Heartfelt Games Main Site

Anyone following this blog should head on over to the new main site:

Heartfelt Games

This is not the end for Spirit Orb Pets while I work on other games, but follow the site and social media links on the site for more updates on every game I'll be making including this one!

Version 0.3.5a

If anyone is still following this, sorry for the few updates.  It's been about 300 days since the last update... Well here's a small one to show it still isn't dead.  Also posting to clear some things on the list and start a new piece of physical paper (I keep paper notes) to reduce the clutter.  Also, may as well put some of the updated menus in here too (subject to change):

My test pet was also sad that I hadn't updated it too :(

Current iteration of the shop

Orbs in the shop (more on page 2)

Status screen and achievement screen

Old items in the list are written with normal text like this.
Fixed bugs or done features will be crossed out like this.
New bugs/features are bold like this.
New bugs/features that were fixed or added before posting them are bold and crossed out like this.
[Type/Place/Nature] - This will show whether something is a [bug or feature], [where/what menu or area of the game it is concerned with], and [the nature of the feature or bug].

• [feature]Added the ability to "pet" the pet by swiping on it back and forth. 
• [feature/fluff]Added reaction to dummy when it gets hit or pet misses in training minigame.
• [feature/mechanics]Redo orb requirements for evolution
• [feature/graphics]Replace buttons on title screen with Scene2d buttons 
• [bug]disable exit from bottom on titlescreen
• [bug/system]Opening menus uses more RAM each time they are re-opened
• [feature/achievements]add achievements for:
• perfect timing in training and dancing minigames
• x critical hits in training minigame
• x wins in other minigames
• [feature/menu]add pages for achievements
• [bug]The pet acts as if "petted" when you tap "okay" button from a menu
•  [bug/not really/ugly UIs are bugs]Overhaul menus
• [feature/menu]Add new menu to be able to select from multiple minigames
• [big feature/minigame]Add new minigame:  hide and seek
• [big feature/minigame]Add new minigame:  dodge falling objects/collect gold coins
• [big feature/minigame]Add new minigame:  shoot incoming enemies with breath attack before they hit your for x amount of time[feature/menu]Add menu to switch between wallpapers players have bought/earned
• [feature/graphics]Add "shiny" graphics when cleaning pet
• [bug/graphics]Let pet "happy" emote after evolving
• [feature/system]Alarm Manager (optional) to alert player of pet needs.
• [feature/graphics]Make pets look grumpy if neglected
• [feature/saving/mechanics]Add file integrity checks for saving/loading
• [feature/stats page/mechanics]Add win/loss stats for pvp and pve mobs
• [bug/graphics]make sure xp gains show even when pet levels up from experience
• [feature/stats page/graphics]Make achievement text red when incomplete on stats page
• [feature and graphics] Add (?) button at bottom right corner for help -- highlight clickable spots
• [feature/preferences]Notify player with msg box when:
• first time playing game (replace with custom graphic image later?)
• first time training/playing instructions
• first adventure
• [?feature/title screen]Replace title screen options with instructions
• [feature/dancing mini-game]speed up game
• [bug/dancing mini-game]Center pet
• [feature/dancing mini-game/new graphics]show timer with a slider that scrolls across
• [Major feature/mini-game]Add another "play" mini-game with rock-paper-scissors type rules for easier but lower gain of "happiness" levels.
• [feature/mechanics]"pet" the pet while mouse button is held down -- if affection is below 25% it won't want to be pet.
• [feature/graphics]add an animation for when the pet evolves
• [feature/mechanics]when "adventure" is added, training and playing should give much less xp.
• [feature/graphics]Add small and medium message boxes
• [Major feature]Implement quest/adventure battles

Ludum Dare 48 (Contest 29)

I participated in the most recent Ludum Dare 48 competition (the 29th).  Here is an entry highlighting the game I made for it:

The Deepest Darkest Trench

The object of the game is to get to the very bottom of the map while avoid spikes and urchins. Along the way you can pick up pearls and starfish which act as keys for their respective doors. Plus there is a boss at the end of the game.  It also features a secret ending as well!  Here are some links to the game if you're interested in playing:

The game's Ludum Dare page

The HTML5 (web) version; (It works best and does not lag in Chrome, but seems to have slowdown issues in Firefox)

Desktop Version for Windows, Mac, and Linux

Source Code (github)

Leave some comments and let me know what you think of the game!  Make sure to follow me on twitter @Trueyomic if you're interested in more frequent updates as well.

