Enemy formations in vertical shooter?

I wonder how to make enemy formations for vertical shooter, for example:

A)
   *
 *     *
*     *

B)
*           *
   *      *
     *  *
       *
[/code:1y3kh2mu]

Can you explain exactly what you want? Setting up formations seems simple to me in the layout editor.. or do you need something else?

Simply look this:

<img src="http://i.imgur.com/62DRc.png">

Based on the event sheet that can spawn from outside of screen

This is my currently event

Every 2000 miliseconds: System create object:enemy_plane on layer 1 at ((random 640), 0)
[/code:ip5dc2ca]

I tried to add sub-events to make set position between x and y to one enemy plane, but didn't work... i had no idea.

Is it a formation like Galaga (once onscreen each enemy is there until destroyed)? or like Nemesis / Gradius / Darius (horizontal I know, but same method will apply) where the formation scrolls onto the screen?

Sin/Cos would be the best way to go, although, you might get away with the path movement.

Is it a formation like Galaga (once onscreen each enemy is there until destroyed)? or like Nemesis / Gradius / Darius (horizontal I know, but same method will apply) where the formation scrolls onto the screen?

Yes, like that.

[quote:2s7sc04e]Sin/Cos would be the best way to go, although, you might get away with the path movement.

Can you link here plz?

Depends on how your engine is.

You know there were 2 choices in my reply?

Anyway, here's a Galaga type formation which has swooping. It's very old. I fixed a few things so it would work in Construct Classic r1. Ignore the placeholder graphics

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/666574/Invaders ... UPDATE.cap

I was working on a Salamander type test if you want that too.. it's pretty crappy

Here's one that would probably suit you if you wanted random but smooth movement..

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/666574/Enemy%20 ... 20CCr1.cap

Click LMB to start an enemy movement on the Y position of your mouse.

OK I knew I did test something along the lines of Gradius a while back, so here's a sample .cap. Updated for Construct Classic r1.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/666574/Shmuper_ ... UPDATE.cap

Ignore all graphics and code (;p) but you might learn something. Who knows! Hope you find something useful.

Wow! Procrastinator you saved my day!

Every your caps are worth to study, thank you!

No worries

Yeah I too was wondering what would be the best way going about making enemy attack patterns/formations in a vertical shooter- kind of like Galaga (in that the screen doesn't move), but where streams of enemies come in at different formations.

Would the sine behavior and custom movement be the way to go?

nonetheless, thanks for the .CAPs, procrastinator, as they will prove very useful

in my mad mad quest to make Darius III

.

Yeah I too was wondering what would be the best way going about making enemy attack patterns/formations in a vertical shooter- kind of like Galaga (in that the screen doesn't move), but where streams of enemies come in at different formations.

Would the sine behavior and custom movement be the way to go?

nonetheless, thanks for the .CAPs, procrastinator, as they will prove very useful

in my mad mad quest to make Darius III

.

SIN behaviour helps a lot and makes a lot of movement almost look dynamic to the untrained eye. Most enemy patterns are basically just move to point A then to B then to C etc. My 2nd cap I believe, used this path movement, but as a test I only used it as targets for the real movement to make it smoother. I mean, it had a dummy sprite (this would be invisible in a game) move in the A->B->C movement, but had the real sprite rotate towards that dummy sprite for a smoother movement.

Like you I strive for the perfect shmup game (Darius III for you, Salamander for me ) with perfect formations etc.

Just remembered, you could check out my old game test Dojem -

This was more about random formations and levels (among other things). Who knows, might help