Dunk Practice (PC/Mac) - Now on Steam Greenlight

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Dunk Practice (PC/Mac) - Now on Steam Greenlight

Postby Dr B on Sun Apr 03, 2016 5:45 am

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Dunk Practice takes the skill and creativity of professional slam dunk competitions and translates them to a dual-analog gamepad and nostalgic graphics. You have the freedom to create any dunk you want by mixing combinations of lobs or off-the-glass tosses with 180s, 360s, windmills, through the legs or behind the back tricks and reverse or tomahawk finishes. Control your dunker's body rotation with the left analog stick and their arms with the right analog stick in realtime to throw down any dunk you can think up. There are 4 dunkers for you to customize with over 100 million possible combinations of appearance and uniform colors and creative challenges for you to complete and collect medals.

Music by Mykel Coppola and Instabangers Beats

There's a easter egg shoutout to the NLSC built into the game. I appreciate all the support for the community!
Last edited by Dr B on Sun Dec 11, 2016 6:27 am, edited 5 times in total.
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Re: New Dunk Contest Game - Exclusive NLSC Beta Release

Postby TGsoGood on Mon Apr 04, 2016 6:01 am

seems fun. tried it but after configuring my controller, I had still had to use the keyboard which doesn't seem to have L2/ R2 control.
Very responsive though. no lag for me.
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Re: New Dunk Contest Game - Exclusive NLSC Beta Release

Postby Dr B on Mon Apr 04, 2016 12:23 pm

Hmmm I haven't come across that problem yet. If the controls aren't working after calibration it's probably in the way it is saving and loading. Did it take you from calibration to the start screen to the tutorial? What controller are you using? The tutorial is the newest edition so I'll look for mistakes there.
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Re: New Dunk Contest Game - Exclusive NLSC Beta Release

Postby TGsoGood on Mon Apr 04, 2016 1:18 pm

I think it had to do with my controller. I was unable to redo the calibration due to game going directly to start screen and tutorial. I got stuck in tutorial because I couldn't re calibrate and keyboard has no L2/ R2 button in my experience.
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Re: New Dunk Contest Game - Exclusive NLSC Beta Release

Postby Dr B on Mon Apr 04, 2016 10:55 pm

I should be able to easily change things up so that the calibration runs at start up if you don't finish the tutorial. This way nobody will get stuck in no mans land like this if the calibration doesn't work correctly. I should be able to make those changes tonight after work.

For the record, on the keyboard L2=u, L1=i, R1=o and R2=p. The left stick going clockwise = w-d-x a. Right stick = t-h-b-f. X=m, square=j, triangle=k, circle =L. Start =g and Select =s.

The problem with keyboard control is that in order to move diagonally you need pressure sensitive controls. That's why the analog sticks are required.
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Re: New Dunk Contest Game - Exclusive NLSC Beta Release

Postby Dr B on Tue Apr 05, 2016 12:46 pm

OK, it's been updated. I couldn't find anything that would cause a problem with saving/loading so delete your current version and try the new version (same download link from the first post). I set it up so that you have to go back through the calibration if you don't finish the tutorial. Hopefully you can recalibrate and then it'll work for you.
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Re: New Dunk Contest Game - Exclusive NLSC Beta Release

Postby TGsoGood on Tue Apr 05, 2016 12:58 pm

I will try it out a little later.
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Re: New Dunk Contest Game - Exclusive NLSC Beta Release

Postby KoalityGame on Thu Apr 21, 2016 2:44 am

Looking good man! Love the retro graphics and camera angle, reminds me of the 16-bit era NBA Live :D

Do you have any videos of it in action?
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Re: New Dunk Contest Game - Exclusive NLSC Beta Release

Postby Dr B on Fri Apr 22, 2016 10:40 am

KoalityGame wrote:Looking good man! Love the retro graphics and camera angle, reminds me of the 16-bit era NBA Live :D

Do you have any videos of it in action?


Thanks! I don't have any videos right now but I can work on that. Hopefully I'l find some time to post a couple of dunk videos this weekend. Also, the customization part is finished so I'll post a video of all the options when I can as well. Feel free to try out the beta and post any of your best dunks too!
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Re: New Dunk Contest Game - Exclusive NLSC Beta Release

Postby Dr B on Sun Apr 24, 2016 2:04 am

Here is a video of all of the customization options. I've started a youtube channel for the game so all future videos will go there. I will start recording and posting some of the actual dunks as well.

