B4X - Game Competition 2016 [CANCELED]

[ilan]

Hi b4xer's

i think it's time for a game competition so i invite everybody in this forum to a very special game competition.

everybody that likes games can take part of it.

you can even win nice prices in this competition.

* First Place get a free B4a or B4i Standard License!
* Second Place get a B4x T-Shirt (something like this)
* Third Place get a Free Pizza (15$ Paypal Donation)

there are some rules to follow in this special competition.

Rules:

* the game need to be a perfect copy of an 80s-90s game (if you need ideas: here or here)
* you will get point in a point system i will explain later in this thread
* the code may not exceed 500 lines! (not including declaring object in process globals)
* you dont need to make all levels of the original (1-2) is enough but you will get more points if you make more levels.
* the game needs to include music, sprites as the original game (http://spritedatabase.net/news)
* you can make the game on each b4x platform you like (b4a,b4i,b4j)
* there need to be at least 8 people that will take part on this competition
* before you start a game you need to inform me what game you will make and i will update the list in this thread so we wont have 2 members making the same game.
* you may use only libs that came originaly with b4x so no libgdx! since there was no libgdx in the 80s try to be creative with your code (less libs means more points)
* you need to be a valid customer according to Anywhere Software terms

(i hope i wrote all rules if i missed one i will update the rule list)


Point System:

* 1 - 5 points for making a perfect copy of the game (1 not very identical, 5 = a perfect copy)
* 1 - 5 points for level number (1 level = 1 point, 2 levels = 2 points,...)
* 5 *points if you are willing to share your source code for free when the competition is over
* 1 - 5 points for the complexity of the chosen game (street fighter = 5 , super mario = 5, ...)
* 1 - 5 for the code design (examples below how to make code shorter)
* 3 points if the source is well commented
* 1 - 5 points for the game play
* 3 points for making a menu, logo screen, pause screen
* 1 - 5 points for using less libs (only core will give you 5 points, more libs will give you less points)

i think for now the point system is ok, if you have any offers or complaints about it let me know
* (ONLY FOR LEARNING PURPOSE)


i will give some simple examples how to make your code shorter (dont forget 500 lines max!)


example 1:

LONG:

If medead = True Then
    medead = False
Else
    medead = True
End If

SHORT:

medead = Not(medead)

example 2:

LONG:

If points > 10 Then
    points = 10
Else
    points = points + 1
End If

SHORT:

points = Min(points + 1, 10)

i hope people will join this Competition and we all can learn from each other

Good Luck for everybody and as i said everybody is welcome to take part on this competition.
This is your opportunity to win a free B4A/B4I License or a free Upgrade if you already own a b4a/b4i license!!!!

 

[ilan]

GAME LIST:

@worm - GALAGA
@andymc - FROGGER
@ilan - BRUCE LEE
@JordiCP - Pole Position (racing game)


(who is the next? )

 

[JordiCP]

Nice idea
I have some doubts

• Is this competition for all plattforms?
  
• Deadline?
• "500 lines" --> you should state if
   a=1 : b=somefunction : Log("...") : Callsub(...)
  counts as a single line
  
• You mean Core library or only standard libraries (I mean, the ones included with B4A). If only core, no chance to use Inline Java nor reflection

 

[sorex]

The source part is a killer. if you don't give it it's like instant loss since you lose too much possible points.

So a bad game could win because the source is given and commented while a good one might lose because the source is kept secret.

Still a nice initiative tho!

edit: also the what you will try to code is tricky. it's possible that halfway you notice that you will go way beyond 500 lines and give another idea a try.

 

[ilan]

Is this competition for all plattforms?

the answer is yes as stated in the rules list:

* you can make the game on each b4x platform you like (b4a,b4i,b4j)

Deadline?

when we will have the 8 members that will take part we can together agree about the deadline. in my opinion 2 weeks should be enough but we all will agree about that together.

"500 lines" --> you should state if

a=1 : b=somefunction : Log("...") : Callsub(...)

counts as a single line

yes this is a single line, starting from (b4a) activity start until the bottom all lines will be counted so you may leave blank lines but when you deliver the code for review then remove all blank lines.

You mean Core library or only standard libraries (I mean, the ones included with B4A). If only core, no chance to use Inline Java nor reflection

i was thinking of using simple tools (Canvas, views,...) but you may use Java Object or Reflection or any lib that comes with b4x installed but i will add this to the rules list and to the points list. so you will get more points when you use less libs

The source part is a killer. if you don't give it it's like instant loss since you lose too much possible points.

So a bad game could win because the source is given and commented while a good one might lose because the source is kept secret.

Still a nice initiative tho!

edit: also the what you will try to code is tricky. it's possible that halfway you notice that you will go way beyond 500 lines and give another idea a try.

according to the actual Point System list you can reach 36 points so if you wont share your code it is still 31 points and thats a lot! so a bad game even if the dev will share the source wont get that much points.

the reason for the share thing is like this we all can have something from this competition and not only the winners and it will make b4x.com much more interesting for new members when we will have nice free sources here.

