GRcade

Posted: **Sat Aug 22, 2009 12:33 am**

FIRE QUARK

DOWNLOAD NOW (RS)
Alternative link (MU)

Java download (In case you don't have it installed already.)

About the Game

This is a Breakout-style game with a twist. The aim is simply to destroy every brick on the screen without dropping the ball. You get three lives to progress as far as you can through ten levels. Rather than controlling just the one paddle, however, you use the mouse to control four - one on each side of the screen. If you let me know how far you manage to get, I'll keep track of everyone's progress here in a snazzy leader board.

Screenshots

Installation Instructions

Download the .zip file above and extract the contents to anywhere on your hard drive, making sure you leave the directory structure intact.
Open the 'Fire Quark' folder and double-click 'StartFireQuark.bat' to play the game.
The above assumes you're using Windows. If you're running something like Ubuntu, I'm sure you can make yourself a shell script to do the same thing. If you're on a Mac then you're entirely on your own.
The above also assumes you have the latest version of Java installed. Chances are you already do, but if not, please head here to download it.

System Requirements

I've spent quite a bit of time optimising the game, so it should run on most PCs. However, this is a Java game and my optimisations probably aren't quite as all-encompassing as they could be so the specs are a little higher than I'd like.

Java 6 Runtime Environment
256MB RAM
32MB VRAM (recommended)
2GHz CPU (approx.)
Mouse (recommended)

Controls

Mouse - Paddle movement
Left-click - Release ball from paddle
Right-click - Fire paddle lasers
Mouse wheel or Z/X - Change launch angle
Escape - Exit game
Enter - Return to start screen
M - Toggle sound on/off
H - Toggle hints on/off
F11 - Toggle full screen

General Information

Bricks' borders indicate how many hits are required to destroy them. No border = 1 hit. Grey border = 2 hits. White border = 3 or more hits.
The ball's direction can be influenced by 'knocking' it with the paddle. Do this by moving the paddle as the ball makes contact with it. This is quite a tricky skill to master and I recommend having your mouse speed set to high to assist you here.
When the ball collides with a brick, there is a finite chance that a power-up orb will be produced. These float slowly around the level until the ball makes contact with them. At this point they shoot off in a random direction. Catching an orb with a paddle will grant you a power-up.
Green power-up orbs contain helpful power-ups, whilst red orbs will hinder you. Blue orbs contain extra special power-ups and purple orbs contain pure evil.
The size of the orb gives a clue as to how substantial a power-up it contains.
Once you've destroyed all of the bricks, you have to catch the ball on a paddle a final time before the level is finished. Don't forget!
Bricks with a circle in their centre are bonus bricks. You do not have to destroy them to complete the level, but doing so will guarantee that a power-up orb is produced.
Steel bricks cannot be destroyed.
When you're down to the last brick of a level, you will be granted a single paddle laser after a short time to assist you. This is indicated by a red laser emitter appearing on the bottom paddle. Fire by right-clicking.
Random hints appear occasionally at the top of the screen. Whenever you receive a power-up, its name will also be displayed here.

Hope you enjoy it! Constructive feedback is welcome, of course. I'd very much like to hear your comments. Also, if you have any problems getting it to run, then tell me of your woes and I'll do my best to help.

Mods: if you want to move this to Creative Corner then feel free. I just thought it would be nice to give it a bit more exposure here.

Leader Board

Roonmastor - Level 6
Gorrable - Level 6
IGM - Level 5
Doug - Level 3
Mocky - Level 3
JK - Level 3
Puppet Boy - Level 3
Green Gecko - Level 2

Anyone who finishes level 10 gets a spangly banner for their sig'!

Posted: **Sat Aug 22, 2009 12:58 am**

Level 3 on my first attempt, I had different colours shooting off all over the place and was so busy admiring the glow of the colours I lost track of the ball.

I like it! Very smooth and well presented and I can see it being addictive.

Edit - One small suggestion, I don't have a mouse wheel as am on the lap-top and can't adjust the launch angle. Could you allow arrow keys to do the same thing?

Posted: **Sat Aug 22, 2009 1:03 am**

Thanks for playing! I think your arrow key suggestion is a good one. I'll get on it!

Posted: **Sat Aug 22, 2009 8:47 am**

Neat little game, and could become pretty addictive (kinda similar to 3D pong - an old, addictive formula updated by literally adding another dimension), but I'm awful at it. Truly awful. :lol:

First attempt: level 3. :mrgreen:

Posted: **Sat Aug 22, 2009 11:53 am**

Come on, Mr G. I just know you can hit level 4 if you keep trying! Here's an incentive: my girlfriend managed level 6.

