hey, im really lovin this game, great to chill out to at the end of the day. Just a couple of wee thing and i do mean really wee, this may not seem like much but im findin the font in the menu really out of place and very ugly, it just seems wierd as the rest of the game has really high production standards and this just stands out like a sore thumb.
 Also some inclusion of achievments, I know you cant have real ones but some nice little targets to aim for that you not normally do eg get 500xp on one level.
I was also wonderin how long the two modes are because i want to finish arcade (i think it is) before i start adventure and collect all the flames :)

but aprt from that im findin Blow an amazing game and one of the best on xna, keep up the good work.
With games like this comin to xna the arcade games better get a finger out :)

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I go on forums at the end of the nite so if there is typos then I dont really care

I appreciate the comments. I've never clocked it but I estimate it would take somewhere around 6-8hours to complete all 70 levels in regular play. Adventure mode generates random levels which slowly increase in difficulty. You can choose how many levels it takes to go from the easiest level to the most difficult (12, 52, or 365). So I'd say in very round numbers you have a total of about 20 hours of play before you need to officially begin a new game.

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The Headsman | Mirror (DBP 2009) | Blow (DBP 2008) | Blazing Birds (DBP 2007)

cheers for the quick reply didnt think there was so many levels, sitting at 35 the now but i was worried i was goin to finish it soon.

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I go on forums at the end of the nite so if there is typos then I dont really care

 Dagfari wrote:

I appreciate the comments. I've never clocked it but I estimate it would take somewhere around 6-8hours to complete all 70 levels in regular play. Adventure mode generates random levels which slowly increase in difficulty. You can choose how many levels it takes to go from the easiest level to the most difficult (12, 52, or 365). So I'd say in very round numbers you have a total of about 20 hours of play before you need to officially begin a new game.

Maybe for someone far more intelligent than I. :lol: I have spent a good 3-4 hours on the game and haven't even made it to the mid 20s yet.

I do kind of wish the flames did something. Power-ups would be silly, but it would be neat if they unlocked some neat fairy artwork or something.  Some reason to collect them other than OCD like tendancies. 

I agree. That would have been great. I may have been able to add things like that if I had more help/time, it's simply a lot to do for one person. Sadly, I had designed Blow with XBLA arcade in mind. Some elements of the game would have worked well with the addition of Achievements and Leaderboards. XBLA aside, it's really nice to be a pioneer of Community Games.

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The Headsman | Mirror (DBP 2009) | Blow (DBP 2008) | Blazing Birds (DBP 2007)

 Dagfari wrote:

I agree. That would have been great. I may have been able to add things like that if I had more help/time, it's simply a lot to do for one person. Sadly, I had designed Blow with XBLA arcade in mind. Some elements of the game would have worked well with the addition of Achievements and Leaderboards. XBLA aside, it's really nice to be a pioneer of Community Games.

 

So what is the procedure for transitioning from a CG to a XBLA title?  Do they approach you or is there a procedure in place for the designers to work on getting certified?

I don't really know. Microsoft offered me a publishing contract for 'Blazing Birds' because it was a winner of the 07 DBP but that was outside the normal procedure.

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The Headsman | Mirror (DBP 2009) | Blow (DBP 2008) | Blazing Birds (DBP 2007)

The avenues that are available to "real" game developers can be explored through XNA for a potential CG game. You go to a publisher, ask them to publish your game. If they agree, they then go to Microsoft and work out a deal on your game's behalf. You probably won't get the 70% revenue that Microsoft offers by going through another publisher, also you'll need to comply with all guidelines and regulations, but your game should (in theory) get exponentially more sales due to being XBLA, achievements, leaderboards, etc.

I'm actually working on an XNA title where we've spoken with some publishers. The general word right now is "Let's see it again when it's closer to being complete," but at least that's better than no.

  I've finished the 70 "regular" levels and I'm moving on to the "adventure" mode.  What's the difference between the three options - I haven't seen anything that describes what each is/means.

  Speaking of documentation, the "help" section needs some additions as well - it doesn't cover everything.  There are a few elements of the game that I'd like refreshing on WITHOUT having to restart the tutorial.  (How certain color backgrounds affect the bubbles, for instance)

  Otherwise, this is an awesome game.  I can claim that "I'm addicted to Blow" without worrying my health, what my family & friends think, or having the DEA visit my house...  :)

   - Rok

 Rokntek wrote:

  I've finished the 70 "regular" levels and I'm moving on to the "adventure" mode.  What's the difference between the three options - I haven't seen anything that describes what each is/means.

