The Betty's Beer Bar page (http://www.mrio-software.com/info.php?id=bbb) page has been heavily updated! New screenshots! Characters! Damn, IE doesn't display PNG images correctly!

Besides, there's an alpha version for you to play. If you're interested, just PM or email me (email preferred).

I just emailed you. The new screenshots look great too. I think the floor looks better, as well as the sink area. I also like the addition of the coffee dispenser and fire extinguisher.

This game looks awesome. You have a PM waiting for you :)

Thanks everyone who is/has been playing the alpha. Your comments are extremely valuable.

The single worst complaint is the "collision detection" or having to stand in a small area in order to activate things (take glasses, use the sink, and so on). That one is hard to fix.

The second one is about the name. Since our native language is not english, it's twice as hard for us to come up with a good name, so suggestions are especially welcome.

Thanks!

Las cervezas de Sally?

Seriously, I like the name. It's kind of goofy, but the screenshots look goofy (in a fun way), so it works for me.

I didn't receive the alpha link , boohooohooo ( crying )

patrice.

How do I get to the alpha?

Originally posted by ggambett
If you're interested, just PM or email me (email preferred).

By reading the first post? ;)

DOH!!! :o :eek:

I actually like the name Betty's Beer Bar. It's a nice name that summarizes the elements of the game (Betty, beer, and a bar).

Yeah, the name is cool. Don't change it.

I agree about the name - it's easy to remember and straight to the point.

About the Alpha: I really like the graphics style and (of course) the whole theme of the game. I do find the controls still a little akward (esp. as already mentioned the collision detection).

Two suggestions:

1. Instead of moving Betty freely (and rather slowly) with the cursor keys, have her run among pre-set paths. E.g. once at the bar, a single tap of the cursor key will have her switch quickly from customer to customer. A tap down gets her back to the sink/keg/etc. This would of course also make the game quite a bit faster and potentially more frantic (which I would think is a good thing)

2. How about setting a succession of goals to achieve (e.g. get $500) rather than just a whole day of playing freestyle. I actually didn't finish the day the first time I played because I wasn't sure if it would just go on forever or if there was a goal to it. Start with short periods and fewer customers for the first "level", once that goal is accomplished move up to a higher level with more customers, etc. You could introduce "ranks" that are gained with each level (similar to what e.g. PopCap did with Bookworm)

Cheers,
Patrick

Instead of moving Betty freely (and rather slowly) with the cursor keys, have her run among pre-set paths. E.g. once at the bar, a single tap of the cursor key will have her switch quickly from customer to customer. A tap down gets her back to the sink/keg/etc. This would of course also make the game quite a bit faster and potentially more frantic (which I would think is a good thing)

I agree, making the game faster and more frantic is good. However, I don't completely like the idea of having preset paths. Maybe just with the customers, but not in the general case.


How about setting a succession of goals to achieve (e.g. get $500) rather than just a whole day of playing freestyle. I actually didn't finish the day the first time I played because I wasn't sure if it would just go on forever or if there was a goal to it. Start with short periods and fewer customers for the first "level", once that goal is accomplished move up to a higher level with more customers, etc. You could introduce "ranks" that are gained with each level (similar to what e.g. PopCap did with Bookworm)

We're going to implement something along those lines. Each "day" (the clock does advance!) you'll have to reach a minimum amount, or be fired. When you accumulate certain amount of tips and comissions over what you sold, you progress to a better bar. Three of the bars can be seen in the screenshots page. Within the same "scenario", we are going to have different levels (days) with increasing speed (not to confuse with the difficulty levels - in Easy mode you'll play with one hand and customers will never get drunk; in Medium mode, you use both hands, customers can get drunk, and everything is faster; and Hard mode, even faster, and you must serve some other drink too).

That's about the "campaign" mode. There will also be a free play mode and some kind of timed mode, with an option to post scores online.

Do you think this scheme makes sense?

Thanks a lot!