Nifflas' Support Forum

Released Games => Knytt Underground => Topic started by: Nifflas on February 15, 2013, 20:55:54

Title: Big update coming soon!
Post by: Nifflas on February 15, 2013, 20:55:54
Hi!

Good news, I can put the three chapters that were originally only in the PS3/Vita versions of KU into the desktop releases. The process of implementing them is pretty much done. Thing is, the game is on greenlight and I'd like to bring as much attention around the game as possible to get more votes, and maybe I can use the new content to make a new push for the game.

Maybe I should add even more content while I'm at it, but I'm looking for some ideas here. What would you like to see? What I add won't be part of chapter 1-3, but it can be secrets or new challenges accessible from the menu. Maybe I should make a new museum and ask people here and on twitter to make art exhibitions and/or other silly stuff? Do you know any other ways I could involve people on the internet (it'd be really cool if it's in a way that can get some additional media attention around the game).

I won't spend tons of time on this new update, but maybe a week or two of level design, so please let me know what you'd like me to do!

Obviously the update will be available to everybody who have purchased the game.
Title: Re: Big update coming soon!
Post by: sergiocornaga on February 16, 2013, 02:00:06
I'd love to see another secret area like Neon Fall, that area had amazing atmosphere (especially the non-challenge portions).

I think I'll finish making those plant/scenic objects I mentioned if you're still interested. The photographs are all taken, but I stopped short of the processing/transparency stage when the PC release was rushed ahead a little.
Title: Re: Big update coming soon!
Post by: Fubaka on February 16, 2013, 02:13:35
Y'know, this might be a bit of a stretch, but if it were possible to add the swimming mechanics from The Great Work into this game, to be utilized in new areas and eventually community-made levels, on top of what is already available, I think that would be marvelous.

Personally though, I'd think one of the best things you could do to attract more attention to the game would be to make the level editor available.  I'd say that alone is the reason Knytt Stories is still popular, and I want to get started on the sequel to my KS level!  :P

Those would likely be more long-term though, so, in terms of a new area that can be done in a few weeks, I'd be interested in seeing a short chapter that involved a different character.  It could be anyone, from any facet of the story.  I just want to see the narrative of this game expand a little more.
Title: Re: Big update coming soon!
Post by: CheezyWEAPON on February 16, 2013, 02:41:35
I wouldn't mind seeing more bizarre, abstract places. Like a lit-up Disorder.

If there was a super thing I'd want to see, I'd like to see a Juni mode. Just have her with all of her powers (except cloak.. which is already just a reskinned Mi), make her jump a little higher than Mi (to gap the distance between Mi and Bob), and map the umbrella to the action button. Boom. Instant nostalgia.

or just have a level called The Glitch and have fruit in the sky and upside-down lava and bipolar robots that destroy each other/mimic the players movements/able to push buttons.

And then at the end
Spoiler: (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Big update coming soon!
Post by: Fubaka on February 16, 2013, 02:51:26
Quote from: CheezyWEAPON on February 16, 2013, 02:41:35
If there was a super thing I'd want to see, I'd like to see a Juni mode. Just have her with all of her powers (except cloak.. which is already just a reskinned Mi), make her jump a little higher than Mi (to gap the distance between Mi and Bob), and map the umbrella to the action button. Boom. Instant nostalgia.

Spoiler: Regarding Juni (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Big update coming soon!
Post by: PONTO on February 16, 2013, 12:25:10
Just throwing this out there... There are a couple of sections where we can't use Bob, only Mi... How about a level that works the opposite way?

Also, since Mi is reskinned in different levels, why not have one where Bob changes his own colour? Or even his physics! Yes, I miss WaDF.
Title: Re: Big update coming soon!
Post by: Nifflas on February 16, 2013, 16:07:24
I'll not add new features at this point, unless it can be done using the game's scripting features. Luckily, I have a few fun ideas that can be done with those that I may try out.

By the way, Here's (http://www.ni2.se/temp/KUEditor.zip) the developer editor for Knytt Underground. It's not at all intended for anyone but myself, so the interface isn't that nice. For example, in the room editor you have to press 1,2,3,4,5 to switch between editor modes, and after saving with Ctrl+S you need to press F12 for a program to repair World.bin file which the "binary array" extension breaks for some reason. Without repairing the file, the game may crash when loading World.bin - however, if no room exists in the top-left corner of the map, pressing probably F12 destroys the entire World.bin file so make sure to leave a room there.

