Kongregate and Scion are hosting a new developer contest. Tutorials on basic AS2 and AS3 programming have been provided, as well as a toolkit containing various image and sound assets. For more information, click here.

Entries will be accepted until November 28th. For each week of November I will post my top 5 picks. These are not in any specific order. It is just a list of 5 that I think are worth paying some attention to throughout their development for the duration of the contest; especially for readers who have yet to cast any votes. For a list of all entries, click here.

Pooandwee’s Shooter ver.2

+ 2 Player Mode
+ Upgrades (Speed, Extra Life, Weapon, etc.)
+ Custom Art
+ Mute Music button

- Sloppy Menu Design
- Enemy AI needs some diversity
- Players ship can travel slightly off the screen due to Y-axis limits
- Game uses a widescreen view instead of adjusting the swf to match the size of the game
- No Mute SFX button

Vector Storm 2

+ Good music track
+ Decent background animation
+ Better AI than most other entries
+ Bosses are challenging
+ Good scoring system (based on kill%)
+ Powerups (lasers, rockets, missiles, etc.)

- All enemies are red
- No Mute option
- Game can be too hard for some at higher levels, because once you die you lose all powerups and you’ll need them to survive

Rocket Science

+ It’s an entry that’s not a shoot ‘em up
+ Unique gameplay
+ Has a Mute button, but you won’t need it because…
+ Awesome midi version of Robert Miles – Children
+ Beating this game without a guide with few simulations hints at players’ genius level

- Static background and target is pretty boring
- This is math class in disguise!

Orbit Shooter

+ Unique
+ Enemy variation
+ Plenty of powerups
+ Nice scrolling background
+ Good SFX
+ Mute Music button

- Default cursor gets in the way
- No option to play using keyboard
- Very slow at first, difficulty curve needs adjusting

Attack of the Cursors

+ Mute Music button
+ Upgrades (purchased with currency)
+ Individual stat tracking (kills, currency, time)
+ The colors standout over the background

- No bosses
- No overall point based scoring system (formula including kills, currency, and time)
- Currently difficult to purchase upgrades without taking damage
- Infobar up top is part of playing area
- Game uses a widescreen view instead of adjusting the swf to match the size of the game

Honorable Mention

Reys Quest 7: Fighter Rey

+Pixels Rule!!!

- Needs a lot of work

Check back next week for an update on the top 5. See which of these games stay and which are replaced by improved versions of existing games or newly released entries.

For a list of all entries, click here.