Thanks for the feed back guys.
I realized just after I updated to beta, that it is mostly broke when playing the ai mode with more then 1 player. Ill fix this bug when I can. Also Ill update the mini picture next version or so too.
Game Versions
Build - Proof of concept, all major functions (smoothness isnt important)
Alpha - Game Base
Beta - Game Modes
Release - Full Featured Game (For this game 3 Game Modes that don't just run stable but have had some time to hammer them out to be more smooth for players)
After Release - Fix Bugs/(Continue to Hammer out game (modes/base))/Add additional Features ect.
For this game the game base may have been done over a year ago. But it took me a good year to hammer it out. Fixing bugs along the way and Getting to a point that its easy enough for a new player to figure out how to use the controls less then 1-3 min. I added Many Many things to make this possible.
Learning Curve
- Game Intro (Tells game basics, under 30 sec)
- Game Mode Intros (Tells Game Mode Basics, under 15 sec)
- Question Mark Unit (Took a long time to get this to be useful, I tried many things)
- Build 3 tracks instead of 1 (Making turns simpler and easier, advanced controls are still there for players who want it)
- Building Info (When a Player Does something wrong It tells them what they did wrong)
- Improved Icons
- Hiding Customization tools when building a coaster.(After you finish you can change name, color, track type, ect)
- Auto Flat-ing of Track (If player builds into ground it auto flattens)
- Finish Area (Has been greatly reworked)
- Finish Button (Attempts to finish your coaster)
- Upside Down Button (By default you wont go upside down, as its for more advanced players)
- Tips (They show every min or so)
- Changing start area so players don't start building in a corner.
- Auto Camera (Camera follows you as you build, but can be turned off)
- Multiboard (Showing how many tracks your at and can still build)
My biggest fear was that the game would take to long to pick up on its own, and adding game modes would add even more to the learning curve. My upcoming game mode, Theme park mode, Has a bit of a learning curve of its own even with out knowing how to build a coaster but i feel the game is now easy enough that players will be able to handle it on there first game.
Game Smoothness
The game up to this point, has always crashed some and been fairly buggy. I have hammered that out pretty good I feel. That doesn't mean when I add new features they wont have bugs, but those features are very unlikely to change the game core. The core Is very firm.
The game has had an ok rider, but in the last year its gone a long way, in improved physics to much better rider camera. I still feel the camera could be improved but Its fairly strong.
Things That didn't make the cut For Alpha
- smoother tracks
- support beams
- better placed flags
- ubersplat shadows
- a loading screen
- sound effects
- A way express self while riding
- people getting in cart
- Custom Terraining
- Better Map Terraning
They may come at the end of beta or after release, if I ever get to these things at all.