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Reading and the Spy Invasion - Test Release

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By now, you probably know that my hack, Reading and the Spy Invasion, is in a sort of limbo; its story tied heavily into my main project on my website, and since that project is about to undergo a complete and utter restart, RatSI's story is put in serious question. It's more of a revamp for the other project than you might think, though - I'm completely re-imagining the concept, and one of the things most likely to happen is that the character "Reading" won't even exist anymore as a part of the story.

You might have also heard me say that RatSI has undergone "massive changes" or that it won't be released "in the form you'd expect". Well, this is partially true. In light of all the other canceled hacks recently, I really, really don't want to say that Reading and the Spy Invasion has been canceled - but I suppose I've just been in a sort of denial about this ever since I said RatSI will be massively changed. I am working on another hack, and it shares RatSI's graphic style, several of its gameplay aspects, and even some of the level structure, but to say that it is RatSI would be a bit of a stretch. So, with this thread, I am announcing the official cancellation of Reading and the Spy Invasion...or just the cancellation of its current form. Whichever one you prefer. ;)

Now, the real reason I created this thread. Since my new hack will take quite a few pages from RatSI, I'd like to know what everyone thinks of it. Since I'm not working on RatSI anymore, releasing what I had finished will provide me with feedback and allow everyone who was following the hack to actually get to play it.

Download what I had of Reading and the Spy Invasion here!

I'd like to know what you think of the game, and you can express your opinion on anything related. Originally, I planned to use most, if not all, of RatSI's levels in my new project, but I've decided to make mostly original levels instead. I suppose if some levels are popular enough, though, I'll reuse them.

Now, take note of this quite obvious fact: This hack is not even remotely near finished! Only three Areas are completed (Areas are, for the most part, equivalent to Worlds). The graphics and gameplay are incomplete as well; there are still several glitches in the game, and I only finished redrawing about two sprites to fit the new graphic style. Also, late in production, I darkened most of the game's colors and changed a number of other cosmetic features, such as most of the blocks, to go along with a general change in style from "Reading's personal thoughts" to "Epic spy movie". However, I didn't quite finish the changes; don't be surprised if the game suddenly brightens up upon entering a new area, and expect Note Blocks to look rather glitchy.

There's quite a few other unfinished bits too; the title screen and opening cutscene were never finished, the lives counter, time, and score don't show up due to a strange glitch involving Level Names, I hadn't installed the new cutscene tool, the music choices aren't necessarily final, I was planning to change some things in levels to make it more reliable, "The Red Switch" is supposed to be in Area 5...and the like. I've done my best to fix most of the problems that got in the way of gameplay, but fixing everything would just be pointless and time-consuming, so expect to run into a good deal of...unfinishedness. For the most part, though, the game is playable as I intended it, so the glitches are mostly only minor distractions.

I've left the hack unlocked, so if you can't figure out something, you can just open it and look it up. There are 38 exits in the first three Areas, so you can know if you're going for them all.

As for the story, future Area plans, and the like...I'm not going to describe it all here, but if you want to know how the story was going to turn out, or what my plans were for the later areas, ask away and I'll spoil to your heart's content. What I can, anyway...my story plans weren't exactly complete either.

So. Play away, my friends!

Just for the sake of having them, here's some screenshots.



















































My god, I never thought this hack would see the light of day. At least I get a taste of what is, so far the hack. I'll have a review for the demo when I finish it.
FANTASTIC! I was wondering, would it be okay if I uploaded videos of the levels on YouTube? I would, of course, give you complete credit and say it was cancelled in this form, it's going to be different, ect...
Your layout has been removed.
Yeah, that would be perfectly OK. Make sure to mention that it's canceled and incomplete.
Pretty cool :D I was really hoping it wouldn't get cancelled, but as long as i can play it and see what it's like, im fine with that!
I remember playing a version of this a while for testing, and overall really enjoyed it. It sounds like a few changes have been made, even though it's incomplete, so I'll be sure to check it out again and give my thoughts.
Pretty nice so far, but I can't get through the Wet Socks level, and I can't look in the hack in Lunar Magic because this computer can't run it. >.>

Edit: How was I supposed to know that pipe was enterable?!
Good fucking bye.
Originally posted by SpikyRat
Edit: How was I supposed to know that pipe was enterable?!

You see coins over one of the pipes the first time you see it, indicating you can enter it. Hitting the ! Block switches the coins to the other pipe, allowing you to enter that one instead.

That's something I'll be changing for the new hack; using coins to signify stuff like that and Reset Pipes is a somewhat unreliable method.


Hmm... the GFX on this picture look somewhat familiar... I'm just stating. To say the truth, they look somewhat like my previous models of the Bonus Room GFX I make. However, I've heavily updated them, so they just now look familiar.

