Bug hunt season

Every once in a while, I stop making new contents to actually correct all the issues present with the current game state. Every time I add a new mechanic, scripted event, boss battle, etc, new bugs appear. Also, in between versions of Game Maker, there are sometimes changes on how things work internally, specially in how strict variable initialization is in some scenarios.

The last couple of weeks have been almost exclusively bug fixes, optimizations and balance.
It's not the most exciting phase to write about, but it's very necessary.

There were also a couple of playtest sessions, and now Zeta Metroids feel just right. They ended up taking more effort and tweaking than most of the bosses in AM2R (Maybe except Torizo).

Up next will be a music production session, something that's lagging behind, production wise. Hopefully, I'll be able to show you something on the next update.

Not the most exciting update, I know. But the game grows more stable and polished, a little bit every day.

Comments

Serotonin2501 said…
I can't wait to hear the new music! I fell in love with the soundtrack instantly when I first heard it. I was blown away by how hauntingly beautiful Hydro Station was. I have only recently discovered this project and can't wait to see the finished product. You are making this die hard Metroid fan very, very happy
Anonymous said…
Any updates with progress are good, as it shows you're still plugging away.

And debugging is progress, no doubt. Sounds like Area 4 is coming along pretty well now. Only Areas 5, the omega tunnels, and the final stretch left!

Each day brings us closer and I can't wait, Doc.

P.S. Yes, please share more music with us too. Your soundtrack result is as amazing as everything else.
Anonymous said…
Bug hunting is absolutely necessary, but can be really draining. Be assured that polishing makes the release all the better.
Anonymous said…
On the contrary, this is the most exciting kind of update! It's great to hear you're committed to maintaining such a high degree of polish. Glad to hear about the Zeta Metroids, and I can't wait until the next update!
Anonymous said…
Sweet
Anonymous said…
"A delayed game is eventually good, but a rushed game is forever bad."
- Shigeru Miyamoto

"Just remember that it only gets easier"
- me, a devoted follower of your awesome work
Unknown said…
I was once in programming with C++ so I know that writing software code is 45% actually writing it and 55% is debugging. This update is actually very reassuring and only makes me more excited to see the end result!
Anonymous said…
Good to hear things seem to be progressing smoothly (more or less)!
Dan Blanco said…
Maybe not the most exciting update, but these updates are the most important, I feel. It's what makes this work-in-progress so enjoyable to play with every tech demo you release.
Unknown said…
Sounds awesome man thanks for the post about how things are progressing.
Unknown said…
Glad to see more and more stuff getting done! Keep up the great work Doc!
Anonymous said…
This whole project is awesome. I've seen some *okay* fan games out there, but this is just amazing. The music, sprites, level design and gameplay are all on par with something Nintendo would make (or better). Even as a demo, it's still easily the best 2D Metroid game so far.

I really can't wait for it to be finished. Keep up the good work.
GAVITRAX MZ said…
Man, this work of art is going to be amazing. The more boring and tedious aspects of game creation are nearly the most important parts. We all have faith in your work and your production speed. Keep up the good work.
Blue Madness said…
Omigosh I can't wait for the next demo.
Ricardo Suarez said…
oye doc y si te sugiero que pongas todo el contenido faltante para un build tuyo y luego vas de "caceria" con los bugs? no se tu pero creo que es un poco mas efectivo ya para tener listo este juegazo , hazlo como quieras
The7thGuest said…
Cool , any Progress is good, im alway happy to read something from Time to Time, Doc,...:)
Have a nice Weekend.
Anonymous said…
Can't Wait To Play The New Update...whenever it comes out (not rushing or anything)
souturus said…
Its good to see you're progressing i believe you'll have area 4 in the next update!
Thanks for this project
because of you im going to finish metroid 2!
Anonymous said…
Progress is still progress, regardless of how minute it is.
Once the game is finished we'll be able to play a Metroid 2 that doesn't feel like someone is shoving barbed bamboo under our nails, like with the original.
Anonymous said…
This is an incredible game, worthy of Nintendo itself. Keep at it. I've been waiting years for this to be done, and, with your last demo, i can't wait to see the rest of the game. And, if Nintendo is smart and likes to make money, they will buy this from you to put on their eshop for either Wii u or 3ds (or both). They already have AVGN (Angry Video Game Nerd) the Game on there, which is another totally fan made game, and I know I would gladly fork over $10 for this game. Keep us posted. Can't wait until the end.
Anonymous said…
I've been following this for a few years now I believe. If I remember correctly, the demo back then was just one area. Looking forward to the finished game!
Unknown said…
You might get this alot but could i play your most recent version of the game so i could bug test if im lucky and you let me email me at esnyder16@students.browndeerschools.com
Anonymous said…
Trust me on this one, knowing that you are getting rid of bugs makes me feel all the less frightened by the end result, I'm a PC gamer and I've seen TONS of unpolished games that had potential of being good if not great games but the only very small good qualities they had were buried 6 feet under by either tons of bugs and glitches and/or horribly bad optimization, obviously I dont think that Assassin's Creed Unity had too much potential but it would have been fun nonetheless and look at how it was released, it had bugs and glitches galore and the most problematic part was that it was HORRIBLY optimized across all platforms, not just PC. I wish we still lived in a time where you wouldnt be able to release a game unfinished as you wouldnt be able to fix it later since that way it encourages these developers to make the game completely finished before releasing a game, obviously having the ability of fixing bugs later on is great, but it shouldnt be a practice to release badly optimized and obviously unpolished and in some cases unfinished games and then patch them later or in sonic 06's case never fixed period, sonic 06 had potential but it was buried by its technical issues as well as a lot of poor design choices ofc but it had the potential of being one of the best 3d sonic games ever made, but it failed miserably. regardless I'm still very happy to know that you're bug hunting and that actually makes me feel safe downloading the next game, I cant recall any glitches from the previous versions of this game so its good to know that you're not only making progress but polishing things up as well. Just as a side note could you make it possible to transfer our previous save files over to the next version? I've beaten the current version tons of times and I would prefer to just slap my save file which is right at the end of the current version so I can continue with the new stuff(like the new area), if it isnt possible or it would significantly delay the next update then dont bother, I dont want to overwork you or make you do extra unnecessary stuff, its just a nice little addon that would make it a little more convenient for me, but I'm fine playing through the beginning to get to the new stuff :)
jorge said…
kill all the bugs doc go for it
Anonymous said…
Hmm, the only way for process is bug fixing all the way to the end... Maybe after all of the bug fixes are done we can have an update to AM2R Version 1.4?
Anonymous said…
Looking forward to the finished product, but wow is this taking so long to get ready!
Talyn said…
Love the soundtrack. It's everything one should expect in a Metroid game, elements of Prime and classic sidescrollers combined. I'd buy a soundtrack CD if published!
Unknown said…
Would you consider releasing the GMX files, say, from previous versions when you have a newer version out?
Anonymous said…
Keep at it and don't worry, Metroid fans are patient fans. After all, we still don't have Metroid on 3DS. Or Wii U.

