We made it! (for now)

Devlog: "We Made It!"

Hey there, Hunger Maze fans! We're thrilled to share some exciting news with you all. We've just completed our first prototype of Hunger Maze, and we can proudly say, "We made it!" It's been a challenging journey, but in just one week, we've managed to bring all the mechanics we envisioned to life. Let's dive right into the thrilling details of what you can expect from the game!

First and foremost, we wanted to create a unique gameplay experience based on a specific type of cooperation. To achieve this, we implemented a visually dynamic mechanic where the characters visibly increase in size (getting fat) as they consume food. This not only reflects the reality of eating a lot but also has a direct impact on their abilities. As the characters gain weight, they become slower, and their jump height decreases. It presents players with the difficult task of balancing their hunger level while considering the impact on their mobility.

But wait, there's more! We've added an extra layer of strategy by allowing players to choose whether to eat the food immediately or collect it for later use. They can also share food with their teammate to solve specific puzzles and overcome challenges. This decision-making process adds a tactical element to the cooperative gameplay, as players must consider not only the short-term benefits but also the long-term implications of their food choices.

To further enhance the challenges and variety within the maze, we've incorporated several exciting obstacles. Players will encounter pressure plates that move with objects, such as platforms, requiring them to time their movements carefully. Additionally, strong winds pose a unique challenge where players can only pass through if they have enough weight. However, if one player is heavy enough, the second player can cleverly sneak behind them through the air gap! We've also added narrow paths that only the slim character can fit through, utilizing ladders for climbing, and introducing platforms of varying heights. For example, some platforms are too high for the larger character to jump onto, while others are too steep for them to ascend due to their heavy weight. Overcoming these obstacles will demand teamwork, coordination, and careful consideration of each character's abilities.

To signify the completion of each level and the transition to the next, we've introduced an elevator. However, there's a catch! The elevator can only be activated when the players collectively reach the required weight. This creates a sense of accomplishment and urgency as players need to find enough food to progress.

While the focus of this prototype was functionality rather than graphics, we acknowledge that the visuals are currently in a basic state. Rest assured, our next step is to enhance the graphics and make the overall experience more polished and visually appealing. We want Hunger Maze to captivate players not only through its mechanics but also through its visuals.

We're incredibly proud of the progress we've made in such a short amount of time. The prototype represents a significant milestone in the development of Hunger Maze, and we can't wait to continue refining and expanding upon this foundation. Stay tuned for more updates as we work to make Hunger Maze an even smoother and more visually stunning adventure.

And as always, here are our reports from last week followed by our plans for the next week:

Ondrej:

Hi everyone, this week I've been working on the game mechanics. Specifically, I've been focused on character proportions, where slimmer characters can move faster and jump higher, while the second character is slower and has limited jumping abilities. Additionally, I've implemented a feature where consuming junk food causes your character to gain weight more quickly. However, there's an option to exercise by jumping in place, which helps them become slimmer again. I've also been working on various obstacles such as strong winds, narrow paths, and ladders. Using these mechanics, Tereza and I have successfully implemented the first sample level.

João:
Hello, I created three basic levels where two characters have to jump to get to the elevator, the animation of the elevators going down when the two players arrive at the place, and the transition from level to level.

Tereza:

Hello, last week Ondrej and I collaborated on the development of the first sample level, which features puzzles and a hunger bar. My contribution included the implementation of a pressure plate to showc the cooperative gameplay between players. Additionally, I created an initial frame that provides a brief overview of the game's story. Lastly, I designed a prototype for the introduction level, which aims to familiarize players with the eating mechanics and the importance of cooperation.

For the next week, we will mainly work together to put a united look to our game, combine the mechanics and polish our code. After that we will start working on making more levels and the graphics. Except of this, some of the individual tasks are:

Ondrej will mprove and optimilize the code, then try to implement the remaining elements, which didn't made it into the prototype.

João will polish his code as well and combine it with Ondrej's code. He will make corrections to the tech document.

Tereza using the developed mechanics, will design more puzzles for the next levels. She will also make corrections to the design document.

Thank you for your support and enthusiasm. Together, we'll conquer the Hunger Maze!

- The Hunger Maze Development Team