#2dunity

Achievements of the Day:

#1: Managed to write an outline for a prospective introduction game 

Objective was to create a MINIMUM VIABLE PRODUCT (MVP) that was expained by the YouTube channel Extra Credits: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z06QR-tz1_o . 

To do so, I’ve made a plan to create a game in about a month’s time. According to the advice, what you should make it something that’s primarily on what you already have (abilty/assets) rather than what you need to learn in the future. The current things that I can bank on is 1) some level of writing and drawing ability and 2) basic knowledge of 2D RPG games. It’s a long shot. But baby steps are still steps. Areas that I’m critically lacking: 1) coding 2) understanding of Unity and 3) experience. Right. 

But the world is out there, and there’s that saying: “the start is also the half way”. 

So what is the basic ingredients to create a game that I’m planning? I’ve made just the list: 

Title/Opening Scene: Basically the starting scene for when you open the game 

Save and Load System: Self-explanatory 

Cut Scenes (not compulsory): For the little bits of storyline here and there

Tilemap: for the background and movement of the game

Character Sprites: basic of RPG 

Item Storage System (not compulsory): for whatever knives and stones my characters need to carry

Dialogue System: might have to cut it short depending on the time.

In a month, I must have a viable game that should be available for at least those of my close friends can see. 

I am a planner. It helps me from dealing with the illusion that I’m working and though I’m not always faithful to these plans, it brings me confidence. So here is the schedule that I’ve set out: 

WEEK ONE: learn the basics of Unity and find how to set up the Title Screen and Save System [finish at Day 3 at the latest]. Begin creating Character Sprites and Tilemaps 

WEEK TWO: Finish creating Character Sprite and Tilemaps 

WEEK THREE: Dialogue and Story making  

WEEK FOUR: Run the game and see if there’s anything that’s lacking

But there you have it! 

#2: Managed to create Opening Scene/Title Screen following the instructions of Youtuber Brackeys: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zc8ac_qUXQY

Ladies and Gentlemen, there the following screenshot is the product for today. A working opening title screen that leads to a game that hasn’t been made yet. But one day it will. Another thing that I can bank on: optimism

My first unity prototype idea was to design an RPG where the music and environment would change depending on the characters actions throughout the overworld and cities they visit. However I will be honest, due to my lack of unity knowledge, having very little experience with making 2D games, and the amount of time left to make a game, I decided to go towards a simpler route  and plan on making a 2D “adventure” platforming game instead. Although I changed the genre of my game, I am still going to keep my “core” mechanics and ideas.  

With my idea in mind, i planned to have my game visually start off looking black and white to represent “yin and yang”. Players are thrown into the game world for the first time right away with no instructions and things laid out for them to explore. The yin and yang represents peace and darkness and thats what my first level will represent. Depending on what action the player does, the visual of my game could turn either good or bad. For instance, my platform 2d game will keep score of the three things, 1. the amount of people saved, 2. the amount of people killed, and 3. the amount of enemies killed. If the player goes with their usual instinct and kill enemies and save people, the next level will visually look better and joyful. For instance, after completing the 1st level and entering the 2nd level, players will notice that the levels no longer visually look black and white. Instead the level will look more life like with blue, green and yellow colors. However if the player finds out that they can kill people and end up killing more people than enemies, the next level will visually look darker and more evil (like red/black sky with dar purple tries). 

Sounds and musics in games have to fit depending on the visuals and situation. Since my 1st level is black and white and throws players right into this new game world, I plan to make my overworld music sound foresty and mystical. Here are some songs from other games that I might use that fits into this category for my game visual. 1. Farron Wood (Legend of Zelda Twilight Princess), 2. Owl Forest (Dark Clouds), 3. Into the Thick of It (Secret of Mana), etc. Again depending on the players action, if they proceed with the usual good ending, the overworld music will become more “joyful”. By that I mean there will be birds chirping or sounds of animals going about with the overworld music. However in the bad/evil route, the overworld music will become low pitch, more distorted, and have creepy sound effects. I will only be using 1 “music” in my 2d platforming game, but it will sound different each time since I will be adding sound effects to it and will be playing around with the pitch and tones. 

Small taste of my sound (Audacity) : (To be Posted/Updated Later, Sorry! Still working on my musical pieces. For now, search up the 3 game songs I listed above and listen to it while imagining some sound effects to go with it.)