Closing in – new demo

Update: new demo (v0.3.5) available.

We are getting close to beta stage, I mean, having a complete version, with all features and levels, that will eventually evolve to be a release candidate. Our schedule is very aggressive, so we’ll publish a new demo version (0.3.x) in the next couple of hours. The new features are very interesting:

• 3rd level is now available (as planned);
• New GUI status message on the bottom (to help figuring out important events);
• Warping (New Game Mechanic!!!)

I’ll talk a bit about the warping system since this mechanic took a while to develop and changes some bits in gameplay. It’s now possible to do brief warps through the track by tapping twice to the same side or by pressing the mouse button. It’s a brief but useful advantage, specially for the novice player.

However, the warp consumes stamina very fast, and it’s not possible to activate it if the level of this resource is lower than 75%. We think this is interesting because it becomes difficult to the player to use this advantage at the finish line, unless he is very good in saving his stamina. On the other hand, it’s a good tool for the start, which is been a disapointment to some players to see the AIs going fast from the beggining.

We hope you enjoy this new feature and also expect some feedback since it’s still being calibrated.

In the next (long) post I’ll talk about the 4th and last level (mechanics variation) and some features planned to the final release of the game.

Here’s a new screenshot of the 3rd level starting line:

3rd level screenshot

New development update and demo version

A new demo is available (V0.2.1), this time including a playable level 2:

Sperm Racer Demo

This release includes the following features:

• Playable level 2 (has to finish at least 3rd on level 1);
• Added soundFX for collision, damage and powerup picking;
• New song for the second level;
• Now there are maps before each level, that help find the way through the level;

Bugs corrected:

• Position computation was wrong when some sperms die, now correct.

The next release is planed to september 15th. The most important planed feature is the addition of the third level (fallopium tube).

We’re also considering implementing an online high-score system for the fastest sperms around.

New screenshot of the second level:

Second level - Uterus

New Demo Version – 0.1.9

New demo version, adding the following features:

• Life system (finish 3rd or up to continue, no more lives -> game over);
• Much improved GUI with nice buttons and messages;
• Improved graphics and displacement of obstacles;
• Powerups now ON;
• Difficulty Levels (need balance, but already there);

The link is the same, from the graphic designr website:

Sperm Racer – V0.1.9

Here, some screenshots:

New main menu - difficulty levelsPowerup pickers

Powerup pickers

Finally the demo…

Here is the link for the first playable demo of Sperm Racer:

http://www.pedrothiago.com/spermracer.html

Please wait a bit before clicking on the start button, the fisrt level takes some time to load (I’ll fix this on the next release).

Plus, we have some new artwork of the powerups and current screenshots:

Sperm Racer Powerups

Main Menu background

Development screenshot form today