atte Posted July 12, 2019 https://atteo.itch.io/dogcobbler (no story slides or music but otherwise pretty complete thing jam deadline version) -------------------------------- You play as a dog cobbler who has had enough of mangled shoes and is trying to find the fabled Kenkälusikka*, a mysterious instrument that is rumoured to solve all shoe fitting related problems. So there won't be any actual shoehorn action in the gameplay, it's just the magical artifact you are searching. This is 2D platforming once again and the main element will be acquiring and using special shoes with different abilities. I hope to have something to show pretty soon because writing is difficult/boring * Yes, it's shoehorn in Finnish. I find using my own language to make something sound mysterious pretty amusing. Only real example like this that I'm aware of is Star Wars: Masters of Teräs Käsi (Steel Hand) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
atte Posted July 13, 2019 Pretty uneventful graphics/resolution test. (That background is very Superfrog-gy... Well it's a big influence and I love drawing that kind of forest line) I changed the backstory a bit and sketched it roughly here. (Though the story is there just for some flavour in the beginning). And a title Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nkornek Posted July 13, 2019 Oh wow, I love the look of those storyboards. Well done! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zirrrus Posted July 14, 2019 Your art, both drawn and pixelled, is once again brilliant. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
atte Posted July 14, 2019 Thanks! Recently I have been making NES style tilesets just for fun and practice so I was tempted to use that style here also. But I decided to use a bit higher resolution so I could have those kind of more illustration looking story sections in there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
atte Posted July 14, 2019 Using an existing platformer base I had and WIP/old/placeholder graphics I now have the Dog running around and 5 magic shoes (that do nothing special yet) to choose from. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
atte Posted July 16, 2019 Here's 3 out of the 5 magical shoes now pretty functional. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zirrrus Posted July 16, 2019 That is a very cool selection of abilities, especially love the steam hover/cleaning shoes. What do the piano shoes do? Also, the detail of the ears bending back during movement is just too cute. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
keibo Posted July 16, 2019 This is looking great so far! love the story idea too Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
atte Posted July 16, 2019 That princess Peach (well I guess she's called Toadstool in SMB2) style hover is very satisfying, more games should have that. I try to have multiple uses for almost every shoe. With bombs you can jump in the air and destroy blocks and steam allows hovering and cleaning. The hornshoe (love that stupid name) plays different notes in different altitudes. It's mainly for some puzzles but maybe it also scares/lures some obstacle too. Usually my games have been pretty linear and straightforward but I realized I have to actually try to design some interesting levels now where player must use this shoe-toolset in interesting ways. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Travis Posted July 16, 2019 Man, that video is looking really good. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
atte Posted July 17, 2019 I now have all the shoes functional (the warp shoe looks really awkward in action without any effects). I mainly play with the curse shoes here, I added a fun changing sound and the ability to fast fall when pressing jump in the air. All the level stuff is of course placeholder but I have the whole game world connected now. + I endorse using your shoehorn as a relaxing fidget spinner and a finger strengthener. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
keibo Posted July 17, 2019 Man that is sounding great! such a clever design idea! also the spinning gif whilst the video was playing was oddly mesmerizing and satisfying Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Travis Posted July 17, 2019 Loving the UI for the map and shoe types, in addition to the mechanics looking ace. I was listening to some LOFI BEATS TO STUDY BY and it synced with your shoehorn gif in a pleasing way. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
atte Posted July 18, 2019 I often have Cryo Chamber's livestream on the background and it has a stupid good description "24/7 Dark Ambient Music Livestream for Studying Lovecraftian Tomes" I'm planning the overall progression and puzzles now, it's pretty tricky yet engrossing. I really haven't done stuff quite like this before. Top secret censored material: edit: WOoo, 420 posts Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RKSanders Posted July 18, 2019 The hornshoe is so good! I could probably play a whole game with those kinds of puzzles. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
atte Posted July 20, 2019 I have now sketched all the rooms/screens/areas in Game Maker. Hard to say how well the progression and exploration works in the end but I feel like I could reshuffle the map forever so gotta move on. While it's a very rough version, this takes away some of the joy of discovering so I put it behind a spoiler cover. Spoiler There's no taking damage or dying but there is some sinister stuff. This is a very important detail also: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
atte Posted July 20, 2019 Air bubbles and a hat stomping puzzle! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
theschap Posted July 21, 2019 I just love your pixel art style and all the little details you have showed off so far. Looking great! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RKSanders Posted July 22, 2019 Sweet puzzle! I'm going to have to stop looking at this thread so I can be surprised when I play it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
atte Posted July 24, 2019 Spent quite a while doing just graphics. While there is still much room for details and decorations (mainly in the underground areas), I think I'm happy with the art for now and can go back to gamemaker. Last night I had a dream where my computer had started sharing screenshots in Wizard Jam slack automatically without me knowing ... So here's some new art. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
phill Posted July 25, 2019 I am always in awe of your artwork atte, and the mechanics seem super fun too! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
z_bill Posted July 26, 2019 Great! For some reason it looks like one of those platformers developed exclusively for the PC. I guess a Keen-alike? I especially love that rock-like dino down in the screens! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
atte Posted July 26, 2019 Thanks everyone! I was loosely inspired by Amiga stuff here but as Amiga was mostly an European thing (?) it's interesting to hear how it looks like to different people. Putting the game together is going pretty well, don't want to show much because it's all about just exploring and solving light puzzles. I should save this kind of stuff to next week, but I love tinkering with details like water drops (they give a bit of water to your steam shoes (<-completely pointless)) and magic markings here: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