Posted: **Sat Aug 22, 2009 12:59 pm**

Pilch wrote:my girlfriend

Posted: **Sat Aug 22, 2009 1:00 pm**

Downloading now!

Posted: **Sat Aug 22, 2009 1:07 pm**

Karlprof wrote:my Pilch

There's a special bonus sig' banner for anyone who can finish level 10. Get bouncing! Or something.

Posted: **Sat Aug 22, 2009 1:11 pm**

Reached Level 3 also

The hints are a bit difficult to notice.

Posted: **Sat Aug 22, 2009 2:01 pm**

I've implemented Doug's suggestion to allow the launch angle to be changed with the keyboard. You can now use the 'Z' and 'X' keys to accomplish this. You'll have to download again to get the latest version, obviously, though don't bother if this new functionality is of no interest to you. I've kept the arrow keys free for now in case there's an overwhelming demand to be able to move the paddles with them. To be honest, though, I think it would be very difficult to play the game like that.

The other two main issues that have come up are that it is a bit too easy to lose track of the ball with all the orbs flying around and that the hints are hard to see. The first problem could be solved by making the ball somehow more distinctive but I've not yet been able to find a way to do this without making it look rubbish. Suggestions? As for the second problem, I've considered putting the most important hints on a separate screen before the relevant level begins but I'm afraid that this will get annoying when you've seen them before. A separate option could be added to the start screen to turn these prominent hints off, but that would mean you'd either have to click the toggle button before starting each game or edit the command-line flags. I'm still trying to decide on the most elegant solution. Again, suggestions are most welcome.

Posted: **Sat Aug 22, 2009 2:03 pm**

Expected more lobes

Posted: **Sat Aug 22, 2009 8:32 pm**

Ryan0rz wrote:Expected more lobes

Posted: **Sat Aug 22, 2009 8:39 pm**

Downloading game now. I like these sorts of things. Hope there's a harpsichord-based soundtrack!

Posted: **Sat Aug 22, 2009 8:50 pm**

Just a suggestion Pilch, but maybe the hints could stay where they are.

They just need something to make them more noticeable. Perhaps you could scroll them across the top for example, instead of just having them stationary.

Posted: **Sat Aug 22, 2009 8:58 pm**

Yeah, scrolling could work. Don't you think it's difficult to read the hints whilst also concentrating on the ball though?

Posted: **Sat Aug 22, 2009 8:59 pm**

Pilch wrote:Come on, Mr G. I just know you can hit level 4 if you keep trying! Here's an incentive: my girlfriend managed level 6.

Level 5. I'm using a laptop touchpad, that's my excuse. :shifty:

Posted: **Sat Aug 22, 2009 9:12 pm**

Doesn't work for me on Windows 7.

Posted: **Sat Aug 22, 2009 9:13 pm**

I like how the 'Mute' button doesn't actually mute anything, just removes a layer of music. :lol:

Posted: **Sat Aug 22, 2009 9:17 pm**

Could someone re-upload the file for me?

For some reason the link in the first post causes me to download a file 0 bytes in size.

Posted: **Sat Aug 22, 2009 9:23 pm**

Alpha eX wrote:Doesn't work for me on Windows 7.

I'm on Windows 7 and there are no problems so it's probably something to do with your Java installation. Can you give me a bit more info? What actually happens when you try to run it?

Alvin Flummux wrote:I like how the 'Mute' button doesn't actually mute anything, just removes a layer of music.

Hmm, this works for me. So the music stops but the sound effects don't?

GRcade

Fire Quark - A game by Pilch - Cheats Revealed, Page 3!

Fire Quark - A game by Pilch - Cheats Revealed, Page 3!

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Re: Fire Quark - A game by Pilch

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Re: Fire Quark - A game by Pilch

Re: Fire Quark - A game by Pilch

Re: Fire Quark - A game by Pilch

Re: Fire Quark - A game by Pilch

Re: Fire Quark - A game by Pilch

Re: Fire Quark - A game by Pilch

Re: Fire Quark - A game by Pilch

Re: Fire Quark - A game by Pilch

Re: Fire Quark - A game by Pilch

Re: Fire Quark - A game by Pilch

Re: Fire Quark - A game by Pilch

Re: Fire Quark - A game by Pilch

Re: Fire Quark - A game by Pilch

Re: Fire Quark - A game by Pilch

Re: Fire Quark - A game by Pilch

Re: Fire Quark - A game by Pilch