Underground DC Developers Strike Back: Feet of Fury

frohike writes "After reading the recent article about game non-originality, I'm pleased to say that there's another entry to the Dreamcast's innovative game lineup, and this time it isn't coming from one of the Big Publishers but the underground: Feet of Fury! This independent music beat game includes player vs player gameplay and a Typing of Fury mode. It was developed by us on a $0 budget using Linux, Gimp, and various other free tools over the past few years, and it uses the BSD-licensed KallistiOS toolkit as its base. (This is the same toolkit which most homebrew developers have written the emulators and such with.) We've used a number of neat free software technologies such as Ogg Vorbis in the game itself, and we contribute a large chunk of our code back to the community in the hopes that others can follow in our footsteps. There is even a publisher ready to help you get your ideas to fruition and sell them for you, so what are you waiting for? Now's your chance to be a console developer too. Let's make some great new innovative Dreamcast games!"

Original?

The game mechanic is from, "Dance Dance Revolution". How is this an original product?

Re:Original?

Yah we all know konami ripped DDR from
DDK [somethingawful.com]

Re:Original?

The thing is, can you find a game idea that is original?

Ok heres a game idea, lets make a game thats like a trippy roller coaster ride through sewers, except you have a gun and you have to kill the sewer life. All of this takes place in an apocalyptic future, and if you can survive this insane roller coaster ride you get to watch a fat dude rolled down a hill in a tire!

oh, wait that was a game!

I mean seriously, there is almost nothing i have thought of that hasnt been done. And everything I have thought of that hasnt been done, would be done, except that it would require shitloads of money, and be MMORPG version of games that already exist.

Even puzzle games have almost been worn out. I saw someone extolling the virtues of this game called "snord" calling it "innovative" but the thing is I had seen that game like 10 years earlier in an arcade, just oh it looked different but had the same goal nad required chunking quarters in it.

These guys arent too bad, they made an interesting game in a genre that hasnt been totally smacked around and devalued. Yes I know you could bring up britney spears dancing etc, but hey it is a relatively rare gametype, and I propose thats really all you are going to get.

i even doubt that when we move into 3d VR games (sometime in the future) that you are going to find anything that isnt really just a derivation of previous work.

Just because something that was done before, or was trying to be done before, now has technology that can do it better, does not make it unique. If that were so, if i invented tomorrow a way of transmitting data across time and space, then millions of companies could start patenting things that already exist, except that they hadnt been done before in my new ether communicator..

Just becuase you are doing something in a new medium doesnt make it unique, and i dont think there are going to be many unique games out there in terms of how the game is played.

I think the biggest thing is if you make a game have a good story, and enjoyable in terms of standard games, and for puzzle games you need to make them challenging in a new and unique way. But it in no way would really be unique in the term that it would be something "so new" that you had never been challenged similarly, or seen something like it before.

Sw33t

Now I can make "Custer's Revenge 3D" like I always wanted to.

Did anyone else...

...saw the headline and assumed "Feet of Fury" was a new DC comic being developed in some kind of Batcave like facility?

There's no way.

Dreamcast is a dead console, if I'm going to put work into developing for a console at all would I be better served to work on one that has a future?

And there's just something wrong about open-source games.

Re:There's no way.

"Dreamcast is a dead console, if I'm going to put work into developing for a console at all would I be better served to work on one that has a future?"

No, there are priorities ahead of it:

- Dreamcasts are cheap, like in the $50 range
- DC's don't require modding to play CDrs. Just download the ISO image, burn, and go.
- DC has a good simple architecture, plus BSD to develop on.

To put it another way, the DC has a much better audience than any of the other consoles out there for a game like this. People aren't going to flock to the game if you have to have + mod an XBOX or PS2.

Yay! Slashdot!

As the official Dan Potter stalker, I am obligated to respond. Congratualtions on getting /.ed finally, they kept rejecting my posts. And everyone else, if you don't like it, don't fucking buy it. Feel free to make your own damn Dreamcast games. In fact, I encourage it. Hell, I'd buy whatever you make.

So...

...but what is it about?
The problem of lack of originality was that the games had great gfx and music, but lacked new ideas. Here we read how many great technologies were used, that it has original music, uses some odd operating systems etc, but where's the originality?

if your interested in homebrew on teh DC

look at this site...

dcemulation [dcemulation.com] it has all the 'underground DC info youd ever need. also if you want to know about what your dealing with, check this [vidgame.net] page out.

Re:if your interested in homebrew on teh DC

Definately be sure to read the forums [dcemulation.com] too - most new releases hit there before the main page. Plus, you can read about the progress of future Dreamcast homebrew apps.

Anyone else flinch

When you saw 'goat' on the link to the publisher?

