After some playtesting and experimenting, I have changed the structure of the 2D mod to be based around a more linear progression, rather than open-ended levels. I found that players got lost more easily and had to do more backtracking in the original version. The new format requires the player to get a single collectable at the end of a level before progressing on to the next one. This way I can more easily devise levels with advancing difficulty and the player will have a more concrete feeling of progression. Unfortunately this means that I have had to take out the UI which counts the number of teddy bears collected, however I am still happy that I learnt how to implement it during the Unity workshops.

I have made a handful of levels throughout the week, which was a quick process thanks to the modular tiles I made earlier on in the project. I started by making a simple tutorial level designed to introduce the player to the core mechanics/features of the game (running, jumping, shooting and collecting teddy bears) with guiding messages written using text meshes. Following on from that, I have made some distinct levels designed to challenge the player’s aiming and platforming skills. Once the player collects the teddy bear at the end of the level the build index is accessed and the game will load up the next level in the sequence.

Another big addition made to the game is the introduction of enemy spiders. I felt that the gameplay was missing an element of risk and danger outside of the pools of acid that the player has to jump over. Using Aseprite, I created some sprites (fig) made to play as a simple two-frame animation. I made sure to stick to the same colour scheme as the acid, to signpost their danger to the player. Having implemented them into levels, I am happy with what they add to the game, as a moving obstacle and another target for the player to shoot at, besides the logs that block their path. I used two colliders on their game objects, one as trigger that detects and kills the player, and one as a collider that detects if the player has shot them. I created their walk cycles using the record feature in the animation window, having them move between two positions and flipping them on the x-axis when they reach these positions.

(Above, top) Figure 1: Screenshot. The two spider sprites. (Above, bottom) Figure 2: Screenshot. The spiders placed in the level. They walk between two points to provide a moving obstacle to the player.

I have also been brainstorming ideas for my 3D mod and preparing to use Unity’s 3D tools. I know that I would like to combine elements of terrain sculpting with structures made in ProBuilder. I have been watching Brackeys videos, to better understand both ProBuilder (Brackeys, 2019) and Unity’s terrain tools (Brackeys, 2019). My current idea is based around the player fighting their way through a canyon, picking up power ups along the way, possibly ending in a boss fight within a building. I would like to employ a low-poly aesthetic, as that would fit in with the assets already provided within the mod. Below is a low poly asset pack (JustCreate, 2020) and terrain asset pack (Unity Technologies, 2019) which I have found on the Asset Store that I will likely utilise to create the environment.

(Above, left) Figure 3: Unity Technologies. 2019. Example made using the terrain tools from the asset pack. (Above, right) Figure 4: JustCreate. 2020. The assets contained within the low-poly asset pack.

Next week I would like to start creating the level within the 3D mod stub we have been given. I would also ideally like to finish up on the 2D mod so that I can give this first person shooter my full attention for the final two weeks.

References:

BRACKEYS. 2019 How to Make Terrain in Unity! YouTube [YouTube user-generated content] Available at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWQv2Bagwgk&t [accessed 19 November 2020].

BRACKEYS. MAKING YOUR FIRST LEVEL in Unity with ProBuilder! [YouTube user-generated content] Available at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtzIXCKr8Wo [accessed 19 November 2020].

JustCreate. 2020. ‘Low-Poly Simple Nature Pack.’ Unity Asset Store [online] 24 Aug. 2020, Available at: assetstore.unity.com/packages/3d/environments/landscapes/low-poly-simple-nature-pack-162153 [accessed 21 November 2020].

Unity Technologies. 2019. ‘Terrain Tools Sample Asset Pack.’ Unity Asset Store [online]. Available at: assetstore.unity.com/packages/2d/textures-materials/nature/terrain-tools-sample-asset-pack-145808 [accessed 21 November 2020].

List of figures:

‌Figure 3: Unity Technologies. 2019. Example made using the terrain tools from the asset pack. Unity Asset Pack [online]. Available at: assetstore.unity.com/packages/2d/textures-materials/nature/terrain-tools-sample-asset-pack-145808 [accessed: 21/11/2020]

Figure 4: JustCreate. 2020. The assets contained within the low-poly asset pack. Unity Asset Pack [online]. Available at: assetstore.unity.com/packages/3d/environments/landscapes/low-poly-simple-nature-pack-162153 [accessed 21/11/2020]