PUZZLE MODE SAVE STATES ARE NOW *LIVE*! - Have fun!
I've now implemented PUZZLE MODE PROGRESS SAVING!
...complete with a message on the level previews to show those levels with games in progress/saved, if TetraLogical finds a save state for the previewed level and difficulty settings! (ie. Puzzle Mode, Hard, Level 14, etc)
So, NOW, if you've placed at least ONE piece and started your game, then the QUIT button will become a SAVE AND EXIT button, and you'll find that exiting from an unfinished puzzle game by either pressing this button, or by clicking the CLOSE icon at the top right of the screen, will now create a save state/snapshot for it. Going back in to try any SAVED puzzle again will automatically reload it at the exact point where you left it!
ie. If you only have 5-10 minutes to play, you can still have a blast at progressing a particular level, then whenever you play a move, it will update the save state, ready to continue next time, if you have to exit the game.
If you want to take time to try and fully solve the CRAZY or HARD levels, for example, you can now take ALL the time you like, WHENEVER you like, figuring out the best moves, chipping away without needing to set aside a huge chunk of time to think about completing a tough puzzle in one go!
Enjoy the new SAVE functionality, guys!
PS - Pressing the RETRY button will CLEAR and restart the current level, and can still be pressed if you've broken your current attempt, to quickly start another fresh attempt... :) (PS - If you choose RETRY, and simply exit without playing any pieces, then NO save state will be saved. Good for clearing any 'game in progress' markers for levels that you've started by mistake... :) )
PUZZLE MODE Automated SAVE/CONTINUE almost ready for release!...
Ultimately, ALL play modes will feature automated progress saving for the current level, mode, and game settings, ...but, I had a few days spare before I take a break with my family, so....
...complete with icons on the level previews to show those levels with games in progress/saved, if TetraLogical finds a save state for the previewed level and difficulty settings! (ie. Puzzle Mode, Hard, Level 14, etc)
So, when the update is released (hopefully tomorrow!) you'll find that exiting from an unfinished puzzle game will now create a save state/snapshot for it, then going back in to try that puzzle again will automatically reload it at the exact point where you left it!
ie. If you only have 5-10 minutes to play, you can still have a blast at progressing a particular level, then whenever you play a move, it will update the save state, ready to continue next time, if you have to exit the game.
If you want to take time to try and fully solve the CRAZY or HARD levels, for example, you can now take ALL the time you like, WHENEVER you like, figuring out the best moves, chipping away without needing to set aside a huge chunk of time to think about completing a tough puzzle in one go!
Enjoy guys! - Like I say, hopefully have it ready for release tomorrow!
PS - Pressing the REPLAY button (which will be renamed to RETRY) still simply restarts the current level, and can still be pressed if you've broken your current attempt, to quickly start another fresh attempt... :)
FINALLY! - Update released! - Go grab it!
ENHANCED HELP IN PUZZLE MODE is now *LIVE*!!
In SOLO PUZZLE MODE, The CPU will now attempt to help you with the best pieces, from up to 40 tiles (up to 10 moves) away from a solution!
If you reach 7 moves and haven't broken the current puzzle, then you're pretty much assured of getting the correct 7 pieces to finish the puzzle, although WHERE to place them may not be readily apparent!
Try it and let me know what you think, guys! - I think it makes PUZZLE MODE a LOT fairer, and more enjoyable as a result!
ADDED A BRAND NEW AUDIO TRACK!
SKAVEN has very kindly allowed me to include one of his latest, SUPERB audio tracks in the latest update, and it's a cracker - you can now choose "GAMMA KATANA" from the jukebox, and I'm loving it!
As always, if you love TETRALOGICAL's music, please feel free to visit SKAVEN's Soundcloud and check out his other fantastic FREE music at https://soundcloud.com/skaven252
IN-GAME HELP PAGES updated!
Worth a quick read, as some more info and help is in there!
PS - The NEXT UPDATE (In 2-3 weeks max) will include PER-LEVEL SAVE GAMES, USER LEVEL DELETION option and some other level editor enhancements, and any other stuff I can fit in!
The next one after that should bring in-game Leaderboard browsing, achievements obtained info, and some other enhancements!
Overdue update!
Hi All! - Hope you're enjoying TetraLogical!
Just a quick update to say that whilst I've been slowly (very slowly! :( ) implementing this new pieces logic, I've also been adding other requested features...
