Dynamics


A few updates to highlight:

  1. New Graphics
  2. New Game Dynamics
  3. New Levels
  4. Misc

New Graphics

I spent a little time updating some of the graphics. While there is still a lot to get through I think it already looks a bit nicer. The main update was the ground tiles, now in two parts to give a little depth. I based my tiles on the originals I used from the GothicVaniaTown assets but made them wider, and a little more detailed. Nothing fancy.

I added a new "Grate" asset through which the key can be dropped, but the player cannot (it's iron...ghosts can't move through Iron...everyone knows that right?).

I then added some motion to the clouds in the background. It's still the same asset, but now with added woosh!

Finally, I added some shader updates to the main character to make her a little more like a ghost. She now has some glow, transparency and a slight wobble. All quite subtle so as not to disrupt the aesthetics too much.


New Game Dynamics

Getting the key from the start to the finish of each stage is the main point of the game. However, using only doors and platforms was making it much harder to design levels. So there are some updates to the gameplay here:

Firstly I added pipes! I had originally intended to use pipes but didn't get time for it during the Jam. Now I have added one as a trial in one of the first levels. 

Secondly, I added water. I decided that the key is too heavy to float, but not too heavy to be pushed in the direction of the flow. I also decided that the ghost cannot move around in water. So she must rely on switches to turn the water on or off, or use the water to move the key. 


New Levels

Still not many levels, and they all feel like training levels still. But in this latest update, there are 5 levels in total. I know it's still not a lot, but I'm getting there. I think after this set of levels the stage will move to a new location for some variety. Hence the house at the end of this set of levels.


Misc

I added a splash screen with my new Logo to the game-opening. And also to the credits at the end of the currently playable section. It may also interest you to know that I made quite a few adjustments to the code and assets to make it cleaner and more efficient. Not much a player will notice, but it makes it easier for me to continue working on it!


As a side note, since I already have a large set of courses from GameDev.tv,  I chose the "Unity UIToolkit - Introduction To Editor Scripting" course as my free course from this Jam. It was very interesting and taught me about a part of Unity I  didn't know existed at all.

Also, at the time of writing this post, Humble Bundle has a GameDev.tv bundle  going. I paid 1 dollar just to get two courses I don't already have. ^^;

But I  recommend most of the other courses in this bundle.

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Comments

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Wow! Sounds like you've made a lot of progress. Like I said, definitely will get to your new build soon and leave some feedback. Only have just now gotten access a to a computer of my own after an international move. So, I'm pretty excited to get back to game dev myself!

Glad you got set up again. It took 3 months for my stuff to get to me when I moved to Japan.
Looking forward to the next gamedev update.

Haha, funny enough Japan is where I just moved from. I had been in Kumamoto for the last 4 years.