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General Category => Games => Topic started by: reidrac on 17:00, 05 August 16

Title: New game: Golden Tail
Post by: reidrac on 17:00, 05 August 16


I've released Golden Tail for the Amstrad CPC (64k)!

I recommend you reading the info I provide in the game's website, specially if you plan to use an emulator and keyboard because during the testing we found that the default keys may not work very well in all modern keyboards (ghosting problem pressing up+left+space).

You can download CDT and DSK at: Amstrad CPC: Golden Tail - usebox.net (https://www.usebox.net/jjm/golden-tail/)

Looks like the game will have a physical release at some point, I'll update you when I have further info about this.

Enjoy!

Latest version is 1.0.3 (2016-08-10).
Title: Re: New game: Golden Tail
Post by: ||C|-|E|| on 20:51, 05 August 16
Loving it so far! I have been playing for a while and I managed to recover 15 fragments :D At the beginning is difficult to predict what is going to happen when you use the magic but it gets much more natural after a while. The game is super responsive a the graphics very nice, great!  :D :D :-* :-*
Title: Re: New game: Golden Tail
Post by: jomicamp on 20:58, 05 August 16
I will download tonight using the M4 if possible  8)
Title: Re: New game: Golden Tail
Post by: rk last on 22:31, 06 August 16
Congrats on a really good game.

I just wish that 1980s software developers had produced games of this quality instead of lousy ports and rushed efforts.
Title: Re: New game: Golden Tail
Post by: reidrac on 08:35, 07 August 16
Made a new release (1.0.1) fixing a small bug (only happens if you lose a life when getting into a screen from the bottom without touching ground first; bloody checkpoints!).

Update your copies!
Title: Re: New game: Golden Tail
Post by: remax on 21:09, 07 August 16
A good point : you don't use fancy floppy loading techniques... This M4 Board has made me so lazy  :D
Title: Re: New game: Golden Tail
Post by: reidrac on 21:43, 07 August 16
Quote from: remax on 21:09, 07 August 16
A good point : you don't use fancy floppy loading techniques... This M4 Board has made me so lazy  :D

You can load the game using the M4 just fine :)
Title: Re: New game: Golden Tail
Post by: remax on 21:46, 07 August 16
Quote from: reidrac on 21:43, 07 August 16
You can load the game using the M4 just fine :)


Yeah i know, that's what i said : perfect for the lazy ones like me (using the HXC when there is advanced floppy techniques means removing the sd card, converting to hfe then put the sd card back, load it via the loader, THEN launch it... So now, i'm so happy when i can launch a game on the M4  ;D [size=78%])[/size]
Title: Re: New game: Golden Tail
Post by: reidrac on 17:29, 09 August 16
I've uploaded version 1.0.2, please update your copies.

This time was another 2 weird bugs I didn't even know Kitsune could do that!

@Metr (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=359) is working on a very impressive speedrun and he has pushed the game to its limits, finding a couple of issues. I also fixed a new bug introduced in the previous fix (you could die in the first screen and appear over the water; should be fixed now).

This is likely to be final. 49 bytes left, indeed.

Also let me use this update to confirm that the game will have physical release, in both 3" disk and cassette. Watch this space!
Title: Re: New game: Golden Tail
Post by: TFM on 21:10, 09 August 16
Great game, too hard for me. But one question: Here when playing with Cursor keys I see the same phenomenon like in the Space game: When pressing Cursor left for a moment, then the character continues running left until I press right. This is probably a bug in the keyboard scanning.
Does anybody know this phenomenon and can give advice how to omit the problem?

Title: Re: New game: Golden Tail
Post by: reidrac on 21:38, 09 August 16
Quote from: TFM on 21:10, 09 August 16
Great game, too hard for me. But one question: Here when playing with Cursor keys I see the same phenomenon like in the Space game: When pressing Cursor left for a moment, then the character continues running left until I press right. This is probably a bug in the keyboard scanning.
Does anybody know this phenomenon and can give advice how to omit the problem?

I can't reproduce that problem; not in an emulator and certainly I don't recall that happening in my CPC 464; although I don't play using the cursor (opqa instead).
Title: Re: New game: Golden Tail
Post by: TFM on 22:25, 09 August 16
Quote from: reidrac on 21:38, 09 August 16
I can't reproduce that problem; not in an emulator and certainly I don't recall that happening in my CPC 464; although I don't play using the cursor (opqa instead).


