Lemmings Multiplayer Online Game Plan

EricLang · March 15, 2009, 01:54:15 PM

This idea is itching my brain all the time:

I would like to create a multiplayer online version of lemmings (or other creatures if I run into legal problems).
The project is far to much work for one person so what I need is a team!
If there are any programmers who would like to join give me an e-mail:

ericlangedijk (at) gmail (dot) com

I already got two persons who are interested.
1. A Wild Idea Manager
2. Someone who is willing to try and create new pictures of animations / terrain / traps

ccexplore? mindless? Volker Oth? What about you?

The idea is to create new levels, designed for multiiple users who have to work together to solve a level. Different colors of lemmings are controlled by the different players.
Another idea is the opposite: a race in which you can try to do damage to other people's lemmings and you try to reach the required percentage first.
A third idea is to do a race: who is first or who is smartest.
Of course online statistics will be made for all users: who is the best

I'm also thinking of users who are able to create levels and upload them, so that everyone can play them.

Adam · March 15, 2009, 02:39:53 PM

This certainly does interest me. I've always thought that multiplayer lemmings would be a great idea!

I can't say that I'd be very useful, but if there is anything I'd be able to do to help, I'm willing to give anything a shot to get this off the ground!

Dullstar · March 15, 2009, 07:57:18 PM

Well, good luck with that, I have no idea how the heck you would do that.

P.S., Mr. K., you might want to know that the smileys don't work.

EricLang · March 15, 2009, 08:01:16 PM

Adders: Very good. In what way do you think you could be useful?

Adam · March 15, 2009, 08:27:40 PM

I have a few ideas for how levels could work, I'm pretty good with graphic editing, and if required, I have a lot of spare webspace / bandwidth!

I can't code to save my life though

I also have a LOT of spare time at the moment!

Dullstar · March 15, 2009, 08:29:57 PM

If you can code, you are a genius,
I imagine you'd be able to do it with MMF or Construct, though.
Here's a link to the construct website.

http://scirra.com/

(from the looks of things, nothings working right here.)

Well, since that probably is not a link, put that in the address bar.

I am willing to help minimally. If you can't make a certain thing, I can suggest a program that can.

HOLY CRAP, THAT IS A LINK!!!

EricLang · March 16, 2009, 08:53:10 AM

Ok Adders PM me your email address and I'll put you on the list of The New Age Lemmings Team

GuyPerfect · March 16, 2009, 10:56:52 PM

While I'm not expressly volunteering myself at this point, I would like to direct your attention to this conversation from before the server had its most recent downtime. If there's enough support and activity for the project, I'd be happy to start it up ahead of time.

Mindless · March 16, 2009, 11:04:25 PM

Quote from: EricLang on March 15, 2009, 01:54:15 PMccexplore? mindless? Volker Oth? What about you?

At the moment, I don't have the free time to devote to such a project. Depending on what my summer job is, I might have time then. I assume it'll be an open-source project on SourceForge or Google Code, so hopping in in the middle of development shouldn't be too difficult.

EricLang · March 17, 2009, 12:31:02 AM

I raced through the post you linked to, GuyPerfect.
All mechanics and skills have to be reconsidered of course, even the creature "Lemming" which is probably copyrighted. Uploading user-made levels, which can be played by everyone (singleplayer or multiplayer) should be nice (levels which could be a clone of the original game of course

)
It's all on a voluntary basis, and if you have experience with game programming you're most welcome

Mindless: if the project is ever going to start you can hop in any time.

GuyPerfect · March 17, 2009, 05:07:10 PM

For a property as long-established, widely-known and ultimately trivial as Lemmings, I highly doubt you'll be hit with any cease-and-desist orders from Sony even if you did make a fan game based on the franchise. If you're still not comfortable going through with what I've got planned up in that other thread, then that's not the project for you. (-:

Dullstar · March 19, 2009, 02:20:41 AM

So, basically, you are going to code it...

Good luck, because I have no idea where to find good tutorials.

Clam · May 02, 2009, 02:48:44 AM

Out of interest, does anyone have screenshots of the original two-player levels from the Amiga version? I've found a couple of Youtube videos, but these don't give a good view of the whole map, and most of the levels aren't on there.

GuyPerfect · May 02, 2009, 07:18:33 AM

Scroll bar should be at the bottom of the page.

Level 1: There can be only one

Level 2: Still everything to play for

Level 3: In the thick of the fray

Level 4: Game on! Choose your tactics.

Level 5: Good game! Good game!

Clam · May 02, 2009, 08:14:16 AM

Awesome, thanks for that! (I presume the rest are on the way?)

One thing that strikes me immediately is the asymmetry (albeit minor) in some levels. I know this is a result of the limited tilesets, but I think for a balanced multiplayer game, perfect symmetry is an absolute must - even a small difference in terrain could potentially be exploited. Also, in the videos I watched just now, it looked like the lemmings from one side start entering the level before the other side - also not ideal.

Do you know the skill sets for these levels?

Also, @OP:

Quote from: EricLang on March 15, 2009, 01:54:15 PMa race in which you can try to do damage to other people's lemmings and you try to reach the required percentage first.

Would it not make more sense to get more lemmings to your exit than your opponent - maybe within a (somewhat generous) time limit - rather than trying to reach a certain percentage first?