Jam Jam Ping Ping Swing Swing 2.0
Jam Jam Ping Ping Swing Swing 2.0
Take control of springy spring chicken Jam Jam as you bounce your way through the five currently available levels! Click anywhere in the top area of your screen to direct where Jam Jam should spawn, and press your space bar to activate the springies (not present in Level 1).
Reach all the Ping Jesters to complete the level, but don't let Jam Jam fall off the bottom of the screen -- or you will have to restart... ;(
Original Prototype: https://pompoko-barry.itch.io/jam-jam-ping-ping-swing-swing
Polish Description:
The first thing I set up in this new prototype is a level select main menu screen, and a way to experience all of the levels without actually having to beat them. I did this since in the previous iteration most of my play testers commented on getting stuck in level two (that build had three levels). With this new set-up, playtesters can now try their luck at every single level and go back to previous ones without having to beat every single level in succession. I also think that setting up a level select scene (with an option to view either the instructions of end scene at any time) helps make the prototype feel more complete, and also makes every aspect of the game accessible regardless of skill level.
I edited my code so that rather than events being dependant on the player (Jam Jam) prefab, it not depends on other game objects. This way I was able to actually input sounds on collision, but since some of these game objects (and their attached script calling for the sound effect to play) ended up getting destroyed on collision, I had to add a delay in their destruction so that the sound could actually be played. I had to tinker with how much time to delay so that a sound effect could sound normal, without delaying it so much that it visually it looked clunky. I ended up also having to go into audacity and continuously try to crop off and transition the beginning and end of the sound effect smoothly so that it stopped abruptly cutting off when the object did get destroyed.
While the original prototype has three levels, this version now has two more. In these two new levels a freshly introduced mechanic is brought in. This was done since I feel like so many new elements could be added in to further expand this concept, with this just being one example of what one could be. The tutorial level was replaced with an instructions screen that can be accessed via the level select buttons, and the first level is now a general introductory level without any instructions of the scene. I felt that this original tutorial level was a little bit too clunky and busy appearing.
A trail renderer was added in an effort to help players learn from their failed attempts by giving a visual representation of the line of movement that JamJam took that run.
I added sound effects every time JamJam collided with the swingies or the green UFO guy because I thought it was fun.
Communication:
Based on previous feedback, I added particles to be played at the location where the Ping Jesters (previously called "Goal Orbs") are destroyed. This visual feedback in addition to their new implemented sound effects should make their destruction seems more visceral and impactful.
In my previous Game Jam experience I saw Andrew using his script to add game feel, and I asked him if I could swipe it for my own personal use. I felt that adding a screen shake every time the player allows JamJam to fall off the bottom of the screen and get destroyed would make the event seem more devastating and painful for JamJam.
A visual bottom border (or warning area) was added not just to the instructions screen (which used to be tutorial level). This was due to a feedback where the danger of falling past the bottom of the screen was not being communicated fully. I made this a slight ombre to hopefully express the increased danger in the closer the player gets to falling past the bottom border.
Iteration:
In the previous prototype when JamJam went off the side of the borders a screenwrap script would call JamJam to spawn from the other side. Although I did like this mechanic since it made the play area feel more expansive, once I added in the trail renderer function, the trail renderer would act a bit awkwardly everytime JamJam screen wrapped. I ended up choosing to implement the trail renderer over the screenwrap since I felt that creating a positive player experience outweighed my own personal feelings in this case, and a way for players to learn from their past trials is a function mentioned specifically by a playtester of the original feedback. Furthermore, now having the player bounce off the sides of the walls instead of the screenwrap seemed to lower the overall difficulty of the game, with the high difficulty also being another comment from several playtesters.
The "swing" mechanics went through several stages of changes in this prototype. I kept on adjusting their material values, and at first they were going to completely stop JamJam from bouncing, but I found this to be not very fun. Also, this kept on resulting in the Jam Jam avatars landing on them and then getting stuck due to losing all the earlier momentum. I then went through several rounds of adjusting the mass and gravity values of both the swingies and JamJam. In the original build I felt that the impact of the swingies would result in JamJam flying way too far. I kept on adjusting these values to try and find a more controllable effect, and if I had more time I would have definitely tinkered with these values more. I also kept on adjusting the upwards angle, animation speed, and the space between the two components. I did not want JamJam to get accidentally stuck because of them, and also there was a very obvious delay in the first version of this mechanic from input to game feedback which I really did not like.
Git:
https://github.com/Pompoko-Barry/EGAM102_S25/commits/Polish-Jam
Music:
oiia oiia spinning cat - Meme Sound Effect Button for Soundboard by GreenTempest
https://pixabay.com/sound-effects/goofy-ahh-car-horn-200870/
https://pixabay.com/music/upbeat-game-music-player-console-8bit-background-intro...
https://pixabay.com/music/synth-pop-game-music-teste-1-204326/
https://pixabay.com/sound-effects/tr909-snare-drum-241413/
https://pixabay.com/sound-effects/tr909-kick-drum-241402/
https://www.soundjay.com/misc-sounds.html
Outside Help:
https://discussions.unity.com/t/how-can-i-emit-a-particle-at-a-collisions-locati...
https://discussions.unity.com/t/playing-audio-on-collision/161497/2
https://discussions.unity.com/t/make-button-disappear-when-clicked/861011/2
https://discussions.unity.com/t/make-button-disappear-when-clicked/861011/2
gamer andrew + panhiya
Comments
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this goes crazy
thank u kind sir