I've archived this page. All future updates will be posted on Milanote moving forward.

https://app.milanote.com/1PoxGY15klOY2x?p=e3LrVRB9VQV

Changelog Moved to Milanote

Since these polls will determine the game's theme, setting, graphical style, and game world structure, I think it is crucial for everyone to understand the available options clearly before voting. And to facilitate this, I've created a set of boards in Milanote that explain each option and provide visual and game examples as well!  

February's Polls!

It's been decided! With 45% of you voting for the Grappling Hook!

The next step is determining what purpose the grappling hooks will have in the game and how many mechanics we can add that revolve around it.

For the time being, I'm adding three main functions to the grapple hook:

I'm going with physics-based movement at the moment, but we can always swap to fixed motion in the future if the physics don't feel right.

As for the swinging: I'm allowing for two modes:

I could also add a more rigid mode where the "rope" is of a fixed length like the 

 mode, but you are always at that distance and always affected by the tension (think of this like a ball attached to a steel rod rather than a rope).

And instead of deciding on which mode works best, we could have different types of hookshoots you switch between that have different modes and functionalities.

And if you'd like to suggest ideas, you can 

 to join our future brainstorming sessions!

Core Mechanic: Grappling Hook!

During our first brainstorming session – and thanks to the contributors that participated – we identified a few broad and hyper-focused mechanics.  

*Rejected because they are too restrictive.  

Essentially, the hyper-focused mechanics can exist (however un-ideal it may be) in only one mechanic category and have the potential of being refined and expanded inwards into other categories.  

 by hooking objects or the environment towards or away from you, and into 

 by differing rules when swinging, having different hook types with different effects, and activating objects with the hook.  

While these new mechanics can not stand on their own, they provide the base Grappling Hook mechanic with a lot more depth.  

The broader mechanics, on the other hand, can not be contained within a single category and need to bleed into others for them to make sense. Those mechanics don't mean much on their own, but with additional mechanics and refinement, they can serve as a foundation and grow outwards into completely different mechanics, therefore having a lot of potential.  

Precision/Speed platforming can easily be accompanied by a stamina management system, a constant movement requirement, and even the grappling hook to provide more fluid traversal and more intense speed-running gameplay.  

The new mechanics that were tacked-on make sense on their own, but they support and reinforce the base Precision/Speed Platforming mechanic.  

Since we are building a game in only one year, I've decided to bring your attention towards the hyper-focused mechanics, as those are easier to rein in if they get out of hand and any additional supporting mechanics can easily be cut without making too big an impact. 

Basically: Hyper-focused mechanics are narrow, but deep, while broader mechanics are shallow, but wide

AROUND WHICH CORE GAMEPLAY MECHANIC SHOULD WE BUILD THE GAME?  

However, just because we are building on one of these as the core mechanic, does not mean we can not steal some ideas from the broader mechanics suggested!

 For example, we can build a game around photography and still have object manipulation, or a game around stamina management and still have some arcade combat. 

Deciding on the core mechanic simply means that, moving forward, every new mechanic and system we build has to expand, support, or strengthen the core mechanic.

Deciding on the Core Mechanic

And so, the project begins! Make sure you 

 to understand how this all works and then 

 to vote on the polls and contribute to the brainstorming sessions!

Lift-off!

I've started building the player controller and camera systems for first-person platforming!

At the moment, we have basic physics and collisions, movement, and jumping. I'm going with a looser, bouncier, more fluid movement feel, similar to classic 3D platformers (Mario 64, etc), but from a first-person perspective using mouse look and strafe movement.

We can refine all the values and the controls a bit later, once all the foundational systems are complete.

&REWDAVID changelog

Changelog Moved to Milanote

February's Polls!

Core Mechanic: Grappling Hook!

Deciding on the Core Mechanic

Lift-off!

First-Person Platforming!