Darts Demo

EDIT: Even though the thread title has demo in it, it doesnt contain a downloadable binary... Sorry! :)



Just thought I'd share my newest project, a dart game inspired by the 8-bit dart game 180 (or World Darts on DOS)

Currently, there are various 01 modes to play:-

1) human v human (computer gameplay)
2) human v human (real gameplay... More like a posh score counter)
3) human v cpu (computer gameplay, in a knockout based tournement)
4) human v cpu (real gameplay, as in, play real darts against the cpu)
5) human v human (Network - computer gameplay)
6) human v human (Network - real gameplay)

I've also had the cpu v cpu playing each other in networked mode... which was cool watching it on 2 PC's! :) <--- Its the little things isnt it!

The network part is the only part which isnt totally finished.. Some loose ends, but I've still got hordes of work to do on the presentation... Which for me, will take an age and an empire! :)

The board itself is the fine work of Mr Gfk, and has kindly allowed me to use it (Top man Dave ;)).

There is speech in it.. Erm, me in fact spouting the scores and what not.. very fun to do.

All in all, I'm pretty happy with what I have at the minute, but its come to the point now when I end up playing the bugger more than coding! ;D

Dabz

Looks really nice, that!

Only thing I would change is antialias the chalkboard font and use that font for all the text on the scoreboard (except where it says "SCORES" up top).

BTW: You said "demo"? That implies something to download. Where's it at? :D

Nice dart board and chalk board Michael
I don't really like the background though. Maybe something like this?

http://www.restorationhardware.com/rh/catalog/product/product.jsp?productId=prod3230022&navCount=3&_requestid=551997

What control system are you using human players? - Mouse?

Darts games have always frustated me with their control systems. Most go for a wobbly pointer where you just click the button when it settles on the area you want

What I think would be great is, like the original 180, a floating hand+dart so you can aim where you want without to much drifting but ....
You must then hold a mouse button, followed by pulling back and pushing forward (mouse Y movement) to throw the dart ... just like in real life

Similar to how some pool games work when striking the cue ball

lol, I know I did... It was meant to be a small demo to start, and it grew a little and the name has stuck for now... Until I can think of a decent name for it! :)

So for anyone, I apologise thats theres no actually public binary for you to play at the minute!



I was going to go the cabinet route... But I was sitting having a pint in my local, and looked how the setup was there... And apart from a missing score counter from Argos, thats pretty much it! :)

So lets just say... at the minute, its familiar, for me at least... Hehehe



Keys (at the moment, though Joypads will be in) Jim, with inertia, which was suggested by Gfk too, it seems to work and when your on a finished, its tweaked slightly to make it a little more difficult to hit a shot.

I've also got 'timing' on the throw... So if the dart is too far forward when you release, the shot will go lower, likewise, if you release the dart when its far back, you sorta lob it.



I did have a quick 'Tiger Woods' control test, and even though it was more natural to the gameplay... I just couldnt get past the fact that it made the game unrealistically easy, as well as I couldnt think of a system to counteract that too. So it got binned...

Thanks for the feedback chappies... mucho appreciated! ;)

Dabz

I wouldent like to miss the board with my darts.
A different background or one of those rings you can get for your dartboard would be nice.

Okay... I've took the background on board (No pun intended.. hehehe), and after a little photoshopping, I've come up with this:-



:)

Better?

Dabz

Much better!

Phew!!! ;) hehehe

Dabz

It looks good but some of the numbers on the board are a bit hard to recognize, it seems there are upside-down ones and sevens, they look like a J sometimes, I can't say for sure what is what. It also shows I don't play darts often! ;)

The 1's are 7-shaped/J-shaped (if you like) so they can be properly attached to the outer wire. They're like that in real life: