Beta 2: General Discussion

[VernJensen]

Post here for bug reports / suggestions /questions about the game itself, not a specific mansion.

[RobSeegel]

Initial Thoughts

- I really like the resolution screen and option to play w/in a window instead of full screen. This was one thing that irritated me about the original. I think the various video options should also be part of the Options dialog accessible through the Options

button

or the Midnight Mansion -> Preferences... Menubutton.

- Graphics and Music on opening screens a jump forward! Very nice.

Choose Player Dialog:

- Should some character filtering be done on the Names? I was able to add a player using non-printable characters which were displayed differently in various screens. This may not be a big deal - I was able to use the profile, regardless of how weird it looked, and I could delete it fine.

Graphics:

I like the new graphics. In general, they feel crisper, cleaner than last version. Also, I really like the environmental effects, though they can be slightly distracting sometimes - especially in screens where there is already a lot going on.

I recall in the first game that some effects slowed down all the animation on the screen noticeably making Jack look as though he was walking/jumping in slow motion. Hopefully these new effects don't lead to the same. So far, so good.

Some things (especially trees) seemed a bit off compared to other graphics, but not enough to be too distracting.

Gameplay - So far, it doesn't appear radically different from the original. I suppose this could be a good and a bad thing. Good, because if it's not broken, why fix it, right? ;-) On the other hand, the changes I've seen so far haven't been enough to offer much in the way of new puzzles. The again, that's just an initial observation, which will likely change as I test more dungeons.

I've already sent Anthony some comment on the tutorial dungeon which was very well done. I'm working through Castle Basano (all levels) now. I'll post those comments to that topic.

So far, I've really liked what I've seen! Most of what I sent to Anthony was extremely minor stuff. Wording in messages, mostly.

[VernJensen]

734E4372444446444D210 wrote: Gameplay - So far, it doesn't appear radically different from the original. I suppose this could be a good and a bad thing. Good, because if it's not broken, why fix it, right? ;-) On the other hand, the changes I've seen so far haven't been enough to offer much in the way of new puzzles. The again, that's just an initial observation, which will likely change as I test more dungeons.

Try Jasperlone Mountain (left side) and Mt. Peril. If you still think there's not much new after playing those mansions, let me know. ;-) I think the way moving platforms are used there, the feel of the game is changed pretty significantly.

[jasweena]

In one of these threads (can't remember which one, now) I saw mention of a tester mode that gives you unlimited lives - how do I access that?

[hawaii]

555E4C485A5A515E3F0 wrote: In one of these threads (can't remember which one, now) I saw mention of a tester mode that gives you unlimited lives - how do I access that?

Open the game. Hit esc on your key board. Once the pop up appears asking you if you want to pause, cancel etc., just type in these words

extra life

. Every time you type them you will hear a sound. Each sound is an extra life for Jack. So type it repeatedly for approx. 20 lives to start.
Hit esc again to bring you back to the game.
Repeat every time you need more live.

[RobSeegel]

7F7660767E7E170 wrote: Repeat every time you need more live.   

Personally, I think you should try to avoid using this unless absolutely necessary (perhaps for some of the more difficult mansions). It will give you a better idea of how the mansion would play from a regular player's perspective. Just my .02 - everyone has their own approach.

You can  always open a mansion in the Midnight Mansion Builder app and test an individual screen over and over again. Often, when I'm testing, I'll have the Game up in one window, and the MMB in another with the mansion I'm testing loaded, and I'll switch back and forth as necessary.

This reminds me - one thing that would be very handy in MMB would be the ability to preload Jack's inventory with keys, lantern, and/or shields prior to testing a room. Maybe it is possible and I don't know how. Up until now, I've been dropping whatever I'm looking to

preload

into the room, then saving it before testing. I'd prefer to be able to do this without making any changes to the room.

[Semi-Native]

Music in MM2

I love the new music for the mansions in MM2, it really fits well with the new graphics and gameplay. And I personally feel that when the old music from MM1 is used, it just doesn't feel right, it clashes and changes the atmosphere. I think music in MM2 should be all the new selections.

[joeb]

Hi all. Since I am more a designer than a player I've been in the editor and have found a few things.
1. When using the first set of gray marble tiles on level 6 as I was moving some tiles I noticed that there were some graphic issues with trying to replace a tile. I would lose part on the tile, usually the upper right main part of the tile. This resulted in a sort of sawtooth pattern instead of a smooth surface.
2. Jack hiccup, when starting up a room in the test mode on Jack's first jump there is a noticeable delay in his reaction. Other items on the screen continue to move and after the first hiccup he reacts correctly. This also happens after he dies, the first jump has this delay.
3. Don't know if this is by design but clouds mountains and some other sprites seem to be limited to layer 0. Would be nice if these sprites could be set to be on the level where they're created. i.e. a cloud on layer 6 would be in front of rope/vine on layer 4.
4. This is a wish list thing and I understand how difficult it probably is (I believe I know what Vern is programming in as I have seen him on the boards for that tool) but it would be nice if there was a layer that moved so clouds could move and minor parallax effects could be enabled. Again, just a

would be nice

thing.

Joe B

[jasweena]

Thank you Missy and Rob! I'm going to try both approaches and see which I like better.

[VernJensen]

Thanks for the suggestions joe. At this point, I won't be adding any new features to the game. Only tweaking existing features to make them work better, if necessary.

Believe me, I have tons tons tons of ideas for MM 3. But to get MM 2 released, gotta focus on what's essential.