You can reproduce it in WinCPC for example. I sadly don't know how to cure it. It's something connected to the PSG/PIO.

Title: Re: New game: Golden Tail
Post by: reidrac on 20:20, 10 August 16
Oh, dear.  I uploaded 1.0.3 that fixes a bug I introduced in 1.0.2 that made the screen on the bottom right of the map inaccessible.

This time I've tested the change thoroughly (I swear!). Last version, please... someone stop me!

Update your copies one last time.

(funnily enough versions 1.0 and 1.0.1 were fine, the bugs were minimal things not affecting the game... and I screwed it badly in 1.0.2  :-\)
Title: Re: New game: Golden Tail
Post by: robcfg on 20:32, 10 August 16
Don't torture yourself, it is development at its best :D
Title: Re: New game: Golden Tail
Post by: alex76gr on 08:07, 22 August 16
@reidrac (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=1504) My congratulations on your excellent game and thank you for sharing. :)
The teleportation ability is a very genuine idea and makes the game challenging.

I only have a small complaint about the controls and specifically on how you control the teleportation jumps.
I find it difficult to estimate where my sprite will appear after i press the fire button and the direction on the joystick.
Many lives were also lost on teleportation jumps that required diagonal direction.
50% of such cases ended with failed jumps.
Title: Re: New game: Golden Tail
Post by: Skunkfish on 11:51, 22 August 16
Quote from: alex76gr on 08:07, 22 August 16

I only have a small complaint about the controls and specifically on how you control the teleportation jumps.
I find it difficult to estimate where my sprite will appear after i press the fire button and the direction on the joystick.
Many lives were also lost on teleportation jumps that required diagonal direction.
50% of such cases ended with failed jumps.

I've been playing the game via keyboard controls, with the cursor keys for movement, Z for the special power and X for jump. This seems to give me the best control over the power and jumping.

I'm joystick-less at the moment so not sure if those controls can be reconfigured?
Title: Re: New game: Golden Tail
Post by: reidrac on 17:18, 22 August 16
Quote from: alex76gr on 08:07, 22 August 16
@reidrac (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=1504) My congratulations on your excellent game and thank you for sharing. :)
The teleportation ability is a very genuine idea and makes the game challenging.

I only have a small complaint about the controls and specifically on how you control the teleportation jumps.
I find it difficult to estimate where my sprite will appear after i press the fire button and the direction on the joystick.
Many lives were also lost on teleportation jumps that required diagonal direction.
50% of such cases ended with failed jumps.

I'm not good with joysticks myself, but some people have said it is hard to control because the joystick is not precise enough. I haven't tried the GX4000 controller, but I suspect a gamepad will do better.

Space Pest Control was OK with joysticks, but it required less precision of jump + shoot. I guess it may depend on the joystick too, but it is possible that Golden Tail is a keyboard type of game.
Title: Re: New game: Golden Tail
Post by: Targhan on 11:29, 01 September 16
Good game! But very very difficult... Three lives are not enough! What about 10? :)


But I really like the gameplay ideas about getting more powerful when disappearing. On a real CPC using the keyboard, jumping+power isn't easy to do, as both must be done at the same time.


Anyway, congratulations. The graphics are very well made, the music fits the game well (a bit too short maybe?) and the sprites are quite smooth.


Trg.Aks
Title: Re: New game: Golden Tail
Post by: Targhan on 10:46, 02 September 16
20 pieces collected! Clearly not an easy game, but surely a interesting one. I liked the "second level" with the new music and tileset. The level design is definitely well made.


Maybe I'll be able to finish it soon :).
Title: Re: New game: Golden Tail
Post by: TFM on 18:03, 02 September 16
Very, very hard indeed. 300 lives please (ok, 255 are ok too).  :picard:
Title: Re: New game: Golden Tail
Post by: reidrac on 18:59, 02 September 16
Quote from: TFM on 18:03, 02 September 16
Very, very hard indeed. 300 lives please (ok, 255 are ok too).  :picard:

It isn't easy, but not that hard. I know more people finishing the game in one sitting than people having problems to get to the castle; if the progression is good and you get hooked to give it another go... then I'm happy with the results.
Title: Re: New game: Golden Tail
Post by: TFM on 19:33, 03 September 16
Quote from: reidrac on 18:59, 02 September 16
It isn't easy, but not that hard. I know more people finishing the game in one sitting than people having problems to get to the castle; if the progression is good and you get hooked to give it another go... then I'm happy with the results.


