It's crazy that it's already been 2 months since the demo released. Time has really flown, but I've been busy with improvements for the game!
One of the biggest things lacking from the demo (and the playtest) was a single convenient method for submitting feedback and bug reports. Using Discord, Google Forms, and Steam for feedback was starting to hurt my brain.😵💫 So, I replaced these links with a single in-game form, allowing players to write feedback and take gameplay screenshots on the fly, all without leaving Harmonicord!
In addition, the demo needed some fine-tuning, mainly the behavior of some gates and of the lasso, which had some pretty frustrating interactions with the physics of the game. I feel the game is in a much better state now, and I'm ready to move forward with new content!
Here's a full list of changes if you'd like to see the nitty-gritty details (small spoilers ahead).
Added a feedback form to send me reports directly from in-game.
Puzzle gates now indicate when they are completely deactivated and must be manually disengaged instead of disappearing when the player approaches.
Lassoed objects no longer run into things (except for specific walls); if the player can target an object, the player can yank it to themselves.
Added "Borderless" display option to help with Windows jankiness sometimes preventing screenshots and recording.
Studio logo now shows on startup.
Added visual effects to more effectively show which buttons and levers affect which gates.
Player no longer falls through platforms when lassoing objects.
NPC dialog response options are no longer dark when hovered over and light when not; now, it's the other way around.
Adjusted a couple of puzzles to be more player-friendly.
Fixed a couple small issues with the title screen art.
Quick-reloading during Theo's introduction no longer breaks the game.
Rope bridges look less like drop-through platforms.
Lasso target indicator no longer points to blocked lasso anchors.
The maximum throw distance now matches the player's maximum jump distance.
Lasso no longer looks like it hits objects that are actually out of range.
Solved lasso visual glitches.
Player no longer starts rope-swinging if they are still standing on something.
Lasso-able objects are indicated more clearly.
Fixed multiple sprite textures to make art and lighting more consistent.
Stopped player from being able to drop NPCs through gates.
HUD is now properly hidden when player is behind it on the screen.
Overhauled option menus.
Even though there's now a new in-game feedback form, the Discord is always open to anyone who's interested in discussing the game, getting exclusive updates and sneak peeks, and even sharing your own projects! I'd love to see you there!