 

[sorex]

I count a max of 18 for source related points (5+5+3+5)

* 5 *points if you are willing to share your source code for free when the competition is over
* 1 - 5 for the code design (examples below how to make code shorter)
* 3 points if the source is well commented
* 1 - 5 points for using less libs (only core will give you 5 points, more libs will give you less points)

 

[ilan]

I count a max of 18 for source related points (5+5+3+5)

* 1 - 5 points for level number (1 level = 1 point, 2 levels = 2 points,...)
* 5 *points if you are willing to share your source code for free when the competition is over
* 1 - 5 points for the complexity of the chosen game (street fighter = 5 , super mario = 5, ...)
* 1 - 5 for the code design (examples below how to make code shorter)
* 3 points if the source is well commented
* 1 - 5 points for the game play
* 3 points for making a menu, logo screen, pause screen
* 1 - 5 points for using less libs (only core will give you 5 points, more libs will give you less points)

all those points are source code related

36 points at least + 5 for making a perfect copy so if you choose good sprites and music files

 

[sorex]

the ones I didn't list can be seen by playing the game, that's what I meant.

I might be in but I don't know with what kind of game yet.

 

[melonZgz]

Hello there!
I think it's a good idea, except...

* the code may not exceed 500 lines! (not including declaring object in process globals)
* you may use only libs that came originaly with b4x so no libgdx! since there was no libgdx in the 80s try to be creative with your code (less libs means more points)

No libGDX! and 500 lines only?
Without a graphic lib I guess you have to draw in a canvas and use a timer?
It's interesting but I almost don't have free time so I still don't if I'll take part...

 

[Beja]

Hi Ilan,

How about 80ies style but not 80ies game replica? An arcade game with the same look and feel of the old good days of the eighties, poor resolution, robotic voice, jerky movement ... etc.
If this is allowed then I have a killer idea.

Best

 

[ilan]

Hi Ilan,

How about 80ies style but not 80ies game replica? An arcade game with the same look and feel of the old good days of the eighties, poor resolution, robotic voice, jerky movement ... etc.
If this is allowed then I have a killer idea.

Best

i prefer to keep the competition with the given rules. the whole idea is can we in 2016 make games that where made more then 30 years ago. games that we all grow up with. i will try to make a replica of "Bruce Lee" C64. when i was young i played it a lot on my c64 (with cassette tape)

 

[ilan]

Hello there!
I think it's a good idea, except...



No libGDX! and 500 lines only?
Without a graphic lib I guess you have to draw in a canvas and use a timer?
It's interesting but I almost don't have free time so I still don't if I'll take part...

you dont have to make the whole game only 1-2 levels (see point system) so i think 500 lines is a good challenge
you may use libs that came installed with b4x but not 3rd party libs (also see point system, more libs you use less points you get)
there should not be a problem to copy those games by using a timer and canvas and if you use b4j then you should get very nice results.

i would like to have you in this competition since you are definitely a game lover

 

[Beja]

Okay..
I will do the ladder game where a snake brings players down if struck them.

 

[ilan]

Okay..
I will do the ladder game where a snake brings players down if struck them.

Was there a pc game on atari, c64,... so we can compare how good the replica is?

Can you provide such a video so we can look at the old game?

 

[Beja]

Sorry Ilan I never had Atari.. I had Sinclair ZX that ran Basic interpreter. This game was not there and I think it came later with IBM XT.. but still not quite sure.. but I am sure I played it.
If this violates the rules then I am out.

 

[ilan]

Sorry Ilan I never had Atari.. I had Sinclair ZX that ran Basic interpreter. This game was not there and I think it came later with IBM XT.. but still not quite sure.. but I am sure I played it.
If this violates the rules then I am out.

Can u find a video of that game?

 

[LucaMs]

everybody that likes games can take part of it.

So I'm excluded

* the code may not exceed 500 lines!

This is a bad requirement because it is a bad teaching; a compact source is never a good source, because of readability and maintenance issues.

 

[sorex]

This is a bad requirement because it is a bad teaching; a compact source is never a good source, because of readability and maintenance issues.

this is first class nonsense.

 

[ilan]

This is a bad requirement because it is a bad teaching; a compact source is never a good source, because of readability and maintenance issues

I really dont understand what you mean. So you recommend to write 200 if...end if actions then 1 loop that goes through 200 items?

Short code has nothing to do with readability as i wrote in the point system you will get 3 points if the source is well commented.

Comments are the readability of a source.
It is better to learn short techniqs to have a short code. And i also wrote that you dont need to write the whole game under 500 lines 1 or 2 levels are enough and that should not be a problem. Btw you can build a function where you load your levels from a txt file. Its up to you how you solve that problem

 

[LucaMs]

this is first class nonsense.

I'm not sure to understand this comment (because of my bad English)