Jump
Do you prefer controllable jumps ie you can change direction mid jump. Or do you prefer the uncontrollable jumps of something like Manic Miner/Jet Set Willy?
I'm designing something that might one day resemble something resembling a game with AGD and I can't decide which jump mechanic to implement.
I'm designing something that might one day resemble something resembling a game with AGD and I can't decide which jump mechanic to implement.
Post edited by Rebelstar without a cause on
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I don't mind controllable jumping but some games tend to do it because they have momentum/inertia (or whatever it's known as) applied to the sprite's horizontal movement - e.g. the Mojon games, Horace in the Mystic Woods etc. As good as the games are, I always find these harder to control and end up getting RSI trying to correct my mistakes..!
In shooters, changing direction and shoot may be useful (even if you can only change the facing direction and land in the same place).
In platformers, I would rather prefer to not change the direction of the jump. The only exceptions would be "flapping wings" (a limited slow fall, as in New Zealand Story).
If it is easy for you to change, maybe you will prefer to make some "dummy levels" and try different jumps. Keep in mind that changing the jump type AFTER designing the game levels will surely make the game worse (the game mechanics would feel "strange", some levels will be too easy or far difficult, etc).
If the game levels are well adjusted, the jump type will be OK (no matter which type you choose).
An' you know what they said?
Well, some of it was true!
We (Mojon Twins) tend to feature controllable jumps as our latest games feature inertia/real gravity and stuff, but we are releasing a fixed-jump platformer before the end of the year to celebrate a 25th anniversary which is very important for us.
There are in fact 2 things that you can control in the jump:
1.Height of jump
It can be fixed or work in the way:
When you hold down the jump key you are jumping=going up (until you reach maximum height) but if you release the key before reaching the maximum height, you'll neve reach the maximum because you'll begin to fall down. This way you can make high and low jumps.
2.Direction of jump
It can be fixed again or you can change it during the jump. It is very unrealistic - you jump right and suddently in the air you begin to fly left, but gives you a lot of new possibilities.
So I prefer controllable jumps - more things you can do in the game=more interesting and diversified levels and more interesting game.
Your mistakes are also more forgiven. If you jby mistake ump into some deadly hole, you can just "return" in the air if you are still in ascending phase.
Games like Manic Miner are unfortunately too hard for me.
ZnorXy started it! :-P
Does AGD give you the option?
Not that specifically as an option but you might be able to code it so that it displays certain sprite-anims while jumping ... don't know enough though to say for sure ... PaulJ (Mulder or even Mr. Cauldwellhimself) might be able to answer for a certainty.
It's would certainly be possible to add some code to display a jumping animation. Don't know if I'd bother with all the hassle though. It took me a while to code a fixed jump routine, now I've decided I prefer the default controllable jump.
pure gold :lol:
controllable jumps for me....though depends on the game entirely