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Project Spark Information Q&A

G

Ghost

Chili Con Carnage!
Wow that stream was really cool, great to see all the maths stuff is in there for people who want it.

Looking at the Kode interface again it really looks like an interface that would work really well with touch, will that be something we can do with Smartglass?
 
B

belushy

Banned
Cross-post from Reddit.

Team Dakota Creative Director Henry Sterchi and Community Manager Mike Lescault are joined by Designer Keith Rosier in the latest Project Spark Developer live stream on the Microsoft Studios Twitch channel. http://www.twitch.tv/microsoftstudios Keith will provide an in-depth look at a castle level created in his spare time, showing off the rich interior and explaining how he used existing props and assets to achieve his game play goals.
The stream starts at 3:30pm PDT on twitch.tv/microsoftstudios. *Note: This is on the Microsoft Studios Twitch channel, not the Project Spark one *
This will be an in-depth look into the types of interiors that can be created. There will not be any new feature announcements.
Click to expand...
 
M

Mike_Lescault

Neo Member
J10 said:
I have a question for Mike.

Would it be possible to build a kind of experience where you have a level made up of spheres and each sphere has it's own center of gravity so that the player can walk on all sides?
Click to expand...

Mike_Lescault said:
The question isn't IF you can do something. The question is HOW would you do something. I'll ping some of the team members on this question and see what ideas they come up with. I guarantee no two members of the team will come up with the same solution, which is very cool.
Click to expand...

Turns out that this one is pretty hard to do. I asked the team members to tell me how they'd approach trying to create this and asked them to give me their thoughts WITHOUT discussing it with others.

Here are their responses....

Jared, Designer
Yep, it’s possible. I added these lines to the player’s brain. This just works with one sphere, but its where I would start expanding from.
1. Set the player’s gravity factor to zero.
2. Push the player toward the sphere.
3. To jump, push the player away from the sphere.
4. & 5. Rotate the player character as it circles the sphere so that it can walk upside down on the bottom.

5pjq.jpg


Jesse, Producer
Sphere add brush to make terrain, paths tool to make paths around the terrain, sensors to help you teleport between terrain. …Then I would ask someone else how to make the character stay upright relative to the sphere she is walking on.

Aury, Programmer
Yes, you can do this.

You can disable the built-in gravity and apply your own physical forces to objects so that they gravitate toward the spheres. You can also rotate an object to face and move in any direction, so that a character can run on the surface of one of the spheres.

Brad, Designer
Without prototyping, I’m not sure if this will work but you might be able to snap the object’s position to the nearest edge of the sphere and manually orient the object’s up to point away from the sphere. Until we incorporate some of the gravity features we’ve been talking about, it could be tricky to incorporate jump.

Eddie, Programmer
Yeah, I’d code up each of the spheres to do a detect sensor and they could slowly start moving the player in their direction. Possibly setting a vector on the object itself and having it use that as it’s move coordinate. Pretty simple to do, but hard to probably make the character be upright when he gets there… I could probably still swing it tho.

James, Producer
That’s easy. Step 1 – Purchase a Pizza. Step 2 - Give the pizza to a designer and ask them to do it.

Mike, Executive Producer (After reading everyone else’s response)
I’d delegate this to James to solve for me by EOD.

I hope that helps answer the question. Thanks! :)
-Mike
 
J

J10

Banned
Wow, I didn't expect such a quick response. Awesome. And all of those answers are exciting. You really weren't kidding about the disparity. I have a few follow up questions on that, but I'll wait a while until you guys reveal more stuff. Thanks.
 
L

LukasTaves

Member
Mike_Lescault said:
Turns out that this one is pretty hard to do. I asked the team members to tell me how they'd approach trying to create this and asked them to give me their thoughts WITHOUT discussing it with others.

Here are their responses....

Jared, Designer
Yep, it’s possible. I added these lines to the player’s brain. This just works with one sphere, but its where I would start expanding from.
1. Set the player’s gravity factor to zero.
2. Push the player toward the sphere.
3. To jump, push the player away from the sphere.
4. & 5. Rotate the player character as it circles the sphere so that it can walk upside down on the bottom.

5pjq.jpg


Jesse, Producer
Sphere add brush to make terrain, paths tool to make paths around the terrain, sensors to help you teleport between terrain. …Then I would ask someone else how to make the character stay upright relative to the sphere she is walking on.