There is a castle?!  :o
Title: Re: New game: Golden Tail
Post by: Targhan on 14:47, 04 September 16
Finished it!!! Woohoo!!


It's really a great game, albeit quite difficult, mainly because of the jump+fire problem that, on a real CPC, seemed sometimes too unreliable...
Anyway, I wish there were more levels now that it is over! I hope you will release a next episode!


Trg.Aks
Title: Re: New game: Golden Tail
Post by: reidrac on 10:24, 20 October 16
The physical release it taking a little bit longer than expected, but it'll be totally worth it.

Sebastian shared on Twitter a first preview of the cover art for Golden Tail Collector's Edition: https://twitter.com/polyplay_xyz/status/789028938253238273

Remember that the plan is first a 3" disk release followed by a cassette version later on.
Title: Re: New game: Golden Tail
Post by: Gryzor on 14:06, 25 October 16
That's a lovely cover :)
Title: Re: New game: Golden Tail
Post by: ||C|-|E|| on 11:29, 26 October 16
The cover looks really great!!  :D
Title: Re: New game: Golden Tail
Post by: kawickboy on 12:00, 26 October 16
That looks great indeed.
Title: Re: New game: Golden Tail
Post by: reidrac on 11:49, 03 November 16
Inlays, manual, poster, etc; all is ready.

First prototype of the disc version.

[attach=2]
Title: Re: New game: Golden Tail
Post by: ldaneels on 13:33, 03 November 16
oh, I like it a lot ! Do you have a price in mind for the physical edition ? Also, when are you starting to sell it ?
Title: Re: New game: Golden Tail
Post by: reidrac on 13:50, 03 November 16
Quote from: ldaneels on 13:33, 03 November 16
oh, I like it a lot ! Do you have a price in mind for the physical edition ? Also, when are you starting to sell it ?

There are two different editions (3" disc and cassette) but I don't have the details for the final price, sorry!

As far as I know Sebastian is making printing tests and such so it is almost ready. I'll keep updating this thread as soon as I have more details.
Title: Re: New game: Golden Tail
Post by: ldaneels on 17:32, 03 November 16
Cool ! I'm looking forward to getting one of them.
Thanks for all your efforts.
Title: Re: New game: Golden Tail
Post by: reidrac on 16:29, 08 November 16
[attach=2]

ETA: 1 week.

Also the cassette version is coming too.
Title: Re: New game: Golden Tail
Post by: Skunkfish on 17:06, 08 November 16
Absolutely gorgeous... Will there be a UK distributor as well?
Title: Re: New game: Golden Tail
Post by: reidrac on 18:25, 08 November 16
Quote from: Skunkfish on 17:06, 08 November 16
Absolutely gorgeous... Will there be a UK distributor as well?

Poly Play is based in Germany and as far as I know they are shipping worldwide; not sure how much will be the cost, I hope is not too much :)
Title: Re: New game: Golden Tail
Post by: trabitboy on 11:09, 09 November 16
Quote from: reidrac on 16:29, 08 November 16
[attach=2]

ETA: 1 week.


IT LOOKS AWESOOOOOOOOME  8)
makes me regret not having a working drive
Title: Re: New game: Golden Tail
Post by: remax on 13:17, 09 November 16
Waiting for this, i play it on the usebox.net compilation  ;D


(http://i.imgur.com/1vpBioW.png)
Title: Re: New game: Golden Tail
Post by: ldaneels on 08:47, 20 November 16
Hey there,
Any news on the physical release?
Cheers,

Loic
Title: Re: New game: Golden Tail
Post by: reidrac on 12:42, 20 November 16
Quote from: ldaneels on 08:47, 20 November 16
Hey there,
Any news on the physical release?
Cheers,

Loic

I'm waiting for updates from Sebastian!
Title: Re: New game: Golden Tail
Post by: ukmarkh on 15:04, 20 November 16
This is actually a really good game and I can't wait for the next one.


