Every game, book and story has a universe... and this game has a universe too! This guide explains how to dive deep into it, get the greatest scores, and enjoy the game as best as you can.
New in version 3.0.0.
This is the main menu. You can pick an option by pressing one of these keys:
- 1: Start the real game.
- 2: See the credits scene. Basically, it redirects to the THANKS.txt file from this repo.
- 3: Change the skin pack (see the Advanced settings > Using Skin Packs section below).
If you press some keys, some actions may happen.
- P: Pause the game, saving scores and coordinates. If the game is paused, press P again to keep playing 1.
- Q: Quit the game, and close the window.
- R: Restart the game, and return to the menu 1.
Spacecraft (Willpower) keys 1
- Up / down keys: Use them to move the Willpower, and avoid enemies. You can also use WASD keys (W and S, to be more precise)
- Space: Send a bullet of L1-F3 energized serum, that can destroy both bugs and trash!
- Z: This yields the Special Attack, if available (see below)
New in version 4.0.0.
This special move hits all the mobs with an energy blast! Though this won't affect trash items, sorry... Anyway, this is a great way to clear up your space -- just remember you can only use this move once per game!
Hint: Don't use this move as soon as the game starts. Try to resist the temptation of using it, unless...
- The Monster (see its section below) moves fast and you can't reach it at all.
- You are really overwhelmed by mobs, and could loose the whole game (this happens sometimes after there're 100 mobs or less).
A quick guide to all the elements on the game.
The Willpower is a modified spacecraft modified by Diddi, to shoot the serum. You will have to pilot the spacecraft to fight the bugs!
Fun fact: This spacecraft came from the same place than its pilot, Diddi. Check out @DiddiLeija's wiki to learn more.
The Willpower can shoot these fast bullets, to destroy something! Once it touches a bug/trash, it disappears and cannot damage other enemies. You can shoot an unlimited number of bullets.
They're the creepy creatures that menace the Earth! You're the only one who can destroy them to save the planet.
These bugs, viruses, bacteria and fungi are the most common element in this game. They go directly to you, and can have multiple aspects. If they touch your spacecraft, you will loose the game. They can be destroyed with a bullet, and you can earn 10 points. The idea is to destroy 200 bugs.
Unfortunately, our loveful Earth's atmosphere is filled up with trash 2. But you can help to wipe them out using your bullets. If you destroy one, you can earn 50, 100 or even 200 extra points! However, if they touch you, you will loose the game.
New in version 2.0.0.
Here, you can be notified by both Diddi or the "System" when something happens, like an "event log". For example, when you pause or restart the game, the "System" will tell you. Also, if you find one of our "easter eggs", you'll get notified too!
New in version 2.0.0.
Wait...? Where did this giant monster came from...?
This strange but giant enemy only appears once. It can move even faster than the bullets, but also move slowly... it's a randomness thing. It uses 16x16 pixels, so it's way bigger than everything else in the game (other mobs and items use 8x8 pixels, or even less!).
The Monster is stronger than regular enemies and trash, so you must hit it twice to defeat it. (New in version 4.0.0).
If destroyed, the Monster will leave 1000 extra points! However, if it crosses the screen without being defeated, it won't appear again and won't leave any points. You'll have to start again for a chance to destroy it.
Would you like to further customize your Diddi and the Bugs experience? Then keep reading, you may find the following options useful!
New in version 4.0.0.
Since 4.0.0, you can use several skin packs to customize the game's aspect. To select one, press 3 in the main menu, then pick a skin pack (with a live preview).
This is a quick demonstration of the two skin packs bundled to the 4.0.0 release: "Diddi" (the main theme) and "Training Eli".
New in version 4.0.0.
NOTE: Custom skin packs are only fully allowed in the Python edition of the game. We are working on documentation/support for the Windows-only and Pyxel-packaged editions, and this probably won't be allowed in the HTML version.
If you want to load your own skin pack into your Diddi and the Bugs game, follow these steps:
- Duplicate the main
resource_diddi.pyxresfile, and name with the syntaxresource_SKIN_PACK_NAME.pyxres. - Using Pyxel, run
pyxel edit resource_SKIN_PACK_NAME.pyxres. - Use the Pyxel interface to edit your resource. You can edit the mobs, the background colors and the music.
- Once you're done, save your resource, run Diddi and the Bugs, and select your
SKIN PACK NAMEskin (see the "Using Skin Packs" section above).
You can see all the skin packs (alphabetically sorted) found in the game's folder. The first skin in that list is loaded during initialization as the default skin 3.
If you would like your skin to become a built-in option in the game for everyone, reach out to us via Discord!
Footnotes
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This function does not apply in the main menu interface. ↩ ↩2 ↩3
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Unfortunately, this is totally true. ↩
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However, you should note some "default skin names" have preference before any other skin. Then, a skin named ABC will come after Diddi (the original skin, and the most preferred). If any of the "preferred skins" is not there, it won't appear. ↩