Maps TD - Google Maps-based Tower Defence. • Hacker News Board

Re: Maps TD - Google Maps-based Tower Defence.

#11

Post by sliverstorm » Sun, Apr 01, 2012, 6:02 PM UTC

gwillen wrote: post #9

Maybe I'm just a sore loser, but I don't like the common trope in TD games of not telling you what kind of opposition you'll face until you're already committed in terms of what defense you'll put up. It doesn't make the game fundamentally harder, because all you have to do is play through it once to see everything. It just makes the first couple playthroughs suck, which is exactly when you should be sucking people i…

Eh, it doesn't matter a whole lot anyway. A TD game you can beat the very first time isn't interesting, and if hints on what is to come will let you beat it, it's too easy.

Re: Maps TD - Google Maps-based Tower Defence.

#12

Post by AdleyEskridge » Sun, Apr 01, 2012, 6:07 PM UTC

I had some fully-upgraded towers built near each of my map's four spawn points. After I sold them, enemies near the spawn points continued to take damage.

Someone might want to test whether selling towers does anything other than give you money and allow you to build a new tower in its spot. :)

Re: Maps TD - Google Maps-based Tower Defence.

#13

Post by Ecio78 » Sun, Apr 01, 2012, 6:19 PM UTC

Really nice, the last round (50 or 51 i think) was a bit too much for my laptop integrated video card, but i succeeded :)

Re: Maps TD - Google Maps-based Tower Defence.

#14

Post by AngrySkillzz » Sun, Apr 01, 2012, 6:35 PM UTC

Made it to round 92. A nice little browser game, the stuff you can do with the Maps API is really sweet.

Re: Maps TD - Google Maps-based Tower Defence.

#15

Post by CrazedGeek » Sun, Apr 01, 2012, 6:35 PM UTC

sliverstorm wrote: post #11

gwillen wrote: post #9

Maybe I'm just a sore loser, but I don't like the common trope in TD games of not telling you what kind of opposition you'll face until you're already committed in terms of what defense you'll put up. It doesn't make the game fundamentally harder, because all you have to do is play through it once to see everything. It just makes the first couple playthroughs suck, which is exactly when you should be sucking people i…

Eh, it doesn't matter a whole lot anyway. A TD game you can beat the very first time isn't interesting, and if hints on what is to come will let you beat it, it's too easy.

I disagree -- Crystal Defenders tells you what enemies (and their weaknesses/strengths) are coming the next wave, and it's the hardest TD game I've ever played. Sanctum, Bloons TD, PixelJunk Monsters, and Dungeon Defenders all do it too, and none of them are what I'd call "easy" (/maybe/ BTD).

Re: Maps TD - Google Maps-based Tower Defence.

#16

Post by nostrademons » Sun, Apr 01, 2012, 6:53 PM UTC

gwillen wrote: post #9

Maybe I'm just a sore loser, but I don't like the common trope in TD games of not telling you what kind of opposition you'll face until you're already committed in terms of what defense you'll put up. It doesn't make the game fundamentally harder, because all you have to do is play through it once to see everything. It just makes the first couple playthroughs suck, which is exactly when you should be sucking people i…

The lesson from that is to not overcommit yourself and build only what you need to stay alive. You can always pause the game and build more turrets if it looks like an enemy is escaping.

Re: Maps TD - Google Maps-based Tower Defence.

#17

Post by nostrademons » Sun, Apr 01, 2012, 6:58 PM UTC

darxius wrote: post #5

Just finished the game. Marvelous TD experience, really kept me on my toes with the "new paths" being added as you progress. The game did get a little slow near the later levels, but that's no problem as it was still very playable. I completed the game with 100 life so there might be room for added difficulty (maybe even more levels with increasing difficulty). Had me on the edge of my chair the whole time. Super awe…

You can keep playing after you finish. It seems to get much harder around level 80, with multiple orange dudes, and you end up losing multiple lives a level unless you've strategically placed your orange and purple turrets.

(I finished the game with 91 life remaining - I screwed up a little when the first new path was added, didn't expect it and didn't have enough money banked to build adequate defenses - but didn't lose a life between around level 10 and level 80. Then I started losing about 5-10 lives each level at 80...probably would've died at about 90, but I saw the writing on the wall and gave up.)

Re: Maps TD - Google Maps-based Tower Defence.

#18

Post by [deleted] » Sun, Apr 01, 2012, 7:45 PM UTC

lathamcity wrote: post #7

This is a really neat and creative idea, and worked really well. Some thoughts: -I never like it when TD games have finish lines. It would be better if the game continued progressing indefinitely, with the player making more and more money but the enemies getting stronger and stronger until even the best defenses reach a breaking point. As it stands now, the player can continue after the game ends at round 50, but he…

[deleted]

Re: Maps TD - Google Maps-based Tower Defence.

#19

Post by danielamitay » Sun, Apr 01, 2012, 8:12 PM UTC

General comment about TD games: Whenever there are no clear tower/mob advantages, I simply maximize damage-time per dollar. (You can go a step further and do damage-time per dollar-space.)

Simply doing that, I'm on round 200 with 100 lives, on my first try. Eventually it makes sense to only buy orange towers, no upgrades.

Re: Maps TD - Google Maps-based Tower Defence.

#20

Post by anigbrowl » Sun, Apr 01, 2012, 8:16 PM UTC

LoneWolf wrote: post #8

I can't place towers, and I don't know why. Its a shame I really liked the idea. Using chrome 17.0.963.83

Same here. Probably one of my flags but I am too lazy to check. However, I do like the idea of real world maps as a game data source; it was fun to see the 'enemies' advancing on my actual house.