Very excited to be able to share some gameplay footage from my new game Mega Mole. Programmed in C using the SGDK toolkit for Sega Megadrive/Genesis.
Gameplay mechanics have essentially been worked out, and stuff like the checkpoint system is already in place (notice the numbers top left). What's left is pretty much making more levels and enemies.
Now features autosaving so you can pick it up where you left off!
More info:
https://slowmolestudio.itch.io/slow-mole-jr
I tried turning on Patreon access, so hopefully all of you should be able to claim it. Or you can just download it below if you prefer.
https://slowmolestudio.itch.io/slow-mole/pa...
2022-10-14 10:17:29 +0000 UTC View Post
Idle animations are the hardest, but here's a first go at one for Megadrive/Genesis.
2022-08-21 10:20:40 +0000 UTC View Post
How exciting! I noticed a spike in traffic on the new YouTube video and it turns out Nintendo Life mentioned it! I better get going assembling more cartridges I think...
2022-05-18 21:45:36 +0000 UTC View Post
Making an animated short film based on Slow Mole. Here's a clip with the first footage that sets up the story.
2022-05-18 11:07:31 +0000 UTC View Post
You can now try playing Slow Mole Jr right in your browser:
http://slowmole.chiplife.art/
It's also up on Itch.io now, so it's free to share as you please:
https://slowmoledev.itch.io/slow-mole-jr
While the game is harder without a controller, I still managed to beat it using the touch screen on my phone (so it IS possible.....
Hopefully most of those who ordered the Famicom version of Slow Mole should have it by now. If anyone is still waiting this might be a good time to give Slow Mole Jr. a go!
There's still some work left, but we have a game! Executables for major platforms below (even including Raspberry Pi if you happen to have one). Attach a controller of your choice and the game will detect it right away in most circumstances.
This being Pico 8, size is very limited and we've used up all of it. C...
2022-04-20 18:34:16 +0000 UTC View Post
Most Famicom carts have now been sent out to patrons. We'll continue to make more so we are still taking orders.
2022-04-01 21:55:59 +0000 UTC View Post
I just put up the first batch of Slow Mole Famicom carts for sale on the electronics site Tindie. We're making more as we speak, so if they're sold out just register your interest on the waitlist or send me a message and I can let you know right away when they're in stock. And of course, there's a discount code for patrons. Also, if you feel you need registered shipping with tracking, there's an option for that as well (but you need to select it when you place it in your cart).
I'm really enjoying coding in lua for the Pico8-version of Slow Mole Jr. It gives me a lot of freedom to create physical systems for gameplay mechanics such as the fans above. Highly dangerous for moles.
2022-03-15 10:04:22 +0000 UTC View Post
There's now a YouTube video of the Slow Mole race from last week, including a developer interview (hope I did alright, it was 2.30 in the morning). WR holder Skunky48 was the leading contender going into the race, but several other speedrunners had clearly been practising so it turned into a real fight.
And since the race, Skunky has improved his WR, for the somewhat unreal time of 11.55:
https://www.yout...
Some world class speedrunners will compete in Slow Mole tonight!
Check out the Twitch broadcast, starts 8pm EST and race begins 9pm.
https://www.twitch.tv/thesalsashack
And this cover art will likely still see some tweaks, but it's getting there I think.
A Slow Mole race on February 26th will determine who the lucky (and highly skilled) winners are. Some of the world's best speedrunners are taking part, including Skunky48, the current Slow Mole world record holder (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcQXyesZ0DE). But the previous record holder Zorilla33 is commenting the event, so everyone is still in with a shot! Signup is open, link below. Otherwise hanging o...
2022-02-17 04:22:12 +0000 UTC View Post
The super fast conveyor belts offer a lot of interesting options for the level design. The momentum allows the mole to do long jumps briefly.
2022-02-08 01:05:29 +0000 UTC View Post
First glimpse of Slow Mole Jr for the Pico8 fantasy console. Pico8 felt like a good platform to really explore the game mechanics, as the coding is very fast, but all the mechanics still have to be thought out and written in code. I think this will really help me take Slow Mole to the next level, regardless future platforms. (I'm also exploring developing for several different retro systems.)
Of course, everything you see is still very much a work in progress, but all the base mechanics...
2022-02-03 00:38:02 +0000 UTC View Post
Not only did they love the game, but also the hardware design! Great to see. And fear not, when these go on sale shortly, they will contain the final version (of the vanilla version) of Slow Mole.
