Today I am very proud to announce the public release of my first custom map: Tower Defense Tycoon!
Tower Defense Tycoon is an FFA survival tower defense for 1 to 6 players. In the game, you operate and manage a tower defense theme park, where you need to construct towers, build up your park, attract spectators, and raise admission rates. Each night you must entertain your visitors with explosive tower defense shows and score bloody kills to impress the audience and attract new visitors.
Tower Defense Tycoon is a completely solo project, and it has been my only focus in the Starcraft map editor since the beta began. That puts the game’s development time at just over 2 years. Whoa! I have been developing the game with only one simple goal: To make it the coolest tower defense that Starcraft has ever seen!
Below are some highlights of my favorite features in the game. If nothing else, please check out my trailer!
A STORY-DRIVEN ADVENTURE
This game features 50 levels of story-driven adventure set in the Starcraft universe. Your journey sees you through the humble beginnings of your park, unforeseen dilemmas, unexpected disasters, and up through to the game’s epic finale.
BEYOND ROCK-PAPER-SCISSORS
There are no damage types vs. armor types that you need to memorize. There are no air towers, hero towers, or detector towers. There is no rock-paper-scissors formula for you to worry about. Every tower is effective for every level!
Each tower has been designed with strengths and weaknesses, and it’s up to you to find the best way to use each type of tower. There are 18 different types of towers in all. You’ll find your familiar favorites such as the obligatory freezing tower. You’ll also encounter new kinds of towers that you’ve never seen before, like the Splitting Tower that divides units into two, or the Auxiliary Tower that can transfer kill credit to another tower, or the Solar-Powered Laser that charges up and becomes more powerful the less it attacks.
IMAGINATIVE LEVEL DESIGN
Almost every level in the game offers a unique challenge that is not repeated in any other level! No matter what your tower defense strategy is, there will be levels that challenge you in unexpected ways.
INCREDIBLE BOSS FIGHTS
Every 10 levels you will face a “Main Event,” a highly scripted boss round that has major implications for the story. Each of these Main Events will introduce something new to the tower defense genre, so even the most seasoned tower defense veterans will find something new here. These boss rounds are incredible, and you’ve never seen anything like it in a tower defense.
BUILD YOUR PARK
In addition to your tower defense strategy, you’ll need to build up your park to make it run successfully. Build a restaurant to increase your park’s popularity, build an admissions booth to raise your admission rates, build a hotel to retain your visitors across multiple days, or build an advertising agency to promote your towers and attract more visitors. You know what’s better than a bloody kill? It’s a bloody kill with fireworks! Build a pyrotechnics factory to make your impressive kills even more impressive. And there’s more! It’s up to you to build the facilities that will work best for your park.
Get some popcorn, it’s trailer time!
Are you a tower defense veteran? Have you been playing tower defense maps since the original Starcraft? Have you seen the best and worst that the tower defense genre has to offer? If so, then you are my target audience for this game! The story includes a ton of tower defense meta-humor, and I also attached my loading screen for your entertainment.
Coming soon: Competitive mode! This mode will be one part tower defense, and one part social experiment. I plan to develop this once Blizzard has made improvements to custom game matchmaking.
If you have suggestions, comments, bugs, or if you just like the game, please drop me a line so I can make this the best tower defense ever!
I don't play TDs, but your's look very interesting and polished. All the humour helps a lot. And you still need to beat duplicated entries for SOTIS, Nexus Wars and others that got "stuck" on first page.
This is definitely one of, if not the most, entertaining TDs i've played in a long time. I like everything about it! Sure, some of the events are confusing and made me think that I had lost, but it didn't put a dent in my endearment for this custom map.
One question, though. Is it possible to end the game with a positive amount of popularity? Or are you supposed to go negative at the end? Do you lose if you go negative in your popularity?
There's no way to avoid going negative the first time you run through the final level, but you shouldn't go negative for the second run through. The end game sequence changes based on how you do on that last attempt. There are 4 different endings.
Also, you lose when you go negative popularity, but you can't lose after level 48. I didn't want to jip people who lose on level 49.
