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Work in Progress / "Guitar Villain" A customizable Rhythm game

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Omega gamer 89
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Posted: 9th Aug 2008 09:59 Edited at: 9th Aug 2008 21:19
Hey there guys! Guess its time for my first WIP thread. YAY!
The game is called "Guitar Villain" (Its a working title.) Its a customizable rhythm game much... (Well, who am I kidding?) almost exactly like Guitar Hero. The big difference is, you can load your own songs and play them just like any other! You use the space bar to strum, and the fret buttons are the 1-5 number keys. I have uploaded a VERY short Demo. It allows you to play the beginning of the song "Bulls on parade" By Rage against the machine. (its on expert difficulty, so beware GH n00bs.) the game still needs a good bit of polishing, but the basic systems for reading the notes, scoring, and multipliers are all done. (Which took more effort than you'd think.)
There are a couple of bad bugs to work out, such as the sound being out of sync with the notes on the screen, but its coming along.
Heres a (very un-detailed) screen shot.


If the good lord had intended us to go outside or have a social life, he wouldn't have invented the internet.
www.threeswordsproductions.com

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The crazy
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Posted: 9th Aug 2008 10:42
Interesting. How will you be making it so you can play your own songs? Will the game automatically detect beats and rhythms?

Also, as far as controls go, there's an excellent dll out there for using xbox 360 controllers in games and 360 guitar hero wire controllers end in usb hubs. I've made a dbp game controllable by a guitar hero guitar just to mess around and it worked fine. You may want to add the option to change control layouts for both guitar and keyboard.

Also, I used to play frets on fire a lot and the default was to have the return key as the strum button. The only problem I would see with using the spacebar is that on most of the keyboards I've used (excluding a lot of laptops or smaller keyboards) the scape key is rather loud compared to the other keys and may interfere with music enjoyment or efforts to drive those around you crazy :p
bergice
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Posted: 9th Aug 2008 17:12 Edited at: 9th Aug 2008 17:20
I am working on a guitar hero game too

Except it got better graphics an you use the usb explorer gh2 guitar to play.

Looks cool!

Guitar hero usb guitar controls i made if you want :



Btw, could not load sound at line 45

Omega gamer 89
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Posted: 9th Aug 2008 21:12 Edited at: 9th Aug 2008 21:20
Quote: "Will the game automatically detect beats and rhythms?"


No, I'm not quite that cool. You'll have to write out the transcription in notepad, then there will be an option to load sound files and text files. The game reads the text document, and charts out the notes accordingly. I'll include the list of what ASCII character is what note in the final product.
Quote: "
Btw, could not load sound at line 45"


Hmm... Really? I'll have to look into that. I'm guessing I left out a sound effect that doesn't get utilized in the demo, but still needs to be there cause its listed in the code.

EDIT: Fixed the error message. I had forgotten to include a small sound file.

If the good lord had intended us to go outside or have a social life, he wouldn't have invented the internet.
www.threeswordsproductions.com
Cian Rice
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Posted: 11th Aug 2008 06:11
So this is essentially a Frets on Fire / Guitar Zero II clone?

Omega gamer 89
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Posted: 11th Aug 2008 17:33
Yeah, basically, but it lets you play your own songs just like the ones included in the game. I don't think Frets On Fire does that. Also, Frets On Fire isn't 3D.

If the good lord had intended us to go outside or have a social life, he wouldn't have invented the internet.
www.threeswordsproductions.com
Seppuku Arts
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Posted: 11th Aug 2008 18:14
Frets on fire you can play your own songs: you need a .ogg file of the track, a .ogg of the guitar (or of the track, it's just as effective) and then you need to place the 'notes' - there's a whole data base of songs people have made for frets on fire.

However, this looks good and wish you best of luck to ya with it and well, what does FoF compare to a version made by one of our community? Are there going to be other features than 'play and make your own songs'? Say a career mode or a challenge mode.

"Experience never provides its judgments with true or strict universality; but only (through induction) with assumed and comparative universality." - Immanuel Kant
Omega gamer 89
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Posted: 11th Aug 2008 19:44
Oh, okay, I didn't know FoF could do that.
Yes, there will be other features. There will be many included songs, a career mode, several difficulties, and a (possible) multi-player mode. Thanks for the comments guys! Feel free to keep them coming!

If the good lord had intended us to go outside or have a social life, he wouldn't have invented the internet.
www.threeswordsproductions.com
Alucard94
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Posted: 11th Aug 2008 21:28
And I'm pretty sure Frets on Fire is 3D isn't it?