Some copy/paste features in the editor doesn't work right at all. So again, while the game is very nice and solid on the inside, the editor is in fact not. It has been hacked together to work with any new feature I've added to the game. That's why I really want to make a user friendly editor for the public (but it's unfortunately a lot of work).

I'd happily provide the MMF2 source for the editor if anyone wants it.

Anyway, my point is this: If you create some cool areas that matches the quality of the rest of the game, it'd be my honor to add it as a part of this update. Just don't make it too big (in that case, it may not fit into the current map). This is a chance to get your own level content into the main game!
Title: Re: Big update coming soon!
Post by: AA on February 16, 2013, 21:29:29
^ After having a quick look at the editor, I think it'd be better if someone worked on improving it rather than starting one from scratch (I've been working on and off on adapting my KS Java Editor to KU, but the result isn't looking any better than the official editor). It doesn't look user-unfriendly to me - definitely better than the one for Saira - too bad you said some things are broken.

I also wanted to ask this for a while: how does the RGB Coefficient parameter for Objects work exactly? I know it's not a colour mask, but I can't figure out how it alters the colours.
Title: Re: Big update coming soon!
Post by: Nifflas on February 16, 2013, 22:14:08
It multiplies the channels. In other words, a completely white pixel will get exactly the color of the RGB coefficient (which is why a white coefficient doesn't do anything to the image). A completely black pixel is black already and cannot be affected.
Title: Re: Big update coming soon!
Post by: lilmanjs16 on February 16, 2013, 23:31:08
This is great news! Now we won't get to miss out on these awesome chapters(I'm sure they are awesome even though I've not played them) from the console versions. When did you get the go ahead to be able to put them in the desktop versions?
Title: Re: Big update coming soon!
Post by: Nifflas on February 16, 2013, 23:40:15
About a week back, I think.

Just got to add new stuff into the game now :D
Title: Re: Big update coming soon!
Post by: Dj Gopher on February 17, 2013, 02:25:46
Some more modifications to the ending could be fun, like maybe little things here or there that open up a cilia blurb, or something that lets you roam the surface a bit.

Also, maybe those areas in chapter 1 that are supposed to be unaccessible (that now warp you to the bottom of the screen) could have something there? Even if it's just the Nifflas character angrily showing up and yelling at me for trying to break the game, something might be fun. :)
Title: Re: Big update coming soon!
Post by: AA on February 17, 2013, 09:16:30
Quote from: Nifflas on February 16, 2013, 22:14:08
It multiplies the channels. In other words, a completely white pixel will get exactly the color of the RGB coefficient (which is why a white coefficient doesn't do anything to the image). A completely black pixel is black already and cannot be affected.

Thank you! I think I've got it down now.
Title: Re: Big update coming soon!
Post by: Nifflas on February 17, 2013, 14:30:49
So, here's my idea right now!

I want to run a "ask the fairies" thing. Or more "ask the characters in Knytt Underground" but it doesn't sound as catchy. The point is that you can either on twitter (with a specific hashtag) or on my website ask one of the characters in my game any question about anything. One of my game dev friends in Copenhagen is trying to convince me to limit it to twitter to get the most exposure. Either way, I'll take a bunch of questions that I can elaborate on the most and make small stories in the game around the answers. Each such story will open with the question and the name of whoever submitted it. Anyone who gets a question answered also gets a free copy of the game (that can also be given as a gift, in case the person already has a copy).

It's the best idea I've been able to come up with because it's quite fun to do, yet it involves more people and can help spread the game and hopefully get it greenlit on Steam.
Title: Re: Big update coming soon!
Post by: LPChip on February 17, 2013, 14:41:52
Great idea. I would start with tweeting about this. I'd happily retweet it for you. :)

I'd tweet something like:

"Want to ask the fairies in Knytt Underground a question? Twitter it with #KU_askthefaries and it might end up in the game!"
Title: Re: Big update coming soon!
Post by: Nifflas on February 17, 2013, 15:00:58
I'll put it up on the website at the same time as I start tweeting about it so there's a bigger description of what's going on and how it works. All help retweeting is appreciated, and of course asking questions! It should also be possible to ask Mi, Juni, or Nicklas (it's a-me) questions, so it'd be nice with another name than "ask the fairies" but as catchy.