Otherwise, I'll try this hack out. Looks kinda fun.
Now that I think about it, I probably grabbed the coins without noticing. God, I'm stupid sometimes. XD

You used to make simplistic puzzles in the SMI series (Inivisible blocks, blue P-Switch, silver P-Switch, YAY. Now we can continue), but RatSI has some pretty darn hard puzzles.

Edit: Ninja'd. I was talking to Reading, in case that wasn't obvious for whatever reason...
Good fucking bye.
Originally posted by Corona
Hmm... the GFX on this picture look somewhat familiar... I'm just stating. To say the truth, they look somewhat like my previous models of the Bonus Room GFX I make. However, I've heavily updated them, so they just now look familiar.

Well, I didn't copy your design or anything. :P

Glad that you like the puzzles, SpikyRat. I mean, the way you described them as opposed to the ones in Super Mario Infinity seemed positive. XD
I really like this. I never really got into Super Mario Infinity (although I certainly see why it's as popular as it is), to be honest, due to its difficulty curve, but this was really awesome. Ignoring the few glitches (since it's not finished, of course), I don't have any real problems with its level design. The plot was pretty great, although a bit hard to follow at points, but the game's atmosphere reflected the plot beautifully.

Really a shame to see you're not continuing this.
Originally posted by Reading
Glad that you like the puzzles, SpikyRat. I mean, the way you described them as opposed to the ones in Super Mario Infinity seemed positive. XD


Yeah, I like the puzzles.

Now I'm stuck on the Logs and Explosives level! :/ (By the way, I absolutely LOVE the names of the levels, they aren't just (Insert world name here) (Insert number here) level names.

@ Dylan Yoshi-Um, just to let you know, there's a more recent version of SMI that's easier than the older ones. Did you download them recently, or was it an earlier version?
Good fucking bye.
Must've been an earlier version- It was a long time ago that I tried them.
Originally posted by Dylan Yoshi
The plot was pretty great, although a bit hard to follow at points, but the game's atmosphere reflected the plot beautifully.

Thanks. Speaking of which, my offer to spoil the rest of my plans for this game still stands - there's a pretty much zero percent chance of any of the stuff I planned for this game appearing in any of my later projects. :P

Originally posted by SpikyRat
Now I'm stuck on the Logs and Explosives level! :/

A while into the level, you should see a bridge broken into alternating segments with coins over the blank areas. Fall into the water under this bridge and go to the right to find the midpoint (the jumpable platforms slightly to the right should clue you in) and a pipe that will take you to an area below the main section. Activate both of the boxes and go back to the area that had the pinkish "1" box to get the key. Take it to the right, dropping through the hole created by the "2" box, and continue until you see the gray P-Switch in the air. Use the key to bring it down and continue.

Hmm, I wonder if I should make an FAQ of sorts...then again, Spud said he'd be making videos of the levels, so I guess you can just look there once he's done that.
how do you add a 4th heart?
Looks great btw!
Originally posted by Calvin
how do you add a 4th heart?
Looks great btw!

If you're using KilloZapit's health bar patch, there should be some sprites included called "healthmaxup [number]". The numbers represent their order; healthmaxup1 will be the first power-up that adds one to your health bar (making it 4), healthmaxup2 will be the second (making it 5), and so on. They don't need to be in that order, but it's for organization. Put them in a level and touch them for Mario to gain the extra health segment.

Thanks.

Oh, and I just realized I'll have to get a new layout sometime now that RatSI won't happen anymore. :P
I know this is canceled, but I thought I'd say that it is (was) a really fun hack.

Yep, nice work. Also, did you mention starting a new hack? When will that be happening?


IRC Quotes (March 20th update!)

/MKICK 4: Flantastic Puns
All the levels are yellow, I can't tell which levels have secret exits. D: Which levels have secret exits? (I'm at the part where the path split, one lead to an unfinished area, the other led to the beginning of Area 2, and I'm too lazy to search each level)
Good fucking bye.
Originally posted by Kristian
I know this is canceled, but I thought I'd say that it is (was) a really fun hack.

Yep, nice work. Also, did you mention starting a new hack? When will that be happening?

Thanks.

I will announce it at the next C3. ;) If you're wondering, I've already completed the first Area of my new project, for the most part. (Yes, they are still called "Areas" instead of "Worlds"!)

Originally posted by SpikyRat
All the levels are yellow, I can't tell which levels have secret exits. D: Which levels have secret exits?

There is a secret exit in "Oh Gosh..." that leads to a level whose secret exit leads to the Area Map for Area 3. I don't know if you've found the map for Area 2, but if you haven't, it's in the level Violet tells you it's in. :P
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