He answered this quite well in the 2nd post in the thread.  You play through a "year" of increasing harder levels.  You can play through this year with one month per level, one week per level, or one day per level.

-Rexkix

All 70? Well done! It's not easy :)

As for the options in Adventure mode.  You're right, it's not explained.  Adventure mode is one calendar year long, and the 3 options determine how quickly you move through the year.  If you choose "Normal (Week)" then every time you beat a level, one week goes by.  This means that by choosing "Epic (Day)" it will take you 365 levels to complete this mode.

I've made a note on adding "Zone" help to the "How To Play" section.  Thanks.

Dave

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The Headsman | Mirror (DBP 2009) | Blow (DBP 2008) | Blazing Birds (DBP 2007)

 Dagfari wrote:

All 70? Well done! It's not easy :)

I thought I was going to have to give up when I got to the level with fans stacked 3-deep in four directions, with a flower smack-dab in the middle!

If an update offers the ability to re-play completed levels, maybe you could post some informal "author's challenges", like 'complete level x using only y points worth of fans'.  Of course, then we'd need a snapshot feature to prove ourselves.  :)

 Dagfari wrote:

As for the options in Adventure mode.  You're right, it's not explained.  Adventure mode is one calendar year long, and the 3 options determine how quickly you move through the year.  If you choose "Normal (Week)" then every time you beat a level, one week goes by.  This means that by choosing "Epic (Day)" it will take you 365 levels to complete this mode.

Hmmm...  Seeing as I started on March 1st and have been progressing a single day with each completed level, I guess I picked "Epic", huh?  :)  Well - it'll be a while before I start a new game then!

Thanks for the breakdown - it makes things a little clearer than the <ahem> "2nd post in the thread", which still left me wondering...

 Dagfari wrote:

I've made a note on adding "Zone" help to the "How To Play" section.  Thanks.

Thank you - and thanks again for an awesome game.  I'm not going to put down the other Community game authors, but the quality of this (IMHO) ranks higher than some of the XBLA games...

   - Rok

 Rokntek wrote:

Seeing as I started on March 1st

In case anyone is wondering, the Adventure mode starts in the month of March because it begins in the spring time.  As you move through the year, the seasons change from;

Spring (no wind and no temperature)
Summer (no wind to gentle breeze and no temperature to very hot)
Autumn (no wind to very windy and slightly cool to slightly warm)
Winter (no wind to very windy and no temperature to very cold)

The wind and temperature are randomly set for each level within these ranges.

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The Headsman | Mirror (DBP 2009) | Blow (DBP 2008) | Blazing Birds (DBP 2007)

Hi Roknek,

 Rokntek wrote:

Thanks for the breakdown - it makes things a little clearer than the <ahem> "2nd post in the thread", which still left me wondering...

You must be referring to my comment.  The "2nd post in the thread" I mentioned referred to Dagfari's post, the second one in this thread.  I thought he explained Adventure mode quite well there.  But, after pointing you to the developer's own words, I also tried to clarify by saying: "You play through a 'year' of increasing harder levels.  You can play through this year with one month per level, one week per level, or one day per level."

With respect, what was missing Dagfari's first explanation and repeated in mine, that was included in Dagfari's (more nicely worded) third one?

-Rexkix

 REXKIX wrote:

With respect, what was missing Dagfari's first explanation and repeated in mine, that was included in Dagfari's (more nicely worded) third one?

  I didn't find enough dots to connect in the first explanation - didn't completely click.  But your continued description, as well as Dave's, filled in the blanks...

  Thanks,
     - Rok

 Dagfari wrote:

Spring (no wind and no temperature)
Summer (no wind to gentle breeze and no temperature to very hot)
Autumn (no wind to very windy and slightly cool to slightly warm)
Winter (no wind to very windy and no temperature to very cold)

  Ah...  Still plugging through April with no "weather" to contend with - was wondering if I was going to come across those later on.

  Thanks for mentioning those though - don't know if I would've picked up on that otherwise...  :)

    - Rok