There's no way to avoid going negative the first time you run through the final level, but you shouldn't go negative for the second run through. The end game sequence changes based on how you do on that last attempt. There are 4 different endings.
Also, you lose when you go negative popularity, but you can't lose after level 48. I didn't want to jip people who lose on level 49.
oh ok. well i'm glad to hear that i'm supposed to fail the first time XD. i just wish i hadn't gone negative the second time around... =(. And i also like your idea that you can't lose after level 48, cause i definitely would have lost and been like, "whaaaatttt????"
There's no way to avoid going negative the first time you run through the final level, but you shouldn't go negative for the second run through. The end game sequence changes based on how you do on that last attempt. There are 4 different endings.
Also, you lose when you go negative popularity, but you can't lose after level 48. I didn't want to jip people who lose on level 49.
I beat the game with a positive score my first run through. Scored a park value of something like 300,000. I did it on Normal Difficulty.
Just some bugs I have found, minor things mostly; but one is a bit bad.
The intro sometimes plays twice at once; all text pops up twice. No idea what may have caused it, but it happened.
The broodlord refused to walk. It sat there until the timer was up; then exploded and cost everyone 25% of their lives.
When tower debuffs are applied; if you build a tower right after it is applied; you have a solid 3-4 seconds without a debuff on that tower. With free selling, this makes some challenges easy.
On one of the "final" levels; I forget which stage; without leaking I was given the full +5 range award from the research that grants that; however my flying defense drone still had the -3 range debuff from darkness (after the dark levels)
Also, just curious; is it technically possible to hit 1 million? Ive beaten it on the hardest difficulty, random mode; I had 300+ spectators by round 10, and 2000+ for well over half of the game; and still came up 150k short; I leaked maybe 5 units all game. That just seems like such a huge gap to make up from income alone. Really curious to see how anyone may have overcome such a huge gap.
Thanks for the bugs! I think some of them (like brood lord never moving) is the editor being stupid. Some times it just... breaks and I can never ever replicate it. The platform has a lot of flaws.
This should count for something, eh? Not quite a million points; but 31 support towers and every upgrade of every building; technically, had I randomed the same upgrades; I would have broken 1 million. After all your nerfs; there are still funny ways to hit the 1 million mark ^_^
The brood lord hasn't sent for me in the past 3 games (since yesterday morning) He just stands there and eventually explodes. In all of these games I have used splitter towers; if this could somehow cause it; I havent tested it without using them.
The AoE splash slow towers (Immortals) their 3 vespean upgrade says on it 10%; but when you buy it, the text changes to 5%.
Balance note: The Gift Shop is by far the worst structure in the game. The bonus income is almost negligible compared to any other way of gaining income. A lot of the other structures indirectly give you more income; while providing other benefits.
The brood lord hasn't sent for me in the past 3 games (since yesterday morning) He just stands there and eventually explodes. In all of these games I have used splitter towers; if this could somehow cause it; I havent tested it without using them.
You're a god damn hero, son. I just replicated it, it is the splitting towers. I think it's uncommon for players to have these towers by this level. I'm going to try to have a fix for this out ASAP!
Oh also, TDT just hit the #2 spot! Squadron Tower Defense is the only one ahead, and that may be an insurmountable feat.
Good that you have realistic expectations. I've only seen STD temporarily overtaken a few times (ETD was one). STD is more entrenched now though, so it may very well be impossible these days.
Tower Defense Tycoon - Official Release
Hello SC2Mapster,
Today I am very proud to announce the public release of my first custom map: Tower Defense Tycoon!
Tower Defense Tycoon is an FFA survival tower defense for 1 to 6 players. In the game, you operate and manage a tower defense theme park, where you need to construct towers, build up your park, attract spectators, and raise admission rates. Each night you must entertain your visitors with explosive tower defense shows and score bloody kills to impress the audience and attract new visitors.
