R.O.B.O.I. - Programmable Robot Strategy Game

[Jeku]

This is my third attempt at this game I've been envisioning for over five years.  My first attempt was in 2004 and after I lost the source in a hard drive crash, I didn't touch it again until 2005, where I began building a 3D version in DBP.

Finally I've settled down with using PlayBasic as it's fast to develop with and requires less memory overhead.



The premise of this game is a foundation for logical thinking--- a great starting point for kids to learn about programming.  Don't let this turn off any of you who are adults (like myself), as most of the levels are simply *not* as easy as they look and require a great deal of thought.

You have R.O.B.O.I. (ROBOI Obeys Basic Operational Instructions) who contains 16 slots for microchips.  Each microchip is a single move (i.e. up 1x, rotate 90 deg. clockwise, pick up, etc.)  There is also support for loops with parentheses--- think *big* levels ;)).  Each level contains a task like pick up the disk, put it into the terminal, and exit.  The levels can be solved using the microchips on hand, and each level starts you off with different levels of chips.  For example the first level doesn't give you any ways to move backward or loop control, forcing you to be creative.

The gist of this game is I've been in a creative rut for the past two years almost, and ROBOI has been shelved for too long.  Right now the engine is complete and all I still have to do is design roughly 16 more levels.

Please let me know what you think, and if you'd be interested in such a game.

Thanks :)

[Ian Price]

Sounds like a novel logic/puzzle game :)

Are you restricted to the chips you are given at the start or can you pick up more along the way?

Have you ever heard of BigTrak? http://www.bugeyedmonster.com/toys/bigtrak/ it's similar to what you are doing here. HERE is some more info, showing the programming unit (touchpad).

[thaaks]

Somehow that reminds me of the board game RoboRally. There you race through factories with programmable robots.
If your robot takes damage the number of slots for "programming cards" (instructions) is decreased...

But to your game: I think it needs better graphics - maybe some iso-top-down view and better walls/robots/obstacles.

Also some graphical effects (explosions, sparks, buzzers) with particles would be cool.

Maybe you should think about internationalization (Icons like "Pick up" or "Use" are just english. Use a graphical hand and an up arrow for example for "pick up"). The other icons are fine (with the steps and degrees, that's common international notation...).

A level editor would be a good addition I think.

The idea is a very nice one - go ahead with it!

Cheers,
Tommy

[Jeku]

Sounds like a novel logic/puzzle game

Thanks :)

Are you restricted to the chips you are given at the start or can you pick up more along the way?

Right now each level gives you the chips you need to complete it.  I will make an Easy difficulty level where you can use any chips you want, but the Normal difficulty level will give you exactly what you need and no more.  

Have you ever heard of BigTrak?

Sweet, I'd never heard of that.  Looks cool!

But to your game: I think it needs better graphics - maybe some iso-top-down view and better walls/robots/obstacles.

Yah--- I'm primarily a programmer, then a music composer.  Graphic arts has never been my forte, and since I don't have the $$$ to hire an artist, I will leave it at the way it is.  There will be other obstacles (i.e. pylons), but there aren't any plans for other robots yet.  I was thinking about having some of the later levels contain robot patrol guards or some such...

Also some graphical effects (explosions, sparks, buzzers) with particles would be cool.

Yes, this stuff will come last.  Right now I'm tweaking and perfecting the gameplay.  Then I will design about 16 more levels for a total of 20.  Each level will require 16 chips to complete, so the level design is quite a complex thing for me right now (especially with the loop functionality).  Let's see what happens :)

A level editor would be a good addition I think.

Definitely.  I built a level editor in PB and after sketching out the levels on paper (after several dozen iterations of each) I plot them in the editor.  So far it's been working out pretty comfortably :)

[kevin]

Yeah, I remember this one from the days of old.  It's the kind of slightly quirky thing that one tends to remember :).  Very good to see it's migrated into the PB world !

