Early Spring Dev Updates for Scaredy Cat
Hi all,
With so many developments on Scaredy Cat over the past few months, we wanted to share it all with the Steam community. Aside from getting the Scaredy Cat Steam page up and running, we've been hard at work implementing new features, refining existing systems and creating narrative and level content to bring the game to life.
Quest System and Narrative Progress
One of our primary focuses has been on enhancing the game's narrative and questing systems. We've implemented the Quest Machine plugin from Pixel Crushers (along with Dialogue System for Unity) to streamline quest creation and management. We've also smoothened our workflow for creating new NPCs and objects that trigger quest and dialogue events, laying a solid foundation for the game's questing system.
The dialogue database has been expanded with narrative content including conditions, enabling more dynamic conversations based on the game state. This, combined with the implementation of character art, conversations and clues in each level, has significantly enhanced the game experience.
Furthermore, all narrative planning and level design has now been planned for Scaredy Cat. (Including the cumbersome task on settling on names for all owners, pets and monsters!) Much of this has already started to be implemented in-game.
Improved Visuals and Atmosphere
To create a more immersive, engaging experience that matches the intended tone for Scaredy Cat, we've made several improvements to the visuals and atmosphere. New art assets for animals have been added and strategically placed them throughout the game world. Some examples include a cat in the downtown scene and floating swans in various locations. A cloud shadow spawning system has been introduced which combined with time of day and weather, adds a nice touch to the world.
We've also laid out several new locations (grocery store, two homes which will serve as levels) and enhanced others, such as the office environment. With improved lighting, decor and NPC barks, these locations now feel more realistic and interesting.
UI Updates and Quest Journal
We've made updates to the quest heading text and layout, making it clearer and more visually appealing for players. Additionally, we've done iterations on the design the Quest Journal UI, which will serve as a helpful reference for tracking their progress and objectives throughout the game.
Teleportation System
To facilitate smooth navigation between major areas within the starting zone, we've finished implementing the teleportation functionality. We've set up teleporters that connect these areas and added fades between teleports to make the transitions less jarring. The function that handles player teleportation, zone change and camera update logic can be called from other scripts in the future, which will be particularly handy for story moments.
Gameplay Enhancements and Bug Fixes
In addition to the visual improvements, we've made several gameplay enhancements and bug fixes, including ensuring save data is capturing important variables for testing.
We've implemented audio for walking on different surfaces, providing a more immersive experience. We also fixed a movement bug that allowed players to move while engaged in a conversation, ensuring a smoother gameplay experience.
To make transitions between areas more polished, we've implemented a small feature that pauses player movement when transitioning between areas. This helps to create a more seamless experience as you navigate the game world.
Upcoming Developments
As we move forward, we're excited to continue refining and expanding the game to round the experience before early testing. Stay tuned for future devlog-type updates. The next big focus is going to be carrying on with narrative implementation and hooking things up across all levels.
For smaller, more frequent Scaredy Cat updates, be sure to check out our social media:
Twitter: @aeiogames
Threads: @aeiogames
Instagram: @aeiogames
TikTok: @howtomakeagame (This is a less formal channel - but still sharing SC updates regularly).
Thank you to everyone who has helped grow Scaredy Cat's Steam Wishlist. 🖤 Your support means the world to us, and we can't wait to share more of this unique, narrative-driven experience with you. If you're drawn to sad stories and conspiracies, Scaredy Cat is definitely the game for you!
Until next time,
Mel and the Scaredy Cat Team