Aury, Programmer
Yes, you can do this.

You can disable the built-in gravity and apply your own physical forces to objects so that they gravitate toward the spheres. You can also rotate an object to face and move in any direction, so that a character can run on the surface of one of the spheres.

Brad, Designer
Without prototyping, I’m not sure if this will work but you might be able to snap the object’s position to the nearest edge of the sphere and manually orient the object’s up to point away from the sphere. Until we incorporate some of the gravity features we’ve been talking about, it could be tricky to incorporate jump.

Eddie, Programmer
Yeah, I’d code up each of the spheres to do a detect sensor and they could slowly start moving the player in their direction. Possibly setting a vector on the object itself and having it use that as it’s move coordinate. Pretty simple to do, but hard to probably make the character be upright when he gets there… I could probably still swing it tho.

James, Producer
That’s easy. Step 1 – Purchase a Pizza. Step 2 - Give the pizza to a designer and ask them to do it.

Mike, Executive Producer (After reading everyone else’s response)
I’d delegate this to James to solve for me by EOD.

I hope that helps answer the question. Thanks! :)
-Mike
Click to expand...
This is amazing. I expected the programming to allow it, but nice to know the sculping tools allows that too. (I have 't been able to keep up with the revent streams, so perhaps this was already addresed before)

It would be really awesome if there was a guarantee that gaf members on this thread would get in early into the beta *wink* wink* wink*
 
J

J10

Banned
Yeah, I signed up for the beta before realizing it was Windows 8 only. This thread will have to suffice until it ships for 360.
 
O

Orca

Member
Garrett 2U said:
Thanks for the reminder, completely forgot!
Click to expand...

And I wound up unable to watch it. Going to watch it when the kids go to bed, but the little bit I saw really has me looking forward to this. Being able to make little games for them to play, personalized for them, is going to be awesome.
 
W

wwm0nkey

Member
Really can't wait to try this out. Enjoyed Kodu for what it was but this just looks great.

For GAF members who get a beta key, lets all make a game together!
 
E

Eyemus Lutt

Member
I think we all know how well the tools work is completely based on how well world 1-1 is recreated. That's the only way we can compare creation tools.
 
J

J10

Banned
That was a really good stream.

I'd like to see a demo involving puzzle creation. Something simple like a locked door that won't open until a specific series of conditions are met - flipping a set of switches in a certain order or placing specifically shaped stones in the appropriately shaped holes - anything like that.
 
M

Mike_Lescault

Neo Member
Video replay of this afternoon's Project Spark stream is now available if you missed it live: http://youtu.be/c9V9jHdDKD4

If you haven't already signed up for beta, you can do so at www.projectspark.com although it'd be super helpful if someone could also collect the names of any NeoGAFfers that are interested into a single list for me, so I can make sure you all get keys early.

-Mike
 
D

Dead Prince

Banned
Mike_Lescault said:
Video replay of this afternoon's Project Spark stream is now available if you missed it live: http://youtu.be/c9V9jHdDKD4

If you haven't already signed up for beta, you can do so at www.projectspark.com although it's be super helpful if someone could collect the names of everyone who's interested into a single list for me, so I can make sure all get keys early.

-Mike
Click to expand...

i signed up. does it boot me from the queue if i keep resigning up? lol.
 
B

belushy

Banned
I derped so bad. Completely forgot there was a livestream today.

Watching right now. :)

edit: Also, I guess I can compile the list. I'm sure no one wants their emails out in the open, so just send me a PM and I'll make the list unless someone else wants to. Also guys I need the email that you used when you signed up on the beta website.
 
M

Mike_Lescault

Neo Member
belucheez said:
edit: Also, I guess I can compile the list. I'm sure no one wants their emails out in the open, so just send me a PM and I'll make the list unless someone else wants to.
Click to expand...

Thanks. As long as they've already signed up for the beta at some point, we should be able to get some of the initial round of beta keys out to those on the list.
 
W

wwm0nkey

Member
belucheez said:
I derped so bad. Completely forgot there was a livestream today.