Anyway, rushed games always turn out terrible, so please take your time with this. You don't want to have any regrets afterwards, do you?

You have our support!
Vinzan said…
Do you think you could upload the game´s music to youtube?
Anonymous said…
Awesome, keep up the good work. I've been keeping an eye on this game and inform people about this project whenever I can.
You're doing great and I'm very excited to see the end product. (Regardless if it's in a year or two from now)
wispybowl said…
I absolutely love this game, but every time I start it, it gives me this error after i press start at the title screen:


___________________________________________
############################################################################################
ERROR in
action number 1
of Other Event: User Defined 2
for object oGameSelMenu:

Data structure with index does not exist.
at gml_Object_oGameSelMenu_Other_12
############################################################################################

How can I fix this? Anyone know?
Tahngarthor said…
Honestly, while this project is taking a small eternity, it's refreshing to see someone putting so much care and attention into this sort of project. Everything I've already seen has been awesome and looks like it was created by a team of Nintendo internal devs, so I know that when it eventually does get finished, it will be pure awesome. It's like what happened with Duke Nukem Forever, except the final product will almost certainly live up to everyone's expectations.
Neumaennl said…
I've just read through the early posts of your blog.
Do you realize you're working on this project for about 10 years now?
Wow, that's determination.
Unknown said…
Can't wait to fight the zeta metroids :D
Unknown said…
Take your time with the progress. I will wait patiently for the next update. I'm loving what you have so far and in comparison to the original, this is much better. I will be looking forward to the next update and then for the completed game. Keep up the good work!
Unknown said…
Definitely see this through 'til the end. I finished the demo and would undoubtedly play through the entire finished game.
Kraas said…
Thank you for the update, looking forward to the next demo.
Unknown said…
Could you make a "3d-less" version for those of us who can't even handle the smooth 3D effect of the 3DS? Heck, the images gave me a headache.
SMGA4 said…
How come the game maker system had some bugs? Is there going to be an update to the maker software?
SMGA4 said…
I was wondering, was it the Game Maker that has some bugs causing the project to stop or is it the design itself?
Unknown said…
I've been watching the development of this for some years now and played one of the earlier previews of the game. Take your time, you're making such a top notch game sir! Thank you for continuing this project for so long, and I'm definitely looking forward to the eventual release ~
Anonymous said…
I aid in a previous section that normal mode didn't have enough Gamma Metroids, but I take that back, there are plenty. Looks really awesome, and bug-hunting is always needed, so keep up the good work!!!
Ricardo Suarez said…
Ahh Ya quiero jugar el siguiente update ya :3 de hecho ya he esperado lo suficiente por otro metroid de nintendo pero nada que sale =( , Esperando con ansias este juego :D
Unknown said…
Hello Milton, I've been checking on this page since your first post back in January (i think) of 2008, I've never commented before because I just created an account right now lol, I'm lazy, I know but I want to say I've been always looking forward to your updates and hope you finish the game asap (I can't wait to play it!).
Unknown said…
I fully support this game. I own the game boy version on my 3ds and its great and this game is making great into better!Metroid is cool and this game is also.Long live Metroid!
Anonymous said…
Update time?
Unknown said…
This game is fantastic and I cant wait till the next update!!!

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