Millionaire: 11th Anniversary Game

Well, I actually thought about using the classic game as the template - however, there can't be too much harm in using the new format. Anyway, here are some important points:

• The question graphics - I should make them turn and spit out sparks and everything, and change colour. I thought about making actual 3D models of the graphics!
  
• The timer - I should be sure that the computer can recognise when to change how much time you have - and add up the spare time that goes toward the final question
  
• The lifelines - they should work like on the show
  
• The money tree - it has to show the categories and if you've used any lifelines
  

I can't do that! I'm pretty sure it can be done with this sort of software..

On second thoughts, I'll give up and just play the other games, it's just too much me for too make my own game! But I'm not just going to let the project die just like that! No, I'll let some one else take over.
FIRST PERSON TO PM ME ME WILL TAKE OVER THE PROJECT!
Only ask if you can program games.
Meanwhile, I'll reinstate the animated series, but this time I'm going to do it like the original series! I'd rather the old format not be forgotten.

The timer thing is actually relatively easy to accomplish. It's just really adding a variable, and whenever someone completes a question, add their remaining time to it.

Then, when the million dollar Q comes along, you just set the running time of the clock to that variable, plus an additional 45 seconds.

Here's the code that runs the timer in my game (it is ActionScript 2.0). The TimerProcess() function is called 30 times per second (once per frame, running at 30fps). If the fps dips, the math behind the code ensures that the timer does not slow down (especially important for keeping synchronized with the background music).

//clock functions
var TotalTime = 0;
var UsedTime = 0;
var StartMS = 0;
var ClockOn = false;
var BankedMDTime = 0;
var TimeLeft = 0;
var Mstrack = 0;
var LastMSUpdate = 0;
var csoundplay = new Sound();
var cqoffset = 0;
function playClockCue(id, vol) {
if (vol == null) vol = 100;
csoundplay = new Sound();
csoundplay.setVolume(vol);
csoundplay.onLoad = function() {
csoundplay.start((cqoffset/1000),1);

};
csoundplay.loadSound("nsdata/"+id+".mp3",false);

}
function ClockStart() {
if (currentqlevel < 5) {
playClockCue("0_clock");
} else {
stopAllSounds();
playClockCue(currentqlevel+"_clock");
}
//Mstrack = getTimer();
LastMSUpdate = getTimer();
ClockOn = true;
}
function ClockReset() {
ClockOn = false;
if (currentqlevel < 5) {
TotalTime = 15;
} else if (currentqlevel >= 5 && currentqlevel < 10) {
TotalTime = 30;
} else if (currentqlevel >= 10 && currentqlevel != 14) {
TotalTime = 45;
} else if (currentqlevel == 14) {
TotalTime = BankedMDTime+45;
}
TimeLeft = TotalTime;
trace(TotalTime);
UsedTime = 0;
CurrentMS = 0;
cqoffset = 0;

}
function ClockStop() {
csoundplay.stop();
ClockOn = false;
if (currentqlevel < 5) {
playClockCue("fx_clockstop", 70);
}
}
var CurrentMS = 0;
function ClockPause() {
ClockOn = false;
var CurTime = getTimer();
RemMS = CurTime - Mstrack;
cqoffset = csoundplay.position;
trace("CLOCK PAUSE. CURRENT MUSIC POSITION: "+cqoffset);
stopAllSounds();
playESound("fx_clockstop");
}
function ClockPauseNS() {
ClockOn = false;
var CurTime = getTimer();
RemMS = CurTime - Mstrack;
cqoffset = csoundplay.position;
trace("CLOCK PAUSE. CURRENT MUSIC POSITION: "+cqoffset);
stopAllSounds();
}
function ClockResume() {
LastMSUpdate = getTimer();
ClockOn = true;
playESound("fx_clockresume");
if (currentqlevel < 5) {
playClockCue("0_clock");
playEMusic("0_bm");
} else {
playClockCue(currentqlevel+"_clock");
}
}
var TimerPctDone;
var TimerGraphicRotation = 0;
function ClockProcess() {
//trace(TimeLeft);
if (TotalTime != 0) {
TimerGraphicRotation = ((TotalTime-TimeLeft)/TotalTime*180);
TimerPctDone = (TotalTime-TimeLeft)/TotalTime;
} else {
TimerGraphicRotation = 0;
TimerPctDone = 0;
}
trace(TimerGraphicRotation);
if (ClockOn) {

var CurTime = getTimer();
CurrentMS += CurTime - LastMSUpdate;
LastMSUpdate = CurTime;
TimeLeft = TotalTime-(CurrentMS/1000);

if (TimeLeft <= 0) {
ClockOn = false;
TimeLeft = 0;
glint();
if (currentqlevel < 5) {
csoundplay.stop();
//stopAllSounds();
playESound("fx_clockstop");
}
}
Mstrack = CurTime;
if (Math.ceil(TimeLeft) % 8 == 0) {
glint();
}
}
if (Math.ceil(TimeLeft) < 60) {
timerdisptext = Math.ceil(TimeLeft);
} else {
RoundedTime = Math.ceil(TimeLeft);
min = Math.floor(RoundedTime/60);
sec = RoundedTime-(60*min);
if (sec < 10) {
sec = "0"+sec;
}
timerdisptext = min+":"+sec;
}


}
var timerdisptext;
function BankRemainingTime() {
BankedMDTime += Math.ceil(TimeLeft);
}


How does all this work in the end?

Basically, each function can be called, and it does something special.

For example, the first step of using Ask The Audience is to pause the clock, so ClockPause() is called. ClockPause() saves the position that the music is at, so that it can easily be resumed at that point, and then it stops the processing of the clock time. When Ask The Audience is done, ClockResume() is called, which updates some of the variables required for the math to work out right, then starts the processing of the clock again. (in this code, you can also see all the different sound fx stuff that gets done).

ClockReset() is called before each new question is displayed. It updates the start time according to what question number it is.

There is a lot of math involved in the timer stuff though.

For anyone interested in seeing this code in action...

I don't distribute it because IDK if 2WayTraffic, or whoever owns the rights to Timer Millionaire, would be too happy with me.
On top of that, it uses copyrighted cues and a copyrighted font, ITC Conduit Std. So, rather than risk legal implications, I make it a just-for-me type thing. Maybe I'll make an interactive YouTube game or something eventually.

I'd recommend playing it the "BigJon" way:

Put the game up on a hosting website (MegaUpload, RapidShare, etc.) and if 2WayTraffic tells you to take it down, than just take it down. Look at how many flash games and fan games exist out there that are still up there to this day, even some that are YEARS old! Some even use some copyrighted cues.

As far as the Conduit ITC font goes, some people already have it so exclude that out of the package and, if you wish, tell ppl how to implement the font into the game if they already the font. If you want to, you can do the same for the music cues. I already have the font and the cues so it is not a problem for me.

IMO, it is a risk worth taking.



Google is your friend. Search: ITC Conduit T*****t