Bit Blot Forum

Aquaria => General => Topic started by: Krissy on February 01, 2007, 11:48:43 am

Title: Controls (^_^)
Post by: Krissy on February 01, 2007, 11:48:43 am

Yes I of course mouse is supported. But will there be support for controllers? It would be great to actually have the option of both.
Me personally I can't imagine playing this beautiful side scroller with a mouse & kb. Btw, alec or Derek did you guys map out the buttons yet?
Title: Re: Controls (^_^)
Post by: Alec on February 01, 2007, 12:09:04 pm
Right now you can switch between XBox360 Controller (Console Style), Mouse (Aquaria Style) and Mouse+Keyboard (FPS Style) on the fly. (i.e. if you start using the gamepad it'll switch to gamepad mode, etc ... and eventually we'll add support for other gamepads)

The control schemes each work slightly differently, and you can customize how the game plays by toggling certain features. (in the final release you'll be able to configure the gamepad+keyboard buttons as well)

The default for mouse is Left mouse button is move, Right mouse button is interact/sing. Middle mouse is look around, if you have it. Naija has a bunch of moves you can do by moving her in different ways as well.

Here's a screen with Naija singing...

She's attracting the attention of the small jelly fish, and her voice is echoed in the "phonograph" plants. The "song interface" leaves a little trail behind your cursor, so you can doodle a bit too. Its pretty fun to improvise along with the background music.

(http://zaphire.ca/AQ/singscreen.jpg)
Title: Re: Controls (^_^)
Post by: Krissy on February 01, 2007, 12:21:50 pm


I see. Sounds inspiring. I didn't know music and sound will play a big role in the game. Are the soungs a melody type? LIke vibratos & crescendo's? Or is it a bit more on the vocal side? I'm in love with certain aspects of game music. I felt Ecco the Dolphin - Songs of Time CD was simply beautiful. It has alot of feel to it.
Title: Re: Controls (^_^)
Post by: Alec on February 01, 2007, 12:32:47 pm
Ah... hard to describe music.

Its mostly based around the areas you visit in the game, so each area has its own feel, but there are common themes + sounds that run through all the tracks. (some tracks are also based around creatures and a couple are for specific story events)

Each track has different layered melody lines... that helps with the repetition. (you notice different lines the more you listen) They're also built to work with Naija's scale of notes so you can sing any note along with it and it sounds like it fits.

There are some vocal type sounds used in the tracks, but they don't usually carry the melody too heavily... other instruments do that. I figured that Naija (the player) should get to fill that part vocally. :)

So far there are 21 tracks, and there'll probably be at least 2-3 more before we're done.
Title: Re: Controls (^_^)
Post by: Assault on February 01, 2007, 02:41:30 pm
Are you going release a small part of one of the tracks you got in a future blog post?
Title: Re: Controls (^_^)
Post by: Alec on February 01, 2007, 02:42:39 pm
Yep. :)
Title: Re: Controls (^_^)
Post by: Assault on February 01, 2007, 02:47:38 pm
Alright!
Thanks.
Title: Re: Controls (^_^)
Post by: Alec on February 01, 2007, 03:35:40 pm
Oh yeah, I also worked on using the microphone as a control method. By singing into the mic, you can make Naija sing in-game. Its kinda flaky at this point (you need to have damn good pitch)
Title: Re: Controls (^_^)
Post by: Assault on February 01, 2007, 10:48:20 pm
Sounds like a cool feature to mess around with. Not sure how fun it will actually be to use throughout the entire game, but seeing as this is optional it's something I'd definitely want to try out.
Title: Re: Controls (^_^)
Post by: Krissy on February 01, 2007, 11:23:20 pm


Karaoke is the first thought that comes to mind.
Title: Re: Controls (^_^)
Post by: Alec on February 02, 2007, 02:48:16 am
Yeah, the microphone is hard to use effectively right now... but there might be ways to simplify it and have it work better. One problem is trying to sing certain pitches with the background music as the only pitch reference. The songs themselves are also built to be easily performed by moving the mouse, not necessarily being easy to sing.

If it could be more forgiving, it would be more fun. One way would be to detect the distances between the notes rather than worrying about the actual notes being correct. So if you mimicked the "movement" of the combination (like moving down three notes and then stopping; or singing one pitch, jumping to a pitch 4 notes down and then back) it would consider it accurate.
Title: Re: Controls (^_^)
Post by: Krissy on February 02, 2007, 04:43:51 am
Yeah, the microphone is hard to use effectively right now... but there might be ways to simplify it and have it work better. One problem is trying to sing certain pitches with the background music as the only pitch reference. The songs themselves are also built to be easily performed by moving the mouse, not necessarily being easy to sing.

If it could be more forgiving, it would be more fun. One way would be to detect the distances between the notes rather than worrying about the actual notes being correct. So if you mimicked the "movement" of the combination (like moving down three notes and then stopping; or singing one pitch, jumping to a pitch 4 notes down and then back) it would consider it accurate.

Have you ever thought about keeping it simple? Like  just using a preset sort of notes and whatever note the sound comes close to Naija acknowledges it and sings it. Keeping it simple works just as well. :)
Title: Re: Controls (^_^)
Post by: Alec on February 02, 2007, 06:02:04 am
Well, that's what happens. Naija can sing 8 notes, the closest note to the current pitch gets picked. The way the interface works with the mouse, you hit notes in a certain order to activate songs.

The problem is that its hard to sing a pitch accurately to hit the right notes. I'm trying to figure out how to make that easier without redesigning the way the song interface works for mouse input.
Title: Re: Controls (^_^)
Post by: Ian on February 03, 2007, 05:46:48 am
Aquaria will support Kareoke? SIGN ME UP.

