Feedback from ​Full Indie & Testing


Went to Vancouver's Full Indie meetup yesterday and thought I'd document some feedback here to be less likely to lose notes and check back on what and how I updated the game later. Considering how long this list is, it shows how game development can take a looooooong time:

Main gameplay points include:

  • Reeling on the left trigger feels separate from right trigger harpooning. Will likely try reeling with right stick soon. Could also try an auto-reel on the same button
  • Car movement still isn't quite right. Previous suggestion of momentum and drifting still hold up from my friend. With twin stick games, people are used to pivoting on a dime. I have tried that before but if added acceleration doesn't work out, it may be worth revisiting
  • More visual feedback for score like points onscreen when crushing a car

Smaller points:

  • I say "Press ANY button to start" but actually any button doesn't work - oops! Probably was for a keyboard when I wrote that
  • Crusher didn't always go off, or appeared to go off when it was still green as a car drove through
  • More obvious harpoon pick-up is still needed
  • Player wanted to drag a statue
  • Tow arm could rotate with a truck while turning. Might make the game look more lively
  • Earn different amounts of points for different cars
  • Larger analog stick dead zone for aiming. Player had tow arm flicking off to a different side when the stick bounced back to the center
  • Zoom out more. This may be related to playing on my smaller screen
  • I should add in an auto-play or video that loops for when I'm playing someone else's game.

And from feedback from my friend on a test beforehand:

  • FIXED before Full Indie: Biggest issue is that trucks when harpooning another car, get their rope cut - Then harpoon is stuck on the other truck and the truck drives slowly
  • Limit the SFX volume of destroyed statue shards and bits from cars caused by a harpoon. There is distortion
  • Sometimes the crusher does not crush when two player trucks are close together (one towing the other closely)
  • Different types of harpoons to choose from (wheels / pre-made combos)
  • Harpoons in the center should fade out over time, especially if there is a build up. Had 3-4 sitting there
  • Very tough for two cars to drag one car as they share the same point. Maybe if harpooning close enough to the end of the rope, it does not cut
  • Sometimes still end up with two harpoons
  • Exploding fuel barrels to watch where you shoot (maybe in another level)

Some recent updates and fixes include:

  • When a car is hit by a harpoon, shrapnel bursts outwards and the car flashes red
  • Shrapnel bursts out when a car is crushed as well
  • The harpoon rope centers self back on truck when it’s invisible. Looks better when launching afterwards
  • Cars that are dragged in without the truck going over are now crushed. They also activate the crusher so watch out if you’re in the recycling area and a car is closing in!
  • Blocked players & cars going through the area between crusher and crusher wall. Did so via creating a physics fixture with a new size each time the crushers move, and deleting the old one

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