Hello pilots!
November has been a very productive month for Jupiter Moons: Mecha. Not so much on the ‘flashy’ front end of the game, but more so in tidying up the back end of the game. There are three main areas I’ve been focusing my time this month; updating the items and graphics with a new UI, finishing a full game loop, and implementing an overall UI to the game including the start screen, credits, and the main menu.
Updated items and weapon graphics
You may remember a few months back I spoke about how the loadout for your mech works as a ‘mini-puzzle’, in the fact that you need to manage Tetris style shape in your inventory. Well, the placeholder art for the weapons and items you’ll take into battle has been updated with shiny new ones. Not all these assets have been updated, but it’s the start of a big step to having a fully polished loadout screen.
Full gameplay loop...it works!
This has ultimately been the main goal for a long time (since I started the project 9 months ago!). I’m so pleased to share the news that Jupiter Moons: Mecha works! You can load in from a start screen, win a battle, collect some rewards, change your loadout, and then dive back into battle.
The development build of this gameplay loop is not fully polished, but it works - which is the main thing right?! In all seriousness, it’s the biggest step I’ve taken with the development of Jupiter Moons: Mecha, and a giant step towards having a playable demo for you to pilot through.
It’s really starting to look like a game!
Off the back of finishing the full gameplay loop I wanted to polish up the UI, giving the game a sense of being a ‘real game’. There is now a working start screen, setting screen, and credits. The setting screen isn’t fully functional, but it’s in there, as is the main menu. The UI currently in the game isn’t final, but it’s unlikely to drastically change, honestly, I’m really happy with how it looks and the tone it brings when loading up Jupiter Moons: Mecha...which you can all do soon!
What’s next?
The main focus now is finishing up the programming of some of the other card options and UI. At the time of writing only the attack cards are fully working. I have all the art finished for the other cards, I just need to program them.
Finishing the cards will ultimately result in the completion of the demo. I’m hoping for Jupiter Moons: Mecha to feature in some indie game focused expos next year, for which I will need a playable demo.
I want to finish up with another huge thank you. Whether you’ve like a Twitter post, shared a gameplay video, comment in Discord, or upvoted on Reddit, every bit of support does not go unappreciated. I’m so grateful for the positive response Jupiter Moons: Mecha is receiving and I can’t wait for you to be able to play the demo soon.
I wish you and your family a wonderful holiday, stay safe and I’ll see you all in the New Year.
Artur
Consider joining our Discord for some bonus wallpaper pack!
https://discord.gg/jHsGh3a472