Hmm

The Typing of the Dead [gamesdomain.com]. The Typing of the . I see a trend here...

ummm....

There have been games like this since the days of the NES games console. [gamez.com]
How is this in any way original? Just because it uses OGG and was developed by "Open Source" people does not mean it is revolutionary.

First post?

Anyone know if it's possible to fit the entire NES collection on 1 cd? Then maybe make an emulator on dreamcast to play them? just an idea :)

KOS

If anyone has a dreamcast and hasn't checked this out yet, I recomend doing so. It's really surprising how easy it is to pick up if you've done much work with OpenGL. And while I havn't tried doing so yet, apparently even SDL based programs will now compile with it. Even if one dosn't have any big plans for the next epic game, it's a lot of fun in itself to work with the dreamcast.

Scared me

Thought there were some developers underground in the District of Columbia. Given the disaster that is the tax code, I don't want the bureaucrats touching any source...

Up next for the underground

Colon of malevolence

It is original!

All you slashdot flamers probably havnt even played the damn game. The focus of this game is far different to DDR. This game is based around combat, you have to beat the other player by shooting special moves their way. You have a health meter, whoever loses their health loses. Although, there are different rules you can choose from. Its obvious that pretty much NONE OF YOU HAVE PLAYED THE GAME.

Hohum - not so original perhaps

I'm not sure whether that game should be considered an 'original' title - looks like it's just a variation on existing dancing games (I'm pretty sure I have seen a dance-game in the arcades where people could compete against each other :o

There's also a lack of screen-shots on that website - unless the ones provided are all you get to see in the game?

Hmmm...let's sum up:

1) Original concept? Dance game...probably not...
2) Mindblowing graphics and/or art-work? Probably not...(need to see more screenshots to be 100% certain)
3) Large established target-market? No. Who owns a dreamcast?
4) Large target-audience? Possibly, but they would probably be playing other dance games on other consoles or in the arcades (see 3)
5) Marketing? A (not so exciting) website and a mention on /. Oh, and there's a goat in there somewhere :)
----
6) Profit? Well...I hate to dissappoint but...no.

Of course I could be totally wrong and this could become the smash-hit of the year...stranger things have happened ;)

Re:Hohum - not so original perhaps

Large established target-market? No. Who owns a dreamcast?
-The Dreamcast was a fantastic system, and it is safe to say that it died before its time, due to a low amount of introductory games caused by the early release date, as well as a shoddy ad campaign. I mean, really "Dreamcast... It's Thinking". Nothing like an add that states nothing about the product. They had a chance to belittle their newest competition, and blew it. I would of bought a Dreamcast that Christmas if I knew what living H311 it was going to be to "try" to obtain a PS2. Who out there would not of preferred Sega's system if they had just said "Dreamcast... We ship on time"
-One more thing, I think it is a wonderful idea for people to still be developing for this console. I am surprised that many third party game developers for the PS2 and other systems do not port their games to the dreamcast. Think of it... There are thousands of people who still own and use their Dreamcasts. With the relative ease that one can program for it, a quick, stripped down port of a PS2 game would make a wonderful demo, and secure the support of gamers on a budget (for, let us all face the fact, this system is a quarter of the cost of a PS2, and not that all worse.) thus getting more people to buy the product, allowing better games to be developed for the more powerful systems.
-Another point that few people have considered is that the Dreamcast is a good system that, frankly, the original producers have abandoned. Why had there not been a surge of self mod books released to improve upon this console, free of any wrath of Sega? If the Xbox and PS2 punish those that wish to improve upon their own system, why go through all the angst, just start using your Dreamcast again. Sony will not release a new system until 2006-2007, there is still time to "revive" Sega from its grave.
-And now, in parting, I shall speak those three words that drive those who still support this system to not loose all hope: "Long-Live-Seaman"

links?

Where are the bit torrent links? You know its free karma.. come on people.

selling it?

It appears that they're trying to sell this game. It seems like they could run into some major legal problems if Sega wants them to- doesn't Sega have to license you in order for you to create and sell games for its system?

What I don't understand about the dance games.

Dance clubs have shown a decline in patronage, even dancing as a diversion has declined as well. Yet these games come out, and people are plopping down $2 for 10 minutes to do what can be had for free (or a small cover charge) all night by dancing to a song?!?!?

Is the game Free Software?

It's great that you're getting so much use out of all the Free Software used in the development of the game (Ogg Vorbis, Gimp, GNU/Linux, and KallistiOS). Is the game you're distributing Free Software too? Under what license? I figured you might release your program as Free Software as a way to contribute your effort to the community that has apparently helped you so much.

