I was a little concerned going into this contest that using Managed DirectX was going to come around and bite me in the butt. I really got concerned when more and more contestants starting saying they were going to avoid MDX and just use GDI+.
Well, I have to say that as we are heading into the final stretch of the contest, I haven't regretted my decision at all. Once I got my basic MDX engine written, I don't even really think about DirectX at all anymore. It's there, but I don't really touch it and I think that's the way it should be. I just focus on game logic and the Managed DirectX vodoo is all in the background. This is mostly of course because I am developing a 2D game, so a lot of the complexity of Managed DirectX just doesn't apply to me.
I don't think I've written an engine that will impress or wow anyone. However, I have been able to successfully make 4 different 2D gametypes (my levels) using the same engine with no changes necessary so I think my initial pass must have been pretty good.
Anyway, after missing all those nights of coding, I'm finally back on my feet. I was able to get my "Printer Jam" (Tetris Gametype B) level completely working tonight so I can add that to my list of completed levels (current tally, 3)! I'm going to drink some more liquids (still battling that evil sickness) and see what I can do about getting the Jellyfish A.I finally put into place for "Feeding Frenzy" so I can cross that off my checklist as well.
If I can get the first four of my five levels done tonight, I think my chances of getting my fifth level complete will have gone up dramatically. With the way I've been feeling, I never thought I would get that "Printer Jam" level done tonight! That was quite a shock for me. I didn't even realize I was done until my five year old son finally interrupted me to ask if he could play. I apparently was just playing it over and over again in some kind of "It's done?" shock.
Well, if I really want to try and get some more code written, I'd better get too it. (oh and I'd better put that over the shoulder watching, fingers twitching to play my game son of mine to bed too before he gives me a heart attack next time he snaps me out of my coding zone).