Hi folks,
After a long and time consuming processs, Coconut Dodge is finally being released in the US today!
If you've been looking forward to the game coming out, and intend to grab it, please write here to let us know what you think once you've had a bash!
Thanks in advance!
James
THOTH
Member
Thanks Futurlab! This game is excellent. The controls are perfect, the gameplay is simple but challenging, it's really addictive and it's original. I especially love the mazes, if you need more ideas for minis I think that a series of Coconut Dodge mazes would be perfect, say 100 or so short mazes with score requirements for bronze, silver, and gold scores... that might be asking for a lot but you already have the game built you'd just have to come up with more mazes, anyways just an idea. Thanks for the great game!
So far my high score is 343,001 and I've completed all mazes up till 21; still got a ways to go
Thanks Thoth!
Great to hear it. We'll definitely consider a sequel if the game sells okay in the US :)
You guys ought to post your high scores here as there's a healthy community competition:
http://nonsensegamer.com/coconut-dodge-leaderboard-2/ :)
volcane
Member
There is an amusing comic strip featuring Clawrence mentioned on the FuturLab blog.
Carson
Member
Ok I bought this game and its awesome :) The only thing I can think of that would possibly make it better is an in-game save because you can go on for quite some timelike a savestate (or perhaps the ability to stop between phases would be easier to implement)? that wouldn't be a bad idea, if they ever decide to do another update or re-release Coconut Dodge, FuturLab should definitely see how difficult it would be to implement such a feature, then consider implementing it.
I did buy it for my personal account, and downloaded it to my ps3 (which I didn't do when reviewing it), and upon playing it, I realized that because the analog stick on the ps3 is larger than the nub on the psp (and thus easier to be precise), I am way better on ps3!
I beat my best score on the psp with just my second try on the ps3!
I forget exactly what I got, but I know that it was in past 400k (and I believe I got to maze 23-24, somewhere around there). So evidently, the analog nub was a terrible idea, and if the psp should ever see a successor, then I hope it uses a stick (well, two to be precise, but that's a given)!
Which PSP model do you have Carson?
I find the game easier to play on the PSPgo than the PS3, and more difficult than both on the PSP slim. The nub on the PSPgo is firmer.
To be honest though, you can learn to play well using any of them - it's whatever you practice with the most.
@Balrog
We considered this, but the PSPgo has that built into the OS. Hmm, we'll consider it for an update, but again it will depend on sales picking up.
Very happy that you like the game though!
I played Coconut Dodge for the first time last night. It's a lot of fun, and well designed, but it seems I rather suck. :( My best score was 120,000 or so. I'm not used to using the analog nub for things other than controlling 3D characters. It occasionally jammed on me; whether because I'm not doing it right or because it's "jammy," that I don't know. I tried using the directional pad, but the game's notes say it's not as responsive, which explains why I still sucked. Nonetheless, it was only with the directional pad that I managed to clear Maze Master for Level 9.
Anyway, I had to stop playing once my left hand started to hurt. Echoes of Echoes. . . .
@ onmodo ky
you should use a crystal case or a hand grip or the logitech playgear pocket slim case.
Carson
Member
Which PSP model do you have Carson?
@Carson
I didnt really notice the diffrence between the analog stick and the analog nub.
I tried using the directional pad, but the game's notes say it's not as responsive, which explains why I still sucked.
The directional buttons make Clawrence move at the top speed available at max tilt of the nub at all three speeds. So, using the directional buttons isn't any slower than using the nub.
Using the nub allows you to go slower than the directional buttons by a few analog grades, but most importantly your thumb is only in one position, so it's much faster to change direction quickly.
Practice makes perfect onmode-ky, I'm sorry your hand aches!
In other news, we've just had an article published on TSA that explains how Coconut Dodge is addictive, check it out:
http://www.thesixthaxis.com/2010/09/15/the-art-of-coconuts/
Also keep your eyes on our blog as I'm quite often yapping about something interesting, and we'd welcome feedback and discussion :)
http://www.futurlab.co.uk/interface/
Thanks!
James
The directional buttons make Clawrence move at the top speed available at max tilt of the nub at all three speeds.
I don't believe this is true. When the X button is held down for turbo, the directional key speed is most definitely slower than the analog nub speed. Try completing Maze Master for Level 3 using the directional keys. Not possible.
I've now made it past Level 15, with a top score of 261,410. Yes, I know, that's really poor compared to other players here. I have a hard time keeping my sweaty thumb on that nub when changing directions. *sigh*
Carson
Member
forgot to respond to James there, onmode-ky, thanks for supporting my would have been argument. :)
I know for sure that one of the later mazes really requires you to use the nub, although I forget what one.
maze 3 is completable with super turbo i believe, but yes, when you use turbo or super turbo, you really realize the difference!
it feels strange, arguing with the developer about how the game works, I feel..... stupid.... like its really a bad idea to do such a thing!
but I distinctly remember noticing that the speeds are different, I remember thinking hard about it, and concluding that Futurlab must have purposely made the D-pad slower, because at full speed, the game would have been unplayable with the D-pad, I also remember remembering James saying that the anolog stick was faster, initially when I read that, I thought he meant what he says now, but I believed (and still do) that was wrong, that i can change directions quicker on the D-pad. (I realize that this train of thought may be difficult for some to follow, for those who cant, dont bother trying, I am a pretty tired driver, and because of that, the tracks are placed in an odd way..... additionally, the train driver is, evidently, terrible with metaphors. Basically, it is not necessary that you board the train to reach the destination.)
I am entirely confident that James is wrong. James, I urge you to look into this further, as I believe you will find that I am right, and I really do like it when people find that I am right. :)
I swear, I know its a dumb idea to challenge the CD master, but I really am not stupid! (that much)
but I do think I am right, I would wager something if I could.
Hi Carson,
I checked the code, and for some reason the analog stick does indeed have a higher top speed than the directional buttons. This is a mistake on our part, so I am very sorry for making you feel stupid!
This error must have been introduced later in development, as I was pretty adamant that the top speeds should be identical, and tested them early on.
I'm not sure what we can do about this now. I'm loathe to do another update because it costs us so much (when there are only two of us, time is money).
Perhaps we can address the issue in a sequel or significant update in future with more mazes or something like that, if it's possible for us to do so.
My apologies again Carson. Now you have even more reason to use the analog nub :p
James
Carson
Member
no need to apologize, I dont feel stupid anymore! :)
and I dont think you need to worry about it, or doing anything like another update, I dont think it creates too much of a problem, I'm assuming Onmode-ky and I are the only ones who have called you on it, so thats gotta mean that its not hasn't affected anyone.
so don't worry about it, it'll be fine.
....well I do think everyone would like to see you go about this solution:
Perhaps we can address the issue in a sequel:D
Instead of spending the money on the update, I think you should just send me a hacked version of the game binary. :P A fixed D-pad speed would really help me out in the game; I have to let go of the analog nub often and reposition due to my hands getting all sweaty during intense gold crabbing and losing traction. If I were just using the D-pad, my thumb could stay right where it was and just rock left and right.
How much does it cost to do an update, anyway? Is it per region or for all regions?
Coconut Dodge: another reason Taito should have released a paddle controller attachment with a PSP version of Arkanoid, like they did in Japan with Arkanoid DS. Or at least with Space Invaders Extreme, which does have a PSP version.
You must log in to post.