Hahaha. That would be pretty crazy if you got that to work well. Tough, but cool.
Title: Re: Controls (^_^)
Post by: Eileen on February 04, 2007, 04:35:06 am
It could be training for all those horrible 'American Idol' singers.
That's a really cool idea though!
Title: Re: Controls (^_^)
Post by: Derek on February 04, 2007, 11:39:29 am
Alec, you need to upload a video of yourself singing while playing the game. ^-^
Title: Re: Controls (^_^)
Post by: Alec on February 05, 2007, 03:15:19 am
Only if ryan uploads a video of you playing the game in your "undies (http://www.bit-blot.com/forum/index.php?topic=18.msg117#msg117)".
Title: Re: Controls (^_^)
Post by: ryan on February 05, 2007, 06:11:14 am
this thread just blew my mind. Notes? Microphone control? say WHAT?  ...just got more excited about this already radical game.

you guys are really doing something fresh here. can't wait to hear more. Alex: if you guys win, i'll consider digging for undies pics :)

woot woot -ryan
Title: Re: Controls (^_^)
Post by: Krissy on February 05, 2007, 11:12:26 pm
Only if ryan uploads a video of you playing the game in your "undies (http://www.bit-blot.com/forum/index.php?topic=18.msg117#msg117)".

 :o Hurry it up! :)
Title: Re: Controls (^_^)
Post by: Derek on February 06, 2007, 12:13:40 am
It's the videos without undies that I'm worried about. :'(
Title: Re: Controls (^_^)
Post by: Krissy on February 06, 2007, 12:20:12 am
It's the videos without undies that I'm worried about. :'(

Atleast One. One to keep me going for a few more months. All I ask. I need mah fix!  :-\
Title: Re: Controls (^_^)
Post by: vitaminNewB on February 06, 2007, 04:25:18 am
It's the videos without undies that I'm worried about. :'(

Atleast One. One to keep me going for a few more months. All I ask. I need mah fix!  :-\

Down Undies would most definitely rap...i mean Rock...i mean classical....whatever! :-X
Title: Re: Controls (^_^)
Post by: Krissy on February 08, 2007, 04:49:26 am


Alec I know you said we could customize our controller settings for the buttons. But could you map out which button does what? And what actions do the associated keys would do?
I know the left analog would move Naija. But what would the face buttons and the triggers be mapped too? Or have you not crossed that road as of yet?
Title: Re: Controls (^_^)
Post by: Alec on February 08, 2007, 08:34:52 am
The XBox360 controller buttons are mapped already. Cause its in. And it works.

Later on you'll be able to customize them in an options screen. For now, there's two different ways to use it based on how you want to play the energy form. Its a really simple mapping, so there's not much point explaining it.

Oh... there's rumble too. :P
Title: Re: Controls (^_^)
Post by: SBKT on February 22, 2007, 04:47:28 am
The XBox360 controller buttons are mapped already. Cause its in. And it works.

Later on you'll be able to customize them in an options screen. For now, there's two different ways to use it based on how you want to play the energy form. Its a really simple mapping, so there's not much point explaining it.

Oh... there's rumble too. :P

Hey, so, I paid 80 bucks to get a hookup for 2 Playstation controlelrs to go into my computer for totally, "legal" reasons, the biggest being Mugen, and I was wondering about that too.  How would that work?
Title: Re: Controls (^_^)
Post by: Quemaqua on February 23, 2007, 04:16:33 am
So if we plug in a 360 controller we can get rumble?  You'll forgive my ignorance, I'm sort of behind the times with this kind of thing.  I was like the last guy on earth to stop using a strictly-keyboard setup for Quake 2 online matches (I could hold my own with a railgun and the keypad, dammit!), and it's only recently I've begun exploring using controllers more for my PC.  And I still play Descent games keyboard-only.   :P
Title: Re: Controls (^_^)
Post by: BigGoronSword on February 23, 2007, 05:14:21 am
I know I've said this once, but I'll say it again: I honestly think this game would go well with the Nintendo DS. In games like Lost Magic (http://lostmagic.us.ubi.com/) and Tao's Adventure: Curse of the Demon Seal (http://ds.ign.com/objects/789/789843.html), the player has to make designs on the touch screen to cast spells and whatnot...couldn't the exact same thing be used for Aquaria?

If only I knew how many keyboard keys/mouse actions were actually needed to control/play this game, then we just may have a better understanding on what systems this game could go into.

If it's high on mouse control then the DS or Wii could be used, or there could be a spin wheel item screen (like in Sword of Mana) for other systems...

-BGS
Title: Re: Controls (^_^)
Post by: SBKT on February 23, 2007, 05:20:42 am
I know I've said this once, but I'll say it again: I honestly think this game would go well with the Nintendo DS. In games like Lost Magic (http://lostmagic.us.ubi.com/) and Tao's Adventure: Curse of the Demon Seal (http://ds.ign.com/objects/789/789843.html), the player has to make designs on the touch screen to cast spells and whatnot...couldn't the exact same thing be used for Aquaria?

If only I knew how many keyboard keys/mouse actions were actually needed to control/play this game, then we just may have a better understanding on what systems this game could go into.

If it's high on mouse control then the DS or Wii could be used, or there could be a spin wheel item screen (like in Sword of Mana) for other systems...

-BGS
Right now we'd be getting ahead of ourselves, if we thought so far ahead. I decided to just wait.

I want an estimate on when the full game is completed, so I could know more of what to think and when. A more accurate estimate other than Spring, anyways.
Title: Re: Controls (^_^)
Post by: Alec on February 23, 2007, 07:22:40 am
I know I've said this once, but I'll say it again: I honestly think this game would go well with the Nintendo DS.

DS and Wii would be totally awesome. :)