NeoFlash Competition Results

Here is the outcome of the NeoFlash Spring Coding Competition for 2008:

The PSP APP division of NEO SPRING COMPO 2008

1 [PSP APP] Dow! 0.2 - Develop on the go bumuckl
2 [PSP APP] LightMP3 Version 2.0.0 BETA 1 sakya
3 [PSP APP] CTorrentPSP - Torrent client for PSP danzel
4 [PSP APP] Academic Aid Scholastic Suite 6 R769 - Education Mr305
5 [PSP APP] PSP-Maps royale

The PSP GAME division of NEO SPRING COMPO 2008

1 [PSP GAME] Bugz InsertWittyName
2 [PSP GAME] POLYGUNWARS v0.5 ahrimanes
3 [PSP GAME] BlowUp! - 1.0 RELEASED! gambiting
4 [PSP GAME] Orbid V2 Slasher
5 [PSP GAME] Dororo's Adventure b0rk
6 [PSP GAME] Tetriabetes 1.43 dragula96
7 [PSP GAME] Kitten Cannon sg57
8 [PSP GAME] Scogger 0.2 scognito
9 [PSP GAME] Sushi Rubik version 1.2 teamsushi
10 [PSP GAME] Motion Pong 0.2 bumuckl

I am a little surprised with the Apps results but the Games results are right on.

Orbid v2 Review

Orbid is yet another entry into the NeoFlash Competition. Orbid, developed by Slasher, is similar to flOw. Fly your orb around eating orange orbs and avoid being eaten by other types of orbs/enemies. There are 5 game modes to choose from: normal, survival, time, mine, and dodge. There is a multiplayer option but it requires you to set up a server.

Orbid has a very pixelated look to it. It doesn't look bad just different. The controls are hard to get used to. Your orb maneuvers like a 18 wheeler: starts slow and turns slow. Turning sharp cuts your speed considerably. The A.I. for the orange orbs is o.k. but they are easily caught. The A.I. for some of the enemies is better and they can be somewhat difficult to avoid. I enjoyed the game for little while. It becomes monotonous after extended periods of time. The speed of your orb is the biggest problem. You are always wanting to go faster and turn sharper.

I think that Orbid is a game that everyone should try but expect a slow, laid-back, leisurely type of game play.

PSP Maps v0.6 Review

Here is another entry into the NeoFlash Competition: PSP Maps v0.6 by royale. Think of PSP Maps as a hybrid of Yahoo maps and Google maps that you can use on your PSP. You will start off by connecting to your preferred wireless access point. Then enter an address and PSP Maps will find it and zoom in or just use the analog or directional pad to move around and shoulder buttons to zoom in and out. The complete list of controls are:

• Digital pad: move the map.
• Analog pad: move the map smoothly.
• R button: zoom in.
• L button: zoom out.
• X button: next view type.
• [] button: previous view type.
• /\ button: enter an address.
• O button: show/hide crosshairs.
• Start: menu.

PSP Maps allows you to adjust the size of your cache so that you can store a large area of maps. This allows you to use it when you are away from your wifi. It also allows you to save your favorite location so that you don't have to enter the address every time.

There are 8 "view types" available that I have found. They are:

• Google Maps/Maps
• Google Maps/Satellite
• Google Maps/Terrain
• Virtual Earth/Road
• Virtual Earth/Aerial
• Virtual Earth/Hybrid
• Yahoo Maps/Map
• Yahoo Maps/Satellite

(Version 0.7, just released, adds Hybrid view to Google and Yahoo, and Hill view to Virtual Earth; also added is a Window's version)

PSP Maps has the "Wow" factor. When you start using this app it will blow you away. The map images are stunning and navigation is easy and intuitive. With almost every new move you make to the map the app has to load new images. This is only a slight annoyance because the load times are very short. I was able to move from Columbus, Ohio to Antarctica to Hawaii in a very short amount of time. A nice feature is the adjustable cache, allowing for offline use. I tried it out and found that it works surprisingly well. The size of the maps saved would be a very useful alternative to having a GPS unit in your car, assuming you aren't planning any cross-country road trips. If I were judging the NeoFlash contest (which I'm not), this would be my hands down favorite app. PSP Maps should be on your memory stick. I am adding this to my Best Homebrew list. Amazing work, royale.