Cian Rice
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Posted: 11th Aug 2008 22:50
Yes it is...

Omega gamer 89
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Posted: 11th Aug 2008 23:17 Edited at: 11th Aug 2008 23:17
...No it isn't. I've seen it being played several times and its not 3D. It uses 2D sprites.

If the good lord had intended us to go outside or have a social life, he wouldn't have invented the internet.
www.threeswordsproductions.com
NeX the Fairly Fast Ferret
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Posted: 11th Aug 2008 23:27
Are you absolutely sure of that? You can adjust the camera angle.

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Alucard94
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Roxas
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Posted: 12th Aug 2008 14:19 Edited at: 12th Aug 2008 14:20
Its 3d..

Van B
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Posted: 12th Aug 2008 14:27
Frets is definitely 3D, 2D backdrops and stuff but the guitar neck and notes are 3D.

There's Guitar Zero as well, which tries to look a bit like GH3 - that's basically just frets with a bit more polish.


One thing that annoys me with these games though, is why is the camera pointing at the band?
With rock band especially, I'd much rather look at the crowd - there's little point in having an on screen avatar while your holding a plastic guitar anyway - why not have the crowd there, with lighters and stage divers and mosh pits. Nobody has time to watch their avatar play the guitar. I just think that with a little freedom from the GH mould, these games could get a lot more credibility. Know what I mean? - I don't need an EA style avatar, I just need to see the crowd while I blow their minds .


Health, Ammo, and bacon and eggs!
Omega gamer 89
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Posted: 12th Aug 2008 17:52
What the...? Okay, thats NOT the FoF I've seen. I've seen friend play it a lot, just a couple of weeks ago in fact, and that is NOT what he was playing. I'm guessing that he has an older version of it? In his, it looks nothing like the first video. The second video is closer, but still not quite right. He must have a really outdated version, because what he was playing was entirely 2D.

@ Van B:
I agree, there is no point of seeing your avatar in a Rhythm game. Its not only pointless, but some of the shots are very distracting. I'm planning to change this in Guitar Villain. I'll have simple backgrounds, without all the needless flashing lights and stuff.

If the good lord had intended us to go outside or have a social life, he wouldn't have invented the internet.
www.threeswordsproductions.com
Roxas
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Posted: 12th Aug 2008 19:04 Edited at: 12th Aug 2008 19:05
Propaply Guitar Rage is what he have been playing..

http://pontuaki.com/download_games/imagensgamessimulacao/guitar%20rage%202-0_2.gif
(Copy paste apollo does not like % marks..)

Omega gamer 89
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Posted: 12th Aug 2008 19:30
No, thats not it. It says "Frets on Fire" on the title screen, but its all 2D.

If the good lord had intended us to go outside or have a social life, he wouldn't have invented the internet.
www.threeswordsproductions.com
Cian Rice
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Posted: 12th Aug 2008 22:12
I played the original FoF and I'm almost 100% certain that it was 3D...

Omega gamer 89
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Posted: 13th Aug 2008 17:50
I'm not trying to start a fight here, but I saw my buddy playing a couple of weeks ago, and it was 2D.

If the good lord had intended us to go outside or have a social life, he wouldn't have invented the internet.
www.threeswordsproductions.com
Alucard94
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Posted: 13th Aug 2008 18:01
Quote: "I'm not trying to start a fight here, but I saw my buddy playing a couple of weeks ago, and it was 2D.
"


Dude get it, it is 3D. He might have put a 2D theme on it but it is 3D.


Omega gamer 89
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Posted: 13th Aug 2008 18:05
Quote: "Dude get it, it is 3D."

I already said I think he had an older version of FoF, so me getting it now wouldn't help anything, because it would be the latest version.
(I'm assuming that by "get it" you mean "download it" and not "get it through your head" or something.)
Quote: "He might have put a 2D theme on it but it is 3D."

I suppose that that's entirely possible. All I know is, that the last time I saw it played, it was entirely 2D. I will ask him when I get the chance. Until then, lets just stop discussing FoF, and get back to Guitar Villain.
Any more comments about it? questions? Problems with the download?

If the good lord had intended us to go outside or have a social life, he wouldn't have invented the internet.
www.threeswordsproductions.com
bergice
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Posted: 13th Aug 2008 20:45
Quote: "lets just stop discussing FoF, and get back to Guitar Villain."




