In the Flash: Desktop Tower Defense
Every week on In the Flash we'll sit down with the creator of a free online game to unravel their secret plans of world domination ... and to talk about their game:
Buy towers with turrets, place them on the field, wait for the enemies to come marching. Then ... kaboom! A wave of RTS-inspired Flash tower defense games have become the new time-wasters on the web. Desktop TD, created by Paul Preece of HandDrawnGames.com, resembles an actual desktop (who'd-a thunk it?) with pencil-scribbled artwork. No set paths for enemies to follow (though a recent update added optional set-ups), just a blank field, gold in the bank, and your own twisted mind.
We recently subjected Paul to a series of questions regarding the game, its inspiration, and Hot Coffee. Read on for the full hotseat interrogation.
Ok, for starters, why a tower defense game?
Paul Preece: Out of all the games I have enjoyed playing in the last couple of years, the TD was probably the simplest one to code. I also really like doing 'physics' type programs where you set up a couple of rules and let the player get on with it.
The old "user-created-content make your own fun" idea?
Yup ... nearly all my favourite games have that kind of free-form play.
The recent updates to DTD feature more structured-type games (walls, challenges, etc.). Were those user requests or were you just tinkering?
Mostly tinkering... thinking about how to add simple restrictions to change the game play and extend the game. The '100' level challenge was user requested though.
Whose money-laden desktop is pictured in the game's background?
That would be mine! You wouldn't believe how long it took - my photoshop skills suck.
Be honest. Is a Hot Coffee mod in the works?
Hey if the users request it enough :)
Well, coffee, desktops ... it could be a beautiful fit!. One final question: What's your favorite food? And if the answer is anything but "cheesecake", why?
Ok now I feel like I'm speed-dating. ;) Not that I have. *cough*
Of course not! Game makers (and video game bloggers) get all the ladies.
Don't tell my wife that :) And it's chocolate btw.
Play Desktop TD
L.A.2
Remember John Conway's "game" of Life? Shmup guru Kenta Cho decided to base a shooter around the same concept, only instead of creating life, you're eradicating it. Charge your glider weapon with the Z key and watch it infect nearby cells. Release to cause MASSIVE DAMAGE. It's a challenging and far from ordinary shmup experience that gives you that warm, fuzzy, "I'm killing lifeforms" feeling inside. Play L.A.2.
VisionMuseum
Room escape games have followed the same formula for years: you're trapped in a room (closet, car, attic, barrel rolling down Niagara falls, etc.) and must solve puzzles and search for items to get out. Japanese website Gotmail has released several room escape games that follow the same pattern, but the gorgeous 3D visuals make it an experience worth ... experiencing! The latest release, Vision Museum, dumps pixel hunting in favor of intelligent puzzle solving and slick scene changes. Play Vision Museum.
Want to see your free online game featured on In the Flash? Mention it in the comments section below and you may.
Buy towers with turrets, place them on the field, wait for the enemies to come marching. Then ... kaboom! A wave of RTS-inspired Flash tower defense games have become the new time-wasters on the web. Desktop TD, created by Paul Preece of HandDrawnGames.com, resembles an actual desktop (who'd-a thunk it?) with pencil-scribbled artwork. No set paths for enemies to follow (though a recent update added optional set-ups), just a blank field, gold in the bank, and your own twisted mind.We recently subjected Paul to a series of questions regarding the game, its inspiration, and Hot Coffee. Read on for the full hotseat interrogation.
Ok, for starters, why a tower defense game?
Paul Preece: Out of all the games I have enjoyed playing in the last couple of years, the TD was probably the simplest one to code. I also really like doing 'physics' type programs where you set up a couple of rules and let the player get on with it.
The old "user-created-content make your own fun" idea?
Yup ... nearly all my favourite games have that kind of free-form play.
The recent updates to DTD feature more structured-type games (walls, challenges, etc.). Were those user requests or were you just tinkering?
Mostly tinkering... thinking about how to add simple restrictions to change the game play and extend the game. The '100' level challenge was user requested though.
Whose money-laden desktop is pictured in the game's background?
