It seems that there was an issue introduced with the last released version (259) with submission of scores. We have attempted to rectify it but some minor problems may arise.
[Edit 4:32pm est]
Due to some remaining issues we have chosen to simply release a "new" version (build 260) that should rectify the problems with the "double-release" of 259. Please update when you get the chance. There are no other relevant changes in this version, hence why it is still labeled as 1.1.2.
There's a new release of Galactic Gladiator available bringing it up to version 1.1.2 (build 259). The release mainly fixes a few bugs and improves the handling of the physics and drawing threads, potentially making the game more stable and improving performance in certain circumstances. In addition, the long-waited-for "real-time score" is now displayed during skirmishes and levels, making it easier to track your progress during gameplay.
You can use the Download link on the left to get the update. As always, feel free to post your comments and suggestions on the forum. Enjoy!
I just added a new feature to the online high score system. You can now see the scores of two different players on a 'comparison' page. This simplified scores page will display only final scores per level (or completed/not completed for challenges) for each player, bolding the higher score. You can see at a glance how you compare to any other player! For example, the great showdown: Smockgirl vs. Andrew. :)
To compare one player's scores to another, simply go to the first player's summary page (by clicking on their username here) and choose the second player's username from the new dropdown menu at the bottom of the page.
New version of Galactic Gladiator! This version primarily addresses a couple of bugs that have been discovered since the last release (ex. flickering, force feedback effects not playing, stuttering, etc). A few tweaks to the interface have also been made (ex. now if you have a default name entered, YOUR replays will always show up first in the list). Also included is full set of replays.
There are still several features that are on the "todo" list, named some sort of current score/time indication ingame, and Level 2 is still a possibility. Things have been somewhat slow lately due largely to Chris and I having lots of school and "real" work to do. Hopefully the near future will see somewhat more frequent updates.
Enjoy! As always, feel free to drop us a line via e-mail or on the forums and let us know what you think!
You can use the Download link on the left to get the new version.
Version 1.1.0 has been released! Head over to the Download page to pick it up. Make sure to watch some of the included replays, especially those of Smockgirl (currently #1 overall on the OHSS). Then start recording some of your own and send them in for potential inclusion in the next release!
Enjoy!
The student showcase selections for the Independent Game Festival have been announced, but Galactic Gladiator was not among them. That said, there were a lot of great entires this year and we would like to extend our congratulations to the winners, as well as all those who entered.
Regardless of the result, we're still quite proud of Galactic Gladiator and feel that it is in the same league as the other games there :) Thus as long as we can keep our motivation, we'll continue to improve on it. With that in mind, the next release featuring primarily replays is just around the corner (maybe even tonight or tomorrow!).
Keep checking back, and keep submitting those scores! :D
This is a short update to let everyone know that the new version is coming along quite well. The bulk of the work is done and we're aiming to release it once the last few details are finished.
So keep checking back in the next little while. Version 1.1 is going to have a lot of really cool stuff, so make sure to download it and try it out when it is released!
The forums have been upgraded to version 2.0.11 (from 2.0.10) to fix a few security problems. Since we have a bunch of custom code (to allow integration with the OHSS - showing your ranks on the forums and such), the merge was non-trivial. We've done some testing and everything seems to be in order, but please let us know if you find anything that isn't working correctly. Thanks for your patience.
Hey all. The last month has been a bit crazy for us with exams, Christmas and New Years, but I'd just like to let you all know that we're still working on Galactic Gladiator! Personally I've been doing some cool new stuff that will make GG more consistent on all computers, and allow for replays to be recorded and viewed (and possibly uploaded, if we can get them compressed enough). In addition, we'll be working on adding new features, levels, ships, weapons, etc. Keep checking back for news and eventually the next version!
Hey all. Just wanted to let you know that we've been included in the November Roundup on GameTunnel. While the short summary is not entirely positive (and being short, it did not cover much of the game), we've received enough feedback now from various sources that we now realize that there are a few misconceptions that should be addressed here. We've also changed the short description seen on the home page to emphasize these points.
First, Galactic Gladiator is not meant to be merely "another space shooter". While we may or may not have communicated this well, there are tons of space shooters out there, and no discernible voids to fill. Instead, we tried to emphasize a much more tactical game. We will grant that one downside of this approach is the following: people treat the game like a space shooter, play it like a space shooter, and are surprised when they don't do well. Let me say it explicitly here: you will NOT be even decent at the game until you play it for quite a while. If you don't believe me, check the online high scores. For the first while, you WILL get owned, you WILL have bad weapons, and you WILL die... a lot! Granted we have provided easier levels and challenges to get you warmed up, but some perseverance is necessary to become decent.
Number two, "Galactic Gladiator", the plot, and the level names all poke fun at the shooter clichés. We thought that this was fairly obvious, but some have misinterpreted and we apologize.
Number three: if you don't have a gamepad with an analog stick, and preferably force feedback, it probably isn't even worth trying to compete... The game requires a precision of flying and aim that is abnormal to the shooter genre (see above), and it is extremely difficult to attain this with the keyboard. It was designed with a gamepad in mind.
Lastly, while we do feel that Galactic Gladiator is a fun and very challenging game, as well as a good medium for competition, two students created it in their spare time, over quite a few years. Thus parts of the game are certainly outdated (it still uses DirectDraw for example!). With this context, being able to compete at all with funded games produced by full, experienced development teams is quite an accomplishment for us. We do not claim that this is the best game ever made (that would be Battlefield 1942 ;).
Hopefully this post addresses some of the misconceptions about the game. In summary, Galactic Gladiator is not a standard shooter, and does not try to be. Standard shooter tactics will not help you here. However, we have seen that people who take the time to learn the game and develop skill do enjoy it quite thoroughly, and the competition that it provides :)
That said, we are very thankful to the people who have taken the time to review it, for good or for bad.
One last comment: if you have technical difficulties with the game, please post on the forums! With the Technical Support forum empty, we can only assume that the game is working perfectly for everyone.