Few nice to have's:


- It would be nice to be able to collect 10 > 30 > 60 > 90 stones, as the game can be completed quite quickly, with items being in different locations each time you play.


- More lives


- More rooms


- Boss battle


- Cave, mountain, ice locations


- Scrolling


- Full release with 3" disk :-)
Title: Golden Tail Collector's Edition
Post by: reidrac on 11:55, 23 November 16
The Collector's Edition of Golden Tail is ready and available:

https://www.polyplay.xyz/CPC_2

3" and 3.5" disks, and of course cassette.

Sebastian from Poly Play has put a lot of time and hard work in this release; as you can imagine I'm very happy with the superb physical edition he has put together.

I waived my royalties on this one, but please consider buying it if you like the game as it would help to Poly Play to publish more titles in the future.
Title: Re: New game: Golden Tail
Post by: Targhan on 23:00, 23 November 16
Ordered!
Title: Re: New game: Golden Tail
Post by: ukmarkh on 00:25, 24 November 16
Just bagged me a copy! Can't wait!!!
Title: Re: New game: Golden Tail
Post by: agoria_555 on 01:10, 25 November 16
Same already ordered yesterday evening.
Did not wait for black friday ;-)

Title: Re: New game: Golden Tail
Post by: Joseman on 11:38, 25 November 16
Ordered 1 copy!  ;)
Title: Re: New game: Golden Tail
Post by: reidrac on 11:43, 25 November 16
Thanks folks!

Sebastian will be pleased (and that's good, because we're working on the physical release of Magica in case anyone is interested).
Title: Re: New game: Golden Tail
Post by: ldaneels on 14:16, 25 November 16
Hey there,
are the quantities limited? Is this a limited run? I am not going to be able to order until next week (both the 3" & tape versions) & I would like to make sure that I get both.
Also, I would be very interested in Magica, if only because the game is so much fun :)
Thanks for all your efforts.
Title: Re: New game: Golden Tail
Post by: reidrac on 14:21, 25 November 16
Quote from: ldaneels on 14:16, 25 November 16
Hey there,
are the quantities limited? Is this a limited run? I am not going to be able to order until next week (both the 3" & tape versions) & I would like to make sure that I get both.
Also, I would be very interested in Magica, if only because the game is so much fun :)
Thanks for all your efforts.

I think you can probably ask Poly Play directly, but as far as I know there's plenty of 3" stock (unused disks, actually; although that adds up to the price unfortunately), and cassettes too. So you shouldn't have any problem with ordering next week!

Thanks for your support. I'm glad you enjoy Magica :)
Title: Re: New game: Golden Tail
Post by: ukmarkh on 01:24, 26 November 16
Quote from: reidrac on 11:43, 25 November 16
Thanks folks!

Sebastian will be pleased (and that's good, because we're working on the physical release of Magica in case anyone is interested).


Gobsmacked! I'll buy one :-)
Title: Re: New game: Golden Tail
Post by: Targhan on 19:17, 07 December 16
I've just received my copy! It is absolutely gorgeous, very very professional. Great work!
I don't have time to test the game (and finish it again :)) before this week-end, but I'm pretty sure the copy works fine :).


Congrats!
Title: Re: New game: Golden Tail
Post by: reidrac on 19:23, 07 December 16
Quote from: Targhan on 19:17, 07 December 16
I've just received my copy! It is absolutely gorgeous, very very professional. Great work!
I don't have time to test the game (and finish it again :)) before this week-end, but I'm pretty sure the copy works fine :).


Congrats!

Thanks! Waiting for my copy.

PS. If you experience any issue, contact Poly Play ASAP.
Title: Re: New game: Golden Tail
Post by: Targhan on 19:57, 17 December 16
Forgot to tell you, but the disc works perfectly :).
Title: Re: New game: Golden Tail
Post by: reidrac on 18:47, 01 January 17
I uploaded a "Let's play" with commentary where I play the game and share some info about the game design, development, etc.



It is similar to the one I already shared for Magica; again, I'm not very good doing two things at the same time, but in this case I managed to last longer :)
Title: Re: New game: Golden Tail
Post by: MiguelSky on 09:19, 03 March 17
I've got my copy!
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