It feels like its going to be one of those games that you get better the more you play but so far its very cool, great physics and I like the short replay feature.
    Controls are pretty spot on, haven't tried the multiplayer yet but will later on.



    Edit: doh! Didn't even press the button in the corner which switches the camera :D nvm
     
  18. oooooomonkey

    oooooomonkey Well-Known Member

    Jan 15, 2011
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    Waited and waited trying to get a multiplayer match (twice) and no luck, just gave up.
    Game looks good but I fear there won't be enough of a player base to make it worth while:confused:
     
  19. bram

    bram Well-Known Member

    Jul 22, 2009
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    Vancouver, BC
    Online Matches

    So, I found out that 'Invite Friends' in the lobby or Game Center will not work with Buggy Bang! Bang!

    I'm afraid I goofed up, and the code for handling invites is missing from my game.

    This means that for now, online play is only possible with Auto-Match opponents. And even that seems tricky to get started, because I have split the world in many leagues, and you can only play opponents in same league.

    I'm hopeful it will get better soon... players base is growing steadily, now I have enabled an ad in little crane for Buggy Bang! Bang! There are now 700+ names on the single-player leader boards. Hopefully some matches can get underway this evening. So far, 10 players have shown up on the 'matches played' leader board.

    [​IMG]
     
  20. bram

    bram Well-Known Member

    Jul 22, 2009
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    Software Engineer
    Vancouver, BC
    new board

    This game has launched.
    Could a TouchArcade moderator please move this to the 'iPad games' board?
    Thanks!

    Bram
     

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