Universal Phoenix HD - A Modern Arcade Shmup (by Firi Games)

Discussion in 'iPhone and iPad Games' started by killercow, Aug 11, 2011.

  1. Donald

    Donald Well-Known Member

    May 21, 2012
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    This game is looking so nice. Sound track is fabulous.
     
  2. Selachii

    Selachii Well-Known Member
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    Thanks guys!
    Yes this update is going to bring a lot of interesting stuff :)

    Another concept we did not use for the Trinity: we had a prototype where you could hold the screen with 2 fingers and time would slow down by 50%, so you could navigate through bullet patterns more easily. When you would let go with the extra finger, you would enter a speed-up mode, to 'catch up' as a penalty for using the time slowdown. It was a prototype we used for a long time, but in the end it wasn't good enough for us! Though, the current Trinity still does something with slowing down time, but totally different! :cool:
     
  3. SumoSplash

    SumoSplash Well-Known Member

    Sep 27, 2011
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    Side ships will be available for all the ships? How will this work? Do you have to buy them via IAP? And are the side ships optional or do you have to have them equipped?
     
  4. sapphire_neo

    sapphire_neo Well-Known Member

    Jan 20, 2011
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    I'm assuming the side-ships will be an item, like shields, EMP and health.
     
  5. Selachii

    Selachii Well-Known Member
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    They are optional, via a new system.

    At first the sideships worked in a traditional manner, like they would simply be an extra weapon that wasn't on the ship. In the end we thought this was a bit too boring, especially since ships already shoot so much in Phoenix HD.
    Now they are more autonomous so we changed their name to drones, they are little companions that do their specific task which is either attacking or defending, depending on the ones you brought with you.

    Also, on a side note: submitted.
     
  6. sapphire_neo

    sapphire_neo Well-Known Member

    Jan 20, 2011
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    :eek: I wasn't expecting it this early! Maybe a week or 2 more and then Phoenix HD madness :D
     
  7. Cool! Something to look forward to! I wanna see dem drones!
     
  8. Selachii

    Selachii Well-Known Member
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    #628 Selachii, Sep 17, 2012
    Last edited: Sep 17, 2012
    Did I mention this is our biggest update ever? :)
    This is exciting and scary at the same time, because it is a game people have been playing for a year, so changing stuff is always a bit scary! Even if everything gets better, it's always scary, so many moving parts!

    So yes, there are 2 drones. One is called the Vulcan Drone. It's a very cute little device that flies around the screen to find a spot where it will deploy and shoot a volley from it's powerful Vulcan Cannon.
    The other one is the Point Defense Drone.This little guy does not move around as freely as the Vulcan Drone but generally hovers around the front of your ship. There it will assist you by zapping enemy bullets with it's short range laser!

    @Sumosplash: You once suggested adding more emphasis on the Shogun (electric) melee weapon. We prototyped that as well (adding more levels etc), but the results didn't vibe with the direction we wanted to take. Actually we even considered removing the weapon altogether as disarmed enemies will now explode by themselves after burning for a couple of seconds. However, it is pretty cool and it's not distracting too much from the intended gameplay so we left it untouched.
     
  9. Selachii

    Selachii Well-Known Member
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    #629 Selachii, Sep 18, 2012
    Last edited: Sep 18, 2012
    Phoenix HD 2.0 screenshot

    Behold! (sorry for the double post, but I couldn't help myself here) Let the speculation begin!
    [​IMG]
     
  10. sapphire_neo

    sapphire_neo Well-Known Member

    Jan 20, 2011
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    Looking gorgeous as expected, can't wait! Also, sorry for not noticing the ship in that early tease ;)
     
  11. Is that two ships? Multiplayer?
     
  12. Royce

    Royce Well-Known Member

    Mar 22, 2011
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    Methinks it teleported :eek:
     
  13. syntheticvoid

    syntheticvoid Well-Known Member

    Jun 20, 2010
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    Musician & factory worker.
    a[V-O-I-D]
    With the bullets going towards it it almost looks like a decoy...
     
  14. Selachii

    Selachii Well-Known Member
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    #634 Selachii, Sep 18, 2012
    Last edited: Sep 18, 2012
    That sir, is correct!

    This is the Trinity: An experimental ship with the ability to slow down time and teleport over small distances.

    How it works; so easy. Control the ship as any of the others, moving around on the screen. Now when you let go of the screen, time slows down to a crawl. This gives you time to look around, see what the threat is, where the safe zones are and how gorgeous slow-motion effects are at 60fps :)
    Now, when you put your finger back on the screen, anywhere, the ship will instantly teleport there and shoot a powerful warp-shot. Of course, when you merely tap a location, you will warp there and will practically remain in slow-motion mode.
    When you place your finger back on the ship, or near the ship, it will not teleport, so you can position your finger around the ship as you like, without it teleporting per se :cool: You can also use this "just" to slow down time and look around without having to change position.

    The gameplay of the Trinity is awesome, it's so much fun. Switching back to the other ships I keep trying to teleport from the tough situations :D
     
  15. Delusionaltool

    Delusionaltool Well-Known Member

    Sep 24, 2009
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    dude i cant wait for this update, awesome stuff !!!!!
     
  16. SumoSplash

    SumoSplash Well-Known Member

    Sep 27, 2011
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    #636 SumoSplash, Sep 19, 2012
    Last edited: Sep 19, 2012
    Hey man, thanks for considering my idea in the first place! It's cool to give feedback to a game this fantastic. I've said it before, but Phoenix HD is my favorite iOS game and easily one of my favorite shooters ever.

    The other idea I mentioned to you was about making a 'Stage 4 level' to the Nightfury Laser, which would be a quick and extremely powerful blast. This Stage 4 could be made so that it would be difficult to achieve (staying in one spot even longer), but the rewards would be that it would vaporize any and all enemy vessels instantly. Maybe this idea could be considered for a future update :cool:

    This sounds SO AWESOME.

    It's funny, when the Shogun first came out you also said that you were trying to graze when you went back and used the other ships. Now you're trying to disappear with them.

    The only thing I am slightly skeptical about are the drone ships. Knowing you're artistic prowess, I am sure they will be great, but I am wondering if it would be nice to have the drones as being optional. Of course I am getting way ahead of myself here since I really have to see them first.

    And the big question is WHEN WILL THIS BE??? Literally foaming at the mouth here :eek:
     
  17. SumoSplash

    SumoSplash Well-Known Member

    Sep 27, 2011
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    God damn it! Sorry, I didn't read back before I typed my last post. So the drones ARE optional and the update HAS BEEN SUBMITTED.

    YES!!!!!

    YES YES YES!!!!!!
     
  18. Selachii

    Selachii Well-Known Member
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    Nov 13, 2009
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    Yes we planned some improvements for the Corsair and Mirage as well initially, but quickly realized we had to save those for later :)
    This update is the biggest we have ever done! You'll see why, soon...

    Yes the drones are optional, quite tiny and pretty cute!

    Also, the UI looks a bit small on the screenshot because it's from an ipad, but cropped and resized to iphone size.
     
  19. SumoSplash

    SumoSplash Well-Known Member

    Sep 27, 2011
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    Tweaks to the Corsair and the Mirage, even the Phoenix too would make for an excellent future update.

    I'm sure we'll have our hands full with this update in and of itself :eek:

    Personally, I am having trouble containing myself.
     
  20. Canthar

    Canthar Well-Known Member

    Jul 18, 2012
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    Always looking for more updates. New ships to fly are a huge interest. New stuff to blowup is nice too :D
     

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