I'm working (sporadically, since my job is eating up my time now) on a space shooter: http://www.alpha-slash.com/space

I'd welcome any and all feedback. I'd especially like to know how well it runs on slower computers. I need to refactor the weapon effects so that they aren't so CPU-intensive, but that may not happen for a while, since it will take quite a bit of work, though if it's really bad, I can release a no-special-effects version....Also, you may notice that some of the ships look awful; those are the results of me and Paint. If anyone here likes drawing spaceships and would be willing to donate some artwork, I'd greatly appreciate it ^.^

I also have instructions on how to make your own levels, if anyone's interested :)

Also, just in case someone feels inclined to say something about this violating the rules, the staff of ichigos has approved of this thread.

That's pretty cool! Raiden type games are addicting and difficult

I'm on my second attempt at that boss, he's kinda tough! XD

Yeah, I tried the Flash remakes of the Raiden series. They were pretty good overall, but they suffered from dodgy hit detection and limited shots on the screen. (A lot of the older shooters limited you to a certain number of shots on the screen due to hardware constraints.) Many online space shooters have similar problems (Area Flat is a nice exception, but I've already played through those several times, and I want more :P), so I wanted to develop a space shooter that could provide a smoother experience but was still free and available online.

Which boss are you referring to, Paradox? They get harder as you get farther in the game XD

Haha, I just managed to beat the first one yesterday, right now 'm working on learning level 2, those bars and laser things don't make it easy XD

It's decent so far, though a little boring with no sound effects or music. But of course, I'm sure you'll be adding all that later. Right now you have a solid shooting system in place; the game was fun to play, it just needs cheesy synth music and obnoxious sound effects. And animations! Don't be afraid to animate things! X3

Also, for the first boss, you should show him charging his laser before he fires that giant cannon of his. Instant deaths due to cheap shots which are impossible to avoid does not equal fun. Of course, I didn't die from his laser, because I had full health when I got to him, but he did hit me with his first shot, and it did knock my health way down. (And then I died shortly after, hahah.) XP

Also, the game is running fine on my machine, a 1.8ghz.

Keep working, I'm looking forward to seeing it finished! ^_^

Edit:
Oh, and the controls! I disagree with the wads keys. This isn't an fps, it's a top down shooter. Use the arrow keys instead! It's awkward to use my thumb to hit space while I'm trying to move in certain directions. It's also awkward to use my right hand to hit space, with my right hand so close by. I'd recommend using the arrow keys, and the a,s,d,f, and spacebar for different random functions. Then both your hands are spaced out and resting comfortably. :3

Actually, a,s,d, left shift, and spacebar is probably the best way to go for the left hand, at least for me. Hahah.

It's decent so far, though a little boring with no sound effects or music. But of course, I'm sure you'll be adding all that later. Right now you have a solid shooting system in place; the game was fun to play, it just needs cheesy synth music and obnoxious sound effects. And animations! Don't be afraid to animate things! X3

Also, for the first boss, you should show him charging his laser before he fires that giant cannon of his. Instant deaths due to cheap shots which are impossible to avoid does not equal fun. Of course, I didn't die from his laser, because I had full health when I got to him, but he did hit me with his first shot, and it did knock my health way down. (And then I died shortly after, hahah.) XP

Also, the game is running fine on my machine, a 1.8ghz.

Keep working, I'm looking forward to seeing it finished! ^_^

Edit:
Oh, and the controls! I disagree with the wads keys. This isn't an fps, it's a top down shooter. Use the arrow keys instead! It's awkward to use my thumb to hit space while I'm trying to move in certain directions. It's also awkward to use my right hand to hit space, with my right hand so close by. I'd recommend using the arrow keys, and the a,s,d,f, and spacebar for different random functions. Then both your hands are spaced out and resting comfortably. :3

Actually, a,s,d, left shift, and spacebar is probably the best way to go for the left hand, at least for me. Hahah.

I agree about the controls, I went into the Options menu and changed mine to the arrow keys, it actually made the game a little easier so that I was able to kill the first boss.

...There's an options menu? Hahah, my mistake! I guess the controls are okay then, if they're changeable. I still think you'd do well to change the defaults though, Tanonev. :3

The main reason I didn't map first player to the arrow keys was because I mapped those to the second player. Perhaps I could add a button that swapped the player 1 and player 2 keys? (The other reason is that I'm used to arcade and console games, where the D-pad or joystick is usually on the left. I guess the computer standard is different though.)

Incidentally, did you know you can press J once and forget about it instead of holding down the Spacebar? I'm incredibly lazy, so I added that autofire feature :P In any case, I was envisioning the left hand resting on WASD and the right hand on JKL, so it'd be close to the regular hand positions. The game will save your changes to the controls, though.

Heh, I added a warning light to the third boss's laser, but I forgot to go back and edit the first boss :P I'll add that in over the weekend.

As for sound effects, I was half-considering having my sister record some sounds...by voice, i.e., "EXPLOSION EXPLOSION." Then again, I have a family history of mental illness, and doing something like that will probably cause someone to turn my sister and me into the psycho ward :P

Seriously now, would anyone happen to know where I could find royalty-free sound effects and/or music?

Seriously now, would anyone happen to know where I could find royalty-free sound effects and/or music?
I think there's one called A1 that has some free effects. They also sell sound effects. I've come across another site or two also. I've never found any decent free sound effects though; they're all total shit. XP

I'd recommend just downloading Audacity (http://audacity.sourceforge.net/), buying yourself a $40 mic, and recording your own sounds. That's what I'll be doing. They'll be your own custom sounds, and they'll probably come out better than the crap you can find on the internet anyway. XD

And about the controls, you seem to have good reasons for having them as they are, and you can change them in-game, so I guess I wouldn't worry too much about them, hahah.

maybe we can talk about multiple lives? like maybe 3? ;_;

Heheh...lives...

There's an option to restart the level you died on: go to Options -> Game Options, and you can choose the level to start on. You can choose any level that you've reached the beginning of. Effectively, it's like getting infinite continues. You just have to start at the beginning of a level, which I thought was spaced frequently enough that getting lives to restart in the middle of a level would be too hard to rebalance given the current structure of the levels (a level lasts about 2 minutes, and all levels are designed to be beatable assuming no powerups at the beginning of the stage, though level 2 probably could use an extra supply ship just before the wall with two laser turrets...)

Psh! Screw lives, and continues. Make it so you have to play through the whole game with one ship, without continuing and without being hit! X3

OK, I uploaded an updated version where the first level boss gives you a warning before firing its laser. I also added in another supply ship on level 2.

I'm not sure how you intend to survive level 3 without getting hit, but you're welcome to try :P