Codename: ZXZXZX

I wrote a blog post on Recreating the ZX Spectrum attribute overlay in OpenGL which I posted to Reddit /r/gamedev the other week. I decided I’m going to make a game in that style over the Christmas break.

It’s influenced by Manic Miner/Jet Set Willy and more recent homages to that era such as Terry Cavanagh’s VVVVVV. This one has an entirely unoriginal rotation mechanic, it’s going for “most cliché indie platformer”. :)

Images:

• All the current maps exported to one image!

• Lots of spikes

Vines:

• Loading screen

• Rotation mechanic

• Screen wrap

Bit of a pickle as for how to do the music, because although the ZX’s ol’ beeper sounds are authentic, they’re a bit… awful? So far I’ve gone with using the default Reaper synth and sampler, so can mix it however at a later date. I don’t actually have any other VSTs installed (damn most of them not being Mac-compatible!), and my biz partner is the pro audio guy in our relationship, so that’s something I’d let him loose on anyway. He did this for our most recently released game. Plug aside, I’m the art / programmer, but try my hand at music every now and again as a break from code fatigue!

Tracks:

• Track 1 (0:37)

• Track 2 (0:36)

• Track 3 (1:30) - probably my favourite, except a bit in the middle.

• Track 4 (0:48) - probably my least favourite.

• Track 5 (3:0) - second favourite. big build up, but doesn’t really go anywhere / goes bad at 2 minute mark?

@ashleygwinnell | @forcehabit