v0.0.3 - playtest phase

Release Date: 24-04-04
Author: wonhseo

Playtest Phase

Today, I gathered feedback from a group of friends who playtested the "Catland Spring" game. Their input provided valuable insights that will help me refine and enhance the player experience.

Feedback and Improvements:

• Implement a minimap feature that displays the locations of treasure chests, enemies, and other important elements. This will help players better navigate the levels. -> todo
• Avoid sensitive topics and go for a casual feel -> done
• Introduce sound design to add atmosphere and provide audio cues for player actions and events. -> todo
• Adjust the bazooka weapon delay to feel more responsive and impactful. -> done
• Shorten the duration of the first level to around 3 minutes, as the current 5-7 minute playtime may be too lengthy. -> todo
• Tweak the boss enemy to have a more appropriate difficulty curve, ensuring the player feels a sense of achievement upon defeating it. -> done
• Ensure the game is controller-compatible by implementing keyboard-based controls, making it accessible to a wider audience. -> done
• Differentiate enemy types and slow down their movement speed to create a more strategic and engaging combat experience. -> done
• Improve the visual clarity of dropped items to help players easily identify and collect them. -> todo

I've already begun work on several of these improvements, focusing on the graphics overhaul and controller integration. The minimap feature and sound design are next on my list, as I believe these elements will significantly enhance the overall gameplay experience.

Additionally, I've made a note of the bazooka manual mode feature, which will be added to the backlog for potential future implementation.

With the valuable feedback from my playtesting group, I'm confident that the next iteration of the game will provide a more polished and immersive experience for players.

• Enhance the game's visuals, aiming for a style similar to the cat character shown in the provided poster image. Enlarge drop items (P1) -> 75% done
• Sound design (P1) -> 0% done
• Display the health/recovery system values in green for better visibility. (P1) -> 0% done
  
• Shorten level playtime (P2) -> 0% done
• Implement a leaderboard system to allow players to compete and track high scores. (P3) -> 0% done
  
• Minimap feature (P3) -> 0% done
• Diversify the level design by introducing obstacles such as trees or other environmental elements. I may be able to repurpose the code used for treasure chests to streamline this process. (P3) -> 0% done