EDIT: Video Removed
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Re: New Dunk Contest Game - Exclusive NLSC Beta Release

Postby TGsoGood on Sun Apr 24, 2016 3:49 am

(Y) Good work. I see you've put alot of hard work into this
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Re: New Dunk Contest Game - Exclusive NLSC Beta Release

Postby KoalityGame on Tue Apr 26, 2016 10:50 am

Customization options look cool! I'm adding similar options for my game. Sorry I haven't had time to try it out yet, but will let you know my thoughts as soon as I do. Keep it up!
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Re: New Dunk Contest Game - Exclusive NLSC Beta Release

Postby TGsoGood on Thu Apr 28, 2016 8:27 pm

too bad you did not receive much feedback here.
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Re: New Dunk Contest Game - Exclusive NLSC Beta Release

Postby Dr B on Fri Apr 29, 2016 9:52 pm

KoalityGame wrote:Customization options look cool! I'm adding similar options for my game. Sorry I haven't had time to try it out yet, but will let you know my thoughts as soon as I do. Keep it up!

I downloaded the iOS version of your game. I love it. Very addicting, great work!

TGsoGood wrote:too bad you did not receive much feedback here.

I appreciate that but I'm not too worried about it right now. Just trying to keep making progress on the final product and make a fun game. If you can think of anything that can make it more fun - I'll take whatever feedback I can get. Hopefully as I release more stuff, people will be more drawn to it.

Edit: Old Videos Removed
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Re: New Dunk Contest Game - Exclusive NLSC Beta Release

Postby TGsoGood on Sat Apr 30, 2016 12:35 am

love those courts. Good vids also
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Re: New Dunk Contest Game - Exclusive NLSC Beta Release

Postby KoalityGame on Sat Apr 30, 2016 12:04 pm

Dr B wrote:
KoalityGame wrote:Customization options look cool! I'm adding similar options for my game. Sorry I haven't had time to try it out yet, but will let you know my thoughts as soon as I do. Keep it up!

I downloaded the iOS version of your game. I love it. Very addicting, great work!


Thanks man! I appreciate you checking it out and am happy you enjoyed it. I'm working on a sequel at the moment that I will show as soon as it's ready.

I'm making sure to try out your game this weekend. Love the variety of dunks from the videos so I'm looking forward to trying it out! Keep it up man.
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Re: New Dunk Contest Game - Exclusive NLSC Beta Release

Postby KoalityGame on Mon May 02, 2016 12:19 pm

So I downloaded and installed it, but then realized I couldn't play without a controller. And I don't have one that I can use.. bummer. Any plans for keyboard input?
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Re: New Dunk Contest Game - Exclusive NLSC Beta Release

Postby Dr B on Wed May 04, 2016 8:33 pm

KoalityGame wrote:So I downloaded and installed it, but then realized I couldn't play without a controller. And I don't have one that I can use.. bummer. Any plans for keyboard input?

Unfortunately no plans for keyboard controls right now. I'm trying to come up with a creative way to make it work but having dual analog sticks is really the basis of the control scheme. If I come up with something I'll let you know.
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Re: New Dunk Contest Game - Exclusive NLSC Beta Release

Postby Andrew on Thu May 05, 2016 11:01 am

Couldn't finish the tutorial, as after the green screen portion ended, I was taken back to a screen that was all-black with the Sprint Meter and an info box. It would seem that my player was moving around behind the black though, as the sprint meter was filling. I couldn't do anything else though, and had to Ctrl-Alt-Del out of the game.

I'm definitely a fan of the concept, but not the controls. They feel too complex and contrived to me; between having to hold down two or three buttons at once, and then move the right analog stick, I feel like I'm having to do too much. Before I ran into the aforementioned issue, I found myself getting very frustrated, because I kept dropping the ball. That part of the proceedings feels like one step too many, and the controls in general kind of turned me off the game.
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Re: New Dunk Contest Game - Exclusive NLSC Beta Release

Postby [Q] on Thu May 05, 2016 2:28 pm

Cool looking court. reminds me of Live 95
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Re: New Dunk Contest Game - Exclusive NLSC Beta Release

Postby Dr B on Thu May 05, 2016 9:01 pm

Andrew, thank you very much for the feedback. The black screen issue is something that a few other people had run into. It seems to be an issue with the graphics for the background not being loaded by the time the scene starts. I have built in a loading screen as I work towards a final product that should prevent that. Oddly enough, others had no issues after reloading and trying again. If you wouldn't mind giving it another shot and seeing if it works I would appreciate it.

