Thanks for playing Gary!
to some of your points-
1 "hard to know when to jump" is exactly why he bounces. This means not every jump is the same. If you jump at the top of a bounce he will go just a tad higher than at the bottom.
2 I agree and in the next game they will move you. Inferno is really a pretty primitive game so there were a few elements of the physics code which weren't in place at the time of writing - i.e. being "locked" or standing on a block or platform. I still think it works with the bouncing and probably wont go back and change it.
3 always follow the coins - it's kind of a hansel and gretel game design. However you can get into a position where you collected the coins but fell back and need to remember which way to go - this is ok though I think as the levels are pretty short and having to start at the beginning again isnt too big of a deal.
4 coins, doors, keys, ladders, springs, turbos (like a super spring), balloons, a big gate, and guardians. I tried to introduce a new element with every level so many don't come into play until the end.
As for the design it's all about that precarious balancing on a tiny rock feeling- a sort of "almost flying but not quite". It's actually pretty forgiving with the double jump and the testers got the hang of it pretty quickly. Last level may still be too hard though and the balloons did confuse people.
The game we're working on now is much more of a traditional platformer with puzzles, levers, buttons, longer places to run and the like. I'll try to get some of the bmax community the beta when it's ready.
nick
to some of your points-
1 "hard to know when to jump" is exactly why he bounces. This means not every jump is the same. If you jump at the top of a bounce he will go just a tad higher than at the bottom.
2 I agree and in the next game they will move you. Inferno is really a pretty primitive game so there were a few elements of the physics code which weren't in place at the time of writing - i.e. being "locked" or standing on a block or platform. I still think it works with the bouncing and probably wont go back and change it.
3 always follow the coins - it's kind of a hansel and gretel game design. However you can get into a position where you collected the coins but fell back and need to remember which way to go - this is ok though I think as the levels are pretty short and having to start at the beginning again isnt too big of a deal.
4 coins, doors, keys, ladders, springs, turbos (like a super spring), balloons, a big gate, and guardians. I tried to introduce a new element with every level so many don't come into play until the end.
As for the design it's all about that precarious balancing on a tiny rock feeling- a sort of "almost flying but not quite". It's actually pretty forgiving with the double jump and the testers got the hang of it pretty quickly. Last level may still be too hard though and the balloons did confuse people.
The game we're working on now is much more of a traditional platformer with puzzles, levers, buttons, longer places to run and the like. I'll try to get some of the bmax community the beta when it's ready.
nick