So I finally got off my ass and made an IndieDB profile like a real developer. Or an amateur developer. I'd say I'm still somewhere in the middle.
Anyways, take a gander at my first IndieDB entry: Machine Gun Train Run! It's a 2D run n' gun shooter in the same vein as Contra, Metal Slug, and Alien Hominid. It's my favorite genre and you don't see a ton of those around these days so I tried to make a good one to fill the gap. I don't have the skills to make a survival-horror roguelike pixel-art 80's-style Metroidvania with an esoteric story revolving around Lovecraftian elements, so a 2D shooter will have to do and my Indie Millionaire status will remain out of reach.
For now.
So about the game: Machine Gun Train Run is straight-up shooting and jumping on top of trains. I wanted to make something that felt like an 80's action movie remade into a 90's Saturday morning cartoon. It's got 4 brutal levels spanning the globe, each one stuffed to the gills with bosses and stuff to explode.
To bring new players into the 2D run n' gun genre, I've ditched the traditional lives/continues system in place of a chekpoint and ranking system. You can die as many times as you want and continue from relatively generous checkpoints. You can also select the levels in any order like a Mega Man game! However, in order to proceed to the final area, you need to get a good enough rating in all the levels. Hopefully this will remove the frustration of constantly having to replay segments of the game that you have already mastered in order to gradually progress. I'll have to wait and see how people actually like this, but so far it has been received well in play testing.
Once the player completes the game they can take on the Speedrun Mode with a timer that plows straight through every level in order. Gamers love their speedrunning and watching it is insane. Have you ever seen a speedrunner beat Battletoads? It's just bananas.
There's also an endless "VR Endurance" mode that's basically a mash-up of Contra and Geometry Wars because hot damn do I love Contra and Geometry Wars. Here's the first video demonstration of Endurance Mode in action. Put it in that 1080p with the 60 fps. You deserve smooth HD, gosh darn it.
I'll have a demo up before the weekend if all this tickles your fancy and you want to try the game out.
And most importantly, every game mode has couch co-op. Controllers recommended.
In the meantime, here's the link to the game's Greenlight page:
Steamcommunity.com
If you like it, every Yes vote helps! The publisher has the final say in the price but I figured it'll go for $4.99 or so. I want players to feel like they're getting their money's worth.
But if you don't like it, well, I guess you can vote No. I'd rather you didn't but I can't stop you.
The power is in your hands.
Drop some truth in those comments if you have any input or feedback.
-Justin
