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[quantumpotato]

So how is that working? As you walk into a special zone, you shrink?

In the end, I decided to make it so it's a button that you press. That way, you can be up close to look at the miniature model (which is the world you're going into), it forces player to drop the box first (in order to press), and ensures player is looking at the mini world.

Textbook example on a good design decision driven by restrictions and solving several problems with one simple mechanic.

That being said, I've never come across a game design textbook that took a break from technical tidbits to talk about the process of good design.

I liked Challenges for Game Designers, Rules of Play and Things That Make Us Smart.

[William Chyr]

DevLog Update #336 - 2/26/2017

Lots of progress done on saving / loading system.

Super busy of late.

Anyway, finally got a basic version of the intro, loading screen, quit + fade to start screen going:



This stuff takes way longer than you'd expect. So much effort for these tiny details, but they really do contribute to the overall impression.

[William Chyr]

DevLog Update #337 - 2/27/2017

Title screen in Manifold Garden now changes based on player progress throughout the game.



Wanted this feature for years. Finally added it.

The code is still super messy, and I'll probably want to clean it up soon before it gets to be unmanageable.

The hardest part here is making the title screens scenes as they don't use the usual scene optimization process, so there's a lot of manual work involved.

[Ninety]

Looks good!

What are you doing for music? I haven't heard anything about it, so you might already have a finished soundtrack and I missed something. Will the game have music at all?

[William Chyr]

Looks good!

What are you doing for music? I haven't heard anything about it, so you might already have a finished soundtrack and I missed something. Will the game have music at all?

Have not made any progress on music yet. The game will definitely have music, but unfortunately at the moment, I don't have the bandwidth to do any work on it.

[William Chyr]

DevLog Update #338 - 3/5/2017

Made some improvements to the world-within-a-world effect.



The key part now is that gameplay objects (such as the door, button, and boxes) are enlarged when you shrink down. Previously, it was just the environment. This makes the transition look much smoother.

It is also based on time instead of frame rate.

Finally, the duplicate instances when the final level is grown are moved inward instead of popping in. Technically, this doesn't make any sense, since you are shrinking down into the world, so the duplicate instances should grow outward. However, this looks fine and the effect lasts 2 seconds, so I'm going with it! 

It could of course use some more polish, and I do plan on coming back to it later. However, it's pretty good so far!

Another thing I worked on is the dark mode collider effect:



This isn't quite what I want, but it's a good start for now.

I'm mostly posting it here as a reference to compare against later.

[Torchkas]

Have not made any progress on music yet. The game will definitely have music, but unfortunately at the moment, I don't have the bandwidth to do any work on it.

I believe you said you wanted this to be a one-man project, but if you ever want to have advice or feedback on music you can hit me up on Discord Torchkas#0443. It would be a real shame if such a good game would get bogged down by music less good than it's supposed to be, so I'm definitely willing to help (if you need anything at all).

[William Chyr]

I believe you said you wanted this to be a one-man project, but if you ever want to have advice or feedback on music you can hit me up on Discord Torchkas#0443. It would be a real shame if such a good game would get bogged down by music less good than it's supposed to be, so I'm definitely willing to help (if you need anything at all).

Thanks! Yeah, I'm definitely not beholden to doing everything myself. Definitely interested in getting some feedback on audio once I get around to it.

[William Chyr]

DevLog Update #339 - 3/16/2017

New level inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright's Imperial Hotel and Habitat 67

[quantumpotato]

You gotta sell posters.

[smgorden]

You gotta sell posters.

I second this notion.

[quantumpotato]

You gotta sell posters.

I second this notion.

Can I distribute for you I want to try pitching this to art shops around here

[keyle]

Yes some prints would be a smart move.

[William Chyr]

There are prints available for sale via Video Game Art Gallery: https://www.videogameartgallery.com/exhibition?category=William%20Chyr

It's all online at the moment.

[William Chyr]

DevLog Update #340 - 4/11/2017

There are now recursive portals in Manifold Garden!

[sidbarnhoorn]

DevLog Update #340 - 4/11/2017

There are now recursive portals in Manifold Garden!

Awesome!

[KeinZantezuken]

This whole thread is like a mind porn.

[foofter]

I felt I should comment since our games have such similar names, and I always see your thread around, and...wow. The beautiful art. As someone who likes pen and ink drawings it's really nice. I love the hard black line edges...

[Juwdah]

DevLog Update #337 - 2/27/2017

Title screen in Manifold Garden now changes based on player progress throughout the game.



Wanted this feature for years. Finally added it.

Man, I'm glad you did, that's really cool.
I love the small intricate details that polish a game to a new level.

[quantumpotato]

Title evolutions look great. Agree on the polish.

Bookmarking your print site for later, ty!

I'm curious about these portals now.