The crazy
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Posted: 13th Aug 2008 21:30
why dont you just post a screenshot of your friend's version so people can stop arguing :p
Omega gamer 89
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Posted: 13th Aug 2008 21:56 Edited at: 13th Aug 2008 21:56
I will when I get the chance. It'll most likely have to wait till at least Friday. I'm in school now, and I usually don't get home in time to do any hanging out. I post a screen shot when I get the chance, but for now, no more FoF discussion!

If the good lord had intended us to go outside or have a social life, he wouldn't have invented the internet.
www.threeswordsproductions.com
Sixty Squares
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Posted: 14th Aug 2008 00:38
Hmm, this game looks like it has potential . It'd be cool if you had the option for the player to either transcribe the notes for their own song into a text document OR use some sort of editor. In this editor, the song plays for them when they're ready and then they can start hitting space or something after each measure (or note, depending on how your game is setup). Then the editor could create the text file required from that data. Transcription could be done in minutes via this method. Anyway, it's just an idea and sort of general at that because I'm not quite sure how your game will read the notes from the text file.

Anyway, this game looks like it could be a lot of fun if you keep at it! Good luck

Uncle Sam
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Posted: 14th Aug 2008 01:48
I hate Guitar Hero (rather do the real thing). But this looks good!

Roxas
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Posted: 14th Aug 2008 11:11
Quote: "I hate Guitar Hero (rather do the real thing). But this looks good!"


Then you might really really love this one http://www.guitarrising.com/

bergice
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Posted: 14th Aug 2008 13:25
I dont understand how that works, the only thing i see possible is this: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=z0DHSk7SF2A

Roxas
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Posted: 14th Aug 2008 16:38
That modding video is fake.. Guitar Rising tho is actual game.

Anyways lets now talk about Guitar Villain lol Its a good looking start.

Deathead
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Posted: 14th Aug 2008 16:43
Yeah, Household hacker said you can make a taser out of a ipod. Only way your going to do that is by pluging in your ipod charger into a xbox and strapping the xbox to your back as a powerpack.


Omega gamer 89
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Posted: 14th Aug 2008 17:55
@ Sixty squares: thats not a bad idea. The editor, (If I did manage to do it,) would most likely be more difficult to code than the current system. Although I still think I could do it. My bigger concern is that, based on the way the current system runs, such an editor would be uselessly slow. Hmm... either way, I'll look into it. Thanks for the idea! I'll be sure to give you credit if I do end up using such a system.

If the good lord had intended us to go outside or have a social life, he wouldn't have invented the internet.
www.threeswordsproductions.com
Sixty Squares
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Posted: 14th Aug 2008 19:26
@Omega gamer 89: Thanks, and no problem. Just trying to keep this on topic

Aaron Miller
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Posted: 16th Aug 2008 03:40
That looks pretty cool. The lines are a bit annoying though, perhaps you should turn off the zbuffer, draw the line, and then the note?

<off topic>
I was once working on a GH styled game a while ago. Not to hijack the thread but if you extract the DLL from the EXE there's a plugin I was working on to help automate the process. If you'd like to have a look here it is. If you want it removed (It's not advanced) I'll remove it.
</off topic>

Cheers,

-naota

I'm not a dictator to those that do stuff for me by will. Only those who don't.

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flickenmaste
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Posted: 16th Aug 2008 07:34


very sweet...i wanna try the demo but i dont have a program to open .rar files


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Alucard94
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Posted: 16th Aug 2008 09:06
Quote: "very sweet...i wanna try the demo but i dont have a program to open .rar files
"


Umm
Ever heard of Winzip?


nackidno
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Posted: 16th Aug 2008 11:57
Or winrar, 7zip.

- Elias, Damezean, Nackidno, Wonderboy

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Alucard94
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Posted: 16th Aug 2008 16:10
Quote: "Or winrar"

Ah that was the one I meant, sorry got my software a little mixed up there, it's been a while since I used windows heavily.


flickenmaste
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Posted: 17th Aug 2008 00:42 Edited at: 17th Aug 2008 00:45
winrar sucks...i love 7zip!


ok its all flash so its annoying to see the circles moving across the screen


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Omega gamer 89
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Posted: 17th Aug 2008 02:24 Edited at: 17th Aug 2008 02:24
So, I threw together another Demo to demonstrate the customizable-ness of the game.
Just follow the steps in the INSTRUCTIONS.txt file, and you can play a song of your own!
Download the customizable demo Here.

