Playtesting and debugging
Finally, the playtesting phase for the upcoming demo started. There were several playtest sessions, some of them in person, with good old friends, some of them remote.
These sessions were really useful to detect some level design issues, along with some serious balance problems with the miniboss of Area 3. There will be more sessions later on, but for now I've been fixing most of the recently found issues.
There were a couple dozen bugs that appeared because of the new control options, too. Even if they're pretty solid there were a couple of minor bugs here and there that went by undetected until now.
I also spent plenty of time on sound design of existing objects. There are new ambient noises in certain rooms, along with dedicated impact and death sounds for robotic enemies.
Al that's left to round up the contents of the upcoming demo is:
- Finish and balance the miniboss
- Finish the music tracks of the new areas
- Test and polish everything
This was a lengthy process, but right now the priority is to have, on release day, a very solid and polished game. As there's more content on each demo, the production and polishing process takes longer each time.
Scripting wise, this new area was the most complex so far. Hopefully the rest of the areas will be relatively simple to finish and test, compared to this one.
If everything goes well the new demo should be out in 3 or 4 weeks.
Until then, I recommend that you play the original Metroid 2, and get a feel of the third area.
As always, comments and ideas are welcome.
These sessions were really useful to detect some level design issues, along with some serious balance problems with the miniboss of Area 3. There will be more sessions later on, but for now I've been fixing most of the recently found issues.
There were a couple dozen bugs that appeared because of the new control options, too. Even if they're pretty solid there were a couple of minor bugs here and there that went by undetected until now.
I also spent plenty of time on sound design of existing objects. There are new ambient noises in certain rooms, along with dedicated impact and death sounds for robotic enemies.
Al that's left to round up the contents of the upcoming demo is:
- Finish and balance the miniboss
- Finish the music tracks of the new areas
- Test and polish everything
This was a lengthy process, but right now the priority is to have, on release day, a very solid and polished game. As there's more content on each demo, the production and polishing process takes longer each time.
Scripting wise, this new area was the most complex so far. Hopefully the rest of the areas will be relatively simple to finish and test, compared to this one.
If everything goes well the new demo should be out in 3 or 4 weeks.
Until then, I recommend that you play the original Metroid 2, and get a feel of the third area.
As always, comments and ideas are welcome.
Comments
I am super psyched, I need to get into practice again so I don't screw up too badly in area 3.
How dark is it in this area? o.o;
take your time to finish the demo
Thank you very much
Have been impressed with your work for some years now
On the one hand i cant wait to see this masterpiece complete
On the other i will be sad to see it end knowing that the big guys will never make a game with half the love you have put into this
You "alone" have outdone the work of "the many"
(and they do it for a living) :P
Thank you :)
Anyway, you're awesome!
Amazing.
It is truly the best demo release date ever!
And also if you were wondering what kind of new boss idea(s) I have in mind.. An insect-crustacean for example that walks on water surfaces which has the ability to generate electrical waves down through the body of water, Samus Aran must be cautious and agile to fight the hostile creature within a dark/damp narrow chamber.
Either way I am highly interested to see what you and your crew have planned out with the bestiary listed in the game project, continue forward with determination!
There will be more enemys that can get down samus to the floor and she need to stand up?
You´re doing very well! Keep it up! ^^
You are doing the whole community a large favor, you know that? And I don't know how we would repay you.
If it was up to me, I would buy it, definitely.
I am so happy
But what do you mean about Area 3?
Will the Demo go from the beginning to there??
Will the entire game be released like this? One or two more areas with every demo until the end? Like those episodic BttF and Jurassic Park adventure games??
I'd personally prefer the whole game all at once, but I really don't care as long as you deliver. I know it'll be amazing however you put it out.
keep up the good work.
many thanks.
terra
And it will be available the link to download this new demo.?
But the demo I played was good, so, good luck! Great Work.
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