An actual update!

It's been awhile since my last update or blog post but I'm back!

Let's get straight into what has changed since the last update.

The game design document is about 90% completed. Although this document wasn't strictly necessary I wanted to do it as before I was just kind of winging it, making new items, objects and enemies on the fly. I got to a point where I was running out of ideas so was spending longer coming up with new things than actually implementing them. So by going back and making a document I have fleshed the game out in so much more detail than before, all of the worlds have their themes nailed down with enemies and objects now fitting those themes rather than a hap dash of random ideas in each level. 

As stated, each world now has a distinct theme, enemies, items and obstacles that all fit that theme. This also allowed me to create a concept for what the mansion would actually look like and I translated this into a title screen (I'm not an artist so this concept is purely that, for the final version of concepts I will either get an actual artist to create what I require, or teach myself basic art skills).

The title screen has a concept theme song (it's still the only sound in the game but that will be more prevalent in the next update when the bulk of the design and coding begins).

I have create a model background image that will now be used for all levels and scenes in the game, this is a more 3D-esque background allowing depth rather than a flat wood image from previous versions. The updated background is visible in the lobby and the first world, the toy rooms but will be seen more as each background concept is designed.

Some small bugs have been fixed, though I'm sure more will arise and I will continue bug testing as I go along. 

The next steps are finishing the design document and then using everything I have designed to create the levels, some levels will not need to be redesigned so levels you see in this version will appear in the final version of the game. However due to each world now having a theme some levels will need to be redesigned or moved to later in the game if they use something which is now meant for a later world.

Along with the design document, there is also a story bible, this is a very simple document that outlines all the dialogue in the game. Each scene has been written out so once again I am not just making things up as I go and I have a cohesive story and character arcs.

Once all the documents (game design, story bible, level sheets) have been completed I then enter the design phase. This is taking the ideas I have thought up and making them work in the game. This process includes making the sprites and behaviours for enemies, items and obstacles, making concept backgrounds for each world, adding sound effects where appropriate and adding background music to each world.

On top of all that there are some background systems that needs programming such as the new power selection system, the level selection system to name just a couple.

When all of this has been done it will move to crafting the levels in engine and testing the difficulty / bug testing.

I don't want to make an predictions for time scale for any of these stages as around life I simply can't make that prediction, just be sure I am constantly making progress on this project and will continue until it has been completed.