Anyone got a suggestion for what the event should be called?

Oh, and in addition, the big update needs a name too. I'm putting time into making this update really good, so I want to make a trailer for the update and give it a name so that people can actually tell each other easily. It's more likely that people will be like "Hey, have you checked out the Knytt Underground Sprünkeldünkel Update?" than "You should get version 1.2, it's really good!" - so what do you think it should be called?

Finally, I'm still completely open to adding custom rooms and challenges that you've made in the editor to the game, the deadline for this is the end of February.
Title: Re: Big update coming soon!
Post by: LPChip on February 17, 2013, 15:07:32
Oh about the update... Will you have a chance to actually put me in the music credits this time? X)
Title: Re: Big update coming soon!
Post by: Nifflas on February 17, 2013, 15:19:57
Yeah (sorry about my mistake)! I've already added you, so you'll definitely be in it.
Title: Re: Big update coming soon!
Post by: Zelakon on February 17, 2013, 16:49:37
Quote from: LPChip on February 17, 2013, 14:41:52
"Want to ask the fairies in Knytt Underground a question? Twitter it with #KU_askthefaries and it might end up in the game!"

alternatively...

"The fairies in Knytt Underground are hosting their very-own Q&A session! Ask away with #KU_fairiechat and it may be included in the game ;]"
Title: Re: Big update coming soon!
Post by: Nifflas on February 18, 2013, 03:09:22
I had to expand the map a bit to support more rooms. It seems that the total size of the world after the update will be 2160 rooms, 'cause I want to fill all the blanks :D
Title: Re: Big update coming soon!
Post by: Fubaka on February 18, 2013, 03:19:23
Wow.  Looking at the editor you've provided, I really have no clue how to operate it. :P

Assuming it isn't too much of a hassle, I'd appreciate it if I could be given an instruction manual of some kind for this thing.  If I can figure out how to work the editor, I would be delighted to help contribute to the update.
Title: Re: Big update coming soon!
Post by: Nifflas on February 18, 2013, 03:28:19
I forgot that it needs to sit in a folder called Editor within the games folder. If it's in a protected path such as the Program Files folder, it needs admin rights too.

I'll try to get an update to the editor up tomorrow night which doesn't require the F12 hack (we got that fixed) and some other fixes.
Title: Re: Big update coming soon!
Post by: back seat astronaut on February 21, 2013, 06:43:53
Heh, this always happens to me.  I check the forums every day in case anything exciting happens (like a level editor being posted) and then finally I forget to check for a few days, and when I check again, I realize a level editor was posted five days ago!  Heh.  I'm probably too stupid to figure out how to use it though, so probably not a big deal.  But still.  If I can figure out simply how to create a new level and create rooms with tiles and objects, so I can start building rooms for a level, that alone is plenty exciting!  Now, to try to figure out how to do those things....
Title: Re: Big update coming soon!
Post by: J on February 21, 2013, 09:24:33
"Dear Dr Mi. Would you eat the mushroom?" X-P
Title: Re: Big update coming soon!
Post by: rrc2soft on February 22, 2013, 03:19:40
Quote from: J on February 21, 2013, 09:24:33
"Dear Dr Mi. Would you eat the mushroom?" X-P

With comments from Cillia and Dora. That would be trippy  :crazy:
(Hint: Cillia could become like Dora, and Dora could become like Cillia)
Title: Re: Big update coming soon!
Post by: Saml on February 24, 2013, 01:11:21
Hey Nifflas, could I take a look at the editor source? Pretty please? No promises, but I would love to try and improve the interface.

EDIT: whoops, didn't even bother opening the zip before I posted that.
Title: Re: Big update coming soon!
Post by: sergiocornaga on February 24, 2013, 06:13:07
Quote from: Nifflas on February 18, 2013, 03:28:19
I'll try to get an update to the editor up tomorrow night which doesn't require the F12 hack (we got that fixed) and some other fixes.

Any news on this? I've been holding out.
Title: Re: Big update coming soon!
Post by: Nifflas on February 24, 2013, 12:12:24
Yeah, sorry! Should have done this already, just a tricky week. It's not actually a lot of work.