Download it!

An Appeal

Version 0.4 has two major improvements: a new GUI and frame rate issue fixes. Now I’m interested in your feedback for them.

Firstly I’m interested if the GUI works for you, what you like about it and what should be cut. I’m aware that it’s consistency is far from complete. This happened by accident but constitutes branches in style. So there is a degree of choice.

Secondly I’m not sure if the frame rate issues are completely fixed. Therefore I need some profiling data from other machines than mine. I’ve added a profiling system which creates a file named profile.csv beside Nordenfelt.exe. It would be great if you could send this file to improve@nordenfelt-thegame.com. Don’t worry, I don’t spy you out. You can inspect the file with any text editor, MS Excel or Open Office to see what’s in there.

I’m looking forward to your replies.

Cheers,
Thomas

Shadows Finished

I’m always pretty lazy during Yuletide. There is hardly time left to work between all these celebrations and events.

Nevertheless, I’ve finished drop shadow rendering yesterday:

Read this if you are interested in how this sausage was made.

What’s Next?

The next big points on my to-do list are:

• reactivate adventure mode
• online highscore board
• create real game-play in available levels
• finish graphics in available levels

I don’t know which one should come first. The order basically depends on the time point I’m going to switch over to closed beta. The alpha phase should end in the near future. That means Nordenfelt will start to cost a few bucks. It will be a fraction of the final price. Purchasers will get full access to an exclusive area where they can download all versions and can take part in the further development process. Finally they get the full game for free when it’s done.

Going beta at the end of February seems feasible. After a year building the engine it’s time to leave the demo state.

I’m looking forward to welcome you in the exclusive beta area!

Cheers,
Thomas

You may have noticed that the download link for Nordenfelt 0.3 did not work. I have no clue how this could happen. I’ve checked everything twice before hitting the Publish button. But the devil never sleeps.

Here’s the fixed link, triple checked and sanctified to keep Luzifer away.

Working Link to Nordenfelt 0.3

It’s a horrible fact that a delivery chain is such a fragile thing. You can have the best product or service but it’s nothing worth when you can’t deliver it (or its message) to your customers.

Cheers,
Thomas

It’s time again to show what’s happening. Quite some new stuff found its way into Nordenfelt:

Simply download the game, unzip it (e.g. with 7-zip) and start Nordenfelt.exe. As usual there is nothing to install and the game can be deleted any time without hassle.

Download Nordenfelt 0.3

Drop me a line what you think. I’m looking forward to your feedback.

Cheers,
Thomas

PS: This blog was abandoned for the last few weeks. Don’t worry, continue button already pressed.

I dismissed blogging because I vowed myself to not write anything before version 0.3 is out. That was in the last week of October. Time flies when you’re having fun! See you next post, very soon.

It is time for the next version of Nordenfelt. It has:

• a new graphics style,
• new player ship,
• better controls,
• weapon upgrades,
• more explosions and
• many more improvements

As usual there is nothing to install. Just unzip the downloaded archive and start Nordenfelt.exe. You can delete the game any time with no hassle.

Download Nordenfelt 0.2

Last time some people had problems starting Nordenfelt 0.1 on Windows XP due to an annoying DLL problem. Let me know if this problem still persists.

Tell me your opinion. I’m looking forward to your feedback.

Cheers,
Thomas

Hi! This is Thomas (aka hermitC) from Black Golem and this is the new blog for the upcoming Steampunk shoot ‘em up Nordenfelt.

Site Changes

Some of you may have visited this website before. The former layout was a simple information panel with a newsletter subscription form. BTW: Feel free to subscribe to the email newsletter. You can find the subscription form on the right hand side of this blog. Subscribers will always receive news first!

This blog is dedicated to players, testers and finally customers. Everything concerning the progress of Nordenfelt’s development will appear here. Everybody is welcome to comment on the development state. Nordenfelt relies on your feedback. Playable demos of the game will be published regularly. The first version (v0.1) can be downloaded from the download page or directly here.

The Game

Nordenfelt is a vertical shooter for Windows, settled in an alternative world where Victorian art and science meet modern views on technology. This combination is widely known as Steampunk. If you have no clue what Steampunk is, this illustration may give you an idea:

The picture contains many Steampunk basics like Victorian fashion, giant steel constructions and advanced mechanical vehicles. It shows an alternative path in time where the culture and science of the late 18th century was never ousted but developed to their maximum. The fictional aspect of Steampunk is a great challenge. Everything is possible but it has to work within the physical rules of old knowledge.

Concluding Words

I hope that some fans will gather here. Your input is important. So let’s make Nordenfelt an enjoyable game!

Cheers,
Thomas