An Easy Way to Spread FIRST: Catalyst 2012

[cziggy343]

Hello CD Community!

I am representing Diamond Bullet Studios with an easy way to spread the mission of FIRST, and a great way for mentors and students to recruit new members to their teams.

We are passionate about spreading the mission of FIRST, and we think that we have created a product that will help to make FIRST more mainstreamed.

How can you help?

We had created Catalyst 2012 for the 2012 FRC kit of parts, and now it is going on the Xbox 360 Indie Games Marketplace!

Check out our website: dbsgames.net for more information on how you can help.
And check out this trailer for Catalyst 2012: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBg8QlAP2Eo

We would love the support of the FIRST community, and give us feedback for how we can make our products better serve you and your teams!

[Anupam Goli]

I for one played the <insert crude word for feces> out of this game during the 2012 season. It was so simple yet so much fun. Putting the game on the xbox live market place is awesome! I know I will be buying for me and my roommates to enjoy.

Are there any new features or is it the same game, but with 4 players and on xbox 360?

[cziggy343]

I for one played the <insert crude word for feces> out of this game during the 2012 season. It was so simple yet so much fun. Putting the game on the xbox live market place is awesome! I know I will be buying for me and my roommates to enjoy.

Are there any new features or is it the same game, but with 4 players and on xbox 360?

For this year, the features for the Xbox version are basically the same as the team version in the kit of parts. The User Interface looks cleaner now, you can play as your Xbox Live Gamertag, and play a 2 vs. 2 local matches. There is also an "About FIRST" section that we hope will help spread FIRST to people that are not already in FIRST. We hope that this will help to optimize this as a tool for teams to use for recruiting as well.

[BobbyVanNess]

I love the game, and according to the forums, I think I have the highest 1 player score. Are there any plans to add online play? It would awesome to play against other teams online!

[cziggy343]

I love the game, and according to the forums, I think I have the highest 1 player score. Are there any plans to add online play? It would awesome to play against other teams online!

No plans for networking in this game, however, it will be a future feature in the Catalyst series.

[Chris is me]

I've gotten upwards of 180 points in a single player game :P

The most disappointing thing about Catalyst was its extremely restrictive DRM. It's ridiculous. For one thing, the game is free. There is no reason you should need to authenticate for every match. For another, don't we WANT people who aren't on FRC teams to give it a try? DRM just holds back a great game.

I'm glad to hear it's on the 360 now. Hopefully enough people buy it that I'll have some opponents.

[Clinton Bolinger]

Chris,

Has Diamond Bullet Studios ever considered making a first person mode or "experiment" mode?

Basically, have the mode so users can fly any where in the 3-dimensional space of, and around, the playing field. The users have unlimited access to game pieces. Also user would have the ability to manipulate the game piece in different ways, like change the trajectory, velocity and orientation of the game piece. User could even just "drop" the game piece and see they interaction with the field elements.

Personally, I would find this much more valuable then playing with default preconfigured robots. Who knows this might allow for teams to discover things like the "bounce pass" or even the redirection of balls from 2010 like 469, sooner then their first event.

Does DBS plan on releasing a new version of Catalyst 2012 for the 2013 season? If so, will it be released on the day of the Kickoff?

Thanks,
-Clinton-

[cziggy343]

The most disappointing thing about Catalyst was its extremely restrictive DRM. It's ridiculous. For one thing, the game is free. There is no reason you should need to authenticate for every match. For another, don't we WANT people who aren't on FRC teams to give it a try? DRM just holds back a great game.


Completely agree. We quickly realized that after release, and it is under consideration.


Has Diamond Bullet Studios ever considered making a first person mode or "experiment" mode?


Also, under consideration

[Anupam Goli]

I've gotten upwards of 180 points in a single player game :P

The most disappointing thing about Catalyst was its extremely restrictive DRM. It's ridiculous. For one thing, the game is free. There is no reason you should need to authenticate for every match. For another, don't we WANT people who aren't on FRC teams to give it a try? DRM just holds back a great game.

I'm glad to hear it's on the 360 now. Hopefully enough people buy it that I'll have some opponents.

I think the DRM was because DBS was planning on releasing the game for money, and they wanted one copy per team only (so as to discourage rapid sharing of the program).

[bardd]

That looks awesome! I wish I had an Xbox...
Any chance of a PC version?

[cziggy343]

That looks awesome! I wish I had an Xbox...
Any chance of a PC version?

Maybe, in the near future, but not right now.

[runneals]

Looks like I know what I want for Christmas! :) An x-box and Catalyst 2012 :)

[stundt1]

Will DBS be making a game for next year also?

[cziggy343]

Will DBS be making a game for next year also?

I guess you'll just have to wait and see! ;)

[Peyton Yeung]

Catalyst is out!!!

http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/Product/Catalyst-2012/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d80258550c64

[Ravage457]

I would love to see previous seasons as DLC for this, but ill just have to wait an see, but I cant wait to get home from work and download the game

[coalhot]

It also would be cool if there was a way for teams to add their own robots. Such as, if you had a complete CAD of the robot, you could add it to the game and play with it. Just a thought...