[Chas]

There are some puzzles like this in 'Mission Control V2 '   www.sherston.com

Mission Control is rather unusual; it has a comic/save the planet storyline (all 2D) to  link together what might be otherwise slightly dry programming examples.  I thinks its rather effective (Well, it kept my sprog hooked).
Mission control is about the only thing that Ive seen in the sprogs school that could be even vaguely considered programming-related, so any puzzles/games along this line are good news! All his IT department seems to want do is make coloured posters and play about with fonts and Wordart.  :(

[Jeku]

Thanks for the good words, guys :)

I've released a playable alpha of the first four levels of gameplay.  My regular host is down so I've got a temporary download link for you all.  

Have fun and please let me know how you like it: Download

[kevin]

Hmm, it's must a sunday morning.  As i couldn't work out how to use it :)

[thaaks]

Okay, Jeku, I played the first three levels. I didn't manage the loop thing but I will the next try  :)

For the feedback:
Positive:
- the idea of the game is great, now that I can see it in action
- the computer voice is cool, good for the atmosphere

Negative (not really, only things you might want to think about)
- the first levels are too complicated, maybe at first try to reach an open exit
- the menubar is not always visible, only when you move the mouse to the top. That is confusing
- the program board is covering parts of the level. Either consider a bigger screen resolution or give the program board a fixed area on the screen or make the program board and the program cards transparent
- It's not intuitive that you have to position your robot next to an item to pick it up. But trial and error taught me fast  :rolleyes:
- The grid should be visible (or make it switchable on/off). It's not always clear if I have to move the robot 2 or 3 fields
- The game starts in windowed mode. Then you should make the close button functional, not only the File->Exit menu item
- The applause when you finish a level doesn't match the computer voice. Maybe let the computer say something like "Well done, human!" or "Try to beat my next challenge!" or some other motivating robot phrase.

This is a nice game you are developing here, with some more polishing that will be great fun!

Envious  ;)
Tommy

[Jeku]

Thanks for the critiques, guys :)

This alpha was meant more for a playability test, and whether something like this has promise.  These four levels are not going to be the first four levels in the final game, as like thaaks said, they would be too hard.

Not sure if this was in the readme file, but the chip board can be dragged across the screen using its title bar.  Therefore if it's in the way you can simply drag it over to one side :)

My game was experiencing mega slowdown early in development, so one of the things I did was hide the menu unless your mouse is in the region.  I will put that back if it's confusing.

The grid idea is awesome--- it's something I am planning on doing :)

As for the loops, they are a little tricky to get.  Once you place the closing parenthesis, you can click the little + and - signs on its chip to tell the loop how many times to execute the code.  If you thought that was hard, wait until you see the nested loops ;)

Kevin - How far did you make it?

[Ian Price]

I love it :) A great little game.

The only real problem I had was that sometimes I couldn't place a chip in the next empty square as the mouse wasn't exactly in the right place - have you considered just clicking on a chip to place it into the next available square?

There are typically a few other technical issues, but they are to be expected in a WIP.

And now I'm just one forward short of completing level 2...  :angry:  :D

[medwayman]

I'm always interested in good puzzle games  :)

I had the same problem as Ian placing the chips, but other than that, it's a good fun game. :)

[Skid 32]

I'm most reminded of LEGO's SimBot game, same programable robot-on-a-grid atmosphere.

[Jeku]

Thanks for the good words, guys :)  I spent a lot of time working on the dragging and placing of icons.  I'm not using any kind of special PB commands (if there are such commands for placing, dragging, etc.)--- just manual boundary searching and multiple states.  Fun :)

At my real job (video game software engineer) one of our major deadline is fast approaching, so I've been unable to work more than a few hours a week.  Don't worry, this project is far from dead :)

[medwayman]

Thanks for the good words, guys

You're welcome, it's good fun :)

I spent a lot of time working on the dragging and placing of icons. I'm not using any kind of special PB commands (if there are such commands for placing, dragging, etc.)--- just manual boundary searching and multiple states. Fun

I don't think it's a problem with your code, it's if the user tries to place the chip exactly in the slot then the pointer is outside the box. Something like that anyway, I can't find a link to D/L again.