Watching right now. :)

edit: Also, I guess I can compile the list. I'm sure no one wants their emails out in the open, so just send me a PM and I'll make the list unless someone else wants to.
Click to expand...
PM sent
 
N

nbraun80

Member
Mike_Lescault said:
Thanks. As long as they've already signed up for the beta at some point, we should be able to get some of the initial round of beta keys out to those on the list.
Click to expand...

thanks mike you've been awesome to us as well. :). looking forward to watching the latest stream once I get home here.

also thanks belucheez for volunteering to compile a list. I suppose I could mention it in the OP, but then again I don't want to overwhelm your inbox haha :)
 
M

maplelord93

Banned
belucheez said:
I derped so bad. Completely forgot there was a livestream today.

Watching right now. :)

edit: Also, I guess I can compile the list. I'm sure no one wants their emails out in the open, so just send me a PM and I'll make the list unless someone else wants to.
Click to expand...

pm sent
 
B

belushy

Banned
nbraun80 said:
thanks mike you've been awesome to us as well. :). looking forward to watching the latest stream once I get home here.

also thanks belucheez for volunteering to compile a list. I suppose I could mention it in the OP, but then again I don't want to overwhelm your inbox haha :)
Click to expand...

Yeah you can add it to the OP. I would just feel bad for Mike getting a huge list of new people he'd have to input into the beta. :p

For the list, Mike, do you need it any time soon? Wouldn't make sense to just give you the list right now and keep sending you new names as they come in. Maybe send you a big one at the end of this month?
 
N

nbraun80

Member
belucheez said:
Yeah you can add it to the OP. I would just feel bad for Mike getting a huge list of new people he'd have to input into the beta. :p

For the list, Mike, do you need it any time soon? Wouldn't make sense to just give you the list right now and keep sending you new names as they come in. Maybe send you a big one at the end of this month?
Click to expand...

Ha yeah that was my other concern, I'll leave it up to mike if I put it in the OP or not. :).

Also guys I was thinking about making another thread later(novemberish?) called PS creations and creators or something which would basically be a thread to show off your games or ones you think are good and a place to find collaborators to work on something together. What do you think of something like that?
 
T

The Flash

Banned
belucheez said:
I derped so bad. Completely forgot there was a livestream today.

Watching right now. :)

edit: Also, I guess I can compile the list. I'm sure no one wants their emails out in the open, so just send me a PM and I'll make the list unless someone else wants to.
Click to expand...

PM also sent
 
G

Garrett 2U

Member
Mike_Lescault said:
Video replay of this afternoon's Project Spark stream is now available if you missed it live: http://youtu.be/c9V9jHdDKD4

If you haven't already signed up for beta, you can do so at www.projectspark.com although it'd be super helpful if someone could also collect the names of any NeoGAFfers that are interested into a single list for me, so I can make sure you all get keys early.

-Mike
Click to expand...
Awww yeahhh, you're the best!
Can't freakin wait.

belucheez said:
I derped so bad. Completely forgot there was a livestream today.

Watching right now. :)

edit: Also, I guess I can compile the list. I'm sure no one wants their emails out in the open, so just send me a PM and I'll make the list unless someone else wants to.
Click to expand...
I sent ya my email :)
 
M

Mike_Lescault

Neo Member
belucheez said:
For the list, Mike, do you need it any time soon? Wouldn't make sense to just give you the list right now and keep sending you new names as they come in. Maybe send you a big one at the end of this month?
Click to expand...

Yeah, maybe just hang onto it until we're ready to announce the actual starting date of beta. I can give you a shout when we're ready to start distributing keys.

It's up to you guys whether to put it in the OP or not. Although, I will admit that it's those of you who are following the entire thread that we want to get in right at the start. Our success relies entirely on the strength of our community, so the people who are really interested in creating and/or playing cool stuff, are the folks we're counting on.

Thanks again,
-Mike
 
G

Garrett 2U

Member
Mike_Lescault said:
Yeah, maybe just hang onto it until we're ready to announce the actual starting date of beta. I can give you a shout when we're ready to start distributing keys.

It's up to you guys whether to put it in the OP or not. Although, I will admit that it's those of you who are following the entire thread that we want to get in right at the start. Our success relies entirely on how the strength of our community, so the people who are really interested in creating and/or playing cool stuff, are the folks we're counting on.

Thanks again,
-Mike
Click to expand...

I'll make the best damn U-shaped hill U've ever seen
 
H

heelo

Banned
belucheez said:
Agreed. Spark is very user friendly, but you will still need to do a lot of thinking and experimenting to get things exactly the way you want it. Helps exercise the brain. At least that it was what I think it is gonna be like. A lot of people will be able to pick up the game and make their own creations very easily. However there is a lot there that only those who put the time and energy and thought power into it will achieve.
Click to expand...