If the good lord had intended us to go outside or have a social life, he wouldn't have invented the internet.
www.threeswordsproductions.com
Blobby 101
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Posted: 18th Aug 2008 11:04 Edited at: 18th Aug 2008 11:05
Hey, the game is looking great!
But, to be honest mate, Your site doesn't look great compared to your old one, why did you change it?
EDIT: any chance of adding controller support? so that people can play using a real GH Controller.
Omega gamer 89
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Posted: 18th Aug 2008 17:52 Edited at: 18th Aug 2008 17:52
Hey, blobby
1) Thanks for the compliment. Is there anything you would change so far? I know its a bit early, but I figured I'd check.
2) The new look of the site is very different, yes, but I think it looks a bit better. The old design also had trouble displaying correctly in a couple of browsers. Even if I fixed it on one browser, doing an update would mess it up on all the others! This new design has no such problem. (To the best of my knowledge. If anyone has a problem, PLEASE tell me.)
3) Absolutely! that will probably be going in later on in development, after I have all the menus and selection screens and a good number of songs set up. But I definitely intend to include controller support later on.

If the good lord had intended us to go outside or have a social life, he wouldn't have invented the internet.
www.threeswordsproductions.com
flickenmaste
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Posted: 19th Aug 2008 04:07
will this game be where u have to buy it or free ware??


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Aaron Miller
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Posted: 19th Aug 2008 08:57 Edited at: 19th Aug 2008 09:04
May I suggest a different format for storing your songs? I'd use something like this:

HEADER
Dword - MAGIC NUMBER (Used to verify this is a note file)
Byte - Notes Per Second
Word - Blank Notes Before First Note
Dword - Song Length In Seconds
Dword - Number Of Notes In Song
Dword - Offset In File To Song Guitar Track
Dword - Offset In File To Song Bass Guitar Track
Dword - Offset In File To Song (Vocals, Other Instruments) Track
Number Of Notes In Song Individual Notes Follow Directly After Header

INDIVIDUAL NOTE
Byte - Note Mask (Bit 0 = Green, Bit 1 = Red, Bit 2 = Yellow, Bit 3 = Blue, Bit 4 = Orange, Bit 5 = Start Star Power Group, Bit 6 = End Star Power Group, Bit 7 = Hammer On)
Byte - Note Length (If larger than zero (or one) this is a LONG NOTE - it takes up an extra few note spaces).
Word - Offset After Note (How many note spaces until the next note?)

TRACK
Memblock - Sound Data


Add in different settings for difficulty.


Also - If you'd like - I'm working on a custom GH song right now, it's about 55% done. If you'd like I could contribute it to this project. It's a very difficult song though - like Through the Fire and Flames. But it'd actually be legal to use.

EDIT
About the note mask, you can use this code to check if a specific note or setting is used:


Cheers,

-naota

I'm not a dictator to those that do stuff for me by will. Only those who don't.
FredP
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Posted: 19th Aug 2008 11:36
Do you have plans to import any of the formats such as midi,sng,etc. so those charts will work?I don't doubt you can chart a song by hand but recharting a bunch of songs would be a pain.

Failing at every guitar game ever made!
Omega gamer 89
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Posted: 19th Aug 2008 17:53 Edited at: 19th Aug 2008 19:48
@ Aaron Miller:
I'll look into that, and see if it works any better.
@ FredP:
Yes, I will eventually include support for most sound formats. I just didn't do it in the demo because I didn't have time when I was setting it up to add support for multiple formats.

EDIT:
@Flickenmaste;
It will most likely be freeware. If I tried to sell it, I'd likely get sued.

If the good lord had intended us to go outside or have a social life, he wouldn't have invented the internet.
www.threeswordsproductions.com
FredP
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Posted: 20th Aug 2008 01:16
That's cool.I like the progress you have made on this so far.

Failing at every guitar game ever made!
flickenmaste
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Posted: 20th Aug 2008 01:22
i cant wait to play the full game


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Aaron Miller
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Posted: 20th Aug 2008 03:09
@Omega
Here are two songs. One's a stress test of sorts, and the other is the musical one.

They're in your other thread.

Cheers,

-naota

I'm not a dictator to those that do stuff for me by will. Only those who don't.
Omega gamer 89
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Posted: 20th Aug 2008 03:19
Thanks for the comments guys! I'll post a link to another, updated, version of the demo when I have added a few new songs in.

@Aaron Miller:
please send me those songs in the .midi format. That would make life so much easier for me.

If the good lord had intended us to go outside or have a social life, he wouldn't have invented the internet.
www.threeswordsproductions.com

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