That would be mine! You wouldn't believe how long it took - my photoshop skills suck.
Be honest. Is a Hot Coffee mod in the works?
Hey if the users request it enough :)
Well, coffee, desktops ... it could be a beautiful fit!. One final question: What's your favorite food? And if the answer is anything but "cheesecake", why?
Ok now I feel like I'm speed-dating. ;) Not that I have. *cough*
Of course not! Game makers (and video game bloggers) get all the ladies.
Don't tell my wife that :) And it's chocolate btw.
Play Desktop TD
Also released ...
L.A.2
Remember John Conway's "game" of Life? Shmup guru Kenta Cho decided to base a shooter around the same concept, only instead of creating life, you're eradicating it. Charge your glider weapon with the Z key and watch it infect nearby cells. Release to cause MASSIVE DAMAGE. It's a challenging and far from ordinary shmup experience that gives you that warm, fuzzy, "I'm killing lifeforms" feeling inside. Play L.A.2.
VisionMuseum
Room escape games have followed the same formula for years: you're trapped in a room (closet, car, attic, barrel rolling down Niagara falls, etc.) and must solve puzzles and search for items to get out. Japanese website Gotmail has released several room escape games that follow the same pattern, but the gorgeous 3D visuals make it an experience worth ... experiencing! The latest release, Vision Museum, dumps pixel hunting in favor of intelligent puzzle solving and slick scene changes. Play Vision Museum.
Gallery: L.A.2 and VisionMuseum
Want to see your free online game featured on In the Flash? Mention it in the comments section below and you may.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Ken @ Apr 13th 2007 12:14PM
Good idea for a weekly article!
I'll have to give this a shot, I enjoy time-wasters, and this sounds pretty neat from what I've read about it.
Conrad Quilty-Harper @ Apr 13th 2007 12:17PM
Nice interview! It's interesting to have a snippet of the thoughts of the people behind these crazily addictive flash games (desktop tower defense particularly!)
P.S. I like the mix of dollars and sterling on the desk :)
Scott Jon Siegel @ Apr 13th 2007 12:21PM
Great column! Off the Grid and In the Flash should be friends ^_^
- scott
Brian @ Apr 13th 2007 12:51PM
Weird! I just started playing this game about 3 days ago. Actually I just went to Joystiq right after playing it.
My best score is 5400 on medium.
Ocho @ Apr 13th 2007 1:13PM
Great column! It'd be cool to hear even more about Paul's creative process and his ideas on game design in general.
Not to say that his favorite food didn't have some bearing on the gameplay.
Fun game by the way, plenty of cool features and modes too!
emehrkay @ Apr 13th 2007 1:15PM
Best game i've played in a long time
Neebs @ Apr 13th 2007 3:13PM
Tell this guy I love him. I sold my copy of WC3 a long time ago and I reordered and its not due to arrive for two weeks. This will be my best friend for a long, long two weeks.
Leshrac @ Apr 13th 2007 3:20PM
I've spent hours playing around with this game. I've beat "Normal" mode with 18 lives left, but my score still doesn't come close to the top ones. I'm confused as to how to increase my score.
Au @ Apr 13th 2007 3:44PM
OH SNAP! WHAT THE HECK IS THAT PUNCHING GLOVE MACHINE THING?!?!?!?!
OldElvis @ Apr 13th 2007 4:30PM
You have to interview Ryan over at Kdice.com. The game is like Crack on the web.
student @ Apr 13th 2007 4:39PM
I love this game. It's become a favorite of a bunch of guys in my residence hall at school and we've even got our own group (HallHall). My bests are 6860 in normal and 5665 in Hard. Great timewaster.
justin @ Apr 13th 2007 4:59PM
I love this game. My best score is only 6253, though
Matt @ Apr 13th 2007 5:53PM
Conway's Life is better as a 0 player game.
This is coming from a cellular automata freak though.
David @ Apr 13th 2007 8:48PM
I suck at this game.
kftgr @ Apr 13th 2007 8:56PM
is there a joystiq group?
C. Grant @ Apr 14th 2007 6:32PM
kftgr: you can always make one!