Hey folks!
A new update is due, so let’s dive right in.
Our featured image shows an in-game sign, announcing to players that they are entering the part of our world called “The Suburbs”. We have many of these – and other – signs in the game, since they are a good way of communicating a situation to a player looking at them (just as in real life). Stamm’s week revolved around the so-called icon signs, since we had noticed during production that we were not satisfied with many of them. Our first plan was to make big graphical signs, with much information on them. As it turned out, the fast pace of the game and too much information in one place do not make for a good gameplay experience. Icon signs, in contrast to the location signs like “The Suburbs”, have no text on them and therefore have to send their message with only pictures.
So Stamm went on a mission to distill the information into clear, easy-to-grasp signs, which meant making more and smaller ones. And here comes a potpourri of signs, which can be found all over our game world, but can only be seen together in this post, so seize the opportunity.
The Signs
Let’s have a quick look and point out a few, shall we? As you can see, they always come in pairs of two. Like the good signs they are, they convey the information pretty quickly. First row on the left, we have a warning sign, telling Elvis and his pals to beware of the rain, foreshadowing some severe hull damage. Fourth row on the left shows an elevator to, be used only by Spike People. Seventh row on the right actually does not mean to look out for the moon falling on your head, but hey, one can never know, right. Boulders are also pretty dangerous, so be prepared. Well, you can check the other ones out and see, if you are able to deduce their meaning. I will not spoil them all.
As it turns out, the gif virus has spread, and Stamm has been infected. (Wait until Tobi is up, right after this). Stamm’s last submission is a gif of one of the signs in-game. This one let’s you know that Elvis is able to walk on the ground and the walls alike.
Elvis Is Magnetic
Our friend Tobi has been completely taken over by the gifs. Although I have to admit, this time it is not completely his fault. We were approached by the awesome Pixel Prospector, where you can find plenty on information useful to indie devs. They have a side project, called PlatformerPower, which features lots and lots of platform games, finished or in the making. You could almost call it the compendium of platform games at this point. So, we were asked, if we could contribute a few gifs of On Rusty Trails, to showcase them on PlatformerPower and Tobi was delighted to deliver. Here is his selection of animated goodness.
In The City
This is a snippet of Elvis using a moving platform to escape a waterfall and travel to the next platform in style.
War Is Upon Us
Elvis has arrived at the war one and has to be quick about changing his appearance to make platforms available to land on. In the end, the rockets still deliver an exploding death.
Jump Pads Are Useful
A new game element is being introduced! Here is a first look at jump pads, which catapult Elvis around like a trampoline. The sequence is very fast-paced and the player has to switch to their Shifty Suit™ and back several times. The jump pad will only work with the suit, but the laser will only let you pass in your spiky form, only to land on the moving platform with the suit again.
In The Tunnel
This is also taken form a scene, never shown before. Elvis is flying through the tunnel, unable to control the wind, being dragged from one platform to the next. I can already imagine your sweet, sweet tears and hear the cries of agony over this part. MWAHAHAHAHAHA! What? No! I like you guys! My little brother must have been using the PC while I stepped out. Sorry!
That’s it for this week. I will be in Berlin next week, for Games Week and it will be a pretty busy time, so I don’t know if there will be a dev update. We will have a Games Week blog though, be sure to check the social media feeds.
Cheers!