Bumper Harvest v1.1 Review

Bumper Harvest is Kagato's entry into the NeoFlash Spring Coding Competition. Think of Bumper Harvest as a game of bumper pool but your "cue ball" is always shot from the same starting point. The primary object of the game is to bounce the ball off of the red bumpers to remove them from the playing field and advance to the next level. Bounce the ball off of the blue bumpers to increase your score; green bumpers to gain targeting guides; and yellow bumpers to gain extra balls (with enough points). There are also larger "red star" active bumpers and grey fixed bumpers which can help or hinder your progress. After you have gained the targeting guides, pressing the right shoulder button will give you a line along which the ball will travel. The ball will bounce its way to the bottom. If you are good (or just lucky) the ball will be caught by a moving grey object and saved, otherwise it will explode into flames and you have one less ball.

Over the past several days I have played this game more than any other. Controls are simple and intuitive. The ball bounces and moves the way you would expect. Game play is addictive and fun. Trying to get extra balls and targeting guides is a challenge but entertaining. The graphics are clean and nice. Sound effects go along with the game well and don't seem to get annoying. I do have a couple of problems with Bumper Harvest. The ball moves way too slow. After you shoot the ball, it seems to take a long time for the session to complete. I really hope that Kagato speeds things up in the next version. A second issue I have with the game is the graphic for the targeting guide. The green line which shows your trajectory isn't as clean as the rest of the visuals. It seems out of place since everything else looks polished.

Definitely give this game a try. It may be a little slow but it is fun. Well done, Kagato.

Nikwi Deluxe Review

Nikwi Deluxe is a platformer game in which you are a boy collecting candy. You jump around grabbing candy avoiding the enemies. The enemies vary but for the most part don't let the birds poop on you.

This may be the first game that Deniska has ported that I don't like. Deniska entered this port into the NeoFlash Competition. The controls aren't very good. I would press the directional pad left or right and often the boy wouldn't move. This is a problem in later levels when there are numerous birds dropping poop on your head (what is that about?). The audio and graphics aren't bad but nothing special.

Basically the game isn't that much fun. I wish Deniska had found a solution to the memory problem in Metal Blob Solid. That game would have easily won the contest, imho.

Bugz Review

Bugz is a homebrew game, developed by InsertWittyName (IWN) and entered into the NeoFlash Spring Competition. The object of the game is to "pop" bugs. Move your cursor to a point on the screen and press X. This will create a circle which will pop the bugs which come into contact with it. Those bugs pop creating more circles and popping more bugs. Create chain reactions of popping bugs until you reach the necessary number of dead bugs so you can move to the next level.

IWN has come up with a very professional looking game with Bugz. It is addictive and includes some nice features like game share, online highscore board, play your own MP3s while playing, autosave, and it uses the official load and save features of the PSP. Here is a video of the game in action:



I have two small issues with Bugz. First, you must disable all plugins before playing. The game locked-up on me several times while I was trying to get screen captures for this post. This isn't a major issue, just a minor annoyance which IWN informs you of in the readme file. Second, the game automatically plays MP3s from your MUSIC folder. I would rather have an option. Let me choose to play my music or in game music. I really like the banjo music IWN has created for the game. Give me the option to listen to it.

Definitely give Bugz a try. It is very high quality homebrew.

NeoFlash Spring Competition 2008 submissions are in

The NeoFlash Spring Coding Competition has stopped taking submissions. The judging begins now. If you would like to be a judge then try out the apps and games and submit your reviews here. There are great prizes for judging as well as for coding. You can find the PSP apps here and the PSP games here. The competition has really got some talent and the homebrew has never looked better. I suggest you give some of them a try. I'll be reviewing a few of the entries that I find interesting.