Work still procedes on Slow Mole +, but that will have a completely different cartridge design with some other unique hardware features that we are still exploring. And frankly, it's going to be a while.
It's still the Famicom version, but inside an NES cart cover using an adapter, much like the original Gyromite from Nintendo. I used to draw custom art for most of my Amiga disks back in the day (they've gotten pretty popular on Twitter) and this is sort of in the same style. I also did quite a bit of illustration work before I got into animation and I frequently used this ink with crayon technique for that too.
Anyway, this cartridge is meant to be an award at a speedrun event. I'll le...
2022-01-14 23:39:20 +0000 UTC View Post
Amazing to see this TAS of Slow Mole! Juef did a lot of moves that would be very hard to pull off in game to say the least.
https://tasvideos.org/Forum/Topics/23018
This was done in version 1.1, linked below. (Mechanics are 100% the same in 1.2 but subtle changes to the screen load code will desync Juef's run in the new version.)
A lot more to do, but this will give you some idea where the story is going. This is also a game trailer of sorts.
Links for sharing if anyone wants to help spread the hype:
https://www.facebook.com/100002573531628/videos/896544091007608
https://twitter.com/Checkoofilm/status/1479...
2022-01-08 19:25:18 +0000 UTC View Post
I'm making a short film featuring Slow Mole, using the new animation technique I've developed. It will feature some of the shots from the trailer, but that's really just the starting point of the story. I'm looking forward to showing more work in progress soon.
Here's an unfinished shot that shows a bit how I mix puppetry with animation. Some acting yet to be added digitally. At the start, I'm turning the head holding an attached screw. We're going to notice what's behind before the mol...
2022-01-03 21:30:58 +0000 UTC View Post
I expect updates on the Famicom version shortly. Meanwhile, I've been testing out Slow Mole on another platform. If you're into Dreamcast, you can try the Slow Mole cdi-file below and let me know what you think.
2021-12-14 23:04:25 +0000 UTC View Post
Sneak release for patrons of the new Slow Mole version.
We managed to cram one more chiptune into the game! (Took some creative memory management.) It's now featured on the challenge levels as well as two very secret screens... Don't go around looking for hidden warps or doors in random places now, because there aren't any. This is the sort of secret that you're most likely to find by stumbling on it after playing the game for the nth time.
Also, some rare graphical glitches ar...
I think a cartridge release deserves a new trailer as well!
We're making more review copies for the Famicom. (But not enough for everyone who wants one, sorry! But do get in touch if you feel it's important you get one from this batch and we'll see what we can do.)
And fear not, we plan to release it to patrons very soon! And since you are already supporting this game, you can of course count on a discount.
2021-10-23 23:38:57 +0000 UTC View Post
We have started sending a few of these out for review (let us know if you're interested in reviewing it).
We hope to take orders for a cartridge based on this design soon. This is just the first limited Famicom (naked PCB) release, there will indeed be future versions in a shell too.
Supply will be limited, but all patrons and supporters on Itch.io will get a chance to order one.
2021-10-09 14:14:44 +0000 UTC View Post
At last we've gotten hold of the first round of test PCBs for the upcoming Slow Mole Famicom release. There were some unexpected delays and then it got stuck in customs...
Chips yet to be mounted, but I look forward to sharing footage of it running in the next few days. If you're a reviewer and you feel like dedicating some time to Slow Mole, let us know. We'll have some review copies ready shortly.
I made a Reddit-post explaining how I came up with the checkpoint system for Slow Mole.
2021-08-13 21:44:59 +0000 UTC View Post
We've landed on a design for the upcoming Famicom cartridge and we're making a small test run based on this second prototype that will also serve as review copies. The final design might still see some adjustments.
If you're a reviewer and would like to receive one, let me know
https://twitter.com/Checkoofilm
Several Slow Mole OST videos now up on YouTube, with more coming. Including this bonus clip of the composer Linus playing piano to the Night Theme.
Hell Theme: https://youtu.be/Go6Nj8bddZo
Brick Theme: https://youtu.be/AuV11v8fI6g
Night Theme: https://youtu.be/uqEPsnqNHS0
Ma...
Fantastic first review for Slow Mole this week! Let's hope more reviewers take note of the game...
2021-07-24 19:51:57 +0000 UTC View Post