5/31 Tutorials


Update

The latest build includes more core gameplay features from the original game that were missing, especially the tutorials. Sunburn doesn't use a lot of tutorialization, but the first few levels ensure the player understands the core mechanics of jumping, moving, and collecting the crew members. 

Forcing the player to jump into the sun on the first level is essential.  When we were playtesting the original release, we often found players would become confused if we allowed them to jump anywhere other than into the sun on the first level. Often, they would die out in space, and think that there was some other objective that they didn't know about. Even if the player jumped into the sun, we would hear comments from the player that indicated that they thought they made a mistake. By making sure the only thing the player could ever do on the first level was complete the level successfully, at the instruction of the crew member, players expressed surprise and intrigue rather than confusion. 

On the second level, players are introduced to walking on planets, and then must learn how to orient themselves for jumping. In the original game, we allowed players to jump at any point, which often led to players jumping off of the planet before picking up Bob. This could have been a result of the controls for touch screens, where pressing both left and right simultaneously was the input for jump. However, even if the player was jumping intentionally, a new player would then need to learn the jetpack mechanics, which isn't necessary until later levels. The main thing we want the player to do on the second level is reinforce the crew member collection mechanic and the jumping mechanic, and finally to ensure the player understands they need to jump into the sun by making them do it intentionally.

Changes

  • Movable planets break glass planets on collision
  • Crew tether will continue to pull the astronauts after the captain burns up
  • Star background is now randomized
  • Player move speed on planets is now consistent across all planets (yay, geometry)
  • Implemented basic tutorial system
    • Original tutorial dialogue is implemented for the corresponding levels
    • First and second levels have movement and jumping disabled to ensure core mechanics are learned correctly

Bug Fixes

  • Fixed level completing successfully even if the player is not dead
  • Fixed oxygen not regenerating when on the ground
  • Camera transition from the level introduction zoom shouldn't jump back to the player suddenly anymore