Hi. I'm working on a Flash game based on Ragdoll Masters. It's a fighting game that uses ragdoll physics and stick figures. The engine is complete; all I have left to do is the menu system, AI, and prettying up the graphical style. I'm trying to finish it before the end of this month, so I can enter it in the Armor Gaming Challenge! :D

So, here's the basic design of the figures (they have two poses):

As you can tell, they have colored braids coming out of their heads, hence the name of the game, Braids. Nifty, eh? :p

I've been posting around looking for advice on improving the visual style on Flash Kit, GameDev, and deviantART. So here's what I've come up with so far:


This is the original style of the game. It's pretty plain. The style and color scheme is loosely based on the Arms animation.


Here's one that is based on the thick stick figure style seen in many animations. It also has a cool-looking outline, so I call this variation CORONA.


And this one is based on a picture I found on deviantART. It has motion blur, and braids that are supposed to look like glow sticks. So I call it GLOW, for obvious reasons (and I couldn't think of anything better).

So, how do you like those? ;) If you have any suggestions, please post them here.

Let me give you some more info about the actual game. At the time of writing it features:

• two ragdolls at a time
  
• mouse control for blue, keyboard for red
  
• realistic damage proportional to force
  
• temporary bullet time when a player is damaged
  

It will eventually feature:

• learning AI for either or both players
  
• ability to train and save AI brain as text
  
• recorded games stored as text
  
• adapting music (if it doesn't cripple speed or file size)
  

The first four features are currently working and done! The last four I am planning on implementing, but may get cut if I run out of time.

So is there anything else you would like to see in this game, or questions and comments about what already exists?

Thanks for your feedback. :)

Oops, is it not possible to edit the first post in a topic? There are a few things I forgot to mention.

The size of the compiled SWF right now is less than 4kb, and though adding sound may increase it a lot, I'm going to try to keep it under 10kb. Dial-up users, this is for you! :p

Also, I've been taking every care to keep the speed optimized. I have not tested it on other computers yet, but be assured that on my laptop it runs just fine at 120 frames per second!

Oh, and this will my first Flash game. :D
(not counting prototypes and demos)

thats pretty awesome, good luck with the AI.

whats the point of having it under 10 k?

if you add backgrounds and such, the game would be so much better!
Most 56K modems can load 1MB in a minute anyways.

hey, when I try playing it, it won't open, what should I do?

I like it. I like it a lot! I've played this before. The "Arms Version" is very just plain and unattractive. The "Glowly" version is WWWAAAAYYY cooler.

Now, It's working, I think. Very good game! I like it.

it wont open after i download it.

Well when's your game coming out? Can't wait to try those neaty effects.

Quote from maggot789

it wont open after i download it.

Yeah now it's happening to me too. What's going on?

Once you download it you need to export it.

Very well done, lad.

Quote from GunsnArmor

Once you download it you need to export it.

Very well done, lad.

Export it? How? *stupid question*

He didnt post a link to the game at all...
I dont know what you guys are playing.

I think they're playing Ragdoll Masters. Pretty cheesy but it's kind of fun. I got the old version but I uh... deleted it... T_T

actually ya, he posted the link to his website. you download the game from the website.
EDIT: i just noticed, that isnt his game. im stupid.

Sorry, but how do you export it gunsnarmor?