Version 0.3.4a

Back again with a few small updates (including a much better looking HUD pictured at the bottom of the post).  And please let me know if you like or hate something about my game.  Any word from anyone interested is a major boost in motivation (even constructive criticism).  Follow me on twitter @Trueyomic if you're interested in what I may be currently working on or just random things.  Enjoy!

Old items in the list are written with normal text like this.
Fixed bugs or done features will be crossed out like this.
New bugs/features are bold like this.
New bugs/features that were fixed or added before posting them are bold and crossed out like this.
[Type/Place/Nature] - This will show whether something is a [bug or feature], [where/what menu or area of the game it is concerned with], and [the nature of the feature or bug].

• [bug/graphics] Going to letterbox to a good aspect ratio and use linear filtering to stretch the screen or re-draw the GUI and scale the sprites to a power of 2 ratio. 
• ^^ Nope, that was a stupid idea.  Everything now scales by whole number with Nearest scaling up to avoid pixel stretching issues.  It looks great on all resolutions now!
• [feature/training mini-game/graphics]Add dummy reaction image when hit/missed
• [bug/title screen]disable exit from bottom of titlescreen
• [feature/graphic]buttons now appear "pressed" on main screen 
• [bug/not really/ugly UIs are bugs]Overhaul menus
• [feature/menu]Add new menu to be able to select from multiple minigames
• [big feature/minigame]Add new minigame:  hide and seek
• [big feature/minigame]Add new minigame:  dodge falling objects/collect gold coins
• [big feature/minigame]Add new minigame:  shoot incoming enemies with breath attack before they hit your for x amount of time
• [feature/graphics]Replace buttons on title screen with Scene2d buttons
• [feature/menu]Add menu to switch between wallpapers players have bought/earned
• [feature/graphics]Add "shiny" graphics when cleaning pet
• [bug/graphics]Let pet "happy" emote after evolving
• [feature/mechanics]Alarm Manager (optional) to alert player of pet needs.
• [feature/graphics]Make pets look grumpy if neglected
• [feature/saving/mechanics]Add file integrity checks for saving/loading
• [feature/stats page/mechanics]Add win/loss stats for pvp and pve mobs
• [bug/graphics]make sure xp gains show even when pet levels up from experience
• [feature/stats page/graphics]Make achievement text red when incomplete on stats page
• [feature and graphics] Add (?) button at bottom right corner for help -- highlight clickable spots
• [feature/preferences]Notify player with msg box when:
• first time playing game (replace with custom graphic image later?)
• first time training/playing instructions
• first adventure
• [?feature/title screen]Replace title screen options with instructions
• [feature/dancing mini-game]speed up game
• [bug/dancing mini-game]Center pet
• [feature/dancing mini-game/new graphics]show timer with a slider that scrolls across
• [Major feature/mini-game]Add another "play" mini-game with rock-paper-scissors type rules for easier but lower gain of "happiness" levels.
• [feature/mechanics]"pet" the pet while mouse button is held down -- if affection is below 25% it won't want to be pet.
• [feature/graphics]add an animation for when the pet evolves
• [feature/mechanics]when "adventure" is added, training and playing should give much less xp.
• [feature/graphics]Add small and medium message boxes
• [Major feature]Implement quest/adventure battles

New HUD in the top right.  I'll do something with the top left soon once I figure out what to do.

