Hammerkind (game: fight, build, climb) I need testers for offline 2player mode!

[Stephen]

Go download on the game's little web page!
Or look at a bunch of screenshots here!

» Fight shale imps to collect grist, to build, to climb!
» 6-7 different powerups that you can purchase (using shale, of course)!
» Special unlockable game modes!
» At-home multiplayer! (No online functionality yet, sorry.)
» Secrets!
» Tons of (midi) music inspired by songs from Homestuck canon!
» Lots of love for the first three acts!
» Extra-canon boss battle!
» So many surprises. All of the surprises.

Hammerkind features original game mechanics, inspired by webcomic you know and love, or probably do if you’re here reading this. Go see a handful of SCREENSHOTS here if you’d like, or just download the game and give it a try!

WARNING: Hammerkind has weird physics, and will not function like most platformers or brawlers. The jump has no air-control, John accelerates quickly while running, and the way attacks work is odd. Part of the game is learning to use this to your advantage!

change log:

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update 1.1 (5/17/2011)
-- Fixed manthro-related crash introduced in update 1

update 1 (5/17/2011)
-- Changed sprite for W magnets
-- Changed an easter egg
-- Fixed an unlock that wasn't working
-- The descriptions for two skins are no longer switched
-- Fixed a bug where sound wouldn't unmute properly
-- Added a description of changing weapons to the tutorials

update 0.1 (5/14/2011)
-- Fixed crash when attempting to shop in Impocalypse

known unresolved bugs:

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-- Some players receive an error message on launch "Error reading real" and the game cannot run.
-- Some players have problems with platforms disappearing when imps walk on them. If you are having this problem, try the alternate download at the bottom of the Hammerkind page.

All questions, comments, and complaints are welcome in this thread! Feel free also to share hints or ask for them from other players.

[basicParadox]

Wow, that's pretty awesome. I'll definitely keep an eye on this!

[Obselescence]

I was going to type something witty

but then I realized that it wouldn't do justice to the sheer splendor.

[vociferocity]

whoa this looks cool

[Silarial]

This is exciting! I still have the version you made a long time ago; I can't wait to see what this update holds!

[Varkarrus]

I still PLAY this game!

[Roundy210]

Wow, this looks like it's going to be

wait this is one of those pc only things i bet oh dammit

[Candice Dionysus]

I am immediately excited to play this.

[Stephen]

Aah, thanks so much for all the kind words, everyone!

wait this is one of those pc only things i bet oh dammit

The thing is, way back when I started this, the only way I knew how to program was with Game Maker. And Game Maker has, until recently, been a windows-only thing.

I now have GM4Mac, which means I can do a Mac port! Unfortunately, GM4Mac is awful. Just about anything even slightly advanced or subtle that you can do in GM, doesn't work in GM4Mac. So, after I release this, I'll get working on a Mac version. It will take some work to get things functional, and it may be missing some graphical touches. But a Mac version will exist, eventually!

[Stephen]

I made a signature banner!

It's not as pretty as I'd like to make it, but I'll put together something nicer when I'm not busy coding.

Also, to answer a couple questions I've been asked elsewhere:

1) No, unfortunately, this is not multiplayer over the internet. I agree that would be really, really cool, but it's just outside the scope of this game. I'm getting things done by keeping my goals reasonable! There is, however, an unlockable option that lets a friend control Rose's cursor with your mouse.

2) Yes, of course Hammerkind will be free. It couldn't possibly exist as anything other than a free game, because it was made to be played. That's even beside the obvious fact that I don't own the rights to any of the characters and about half of the art. I will be taking donations, because I'm broke and desperate. Don't let that stop you from playing the game, though! The best way you could compensate me is just by letting people know this exists.

3) It's based on the first three acts, which obviously implies followup games based on later parts of Homestuck. I might make something like that. I'd love to, but it depends on so many weird life things that it seems unlikely. Right now I'm just focusing on getting Hammerkind done before everything else catches up to me.

[Steel Dragon]

I was just just talking to someone about how we need a Homestuck platformer. This is fortuitous to the extreme.

[Coryn Sken]

noice! can't wait to play it!

[Jossar]

Joining the massive praise for this. What kind of alternative modes are there if not multiplayer (unless they're supposed to be secret unlockables)?

[Blaperile]

It would be cool if there's Survival Mode. Like, fighting on one platform against imps or something like that. Or just going up without any gates to reach.

[Stephen]

There is in fact a survival mode! It's called "Impocalypse" -- rose throws down a handful of platforms then goes away for a while, meanwhile you've got to see how long you can last against an ever-escalating swarm of imps. Your score is how long you survive.

The main game also has Easy, Normal, and Hard difficulties. Hard is there in case you feel like playing a second time, and want a little more challenge since you're already so good at this. Easy is in case you can't beat Normal is too much.

There's a "Stupid" difficulty for the masochistic that may or may not be possible. And there are two top-secret hidden game types.

[Roundy210]

What do you want to bet that some crazy asshole will find a way to beat Stupid mode!

[callowCartographer]

This looks AWESOME. OMG.

[Varkarrus]

Back when this was first made we didn't know about the ogres :P

As a game mechanic, can we have every imp that falls off come back as an ogre?

[Stephen]

Ho man. I've been spending unhealthy amounts of time on this especially for the last month or so, except when I get distracted playing it. To finally have it getting ready to release is a huge deal, and a little disorienting. I think "elated" would be the word.

Stupid difficulty: It's definitively maybe possible. If someone beats it, I'll only be a little bit surprised, but I will be very, very impressed. To be clear, though: "Hard" is not "yes I have played videogames before" mode, it is especially difficult. And "Stupid" mode is not just "extra-hard" — it truly is rather stupid, and not recommended for normal play.

Ogres: These guys as a miniboss are on my "99,999 things I would love to add if I could update this nearly as fast as Andrew updates Homestuck" list. Unfortunately, without a budget and a team, 99,990 of those things are going to remain undone.

[NachoGrande96]

Hey, is the boss still the same, or did you change him? I really wouldn't care either way, this game is definitely one I'm keeping my eye on, and I'm glad to see you're still working on it!

[PlumFinder]

YES! I still have and play version 1.1 (and I still haven't beat Stupid mode).
Can't wait to play this one.

[NachoGrande96]

Has anyone else here gotten 3 handed mode yet?

[Stephen]

The 2009 "3 handed mode" has evolved into a plain ol' two-player mode. There's more stuff for the person with the mouse to do, and more difficulties to make up for the huge advantage.

I mean, it's possible to play Two Player by yourself if you set custom controls in the right way, but if I've done my job right, it won't be easy. The old 3-Handed mode was exploitable pretty badly.

[Filio]

This, is, awesome.
Hopefully this will be finished!

Although I don't remember it (because I RARELY visit this section of the forums) I think it will go well.

[Stephen]

New development! As I get closer to release, testing becomes more and more important. And some of my existing testers have become rather busy lately, so I'm going to need a couple more. This is what I'm looking for:

1) That you're the sort of person who likes to try everything, experiment with game systems, and find bugs!
2) That you try to refrain from suggesting tons of ideas for new things to add or change. (lots of reasons for this)
3) That you can answer these three questions well: what you liked, what you didn't like, and what was confusing.

If you've got some free time, PM me to volunteer! I'd like you to play the game as it is, give feedback as much as possible, and then as I add the various finishing touches, keep testing (as I'll almost certainly introduce more bugs as I go).

EDIT: that's about enough. Thank you all, everyone who applied! I can't take on too many beta testers or I'll lose track of things.