H'ok so. I've never finished a full game in python (although I have some near complete prototypes if I'd bother to finish the levels), and I figured I might as well give myself a reason to make a full game. I had a feeling the robot theme would win, but I actually didn't come up with my idea until about 12 or so hours ago.

I love platformers, and most of my work has been there, so I figured that would be a good starting point. Then I decided to incorporate a sort of human-robot symbiosis element into the game for the purpose of puzzle solving and for some simple 2d shooter stuff, so that it wouldn't just be a platformer.... with a robotic main character.

It's coming along quite nicely on the coding side, and I already have my engine prototyped. As far as I can see, it'll just need refinement (and a lot of it). I've also got the robot and human playing quite nicely with each other, and at this point, I hope that most of my future hurdles will be level design and graphics.

So, I'd say I have about 45-50% of the puzzle side of the engine done. I've only got two things that the robot can be used for right now though (as a weight for switches and as a mobile spring-board type of thing). As I create more abilities, I'll probably end up setting myself back further from being complete simply due to their incorporation in actual puzzles. But whatever, it'll work out somehow.

I'm now slightly unsure about the whole combat aspect. I just don't know if I'll have enough time to develop to the length that I want to. If I can crank the puzzle stuff out, then we'll see. Honestly, I'd rather just have a complete game with just the puzzle-based side then a half-done game with both the action and puzzles.

Also, I'm hoping to get some screen shots or maybe a video or something up once I get something other than a square block for my main character, which is the only thing that doesn't have some sort of real graphic right now. I'm doing low-res pixel art to save myself time, so it shouldn't take me too long.

So, I've been working diligently, and I've got the majority of the part of my game engine that handles the puzzle aspect of my game done. I have weight-activated switches coded in, and I have blocks that are affected by gravity, in both the positive and negative directions.

The robot also has a new ability. You can now use it to push objects that are level to your character and in a direct line of sight. Yea, it's simple beyond simple but hey, I'll take my victories where I can get them. I'm trying to find some creative uses for this ability, and I've come up with a few good ones.

I've also got screenshots!

Debug Level 1

Debug Level 2

The resolution is low. Yea, I know. I'm lazy and on top of that I'm miserable with graphics. If I get done early, maybe I'll pretty things up and double the resolution.

Oh, and if you're wondering about the hammer and sickle, well, I'm probably going to go with some sort of Soviet theme (I've actually toyed with the idea of sub-titling the thing "Great Soviet project for make better human-robot symbiosis in order to being of used for make magnificent army of the motherland", but I'm fearing that might be too much stupid and not enough just plain ridiculous). So yea, anyways, it seemed that it would be a fitting background for the debug levels.

And as far as combat goes, I'm probably just going to give the puzzle solving abilities offensive capabilities. That way I'll be able to have more time to refine the engine and create as many puzzles as possible.