Version 0.3.3a

To show I'm still working on this, albeit slowly, here is a small update.  Don't dispair!  I won't let this project die, and in the unlikely even that I do I'll update this blog to show it, release the game in the state that it would be in, and probably release the source.  In the meantime, if you'd like to see if come out quicker, any encouragement would inspire me to work fast and update more frequently.  That usually entails me see more twitter followers, replies to my blog, or even a simple friendly e-mail to trueyomicdev at gmail dot com.  Thanks for all the support thus far!

Old items in the list are written with normal text like this.
Fixed bugs or done features will be crossed out like this.
New bugs/features are bold like this.
New bugs/features that were fixed or added before posting them are bold and crossed out like this.
[Type/Place/Nature] - This will show whether something is a [bug or feature], [where/what menu or area of the game it is concerned with], and [the nature of the feature or bug].
 

• [feature/mechanic]Restrict names to only use letters
• [mechanic/food]Candy and food give a little bit of happiness when feeding to pet
• [mechanic]Timer is now reset when you play/train/feed pet so it happens less often.
• [mechanic]Cleaning poop gives +10 happiness.

• [bug/shop] Prevented gold gain/loss from spamming screen/speakers if buy/sell was clicked too fast.

• [bug/graphics] Going to letterbox to a good aspect ratio and use linear filtering to stretch the screen or re-draw the GUI and scale the sprites to a power of 2 ratio.

• [feature/mechanics]Feeding/playing with pet should reset the next time a pet is hungry/sad
• [feature/graphics]Add "shiny" graphics when cleaning pet
• [feature/mechanics]Add new thread for Event checking rather than in main loop; no need.  No speed gained.
• [bug/graphics]Let pet "happy" emote after evolving
• [feature/training mini-game/graphics]Add dummy reaction image when hit/missed
• [feature/training]In RESULTS, don't use cos/sin calculations; use upper/lower max miss results for effect.
• [feature/mechanics]Alarm Manager (optional) to alert player of pet needs.
• [feature/graphics]Make pets look grumpy if neglected
• [feature/saving/mechanics]Add file integrity checks for saving/loading
• [feature/stats page/mechanics]Add win/loss stats for pvp and pve mobs
• [feature/title screen/graphics]Add game version to title screen
• [bug/graphics]make sure xp gains show even when pet levels up from experience
• [feature/stats page/graphics]Make achievement text red when incomplete on stats page
• [feature and graphics] Add (?) button at bottom right corner for help -- highlight clickable spots
• [feature/preferences]Notify player with msg box when:
• first time playing game (replace with custom graphic image later?)
• first time training/playing instructions
• first time opening shop
• first adventure
• first time clicking (?)
• [?feature/title screen]Replace title screen options with instructions
• [feature/dancing mini-game]speed up game
• [bug/dancing mini-game]Center pet
• [feature/dancing mini-game/new graphics]show timer with a slider that scrolls across
• [?feature/main screen]Let the back button go to the title screen from main screen
• [feature/graphics]add affection % on main display
• [bug/title screen]disable exit from bottom of titlescreen
  

• [Major feature/mini-game]Add another "play" mini-game with rock-paper-scissors type rules for easier but lower gain of "happiness" levels.
• [feature/mechanics]"pet" the pet while mouse button is held down -- if affection is below 25% it won't want to be pet.
• [feature/graphics]add an animation for when the pet evolves
• [feature/mechanics]when "adventure" is added, training and playing should give much less xp.
• [feature/graphics]Add small and medium message boxes
• [Major feature]Implement quest/adventure battles

Screenshot post 1

Bugfix lists are probably the most boring thing to post about, but unfortunately for such a small game that's all there really is to update on sometimes.  While fixing those bugs though I HAVE updated a few menus since my last couple of screen shots.  Here are a few to keep people interested ;)

New temporary title screen until I commission someone with some art skills to draw me one!

Here is the basic layout of the game with completed icon graphics.

New stats screen showing achievements

New shop and item menu, now optimized for mobile use so you don't have to reach for the buttons across the screen.