The controls are definitely my biggest concern. I definitely wanted a learning curve before somebody could just toss it in the air, put the ball through their legs a dunk it... but I didn't want it to be so steep that people get frustrated and put it down before they get there. I'm always a fan of options and customization so I'm thinking I could try to add an option for easy vs. advanced controls. Which parts did you find most cumbersome? Was it switching from one hand to the other? Just when using a modifier to go around the back or through the legs? Thanks again! I just want to make this fun for any one who wants to pick it up.



Q, thanks man. Definitely wanted a little bit of a nostalgic feel with this game because the graphics are all 2D.
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Re: New Dunk Contest Game - Exclusive NLSC Beta Release

Postby Andrew on Fri May 06, 2016 2:47 am

I'll definitely do some more testing, sure.

As I said, I feel like I have to do a bit too much once the player is in the air and I'm trying to perform a trick. Having to hold a button to not drop the ball, as well as press and release a couple of buttons and moving the right stick to switch hands and make moves, feels like a lot to remember and do all at once. I think something more along the lines of NBA Live's dunk contest from 2005-09 is better, where there are different gather options (one foot, two feet, one foot spin, two footed spin), and then different trick buttons while in the air that have to be held and released at the appropriate time to successfully complete the dunk.

While it may sound too simple, there's still the need to gather from the right distance, hold the right button long enough, and choose a trick that will garner a high enough score. There's also modifiers and right stick movement to perform 360s and so forth, so there are more complicated tricks that can be performed.

I think the biggest thing for me though is having to continue to hold down a button so that the player doesn't drop the ball. I feel that holding onto the ball should be an automatic action in basketball games, the same as dribbling. Not having to worry about that would help make the trick combinations a lot easier to master, and less contrived. With holding down three shoulder buttons, on top of moving the sticks, you kind of have to play the controller like a piano, especially as far as releasing them at the right times. I'd prefer to only have to hold down two shoulder buttons maximum at any given time, as that's pretty much how it goes with most basketball games.

I'd also suggest that it be very easy to pull off a couple of basic dunks, to give the user an idea of how it works. These dunks obviously wouldn't get high scores, and more complex moves will need to be mastered to win the contest, but it helps ease the user into the concept, and give them some initial success. It's like the Goomba in the original Super Mario Bros: it was added so the first enemy players encounter can be defeated in one hit, with a simple jump right on top of it. Those first parts of the game should be very easy, to draw players in and show them the basics, before presenting them with situations where they must learn and master more complicated and precise moves.
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Re: New Dunk Contest Game - Exclusive NLSC Beta Release

Postby Dr B on Fri May 06, 2016 4:14 am

Andrew, great advice. Actually if the last part of the tutorial works for you, that is what it covers. A basic dunk, a dunk off a lob and a dunk off the back backboard without getting too much into the advanced stuff. That being said I do like the idea of 2 control sets, one where you don't have to hold the triggers. There is also another factor in the complicated control scheme that I could possibly remove. It rates how well you get the right stick back to the upward position before the dunk to mimic "timing" of your finish -- I sort of went all out with how complicated it is but I can definitely start paring back from there. My challenge to figure out will be doing that while also giving the player full control such as switching hands or using 2 hands at will. If possible, I want to stick to the concept of real-time controls over button combos but not at the expense of making a good game that people can actually enjoy. Thanks again, I will work on these.
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Re: New Dunk Contest Game - Exclusive NLSC Beta Release

Postby Andrew on Fri May 06, 2016 10:51 am

A couple of different controller sets would definitely appeal. I'd probably also have the basic dunk happen before the tougher moves in the tutorial. I think that'd give users a better taste of the game, and ease them into it by setting them up to have a great chance of succeeding at something straight away. Obviously the glitch is a factor here, but as it stood, I was trying to master the more complex moves before I'd even seen the ball go through the hoop. I think that's a big psychological advantage as far as getting people hooked, as well as a more logical progression through the tutorial.
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Re: Dunk Practice (PC/Mac) - Now on Steam Greenlight

Postby Dr B on Sat Sep 17, 2016 12:14 pm

After a lot of bugs and problems with the multiplayer contest game mode I switched gears to a one-player achievement-based game. I also added a alternative controller scheme and changed the tutorial per the recommendations here. Thanks for all the advice! The game is completed and ready for release for both Mac and PC but I'm trying to get it onto steam through Steam Greenlight (see updated first post). Please check it out and vote to have it approved. There's no way to set a price because apparently you work that out with steam if the project gets through the greenlight process but it will certainly be a cheap distraction-type game. I appreciate all of the support!
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