Tower Defense Tycoon is a completely solo project, and it has been my only focus in the Starcraft map editor since the beta began. That puts the game’s development time at just over 2 years. Whoa! I have been developing the game with only one simple goal: To make it the coolest tower defense that Starcraft has ever seen!
Below are some highlights of my favorite features in the game. If nothing else, please check out my trailer!
A STORY-DRIVEN ADVENTURE
This game features 50 levels of story-driven adventure set in the Starcraft universe. Your journey sees you through the humble beginnings of your park, unforeseen dilemmas, unexpected disasters, and up through to the game’s epic finale.
BEYOND ROCK-PAPER-SCISSORS
There are no damage types vs. armor types that you need to memorize. There are no air towers, hero towers, or detector towers. There is no rock-paper-scissors formula for you to worry about. Every tower is effective for every level!
Each tower has been designed with strengths and weaknesses, and it’s up to you to find the best way to use each type of tower. There are 18 different types of towers in all. You’ll find your familiar favorites such as the obligatory freezing tower. You’ll also encounter new kinds of towers that you’ve never seen before, like the Splitting Tower that divides units into two, or the Auxiliary Tower that can transfer kill credit to another tower, or the Solar-Powered Laser that charges up and becomes more powerful the less it attacks.
IMAGINATIVE LEVEL DESIGN
Almost every level in the game offers a unique challenge that is not repeated in any other level! No matter what your tower defense strategy is, there will be levels that challenge you in unexpected ways.
INCREDIBLE BOSS FIGHTS
Every 10 levels you will face a “Main Event,” a highly scripted boss round that has major implications for the story. Each of these Main Events will introduce something new to the tower defense genre, so even the most seasoned tower defense veterans will find something new here. These boss rounds are incredible, and you’ve never seen anything like it in a tower defense.
BUILD YOUR PARK
In addition to your tower defense strategy, you’ll need to build up your park to make it run successfully. Build a restaurant to increase your park’s popularity, build an admissions booth to raise your admission rates, build a hotel to retain your visitors across multiple days, or build an advertising agency to promote your towers and attract more visitors. You know what’s better than a bloody kill? It’s a bloody kill with fireworks! Build a pyrotechnics factory to make your impressive kills even more impressive. And there’s more! It’s up to you to build the facilities that will work best for your park.
Get some popcorn, it’s trailer time!
Are you a tower defense veteran? Have you been playing tower defense maps since the original Starcraft? Have you seen the best and worst that the tower defense genre has to offer? If so, then you are my target audience for this game! The story includes a ton of tower defense meta-humor, and I also attached my loading screen for your entertainment.
Coming soon: Competitive mode! This mode will be one part tower defense, and one part social experiment. I plan to develop this once Blizzard has made improvements to custom game matchmaking.
If you have suggestions, comments, bugs, or if you just like the game, please drop me a line so I can make this the best tower defense ever!
En Taro, Tycoons!
-Skrow
Good amount of quality, good amount of humor. Especially like the originality. I'd love to try this out once it hits EU.
The map just hit the 24 hour mark since I posted it, and it's now at 100 / 100 rating on Up & Coming.
Update: It's been just under 72 hours since I published the game. It's now at 4,000 hours played on page 1. :D
XD "what's a tower defence?" -my mom-
that made my day
all around awesome game, and i dont like tower defence games. this, though, this made my day. keep it up and congrats on first page :D
I don't play TDs, but your's look very interesting and polished. All the humour helps a lot. And you still need to beat duplicated entries for SOTIS, Nexus Wars and others that got "stuck" on first page.
@SoulFilcher: Go
Just passed SOTIS. Nexus Wars 1 is next, and then his twin brother.
@SkrowFunk: Go
This is definitely one of, if not the most, entertaining TDs i've played in a long time. I like everything about it! Sure, some of the events are confusing and made me think that I had lost, but it didn't put a dent in my endearment for this custom map.
One question, though. Is it possible to end the game with a positive amount of popularity? Or are you supposed to go negative at the end? Do you lose if you go negative in your popularity?
@PoisonHunter:
There's no way to avoid going negative the first time you run through the final level, but you shouldn't go negative for the second run through. The end game sequence changes based on how you do on that last attempt. There are 4 different endings.
