Author: T.R. Schmidt

Since my PC is too slow for most game-capturing software (Core2Duo E7200/Radeon HD5700) while running Zerocron, I finally seem to have found a nice and free open source alternative: Open Broadcaster Software (OBS).

All others I tried either were too CPU-hungry and/or had trouble recording sound.

OBS also didn´t perform so good out of the box, I first had to tweak the settings a bit. Basically I changed the H264-encoding to “ultrafast” with medium quality, resulting in low-cpu and hdd-usage. In case you have the same problem, I thought I´d share my settings with you, relevant stuff is marked yellow. Screenshots are from OBS Version 0.657b.

Replaced the boring credit-scroller with something more original, fixed some minor bugs and added a total death-count.

So, additionally to maximizing your highscore you could try to keep your total death count low.

Today I tweaked Zerocrons audio-effects, it sounds more balanced now and if there´s a lot shooting and explosions simultaneously there is no more acoustic inferno. Also internally, I updated all audio-functions to Game Makers new audio-system.

I just uploaded a new beta-version of Zerocron with improved joypad support and would be glad about some feedback.

Does it run on your system? Are the controls working fine? Everything running smoothly?

Go and blast some aliens for me :)!

Joypad-Controls are now finished, tested with two Xbox controllers. With fallback for older joypads, tested with a logitech playstation2-like-controller. Also, joystick-detection slowdownbug fixed.

And for your amusement: I somewhen accidently incremented engine smoke size instead of decreasing it. Looks even more funky in movement.

After some betatesting (still not much feedback, though) I´m now working on a more universal gamepad support. It seems older controllers work fine with the existing code, but not Xbox compatible ones. But the Xbox compatible functions don´t support the old joypads – so I guess I have to combine both.

Finally, I think it´s time for a closed beta of Zerocron, or else I´ll get stuck in endlessy tweaking the game.

Known things to do:

1. Extro is missing
2. More music would be nice
3. Sound effects and volume need finetuning
4. Bosses may be to easy since my last changes
5. Credit roll is boring and will be replaced
6. Xbox-Controller support missing
7. Highscore leaderboard

Known Bugs:

1. Joypad detections slows game down for some seconds after starting
2. Some backgrounds have a display bug at the bottom

As an easteregg, I wanted to include the space station of Environmental Station Alpha as a background image, but sadly got no reply by it´s author, Hempuli. So I removed it and replaced it with incredible pictures of Pluto (thank you, Nasa)!

Since my PC is still to slow for screengrabbing-software, here a new preview, filmed with my camera:

I wasn´t sure if it still was possible to buy Warblade / Deluxe Galaga (see my last post…) or if my money would be lost on some paypal-account, but I just had to try and some days later I got an email:

First of all We want to regret that it has taken a long time and that you have
not received an answer or the product you paid for.

We are sorry to inform you that Edgar has passed away this spring (2015) after a short illness.

We are currently working to send out the Warblade game to everyone who bought the game.

We also want to thank you so much for buying Warblade !!

…

Yours sincerely
Warblade Team

So, better late than never, I guess, thanks Edgar and whoever now manages the warblade-orders. And since then I had a lot of fun playing the full version of warblade with my son. It´s not easy to keep up with him, he´s quite good at shmups ;).

I just found out that Edgar M. Vigdal, author of one of my favourite SHMUPs died earlier this year.

I remember how impressed I was that he constantly worked on Deluxe Galaga and its successor Warblade since the good old Amiga times in 1995. Thats 20 years! Hell, he even had a successfull kickstarter campaign running for Warblade MK II and started a Deluxe Galaga Remake. God, how that frustates me.