[Chris is me]

It's neat. A little disappointing that there's no online play, but I'll live with that just so I don't have to log in every time :P

[bearbot]

Anyone run into issues with the game not going passed the catalyst screen

[cziggy343]

Yay, I'm glad that people are excited about the game! We really hope that all of the teams use this as a recruiting tool, spread FIRST, and just have fun!!

Just in case some are struggling to find the game on the Xbox, when the home dashboard comes up, slide over to the games menu, then "browse games," then "indie," and it was currently under the New Releases category!

Anyone run into issues with the game not going passed the catalyst screen

And I'm not sure what your problem is... We had one person email about a similar issue earlier today. If you can PM me with exactly what happened, and what version of the 360 that you have, we will try our best to fix the problem in an update!

[MrBydlon]

Soooo FRC Team 3313 Mechatronics is obsessed with FIRST. I'm the head coach and I bought the game. Here's a quick demo of it on YouTube. I hope this isn't copyright infringement or anything. I just want to spread the word. And the word is that this game is freaking amazing!! Can't wait to bring it to school tomorrow and play with the team members.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2Gzp06SrTo&feature=youtu.be

[familyguyfreak]

Soooo FRC Team 3313 Mechatronics is obsessed with FIRST. I'm the head coach and I bought the game. Here's a quick demo of it on YouTube. I hope this isn't copyright infringement or anything. I just want to spread the word. And the word is that this game is freaking amazing!! Can't wait to bring it to school tomorrow and play with the team members.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2Gzp06SrTo&feature=youtu.be

I second this. I downloaded it and could NOT stop playing. A really well made game. There is a minor glitch ;) , but other than that, awesome work. Can't wait to share this with my teams and possibly make some tournament fun out of this.

Keep up the great work guys!! I can't wait to see what else you guys come up with!!

[Peyton Yeung]

Is there any plans on making updates? I'd love the option to make my robot a wide base or to be able to use a wedge to lower the bridge. Overall a very fun game.

1 thing that is weird is that if you run into the opponent's bridge you get a technical foul but if u lower it from the side it is no foul.

Peyton

[Gregor]

Like the game. Downloaded the free version, about to buy the full.

Wish there was an option to drive tank drive robots over more than one joystick. Not used to arcade drive, more used to split arcade.

[Peyton Yeung]

[QUOTE=Gregor;1204306
Wish there was an option to drive tank drive robots over more than one joystick. Not used to arcade drive, more used to split arcade.[/QUOTE]

I agree

[kenavt]

Just had my first chance to play Catalyst on a teammate's Xbox, and I loved it! However, it didn't feel exactly like a good simulator to me for a couple of reasons:


I didn't like the default control scheme - an editable one would be amazing (especially Gregor's suggestion above)
I think that a lot of the different robot configurations do not reflect what we saw in 2012 (primarily the lack of widebots, and over-the-bumper intakes).
To better reflect how teams designed robots and mechanisms, perhaps one could pick different mechanisms, then have an objective table with a fixed number of points to assign for effectiveness (for example, increasing the speed of one's drivetrain would be a point for each increment, as well as maneuverability, and shooting speed, weighted as to the difficulty of each design task)
While the others seem like quite a bit of work, this seems like it would the most. Some sort of AI would be amazing, to allow one or two people to play (and not need a full set of four)


Do you know if there will be a future 2013 version, especially with less restrictive DRM?

[cziggy343]

Just had my first chance to play Catalyst on a teammate's Xbox, and I loved it! However, it didn't feel exactly like a good simulator to me for a couple of reasons:


I didn't like the default control scheme - an editable one would be amazing (especially Gregor's suggestion above)
I think that a lot of the different robot configurations do not reflect what we saw in 2012 (primarily the lack of widebots, and over-the-bumper intakes).
To better reflect how teams designed robots and mechanisms, perhaps one could pick different mechanisms, then have an objective table with a fixed number of points to assign for effectiveness (for example, increasing the speed of one's drivetrain would be a point for each increment, as well as maneuverability, and shooting speed, weighted as to the difficulty of each design task)
While the others seem like quite a bit of work, this seems like it would the most. Some sort of AI would be amazing, to allow one or two people to play (and not need a full set of four)


Do you know if there will be a future 2013 version, especially with less restrictive DRM?

Well, we have thought about most of the points that you have brought up here, and you will be happier soon!

[kenavt]

Well, we have thought about most of the points that you have brought up here, and you will be happier soon!

Let me know if you need a beta tester! :rolleyes:

[Chris is me]

I agree

The Mecanum robot, for once, is the best option. Split arcade is the default for it.

I don't care so much about the robots looking similar. I would pay twice as much for simple online play, or even LAN.