Free+Good=Innos

Posted by Reek on Aug. 28, 2008, 8:40 p.m.

I just compiled the Beta version of TTD into an install package using Innos. Download it at www.innosetup.com

It was soooo much easier than I thought it would be. Some of the forum posts said that it was complicated (and it can be if you want to delve deep) but …

Torque Power?

Posted by Reek on Aug. 26, 2008, 11:14 p.m.

I have been tinkering with Torque Game Builder, and wondered if it is really any better than Gamemaker. It certainly is more complicated and expensive.

Some of the things that seem good about it:

• All scripts and resources are externally loaded.

• Advanced 3D capabilities

• Drag and drop …

How Slow Can You Go?

Posted by Reek on Aug. 24, 2008, 1:56 p.m.

Private beta testing has started on TTD, and I discovered something I hadn't really considered: Gamemaker play speed on older computers.

I program and test on a decent ($1,200 retail, 1 year-old) notebook and/or my slightly older but powerful in it's day 3.2ghz P4 desktop. They both run TTD at …

Getting closer

Posted by Reek on Aug. 20, 2008, 12:22 a.m.

My self-imposed goal to release Techno Tower Defense by August 30th is coming up faster and faster.

Some cool news that has developed is that I will have at least one or possibly more original songs by Makke, a musical composer that has done some really great music. The url …

New and Improved? AI is MIA...

Posted by Reek on Aug. 16, 2008, 12:09 a.m.

Software companies strive to improve their products,right? Well what's the definition of "improved"? What if software had some modicum of intelligence built into it? Now that would be progress. Here's an example:

A rep from Intuit called me about two years ago, because my wife had registered her version of …

Game Evolution

Posted by Reek on Aug. 14, 2008, 8:24 p.m.

Any large project can take on a life of its own I suppose. Techno TD has certainly been that way. A feature that I never even thought of until recently has now become an integral part of the game, and I am compelled to backtrack a bit in order to …

It's Official: There 's no such thing as script_add() or The Lock Ness Monster

Posted by Reek on Aug. 10, 2008, 11:40 p.m.

I have been wracking my brain and searching the net trying to find a way to externally store my Game Maker scripts as text files. It's official- there is no script_add() function.

Have you heard of the three-legged tripod of quality? You can pick any two out of fast, good, …

Size Does Matter

Posted by Reek on Aug. 10, 2008, 12:01 a.m.

Chatting with fprefect111 about loading all resources externally (See 'Death by a Thousand Tweaks') got me thinking about what I've learned so far in the three months or so I've been working on this game.

Looking back at my old versions (You DO keep a folder for all of your …

Blogging about the Blog about the Game

Posted by Reek on Aug. 9, 2008, 9:51 a.m.

It's amazing to me how many "firsts" in life you can have, no matter what your age. For example, this is the first blog I've actually ever written. And I'm waaaay older than the average 64digits / Game Maker guy.

And this is the first time I've actually made a …

Death by a Thousand Tweaks

Posted by Reek on Aug. 8, 2008, 7:45 p.m.

I literally have a carpal tunnel flare-up from doing so many tweaks to the GUI and the major game variables the last two days. And looking at the Game Maker load screen for 30 seconds each time I want to test a change I made isn't so fun either.

The …