F A Q
Q: How do I navigate the menu?
A: Depending on the control style you open the menu different ways: Attack Preference: While stopped for over a second, hold the button for a quarter of a second, release, then hold it again, Four Buttons: While stopped, just press the menu button, Any other control style: While stopped for over a second, tap the button once, then hold it.
Once in the menu if you have a single button control style tap the button until the circle is on the desired menu option, then hold the button to select it. If you're using the four button style, The "Next" and "Prev" buttons will move the menu cursor up and down, and "Select" well, you can probably figure that out. Also, as of version 0.1.5, you can use your finger to scroll and select the menu option you want directly.
The top option in the menu will take you to the previous menu if it says "Back", or the start menu if it says "Start". Once there you can resume the game by selecting "Resume". If you reach a menu page without any backtracking option it is because every option on the menu will take you back.
In the following answers you may encounter the format "Menu>option>option.." each option refers to an option you will find on that page in the menu. If you do not see the option, keep tapping the button to go to the next option. The menu only shows 5 menu items at a time, and sometimes you have to scroll down to see the remaining options.
Q: How do I speed/slow the character?
A: Go to Menu>Options>Access>Players>Game Speed. Selecting "Game Speed" will decrease the speed value, there 4 possible values and it will loop after the lowest value. Changing the speed effects every player.
Q: How can I have more than 10 players?
A: Go to Menu>Options>Start Up>Maximums>Max Players. The game limits the number of players to 10 because most modern devices don't have more than 10 simultaneous touches (Android supports 255 in software, but so far, there is no hardware for it). I haven't done enough testing yet to tell if 12 players is a reasonable maximum on a device which only recognizes 10 points of touch, but it seems like it should be alright. However, since the possibility of errors exists, I have disabled the feature by default. Read the next question's answer for more information.
Q: Sometimes a players controls don't respond, what gives?
A: This issue could involve how many simultaneous touches a device can pick up. Modern devices typically seem to get 10. However, because the game works as far back as android 2.2, many devices may only have 2 simultaneous touches. So if the third player tries their button while the first two are already pressing theirs, their input will not get recognized. This is less likely to be a problem using 12 players on a device that recognizes 10 points, but it is always a possibility more than 10 of those people will try hitting their button at once, if that happens, anyone after the initial 10 will not get recognized. Hardware buttons will be supported in the next release so you don't have to depend on the touch screen's limitations.
If you aren't sure how many touches your device can support: Create a player, and go to Menu>Options>Debug>Touch Test. Then put 10 fingers on the screen and see what it tells you.
Q: How do I increase/decrease the time I have to hold the button to preform the 'Hold' action?
A: Go to Menu>Players>You>Hold Time. each option is in milliseconds, the default is 300ms. Selecting an option will change the hold time for only yourself and take you back to the pevious menu.
If you want to change the game's default hold time go to Menu>Options>Start Up>Controls>Hold Time
Q: How come nothing happens when I change the options in the 'Start Up' menu?
A: The "Start Up" menu mostly contains options which are set when the game is started. So they will not take effect until the game is restarted.
Q: How can I add get to the 3 layer version of the levels?
A: Go to Menu>Options>Start Up>Level and uncheck "One Layer".
Q: Why did you make the game this way?
A: I chose the local multiplayer because I've always loved playing with people around me. The single device model allows players to join in on a whim, which is what multiplayer games should be about. It is more convenient to play with others on a camping trip, or while traveling abroad if you don't have to depend on everyone having a device, or willing to devote their battery life to a game. Back in college 4 of us would play GLTron on a single laptop between classes, so there is also some nostalgia for me.
I Chose the one button method because I used to work as a CNA and met several people who had perfectly functioning minds but didn't have much movement in their limbs. I do realize it is less convenient than predefined buttons, but it is still possible to get a lot of functionality out of a single button and I'm enjoying the challenge of learning just how much function there actually can be. The single button also has the added advantage of no button combos which, if used, take up more simultaneous touches on a device thus decreasing the amount of players the game could support. Plus, less screen space is used by the on screen controls as well. However, if you don't like the single button controls there is a four button option which can be set as the game's default by going to Menu>Options>Start Up>Controls>Controls, or set for just yourself by going to Menu>Players>You>Controls.
Q: How can I change the control style?
A: You can go to Menu>Players>You>Controls for just your controls, or Menu>Options>Start Up>Controls>Controls. There are 5 options:
- No Preference- One button press required for each move, there are no short cuts.
- Jump and Turn- Very limited controls which might be easier for some players to use.
- Screen Hog- A four button set up for players who want a more traditional style.
- Maneuver Preference- Very similar to "No Preference" but you can keep the button held after stopping or starting to turn around.
- Attack Preference- My favorite style. It's the exact opposite of No Preference during game play as far as when you hold or press the button. You hold the button while moving to jump, and if you keep it held, the character will immediately start attacking. This Style was designed to be as compact as the other one button styles, but as quick as the four button style.
Q: Why isn't my question answered here?
A: Because you haven't asked it yet, but you can, just
contact me.