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Bouncy Cat - 3d platformer inspired by Marble Blast and Spyro

A topic by toowiggly created May 27, 2020 Views: 525 Replies: 4

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https://toowiggly.itch.io/bouncy-cat
Start date: 20/12/2019

The dates record the first release of the build to the last release of it. They are also recorded using the metric system (date/month/year).

Build 1: 06/01/2020 - 12/01/2020

Created a controllable rainbow ball
Created playground environment
Implemented camera
Implemented growing and shrinking

Build 2: 21/01/2020

Changed rainbow ball to Bouncy Cat
Added basic menu
Added camera shake
Added wind particles
Added field of view distortion when moving fast
Made camera move closer when detecting a wall
Made Bouncy Cat transparent when camera is close
Zoomed out camera and field of view

Build 3: 02/04/2020 - 03/05/2020

Added 4 levels
Created spawn point and goal pads
Added timer
Added level finish menus
Added highscoes
Added settings
Added customisable controls
Added hub world
Created portals
Added pause menu
Added music
Added outline to Bouncy Cat
Added sound effects

Build 4: 02/04/2020 - 26/05/2020

Added proper textures
Added pixelation effect
Added star objectives
Added logo
Added par time
Added expert time
Added yarn ball collectable
Change goal pad to a fish
Removed spawnpoint pad
Added lava block hazard
Added moving blocks
Updated portal model
Created trees and bushes
Added leaf particle to trees and bushes
Added bounce particles when bouncing
Added skybox
Increased wall bounce force
Made player move down slopes faster when small
Made aeriel control worse when big, but increased max speed
Released to itch.io

Build 5: Currently working on

Made it so completing level gives 3 stars
Added star particles when collecting items

Planned Content:

Rocks, grass and other assets
Levels
Hub change
New music
Level progression
New sprites

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unwave4 years ago (2 edits)

I would like to have mini in-game video tutorials, because the physics is counterintuitive. Or does the cat generate helium inside it or change the gravity? 😄

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toowiggly4 years ago (3 edits)

Thank you for your feedback.
The cat is inflating like a balloon, which gives it more air resistance. An inflated balloon falls slower than a deflated one. Also I would say it's rather intuitive, because although it's not exactly like reality, it follows people's intuition that heavier/denser things fall faster. Most of the people in the video you sent had that perception.
Do you think there could be a more realistic way that better communicates to the player that the cat is heavier and lighter or should fall at different speeds?

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unwave4 years ago (4 edits)

The physics can be whatever it needs. I got confused at the beginning about how to gain speed, and a simple in-game tutorial would help. Like this one:

It is unusual in a good sense. It gives me similar to Counter-Strike Source surf maps vibe.

Or at least add a video with the gameplay demonstration to the itch.io page.

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toowiggly4 years ago

I'll try to teach the player through the level design. As well as giving players easier levels to go through while they get used to the controls, before getting to the harder ones. I tried to include a few tips in the description of the itchio page, which I might make a bit more robust

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