New game: Magica

[reidrac]

magica-ingame.png
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I've released Magica, a new arcade game for the Amstrad CPC (64k!).

You can download the game (CDT & DSK) from: https://www.usebox.net/jjm/magica/

This game had a development thread here: http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/programming/magica-(development)/

This game may have a physical release. I'll update you all when I have further info about this.

Enjoy!

Latest version is 1.0.2 (2016-11-05, released earlier than planned!).

[VincentGR]

This is amazing.
 Thank you.

[beb]

...with a really nice and funny presentation screen.

[reidrac]

I've updated the game to the version 1.0.1 (check the PDF, it says the version).

It fixes a tiny bug when you're dying and as part of the dying animation you happen to touch the exit door. After the fix, you're dead. Previously it was showing the dying sprite but you exit the level.

[alex76gr]

Beautiful game!
Many thanks and well done for your great work.

[gerald]

I've updated the game to the version 1.0.1 (check the PDF, it says the version).

It fixes a tiny bug when you're dying and as part of the dying animation you happen to touch the exit door. After the fix, you're dead. Previously it was showing the dying sprite but you exit the level.

Can we dream of a v1.0.2 with P for pause in addition of H for hold ? That would make it compatible with the GX4000

[reidrac]

Can we dream of a v1.0.2 with P for pause in addition of H for hold ? That would make it compatible with the GX4000

As default? I see, because you can't redefine

Yes, could do. In fact, I could make a special edition for the GX4000. I think the game would play better using fire 2 for jump instead of up.

What do you think? Would that work?

[gerald]

As default? I see, because you can't redefine

Indeed !

Yes, could do. In fact, I could make a special edition for the GX4000. I think the game would play better using fire 2 for jump instead of up.

What do you think? Would that work?

To be honnest I feel OK with the current key mapping (UP to jump), but others make like using fire 2.
If you can easily map both key to the same action, why not.

However having one unified version that works on all CPC is nicer 

[reidrac]

Indeed !
To be honnest I feel OK with the current key mapping (UP to jump), but others make like using fire 2.
If you can easily map both key to the same action, why not.

However having one unified version that works on all CPC is nicer 

I didn't like the idea of 2nd fire button to jump *and* up; I don't think it would work fine with a joystick. I don't mind making a GX4000 specific version; there are few things that don't make sense without keyboard.

[Neil79]

Review - done =


http://www.indieretronews.com/2016/11/magica-juan-j-martinez-fabulous.html

[reidrac]

Review - done =


http://www.indieretronews.com/2016/11/magica-juan-j-martinez-fabulous.html

Cheers Neil!

[Mermaid]

Review - done =


http://www.indieretronews.com/2016/11/magica-juan-j-martinez-fabulous.html

level loading screen by Vanja(?)

Great review! But why is there a question mark after my name?

[TomEtJerry]

Very nice "little" game ! The intro screen is amazing (welcome Mermaid on CPC :-) ), all in the game is really cute and the most important thing is that playability is perfect. When you die, the only thing you want to is start another game !
I have just two little requests if you find courage to make an update :

- add a score table !
- first life at 10000 points is not so easy to get. I think it would be better for lame players like me to put it at 5000 points then every 10000.

If there is a physical release of the game, you can count on me to buy one !

[reidrac]

Very nice "little" game ! The intro screen is amazing (welcome Mermaid on CPC :-) ), all in the game is really cute and the most important thing is that playability is perfect. When you die, the only thing you want to is start another game !
I have just two little requests if you find courage to make an update :

- add a score table !
- first life at 10000 points is not so easy to get. I think it would be better for lame players like me to put it at 5000 points then every 10000.

If there is a physical release of the game, you can count on me to buy one !

Adding things would be difficult I think. The 1.0.1 version required converting some extra C code to ASM to get some free RAM because I needed 3 extra free bytes and I didn't have any.

Regarding the 10k for an extra life; it all depends. Those 10k means every 9 stages you get an extra live (or 8 stages depending on your playing style), so at the end is 5 extra lives before getting to the last stage, plus the starting 3 lives that's 8 and is more than enough to complete the game with a nice challenge.

So my best advice is... keep trying and have fun

Thanks for the feedback though, really appreciated.

(I'll update about the physical release when I have info)

[TomEtJerry]

ok, so I need to train like hell  .

One more little remark playing the game : invulnerability of the player is a little bit too short when he comes back to life. On some levels, you can loose another life just because there are enemies at the respawn point and you have no time to escape. An update probably would not cost memory :-).

[reidrac]

ok, so I need to train like hell  .

One more little remark playing the game : invulnerability of the player is a little bit too short when he comes back to life. On some levels, you can loose another just because there are enemies at the respawn point and you have no time to escape. An update would probably not cost memory :-).

Good point. You may want to use your magic to stun them anyway

Thanks again. I'm glad you enjoy the game!

EDIT: uh, well... I could remove the easter egg and that may free some memory for the hiscore table...

[andycadley]

Yes, could do. In fact, I could make a special edition for the GX4000. I think the game would play better using fire 2 for jump instead of up.

What do you think? Would that work?

Definitely. Up to jump is always a bit annoying, if inevitable on systems with only one fire button, so a GX friendly version with jump moved to fire 2 and pause on P would be lovely.

[rexbeng]

Really nice game! And you have an extra thumb-up for luring Mermaid to the CPC! 


rb

[reidrac]

I released 1.0.2 fixing a small visualisation bug (the Fairies could fly behind the door).

Just a minor thing, but now is better . Sorry!

[Targhan]

Just played it, it's very nice. I thought at first that it was too easy... till I lost all my lives on level 7! So it's going to be quite a challenge to reach level 50 .


Anyway, congrats, graphics and music are well done, and so is the flawless gameplay. The intro graphics is very beautiful too.

[GFXOR]

I am really sorry, I've been told I didn't post my message in the appropriate place.
So I had a small suggestion about the intro gfx here :
http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/news-events/octoate's-news-magica-new-game-by-reidrac/

Asking Mermaid for this pic was really a good idea. I know her C64 gfx for a long time, and she is really talented.

Maybe some small advice if she does not have a real CPC : using a CRT screen (cathodic) could help to get closer colours to the CPC ones. The LCD problems often occurs in the blue (I guess the RVB values are different in LCD or CRT).

[reidrac]

Magica was played as part of "la retro semana", that is an informal competition where the participants vote for a game to play for a week. They mostly use Twitter and looks like is a lot of fun; they have played few CPC games already!

You can see the results of Magica's week at: http://www.commodorespain.es/retro-10-3a-temporada-magica/ (contains spoilers in the screenshots)

Several people finished the game during that week, some even got to the "bad" ending and replayed the game until they finished the game with the "good" ending.

I got very good feedback, including reasoned criticism (I love that!), and overall people seemed to love the game; taking into account the bad timing of the release (at the same time all the CPC Retro Dev games were released!), reception has been great.

Also there's an Easter egg I teased on Twitter, but so far nobody has found how to enable it. I mention it in case anyway around here wants to investigate a bit

[reidrac]

Update from Poly Play, the cassettes are ready!

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Again we're waiting for the cover art that, hopefully, will be ready soon.

[ldaneels]

oh, I love that! I finally ordered the tape & disk versions of Golden Tail (and Return of Traxtor). Keep them coming

[reidrac]

Magica is coming!


https://twitter.com/polyplay_xyz/status/810094259483410433

Watch this space