So, once I get this trickier update out with better end game puzzle mode pieces help, you will shortly afterwards have:-
1) PER LEVEL SAVE STATES / SNAPSHOTS!:-
Simply, on EVERY level, if you exit your game, it will SAVE (or update) your progress on that level - effectively letting you tackle ANY level when you have a few minutes to chip away at it! - Like some of the larger challenges!
Note:- The save game format and SAVING logic is pretty much sorted, I just need to restore saved games and set up the game to continue from it, which I'm currently working on.
Using this, you will be able to resume ANY game type, for ANY level, at any point! (Solo, Vs, Standard, Blitz, Puzzle, etc!).
Of course, continuing a BLITZ mode game will mean that it's difficult to immediately jump back in and get your head around where you left it, so the game will give you a couple of seconds' pause before restarting the BLITZ countdown timer!
2) USER CREATED LEVEL DELETION:-
User level deletion, via a simple button on the LEVEL EDITOR screen. Simply navigate to a level that you don't want any more, then once on-screen, click the DELETE / TRASH button (this will of course only show for USER CREATED levels!). You'll then get a chance to cancel, and clicking YES will completely delete that level.
ONLINE MULTIPLAYER is of course also on the cards still, I just have to get the basics out of the way first, and once I DO get this in, you can be sure to find me looking for some competition! - I've no doubt that some of you more experienced TetraLogical players will soundly beat me at my own game, so to speak! ;)
Anyway, that was it everyone! - I just needed to touch base and give you all an update, to let you know that an update is imminent, although it's taken longer than I'd hoped due to the complexity of changing the pieces allocation logic, and because of day job weekend IT projects I had to help with... :(
Better help for Puzzle Mode endgame, plus some other fixes, almost ready for release!
More help in PUZZLE MODE!:-
We've REALLY optimised the CPU help for the endgame in Puzzle Mode! - The computer will now do it's best to help allocate the best mix of pieces for up to 28 free Tile Slots / SEVEN possible pieces away from the end of a Puzzle completion attempt!... :)
ANIMATED CURSOR / 'THINKING...' INDICATOR
As it's thinking harder, although it's generally pretty fast (less than 1/4 of a second to 1/2 second, to work those out), due to the random nature of shape placements and calculations for each scenario / board state, it can sometimes take a bit longer - so we've now added a 'BUSY' cursor and message (instead of freezing the cursor!), for those times when it's taking a little longer (generally a second or two, but can possibly be up to 4 or 5 seconds absolute max on rare occasions).
Note that while it's calculating the best pieces for you, your GAME CLOCK will be frozen, indicated by turning RED. ie. Your game completion time/speed will NOT be affected if it takes a little longer to help you out! :)
Bugs and Enhancements!:-
Added more relevant End Game messages for PUZZLE MODE End Game!:- "SOLVED!" and "UNLUCKY!"...
Fixed a silly bug on the PUZZLE MODE Percentage Scoring! - Now correct!
Added an easier to read splash screen... :)
Some other little bug fixes and tweaks that I managed to do, along the way!
I didn't want to post 2 announcements so close to each other, but I'm really pleased!!
...as I realised that there was a whole bunch of SOLO gaming effort from players going unrewarded, so I've now added:-
SOLO NORMAL PLAY LEADERBOARDS! (1000+ of them!)
So, we now have 10 Leaderboards, for EACH built-in level (currently 104), for ALL ranking Efficiency ratings...
If you finish a SOLO RELAXED or TIMED MOVES game, and get any of the following Efficiency rankings - 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or a PERFECT 100%, you'll rank on the relevant Leaderboard for the current level!
Have fun, and let's see some scores set for myself and Lorna to beat! :D
NEXT UP!!!
I'll be adding an ACHIEVEMENTS GALLERY, to view in-game, and more importantly (as there are so many of them!), an in-game LEADERBOARDS browser, for any UNLOCKED levels, for the current game mode!!
So, once added, if you're looking to play, for example, a bit of BLITZ, just select that mode, navigate the Levels Selection, and (if you're logged in to Steam) RIGHT-CLICK on a level to bring up ALL of the relevant Leaderboards for that level!
The same goes for the other modes, nice 'n' easy! - a LOT easier than trying to navigate them with no organisation to them, to check yours and others' scores, using Steam's pages... ;)
I may also be changing the End Game Leaderboards display to display ALL relevant Leaderboards per level / mode, so even if you didn't rank in one of them, you can still browse them at the end of your game, to see what scores you need to get, to beat players' rankings!
