Professional's Block Update
Thank you for sticking with us during these fist few months. I have been working really hard to create an update to improve, fix, and add more to the game and to hopefully create a better experience for new and existing users.
I have been watching reviews of the game as well as the discussions page of the game to see what I need to work on or add. Here is a list of different things that this update brings.
Bug Fixes
Background music stopping after loading a new level.
Loading screen not aligning properly to player's screens.
Performance issues relating to saving data, sometimes corrupting the game. This was such a rare issue that the only time I have heard that happening was from a friend, so you should be fine, I would recommend verifying your game files though, just in case.
Fixed an issue with the achievement "Induction Destruction", making this achievement impossible to get. If you had all time trials before this update, you will receive the achievement after launching the game.
Fixed the level "Uranium" not saving correctly.
Added Features
Professional's Block added.
Achievements regarding the Professional's Block are now obtainable.
New system for movement, making it more responsive and less annoying.
Added curved surfaces, making updates to most levels to utilize the curved surfaces over flat surfaces pretending to curve.
More tips are now available for the loading screen.
Added an accessibility feature that allows you to filter levels based on; If you have not beaten the level ; If you have beaten the level, but not the time trial ; And if you beaten the level and the time trial ; The levels will be different colors based on the category.
Your Marble now becomes transparent whenever the camera is close to it.
The timer starts at -5 seconds, allowing players to start being able to move at 0 seconds. The time trial times has not been changed since this addition nor will I change them since I have been told that the time trial times were too difficult.
Updated Movement
The previous movement of the game was mentioned to be not very responsive and to cause irritations among players. The movement and momentum is still tied to the camera, but I updated how the game handles jumping and surface detection to improve the performance of the movement, causing you to be able to jump sooner after hitting the ground. For a more detailed overview of how the movement was and what it is now, feel free to continue reading down below.
How the Movement Works
I have been experimenting with several different methods to try to make the movement the best I can and have found the most of the movement problems have been relating to jumping and surface detection. Here is a detailed view of before and after the update.
Previously
Before this update, the movement was relied on triggers. This meant that when your ball was on the floor, it would collide with the trigger that was above the floor. This floor would then tell the ball that it is on said surface and that it is able to jump. Having a system like this, caused a latency between the ball being on the surface and the ball actually getting the information that it is on said surface. Image below is an example of the the floor having a trigger slightly above it.
Now
Updated movement have changed from this trigger method to a new method that does not use communication between surfaces and the ball. The ball now does all the work and detects whenever it is on any surface. This also adds the ability to add surfaces to objects that previously did not have any surface properties to it. Examples of this is that the glass, and the wood pillars now have surface properties. Glass now has the surface property of Ice and Wooden Pillars now have the surface property of Sand. This method also fixes the problem of not being able to jump when on top of the finish as well as the checkpoints. How this new system work is that the ball now how spere trace below it, checking every game tick if it is on a surface. If it detects that it is on a surface, it then detects what surface it is on, sand, ice, free roll, etc. There is no communication between the floor and the ball now. The ball now does all the work. Having this system proved to be a lot faster and removing the issue of miscommunication that caused players not being able to jump when they should have been able to. Image below shows an example of the new Sphere trace system in action.
Current State of the Game
Personal Mental Health
I have enjoyed where this game has gone so far, however, I have been stressed from it. I am always having thoughts that no matter what I do, that no one will like it. I am a solo developer and I always wanted to make games for others to enjoy. I think I may have pushed myself a bit too much for this update. After this update, I truly believe that I need a break. I do not really appreciate what I am doing, but this game has been putting loads on my shoulders and I need some time to calm down. I am going to pause for one month before working on this game again. That being said, I will still keep touch with reviews, discussions, etc. I am still going to work on this game and any input and ideas will help make the game into something for you all to enjoy. This just simply means that the next update wont be started working on until a month. I hope you all can understand this and forgive me.
Current Levels
I am a solo developer and this game is supposed to have about 500 levels. As a solo developer, it is difficult to provide that many levels that are fun, engaging, and challenging. Some of the levels available in the game, I feel are not any of those. I could be wrong, but I may update and/or replace some levels for better ones. Whenever levels do get replaced or updated, the progress for those levels may be erased. I will make sure to make a list of all levels that get updated and/or replaced as well as if those levels has had their data reset.