Typing of Fury

Typing of Fury (the keyboard-based version of this game) is an interesting take on the whole DDR thing. I had an opportunity to try out an unreleased beta of this that the developers allowed us to borrow for an annual convention [msoe.edu] that the gaming student org at my college runs. I'm not sure I like it, however. Yes, it's a good way to get typing practice in, but it just seems a bit strange . . . Perhaps it was just the keyboards, but occasionally, it seemed as though I'd hit the proper key at the proper time, but it wouldn't register (and I've got fairly good rhythm, having played classical piano for about 9 years). Of course, at this point, the game wasn't completely finished (one of the songs (I can't remember the title . . . something with noodles . . .) at that point crashed the game, for instance), so it may have been fixed, if indeed it was a problem.

What is with all this negativity?

Didn't you guys get any today?
How about yesterday?
How about ever?
No, your birthday doesn't count.

Seriously, screw the whole originality thing. I am happy that there are people out there making a home brew game and getting it published like that.

I think it is cool as all out. I will buy a copy of this game simply to show support for this movement.

Someone in a thread snobbed off the DC. Well there is one enormous advantage to publishing on the DC that Sony, Micro$oft and the Big ~N~ just can't compete with.
The odds of Sega suing them for publishing an unlicensed game on this platform is pretty low.

I applaud them.
Good Job.

All hail Discordia!

"it uses the BSD-licensed KallistiOS toolkit as its base."
KallistiOS? Gimme a break! If that thing's named in honor of Eris/Discordia, the goddess of chaos, confusion and discord, it's gotta be a real pain to use. Then again, chaos breeds creativity, or so the saying goes, so maybe it's a good thing.

So what I'd like to see

is an "open content" DDR-style game. By which I mean it would let you design routines to go with your favorite music and share those routines online. Because the concept of the game is sound, it's just the music which is crap. Any hints of something like this in the works somewhere?

Dreamcast isn't quite dead yet

It should be pointed out to all the people complaining about the Dreamcast being "dead" that it's still actively in commercial development, even if no more physical consoles are being made. There's actually still about a dozen games left to be released this year, as shown here. [the-magicbox.com]

So it's ALMOST dead but not quite. ^_^

News to me

I didn't know they were still making games for Dreamcast. I assumed they wouldn't make any money. THe only time I see dreamcast now is in pawn shops for £100 with 20 games.

It warms me..

I'm a sega fan, i love them (and sonic of course), i remember the day i got my first ever console, the sega master system.. I bought my DC as soon as it was released in europe.. But ofcourse all my mates said it was crap (without ever trying it), and bought their PS2's, Gamecube's and Xbox's... Most people here in Norway have never even heard of the DC, but some altso call me lucky for owning one :)

So it warms me that people are still working with the DC.. I do some OpenGL programming myself, so i might try making something myself for the DC.

GO SEGAAA!!!
(By the way, anybody wanna sell me an ethernet adapter for the DC? must work with the PAL DC)

Why Dreamcast?

Let's make some great new innovative Dreamcast games!

Whilst I do like the dreamcast, I - as well as many slashdotters I'm sure - do not personally own one. While you're at it, how about a trying at a few decent 'nix games for PC... we're still waiting for that hit that brings it into the home anyhow.

Stepmania is fantastic and free

Written by a guy I know, it is a great app and no charge. So he didn't write it in linux. So what. Website is here [stepmania.com] and the stepmania binary [sourceforge.net] is here.

Re:New?

Gaa... So much for my URLs... Anyway... http://directory.google.com/Top/Games/Video_Games/ Music_and_Dance/Dance_Dance_Revolution_Series/ P.S. No, that wasn't meant as a troll or anything... :P

Re:DIFFERENT MODERATIONS

Troll = misleading information/obscenely contrary viewpoint for the sole purpose of getting angry responses (or, even better, responses that corroborate what you said by idiots that believe it because it sounded good)
Flamebait = insults, stating a valid opinion in an extremely invalid way (i.e. "you're a fucking idiot if you think that using lunix is worth your time")

Or something like that. This post, for instance, is a troll.

Re:If you want original

lol! :) Excellent game! :)

Re:yeah right..

Just BTW, I know you're only a troll, but I can't resists ... This game has *NOTHING* to do with Sega of whatsoever. So what are you trying to say ?

Re:But...

yes [fivemouse.com]

Re:Original? Dreamcast??

Dreamcast came out on 9-9-99. That would make it just under 3 years old.

Re:Original... Yeah

they've added player versus player.

if you hit certain arrows, you pick up attacks to use on the other player. depending on what mode the game is in, you either hit a button or it'll automatically use the attack.

attacks include making the arrows go faster, fade in and out, wave from side to side, spin, and theres more that i can't remember

Re:You aren't unique, nor are you in the Undergrou

More like a 4x4.