Honestly, the #1 thing that Project Spark needs is a vast library of tutorials that teach you programming within the context of Project Spark.

If I were them I'd define a few categories of games (FPS, third-person adventure, platformer, tower defense, casino, etc.) and then have 20-100 short tutorials that instruct you in the basic elements, and then make you execute a short project for each one.

(Yes, this is essentially every lower level programming class you ever took.)

Not only would it help expose people to the logic and tools of Project Spark, it would also provide interested beginners with a set of all the essential elements of a number of different fame types, leaving them free to either embellish the elements and or style, or go one step further and actually evolve one of the elements and create something fundamentally new.

For example: its only the rarest person who would sit down and grind for a few dozen hours to figure out how to make his own tower defense game.But if you gave people a well structured tutorial, I think a good portion of people would stick it out and learn how to do it, and a significant subset would the think "Hey, what if [the environment was 3D instead of 2D]?" and would be willing (and now able) to evolve things in that direction.


This is what needs to be done.
 
R

RebornYeti

Member
It's hard trying to wrap my head around the vast amounts of stuff you can potentially create with this game. I can't wait to see what crazy things people will create. :)
 
B

belushy

Banned
nbraun80 said:
Ha yeah that was my other concern, I'll leave it up to mike if I put it in the OP or not. :).

Also guys I was thinking about making another thread later(novemberish?) called PS creations and creators or something which would basically be a thread to show off your games or ones you think are good and a place to find collaborators to work on something together. What do you think of something like that?
Click to expand...

I think that would be great. Though, I don't know if we will be able to post videos and pictures and all that of the beta. Can you clarify, Mike, or are those details you guys still need to work out?
 
Lucent

Lucent

Member
Mike_Lescault said:
Video replay of this afternoon's Project Spark stream is now available if you missed it live: http://youtu.be/c9V9jHdDKD4

If you haven't already signed up for beta, you can do so at www.projectspark.com although it'd be super helpful if someone could also collect the names of any NeoGAFfers that are interested into a single list for me, so I can make sure you all get keys early.

-Mike
Click to expand...

It's cool you guys are doing this. Do you think you could do this for the Xbox One beta, too? Or is that gonna be more open than the PC beta and not really necessary?
 
M

Mike_Lescault

Neo Member
belucheez said:
I think that would be great. Though, I don't know if we will be able to post videos and pictures and all that of the beta. Can you clarify, Mike, or are those details you guys still need to work out?
Click to expand...

We'll be announcing more details in the future, but ideally we'd want people to be able to share everything, since that will help others in the community learn and improve.

Lucent said:
It's cool you guys are doing this. Do you think you could do this for the Xbox One beta, too? Or is that gonna be more open than the PC beta and not really necessary?
Click to expand...

We're still finalizing our plans for how the Xbox One beta would run, but if we're able to do it, we'd certainly like to. People who are active in the Win8 beta are the ones I'd prefer to see in the front of the line for the Xbox One beta. But we'll have to see how it all shakes out.
 
Lucent

Lucent

Member
Mike_Lescault said:
We're still finalizing our plans for how the Xbox One beta would run, but if we're able to do it, we'd certainly like to. People who are active in the Win8 beta are the ones I'd prefer to see in the front of the line for the Xbox One beta. But we'll have to see how it all shakes out.
Click to expand...

Sounds cool. Yeah I just can't wait to try making stuff in this. I imagine I'll be spending time messing with this at my desk with some paper noting stuff and planning out what I'd like to do before really doing it when I'm not messing around with what the game can do.
 
Lucent

Lucent

Member
Oh yeah, not necessarily Project Spark related, but as far as I know Microsoft isn't including a clip for the Kinect to be on top of your TV. Was wondering if there were any suggestions for that. I see they have them for kiosks and in the Project Spark streams. I have my setup at a desk and placing the kinect on the desk would block part of the TV for me. =/
 
S

Stampy

Member
Arghh, I am in dilemma now, to get a new comp and get in the beta early or not. I was planning to get only xboxone, but this is tempting now.
 
J

jusufin

Member
This game has me really tempted to get an X1 (maybe after first price drop). This and rime for PS4 are the most interesting next gen games to me personally. I hope they include a little story like LBP to play with. Looks fun!
 
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