[Android] Lemmings-like game (WIP)

[LJLPM]

Thanks (before handling level submissions, I have to fix a nasty bug with the replays, first )

[namida]

No worries. By the way, if (when this project is closer to completion) you'd like a dedicated board for it like Lix / NeoLemmix / SuperLemmini has, just let one of the admins know and we'll set it up for you.

[LJLPM]

Ok, thanks! It may be useful indeed, if more topics about the game are created in the future (bug fixes, help, etc...)

By the way, here's a screenshot of the game's new "Brick" tileset.
I have re-worked my previous "Brick" tileset as I wasn't fully satisfied with the 1st attempt. It's definitively better now, and it's also more "Lemmings"
(note: as I didn't spend too much time on the Objects yet, entry/exit doors still come from the original Lemmings. Everything else is new and, thus, not copyrighted)
Still lot of work ahead, but things are going well.

[namida]

Looks neat! Pretty amazing how quickly you're pumping out these tilesets - it usually takes me quite a while to create each one!

[LJLPM]

Actually, making all these tilesets is a very long job!!! I only show screens when I get enough tiles available.

For instance, for some tilesets (and I mainly think about the Pillar, Sci-Fi and Rock/Dirt tilesets, here), I'm on it for more than a year (of course, I don't work on them on a regular basis, but the fact is that I started working on these tilesets more than a year ago... and I'm still not fully satisfied with them).

Generally, I'm not pleased with my 1st drafts, and I discard many (all?) tiles from new tilesets. I work and re-work the tilesets a lot! (and speaking about that, I think the tileset on which I failed the most is "Rock/Dirt". What a nightmare to get this nice Lemmings' Dirt touch!!!... and, as today, I'm still searching for the "magic" I'll keep on working on it.)

I can say the Brick, Marble, and Colors tilesets are finished (except, atm, I still miss the Steel blocks and Objects for all tilesets). Other tilesets are subject to changes. And I can add that I would like to have a "Fire"-like tileset for the game. (still not sure I will add it, though)

So, to conclude:

it usually takes me quite a while to create each one!

... for me, too!

[LJLPM]

To avoid any copyright issues because of my red "Brick" tileset (which is probably too similar to the original Lemmings' Brick tileset), I'll use another color for the game (green, maybe. Of course, it's not as good as the original red, but making my tilesets not too similar to the original Lemmings game is the right thing to do in order to stay away from copyright issues)



And as a little update, here's a new screenshot showing the game's Steel pieces (Pillar tileset).

[namida]

I doubt you'll run into any issues with having bricks that are red, considering that most bricks are red (and I'm fairly sure bricks themself are public domain by now). If you designed it from scratch, you haven't violated any copyright.

[ccexplore]

Besides, I'm pretty sure that a mere recoloring would not have saved you from any actual copyright issues anyway.  It'd be kinda like distributing a hacked version of a program where the only thing you changed is the copyright text embedded in the binary.

So with that in mind, please for the love of god do not use that garish green I'm seeing here.

[LJLPM]

If you designed it from scratch, you haven't violated any copyright.

Yes, I've created every tile/graphics of the game! (except Objects like doors, which are yet to come in this WIP/prototype).
Of course, the final game will only use 100% new and original graphics that I'll design.

I'm not a law-specialist but since my Brick tileset looks like the original Lemmings' Brick tileset (similar shapes or ideas for some tiles --- ex: brick in diagonal), I'm wondering if it breaks copyrights because of the similarities ?
(so I thought maybe the combo "I made my own tilesets + changing the tiles' global color tone" prevents from the confusion between Lemmings' Brick tileset and my Brick tileset)

Obviously, I couldn't fight against copyright issues, so I want the game's graphics to be valid before releasing the game.

... and ok, I'll stay away from the garish green

[607]

I understand where you're coming from, but I honestly don't think changing the colour helps. I highly doubt you'd get any problems with it, as you created it from scratch. There is a Lemmings clone in the app store with exactly the same level design and inspired tilesets, and it hasn't got any problems.
I don't think they'd fight over such a thing.

[LJLPM]

Thank you for your input! I hope my tilesets will be fine as it would be too bad to throw away all the work because of copyright issues.

Could you tell me the name of the Lemmings clone you're talking about on the App Store, please? I'm curious to see it Thanks!

[607]

Thank you for your input! I hope my tilesets will be fine as it would be too bad to throw away all the work because of copyright issues.

Could you tell me the name of the Lemmings clone you're talking about on the App Store, please? I'm curious to see it Thanks!

It's titled Caveman. There's a Lite version which lets you play the first 10 levels of the original Fun. It's not exactly a clone, but very clearly inspired.

[LJLPM]

Thanks for Caveman! I know (and played) this game: this is a re-skinned Lemmings port due to copyright issues.
They used copyrighted assets indeed.

For the Android game, I will deliver original contents only: I wrote original/not-copyrighted code and I created my own graphics, so I hope my game does not break any copyrights, even if my Brick tileset looks similar to Lemmings' Brick tileset.

quick note: FYI, the game is running well (zero problem encountered) on Android 5.0 & Android 5.1 (as you know, it was already compatible with Android 4.x). This is good news as I'm now focused on making the graphics rather than on coding/fixing things.

[LJLPM]

I didn't work much on the game recently, but I took some time to re-work the game's Pillar tileset (I wasn't satisfied with some tiles of it). It's better now, and as the following screens show, one can use this tileset to create some nice levels which have the "Lemmings" spirit! (and, yes, you may be familiar with the shown level )
Now, I would like to improve the "Rock" tileset, since it's not as good as I would like it to be.
ps: for my tests, Objects still from the original game.




edit: here come the traps!
good news here: using jLevelBuilder's integrated tool to visually set Objects' properties and generate tileset's config-file (similar tool to namida's new graphic tool, but dedicated to the Android game only), I was able to successfully perform tests with levels using the game's first traps (crushing pillars)



edit: something I didn't test until lately: using Eraser tiles over Steel. (fortunately, it works )

[namida]

One more-obscure thing that might be worth testing with the eraser-steel combo: If you were to then use a builder in the "erased" area, does the bridge become steel, or does it function normally? (Under DOS Lemmings the bridge would also act as steel; while under NeoLemmix (and as far as I'm aware, SuperLemmini) it won't.)

Either way may be valid depending on what your intentions for such a situation are; but make sure you test it to ensure that what happens is what you want to happen.