At the weekend I was working on a first boss which is giant spider and when I was comparing that ugly beast with small spiders I currently hold in my game a need for change risen. Old spiders definitely needed a remake and here it is, check it out.

As you can saw for the Easter holidays I revealed nasty eggs back then and as you might guessed, spiders will hatch out from that (at least from most of them). Egg will normaly hatch if you get too close to it or you can simply destroy it from the distance if you think you have oil urns to spare. So, let’s see the equation.

The other new thing is spider mechanics. From the start I wanted spiders to be afraid of flame all the time in dependance of flame size (smaller it is closer they get but never eat you in general except if you rush and step on them ). Now I’ve decided to change this a bit since it was almost impossible to get killed by them and consequently I could hardly use them for challanged and scarry enviroment. Now, the new plan!

At the 50% of torch light, spiders won’t be afraid of the flame anymore. To let player know about that, flame bar will get it’s color changed and music will change to ambiental so you’ll know for sure when you have to clear your mind and act serious. With that change new options opens for me to put more ambient, puzzles and trick to the crypts.

And now for the Archanophobic people out there! My brother randomly suggested that I should add an option to check if you’re one of those and if you check that box, spiders will be replaced by some cute bugs. No, I’m lying, they won’t be cute…But yeah, I think that would be a nice addition and will see the light for sure.

That’s all you should know about spiders in Courier of the Crypts. Tell me what you think and I’ll be more than happy to hear your out.

PS: If you’re a game developer please return me the kindness with an Ophidiophobia (fear before snakes) checkbox for me.

Happy Easter holidays everyone!

Please, don’t hunt rabbits – easter egg drop chance is only 0,01%

Take that oil urn mummy!

Oh, about the music! Today I’ve received a new piece from my composer for the first thematic that will start playing when your flame gets lower. It adds so much to the ambient, believe me – tested & implemented

Next to that, lights got it’s colors fixed so it’s not pure white (look at attached image ) except for the player’s light. Oh and there are rats and other lurking critters which won’t harm you, just surprise you here an there.

Game is growing and growing. Small details makes the journey trough the crypts very enjoyable. Stay tunned!

I was working hard last two days implementing win screen to the game and map transition. Not to mention numerous minor fixes. Now, it feels great playing the game!

When you’ll finish the level, something like that will pop up

Courier is exploring the Marble Halls

Every developer should reward loyal players with chest of goodies called ”replay value”. Many times I found myself crying in the corner because I’ve completed the game and I didn’t have anything new to do (except playing over the same linear content) and I don’t wish for my players to have the same fate as I did. So, here’s what I did to prevent this:

In my game, every map has the exit, which you have to reach in order to complete the level before your flame runs out. It may sound simple but there are many hazards and tricks that will try to keep you among the dead. Next to that, I’ve added the treasure which can be collected along the way…and it may deceive you as well. Every map will have the perfect’o'meter which counts how much treasure did you pick in those maps and if you get all of it, map will be marked as <insert awesome rank here>. With all maps covered, you’ll get an achievement of Greedy Courier or something so you can brag before the others.

Treasure will be placed carefully so you can get out of flame if you don’t move wisely and that’s another way to play the game and different tactics to use. It’s not just about the shiny stuff that human’s eye see, it’s about an additional element to the gameplay, to survive the crypt’s maze while picking shiny coins from the floor carefully.

Let me give you an example on my finest sketch

you are looking at my finest sketch

Let’s say this is an end of some random level and you’re already running out of the flame. What will you do? Let me give you a three possible scenarios for the ending:

You just want to finish the map:
You simply run to the button, push it and run past the doors to the exit.
You are greedy:
Grab the gold along the way and you’ll stay out of the flame before you reach the exit, which calls for the level restart.
You are greedy yet smart:
You run to the button, pick the coal behind the doors so your flame refills and you can run back to the gold quickly and then straight back to the exit for the <insert awesome rank here> title on the map.

By now you should understand how replay value works in the Courier of the Crypts. In most cases, it will require different approach to the puzzles in order to get that perfection on the map and that’s exactly why this system is interesting.

Play the game in relaxed way trying to reach the exit or you can as well sweat while sneaking behind the golem’s back trying to pick that last coin in the crypts. It’s your choice!

If we skip elements like job and studying I had to rewrite the framework on which this game  runs, so this is the reason for no “visual” previews and progress. Most people ask if I really had to rewrite it instead of just finishing the game with what I have.

I put considerable ammount of thinking into this issue because past experience taught me that this leads nowhere except to another unfinished project because there is always something new to add and you end up in the endless loop.

I had in mind the new design of the framework and did it right away (in a week or two) and after that I’ve packed the old game code and moved it to it’s new home. Of course there were some big changes and most of the code had to be rewritten but this time it works so much better.

So, what are the results of rewriting the framework and the game logic:

• About 40% less code
• Faster development
• Easier to add or change special effects in the game (like animations, particles etc.)

Was it worth it? Totally!

I’m already near the end of writing the game logic so I’ll most likely start with the level design and pixelling more stuff for the environment in February. Next time I’ll explain how “treasure” system (aka replayability) will work but until then…

…Enjoy the weeked!

I have two tiny pictures for you – this is the new theme for the last hub of levels. It’s going to be darker and I’ll do my best to give you a feeling that you’re closer to death itself.
<insert evil laugh here> 

There will be cracks in the ground trough which lava will glow, spider nets, spike pits, ghost… but I can’t show you everything now, at least not yet

Tell me what you think or what would you like to see and I’ll try to make it better!