Blog Post 5: First Playable

This is our game named Cluck Cluck Corn. I am the Programmer and Producer in this project.

“In this game, the player needs to control the character to collect various points to get high scores. In this process, the player has to make sure that the character land on the next platform without getting knocked down. The goal is to collect as many points before falling. At the end of each level, a portal will bring the player to a randomly selected level and refresh all the points at that level.”

This is our design at the beginning. However, this alpha test I just finished the first level. There are also many changes in character control comparing to the beginning plan. For example, we plan to use arrow keys to move and use the space bar to interact, but I think it is unnecessary for the player to use another key to interact, so I change the space bar to “jump” and left/right arrow keys to move horizontally.

As the Programmer, there are also lots of challenges during my work and I will list several memorable problems. First, the animation problems stuck with me for a long time. Due to this is my first time using Unity, there are many functions I am not familiar with. The Animator adjusting, fps adjusting, animation binding to specific keys, and etc. These are all the challenges for me, but I solve them finally with my effort and partner’s help. Secondly, the coding problems are a little bit challenging because it is also the first time to write code in C# though I am a CS major student. The Visual Studio embedded in Unity does not work very well because it has not the auto-complete and error feedback. The layer sets also confuse me. I finish my alpha test in my Unity, but when I build and run with the WebGL, it shows nothing. I find it is due to the layer issue finally, and I fix it immediately.

Although I know there is still a huge space to improve my game, my players give me positive feedback. I summarize their feedback and my personal ideas that 1. jump should be faster; 2. make more levels; 3. add falling down the interface and the mechanism of rebirth; 4. fix the bugs, such as character cannot stand up if it lies down. 5. adjust the game window construction.

Thanks to my players, and I will keep the pros and change or add the content mentioned before in the next test.