Welcome to Playtest #2 of Improve the Groove!!!
Major renovations happened since the last version. We took in a lot of very awesome feedback and have implemented a completely new gameplay style and feel. I will go over the details below.
*** IMPORTANT ***
1) CONTROLLERS DO NOT WORK IN GAME.
2) Please use Mouse and Keyboard for this Playtest. We will have controllers back in the next version.
3) We did not test on Steamdecks. You're welcome to try but you will have issues because of controller support.
4) The Tutorial got nuked. See patch notes below for updates to gameplay info.
Alright with that out of the way let's discuss changes...
Cards (instruments)
- Major overhaul: We had too much math before and a major note to us was fatigue in playing. So we simplified things and headed towards a more familiar playstyle.
- Two numbers to worry about now:
- Groove (Top left bubble): Goes up against Audience vibe! (trying to match it still)
- Skill (Bottom bubble): Goes up against Audience Expectation (Trying to exceed)
- New card backgrounds!
- Dynamic cards!!!
- These are like power cards that influence or change the scoring in your favor! (hopefully)
- NOTE: They aren't well represented on the interface so it's hard to tell if they are working sometimes. sorry!
Gear Selection:
- You still choose your gear based on genre.
- Genres have special bonuses now for equipment. Those will display in the concert play scene.
Venue Select:
- Same as before. Choose between 1 or 2 venues and play 2-3 concerts at those venues for different types of audiences.
Audiences:
- They got upgraded.
- Higher Vibe and Expectation values.
- They now have special events that will happen during plays. Mostly to your detriment.
Band
- We've got currency but nothing to spend on.
- Otherwise no real changes yet but lots to come.
The Store (Studio)
- Under construction. We took it out for a rewrite and that will hopefully be in the next version.
The Concert (gameplay)
- New interface items:
- Band Special events display (top left)
- Audience event display (top right)
- Motive (left side): Determines combinations for instruments and genre scoring.
- You get 3 slots and what lands there is based on order you play your cards.
- All 3 starting genres require 2 cards to be in genre to play that genre song
- Cards holder (bottom)
- Balatro style card selection and movement (drag around for reordering)
- Cards play in order from left to right
- Score Display simplified (middle)
- Comparisons of groove vibe and skill expectation
- Applaudience Meter with your total score (left) vs required applause score needed to win (right)
- Composure: Your bands ability to hold it together and keep playing (Big red heart thing)
- If you are under on either score comparison you lose composer
- If composure drops to 0 the concert is over and you bomb the tour (lose)
- Plays per Composure (Green box under composure)
- How many plays you get before you lose a composure point! Can't play forever now!
There are a lot of changes and not all of them are bug free or get represented in the UI as well as we'd like. Feel free to share all of your frustrations with us on that. We plan an overhaul of the interface. Tell us what you like and don't like. What's confusing? (a lot, I'd guess).
Card balance is out of whack. We're aware. Probably the last thing we'll deal with before the next playtest. We're really interested in how this bad boy feels to play now! Is it more intuitive than before or still too muddled?
Most importantly... THANK YOU!!!
It means the world to us that anyone wants to play and test our game with us as we try to make something fun! So please have fun with us!
- Studio Dhjamb