As always, have fun!
Quick fix for the Level Creator/Editor...
Hi guys!
I've been trying to track down an issue with the level editor using more memory than it should, and I think I've finally fixed it... :)
If you've been creating levels, and possibly had the game crash out on you after a while, I'd be very interested to know if you still have the issue after this update!
PS - In other news, I've now officially RELEASED TetraLogical as a LIVE release game, given that it's now fully playable, albeit with some tweaks to go in, plus the online multiplayer mode adding.
I'm hoping that this will help gain sales, as at the moment, I've literally only got about 40-50 paid supporters (for whom I'm very grateful to of course!), and it's tough to keep motivated when the game just doesn't seem to be selling despite adding loads of game modes and features... :(
Thanks as always!
Den / Japster
Quick update guys! - More Levels, RELEASE status, etc!
MORE NEW LEVELS!
Just a quick update! - Firstly, I've just added another bunch of levels to keep you busy guys! - along with some more Leaderboards to attack!
You now have 104 levels built-in, to play while I code some more stuff into TetraLogical!
Now that I'm happy with the levels count for now, I'll be looking to add more computer help to Puzzle Mode next, to aid in not getting problem pieces before you hit the magic 20 tiles left number... :)
I'll also add an option to delete unwanted levels in the Level Editor, for any that you'd like to delete/discard... :) Should help tidy up your install if you've been busy creating levels, or saving as new levels, before renaming... :)
MOVE FROM EARLY ACCESS to FULL RELEASE!
So, as always, thanks for the support guys! - I now think that given that all game promised modes are in (and more!), it's possibly time to move up from Early Access to a full-blown RELEASED status, to gain more exposure, and hopefully build a larger, busier community, while I work on adding even more content and value to the game via the same regular promised updates as I've been doing so far!
PUZZLE MODE FEEDBACK?
PS - I've not heard back from ANYONE regarding Puzzle Mode! :( - Does anyone have any helpful feedback? - like it? - hate it? - Think it needs modifying? - I'd really love to know, and to tweak it if need be for you all, beyond the extra CPU help I'm going to be adding!
Thanks again All - your support so far, and the fact that you're enjoying playing my game, means the world to me!
Just a quick update! - Volume Controls, better steam connectivity, and some more levels!
Firstly, by request:-
VOLUME SETTINGS
You now have independent volume controls for both Music and Sound FX...
You can set levels, etc in the SETTINGS menu. You can also simply drag either slider all of the way to the left, to turn Music or Sound FX off completely.
Settings are saved, so you need only set them once... :D
PLUS...
I've also added a few more levels, making 90 in total so far. :)
Finally, if you've been disconnected from Steam, or unable to connect when you started playing, and you're no longer logged in, the game will now try and log you (again) in once your game is over, in order to still save/post your achievements!
Go grab it!
HUGE update to TetraLogical now available!! - Come and get it!
TETRALOGICAL is now LIVE/RELEASED!
It's been nearly ready for a while now, but now that all 4 main game modes are in, and the game is fully playable with Leaderboards and Achievements, it's time to make it LIVE, and available via normal Steam store purchasing, while I continue to work on cool new updates, more levels, and features to add for FREE... :D
1) PUZZLE MODE Leaderboards are LIVE!!
So, if you manage to solve a puzzle, especially in a record time, you'll be able to see your rankings on the 100 NEW Leaderboards, specifically added for Puzzle Mode!
2) Lots more levels!!!
We now have over 100 levels to play with, with 90+ of those also being playable in PUZZLE MODE!
3) PROPER Text entry when renaming modified levels!
Took a while, as it was low priority compared to some of the other needed enhancements, but now you can now simply type, and backspace, to name your cool user-generated levels, WITHOUT throwing up a jarring/ugly system window to get the name entered. :)
4) A nice (fast) splash screen!
...also giving much-deserved credit and exposure to the fantastic SKAVEN (Peter Hajba), for the kind permission to include these fantastic tracks that give so much professional ambience and enjoyment to the game!
5) Lots of other little enhancements:-
...more help in the help screen for the new modes etc, some fixes to the Leaderboard results page to fit longer Steam ID's on without it all looking ugly, and lots of other little tweaks and enhancements!
As always, have fun, set some scores on the Leaderboards, and please, spread the word/let me know what you all think of my latest additions to TETRALOGICAL!
