an Endless Runner game

Hello!
This game is a small project of mine that I hope to complete in the following few weeks. It is a randomly generated endless running game where you play as a ninja in a 2D dystopian world. You have to avoid spikes, spinning blades and many other contraptions, all machinating to bring about your destruction. The goal, naturally, is to get as far as possible, with checkpoints occurring every x metres.
At the time of writing I have been working on this game for 3 days so progress is quite limited, but here are some photos and a video of the current progress. I'll try post at least one image every day as development continues. Thanks for taking the time to read!

The latest update video:

The first update video.

 

Hey!
Love the simple shaded style!

Do you already have a algorythm / randomizer for the "endless" part?

the jumping animation seems a little stiff/undynamic

did you do the mocap by yourself?

 

Thanks Floddi, I haven't begun work on the level generation algorithm yet, although I have started thinking how I'm going to implement it. I'll try working on the jump animation some more, though its proving quite tough to get right. The animations are just made regularly in blender, no mocap involved.

 

Coded some basic enemy AI to handle patrolling, following player, attacking player and dying. Also added in a new trap (spike swing) although it still needs some texture work and other refinements.

 

This looks pretty slick for a 3-day prototype. I also really like your voice, lol. Anyway, i was always a fan of pools of acid. Not really sure how to incorporate it with the endless running gameplay, but still a suggestion. Would be watching this to see how it progresses.

 

Thank you very much SuperSlonik
I'll definitely try get some pools of acid into the game. Would be really cool if they could pour out from barrels above your head and would actually melt the ground away in front of you. I get the feeling it might be quite difficult to do though. We'll see!

I worked a little bit on the ragdolls so that they now react to how they're being hit by the swinging trap I included yesterday. Also worked a little bit more on the enemy ai.

 

Contemplating adding the occasional stealth themed trap such as the security camera + machine gun seen in the picture. I definitely want even the stealth parts of the gameplay to be fast paced and fluid though, so it's going to need a bit of thinking through. Can't have a ninja as the protagonist but have no stealthy moments can you?!

 

Looks very good Random Username 3 days progress is really good! Wish I had the coding skills to get that much progress in 3 days.

 

Glad you like it iWoundPwn, thank you.
I worked a little more on the security camera, it now detects when you're in its line of sight and opens fire. Also added in some crumbling blocks.

 

I worked a little bit on the game's spawn system (added in checkpoint functionality etc). Also added more detail to the crumbling blocks, dust particles and some more varied rock falling patterns. Finally I finished off (at least for now) the security camera.
Here's a picture of it in action!


Oh and you might notice some subtle post processing: vignette, sun shafts and edge detection. (not very noticeable in the above picture, but it does give the game a more smooth look I think)

 

Thought it might be of interest for some to see a comparison between the original sketch I made when first planning this game, and the current graphics. Also I would like some feedback on the font I'm using for the checkpoints text if possible. Thanks!
Finally, I have created a new block type which turns invisible as you get close to it, so some jumping puzzles will involve you having to remember where the blocks are!

 

Very cool, I like the look of the game, Also the ragdoll deaths. Keep up the good work!

 

Thanks for your comment meta87!
Nothing exciting to report from today really, just a couple of bug fixes and started work on the random level generation code. Proving very tough. So much to take into account!
I've been wondering about whether some sort of backdrop would be beneficial to the aesthetic of the game, or if the plain background suits it just fine?

 

New update video! Feedback would be great

 

I really love the style of this game, keep up the great work!

 

digging new name!

 

Thanks guys, no new images to post unfortunately, just wanted to say that I'm now hard at work on the random level generation. Hopefully it will be fully functioning within the next 2-3 days and then I'll post a web-player build so you can try the game out for yourselves.
Cheers.

 

Webplayer???

 

Webplayer should be available by the end of tomorrow. The random generation script is working for all of the simple objects at the moment. It's just checkpoints, cameras, vanishing blocks and enemies that I still need to integrate. I also need to start looking for someone to compose some cool music. I wonder if there is anyone who'd do that for free...

 

Hah, well so much for that!
I've had to take a little break from the game what with the resumption of school and some social obligations, but I'm ready to get back into it now. Having had this time to think about the game, I've found that my biggest concern was that I wanted the game to be fast paced, but since there's nothing forcing the player forwards they have all the time in the world. I had a couple of ideas to remedy this, e.g. removing the control of movement from the player and just allowing them to control sliding, jumping etc, but I've finally settled on what I believe to be the best solution, which is to add in a racing element.

So what I'm thinking is that your opponent will be another ninja character (transparent and slightly ghost-like in appearance) who you'll race through progressively longer and more challenging levels. The reward for winning the level being be the regeneration of one of your 5 lives or the removal of one of your opponent's.
Naturally the game ends when one of you runs out of lives. Might be cool if you could compete against a friend online as well instead of an ai, but I'll see how things pan out with the ai first.

I would greatly appreciate feedback on this idea.