Also, you lose when you go negative popularity, but you can't lose after level 48. I didn't want to jip people who lose on level 49.
oh ok. well i'm glad to hear that i'm supposed to fail the first time XD. i just wish i hadn't gone negative the second time around... =(. And i also like your idea that you can't lose after level 48, cause i definitely would have lost and been like, "whaaaatttt????"
I beat the game with a positive score my first run through. Scored a park value of something like 300,000. I did it on Normal Difficulty.
Just some bugs I have found, minor things mostly; but one is a bit bad.
The intro sometimes plays twice at once; all text pops up twice. No idea what may have caused it, but it happened.
The broodlord refused to walk. It sat there until the timer was up; then exploded and cost everyone 25% of their lives.
When tower debuffs are applied; if you build a tower right after it is applied; you have a solid 3-4 seconds without a debuff on that tower. With free selling, this makes some challenges easy.
On one of the "final" levels; I forget which stage; without leaking I was given the full +5 range award from the research that grants that; however my flying defense drone still had the -3 range debuff from darkness (after the dark levels)
Also, just curious; is it technically possible to hit 1 million? Ive beaten it on the hardest difficulty, random mode; I had 300+ spectators by round 10, and 2000+ for well over half of the game; and still came up 150k short; I leaked maybe 5 units all game. That just seems like such a huge gap to make up from income alone. Really curious to see how anyone may have overcome such a huge gap.
Skype: [email protected] Current Project: Custom Hero Arena! US: battlenet:://starcraft/map/1/263274 EU: battlenet:://starcraft/map/2/186418
@GlornII: Go
Thanks for the bugs! I think some of them (like brood lord never moving) is the editor being stupid. Some times it just... breaks and I can never ever replicate it. The platform has a lot of flaws.
It is technically possible. I'll post a hint on the contest thread after I get the game into EU.
Oh also, TDT just hit the #2 spot! Squadron Tower Defense is the only one ahead, and that may be an insurmountable feat.
Can you please give us estimate how long till eu upload ?
I don't get it. I won the game on normal mode and all I've got was 105K $....
Can i see a replay getting to high bucks amount so I can see how you do?
This should count for something, eh? Not quite a million points; but 31 support towers and every upgrade of every building; technically, had I randomed the same upgrades; I would have broken 1 million. After all your nerfs; there are still funny ways to hit the 1 million mark ^_^
Skype: [email protected] Current Project: Custom Hero Arena! US: battlenet:://starcraft/map/1/263274 EU: battlenet:://starcraft/map/2/186418
2 more things I have noticed:
The brood lord hasn't sent for me in the past 3 games (since yesterday morning) He just stands there and eventually explodes. In all of these games I have used splitter towers; if this could somehow cause it; I havent tested it without using them.
The AoE splash slow towers (Immortals) their 3 vespean upgrade says on it 10%; but when you buy it, the text changes to 5%.
Balance note: The Gift Shop is by far the worst structure in the game. The bonus income is almost negligible compared to any other way of gaining income. A lot of the other structures indirectly give you more income; while providing other benefits.
Skype: [email protected] Current Project: Custom Hero Arena! US: battlenet:://starcraft/map/1/263274 EU: battlenet:://starcraft/map/2/186418
You're a god damn hero, son. I just replicated it, it is the splitting towers. I think it's uncommon for players to have these towers by this level. I'm going to try to have a fix for this out ASAP!
Good that you have realistic expectations. I've only seen STD temporarily overtaken a few times (ETD was one). STD is more entrenched now though, so it may very well be impossible these days.
Congratulations nonetheless!
Good job...glad somebody has finally got to the top.
It's just not my type... :/
1 thing...
The map feels extremely chaotic...it's like...
Let's put it this way...somebody tosses you a paper to sign and you almost finish, then they toss it away and give you another one.
It feels like the start of the map is in a rush to get you started.
I don't want to throw out too much opinion, because, again, it's a great map, but it's just not my type.