DevBlog 3

🎮 DevBlog Week 3: (20/12/2024)–PlayerController Collectables and AI

By: Dennys da Silva

Current Work:

This past few weeks I’ve just been experimenting on the mechanical side of things, I have created many Player movement scripts and I couldn’t decide on witch one to use and one that would fit a good platformer game. It was either unity Character controller or rigid body controller and so I decided to stick with rigid body with state machine

Coding the PlayerController:

For Player input it was either use unity old input system or the new input system, but I wanted it to be easier for me to use and also bind controller and keyboard inputs so I decided to use unity new input system. This method usually takes a long time to set up but once I added the necessary stuff It would be easier from then

After coding the Input Reader, I than created the PlayerController script that would allow the player to go into the following states:

• Base state       
• Attack State
• Dash State
• Death State
• Jump and Double Jump state
• Echolocation State
• Spin Attack State
• Teleport State
• Wall Climb State
• Glide State

And then hooking the Base State to other states

Most of the states are similar to this one, so I won't be adding More images

Animations:

I wanted the animations to be smooth, so I decided to use a blend tree for the idle walking and running. After this implementation, I added jumping, with smooth transitions between states. I wanted the movement to feel responsive and fluid, which is crucial for a platformer.

I’m also adding gliding mechanics, where Lyo can use his wings to glide across gaps. This feature required some experimentation with Unity’s physics system to ensure it feels natural and rewarding.

Combat System:

Early combat prototypes include a melee attack where Lyo uses his sword. I’ve kept the animation simple for now, using placeholder assets, but the mechanics are functional.  I’m brainstorming ways to incorporate combos and special moves later, such as a wing-based dash that can knock back multiple enemies.

Collectables:

Many platformer games have unique types of collectables; for example, jak and Daxter have the precursor orb as the main collectable and the power cell as the second. In my game, I wanted it to be a coin or a crystal type of collectable. I decided to make 3 types of collectables

• Coin

This coin is just a place Holder and credits to rukitu for creating this asset

https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/coin-d41feb2c10ed4c06ad4b8134ccaba516

Lumin Orb

This orb I created using unity Visual Effect Asset that they offer, 

• Ecliptium Shard (I don't currently have an asset for the Ecliptium but I will make one soon)

These collectables are simple and don't have a purpose yet, but as I go into development I will add a quest system where you have to collect a certain amount of coins and Ecliptium shards and you will receive the Lumin Orb and some experience as a reward

AI Enemy:

After adding the player and some collectables, it was time that I also added some AI to make the game come alive, I've programmed the ai and it  can to roam around and if the player is close enough,h it will attack and if the player is at a distance the ai will lose interest.

🎮 DevBlog Week 3:  PlayTest

I'm a little late on the update, but I have been busy improving the game based on the Playtest. 

Playtest Feedback

The 1^st years provided positive feedback. They found the game fun and engaging, particularly enjoying the player’s movement system. However, the playtest also revealed several bugs and areas for improvement, including:

Out-of-Bounds Issues: Some players discovered that they could jump and dash outside the level bounds.

 Collider Problems: A few players reported getting stuck in the environment, particularly on sloped surfaces or corners where colliders weren’t properly aligned. This disrupted the flow of gameplay and was a source of frustration.

 Camera Adjustments: Some testers mentioned that the camera occasionally clipped through walls or failed to provide an optimal view during certain jumps.

 Improvements Based on Feedback

After reviewing the feedback, I immediately began working on fixing:

Out-of-Bounds:

I added invisible colliders around the level’s perimeter to prevent players from leaving the playable area. These colliders were tested extensively to ensure that they didn’t interfere with gameplay but effectively blocked unintended exits.

I also adjusted the dash mechanic to limit its range slightly, reducing the likelihood of players accidentally dashing out of bounds.

Collider Alignment:

I reviewed and fixed problematic colliders, particularly around sloped areas and corners. This involved fine-tuning the mesh colliders and adding box colliders in tricky spots to ensure smooth traversal.

To further prevent the player from getting stuck, I implemented a basic unstuck mechanic that allows players to reset their position if they remain stationary for too long due to collision errors.

Camera Adjustments:

I refined the Cinemachine camera system, tweaking its collision detection settings to ensure it no longer clips through walls. I also adjusted the camera angles for platforming sections to provide a clearer view of the player’s surroundings.

Character Implementations

I then started to draw the main player in Adobe Illustrator, and it looks great.

After a while I than settled on a final version of character concept 

🎮 DevBlog Week 3 – Vertical Slice

Preparing the Vertical Slice

This week, I focused on finalizing key elements of my vertical slice and making sure the game felt complete. I worked on creating a clear structure with a start, middle, and end for the game. Here’s what I accomplished:

• I implemented 3 different types of collectibles throughout the level. These rewards encourage exploration and add a layer of depth to the gameplay, giving players incentive to search every corner of the environment.
• Player can now glide but there is no animation for the wings
• Enemy now has different states just like the player

Particle System:

• I added a particle system to Lyo’s character to enhance the visual feedback during gameplay. The particles will appear when Lyo is walking adding a touch of polish to the game's overall feel.

This week’s work has helped me shape the game’s core structure and the player’s experience, setting up a foundation for future features and polish as I move forward with the vertical slice development.