dntoll's blog

I have started to work on our free pc mini golf game again. A new version has been exclusively released for download on hUb with two new golf courts of 9 levels.
I think this game has lots of potential and I think it can become a fun game.
Download Mini Golf Worlds

Here are some of my goals with my mini golf game:

1. Create a fun short multi player game experience where you can play with friends and others for a short period of time.

2. Investigate community features, like friend lists, custom high scores and user created content, maybe even competitions. Keeping track of records, statistics and so on.

3. Get the game up to a high standard, support multiple resolutions, easy to learn, nice GUI.

4. Find out which levels are fun and not. Maybe have some ranking system so that users can rank levels. Improve and work on the levels.

I spoke to Mikael (one of the graphics guys from our pc puzzle game Caribbean Pirate Quest) and he might join in on the game project. It is hard for us full time working dads to get time...

Well you find the game for download on the hUb. And I look forward to getting my ass kicked in multi player...

Yey, the french release of CPQ is finally released on BFG. It is quite hard to test a translation if you have no knowledge of the language. But the translation team at BFG did a fantastic job!

And the French translation is also in the Spell of Play version, so play our pirate puzzle game in French!

The Spanish translation of Caribbean Pirate Quest has been released on Big Fish Games. I have spent a lot of time working with BFG on different translations of CPQ, so it is very nice to finally get it released.

It is really exiting to see our game but in a language i don't speak.

The Spanish translation is of course also available for download on hUb!

I have spent the last few weeks using and learning test driven development.

Test driven development means you write a test for your code before you write the actual code. At first it seems like you do more work, but you really gain time from it.

• You spend more time thinking on how a function/class should work before you write it. If you write the test first and the function prototypes (empty functions) so the test fails, you know when you are done (because the test succeeds)
• You can run the tests directly after compiling the code when you make some changes, this gives you confidence that your code works!
• When you find bugs you first try to reproduce them inside the test, and then you correct them inside the code -> Less chance you will run into that bug ever again.
• When you are forced to write tests your code will be easier to test automatically since you write the code for testing.
• It is fun to fulfill tests, it feels good!
• Less manual testing, many manual testcases can be automated, i have rewritten some of my user interface code so it can be automatically tested.
• You get example code for how to use the class

I have downloaded My Aquarium for Nintendo Wii, it is a virtual aquarium available for only 500 Wii points. You build your own aquarium and place objects and fish in it. I actually find it quite relaxing to use the TV as a aquarium. It is not really a game but at least it does not smell of fish!

I have spent a few hours trying to find a new TV for my living room and shit there really is a jungle out there...

I want a 32-42" with good qualities for movies and games.
I play a lot of Wii games and view standard DVD´s so full HD is not that important.

Now I´m trying to create a list of TVs.
When I find a TV, I first use the www.testfreaks.com to check what reviewers have thought about it, then I compare prices on www.pricerunner.se
I plan to bring the list to a store so I can compare their images myself.

Maybe I overdo this? It will only end with me keeping my old TV since it is impossible to find anything perfect.

I have spent a few evenings with super paper mario again, I have already finished it once but this game is so great I gladly play it again. Once again I marvel at the detailed level and polished gameplay!

Other than that I enyoy having vacation and only occationally sit down at my computer, but I´m planning to work more in August.