Culmination Project Updates

04/07/2024

On this page, I will post all of the current updates and challenges I have overcome or am facing for this project.

Photos:

Pic 1: This was a slightly reworked version of my original Idea that could work well with the Jewelry Match 3 Kit.

• Pic 2: A storyboard Breakdown of the first Cutscene introducing your team of Eco-warriors and mission objectives.

Video: 

• clip of untouched match 3.mp4
• clip of main menu.mp4
• A snippet of code I created for the MainMenu script.

Code:

4/12/2024

This video presents a slight progression. The menu goes seamlessly from scene to scene and I finally have the Match 3 system seamlessly integrated into the game. My next move will be to change the tile pieces to look like the game I have in mind with the Garbage tiles and tweak the rules to make sure the fish pieces are saved in time. 

• spot-A-fish-week-11.mp4

Code:

• I created a new script, very simple to start the match 3 game level I designed and load upon the start of the game.
• 
• This script is controlling the navigation at the moment.
• 

Month of May

• I mostly worked on graphic assets for tile pieces and backgrounds for the game.

Month of June

Added UI images for the sample CutScene.

• I created a script that would automatically play the images in sequence for the cutscene.
• I made it so that the screen size and elements on the screen adjust accordingly through the camera screen space.
• I customized the win and lose screens.
• I have created assets mostly through the help of AI to speed up the asset-making process.

Newest Update

Development Update: September 2024

9/7/2024

Today, I added two exciting new features:

• Time Trial Mode: Test your speed and skills with this new gameplay mode.
• Conservation Tank Scene: Collect rare fish and track your progress as you clean the oceans.

Additionally, I simplified the first stage, which will now allow for larger and more challenging stages as players progress. I also fixed several interface issues:

• Options Menu: Fixed the buttons to correctly navigate to their designated scenes.
• Cutscenes: Ensured the cutscenes load properly by adding them to the build settings.

Next steps include:

• Updating the graphics for the options menu buttons.
• Redesigning the settings and backgrounds for each stage.
• Adding more menu animations and sound effects, possibly by purchasing a Match-3 sound kit.

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9/8/2024

• Resolved a camera centering issue that occurred on restart. The fix involved adding a CamPosY variable and adjusting the camera’s position each time the game restarts.

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9/17/2024

• Improved cutscenes by adding consistent buttons for a seamless user experience.
• Continued work on the cutscene artwork to enhance visual storytelling.
• Composed the theme song for the main menu.
• Created background music for the first stage using GarageBand and AI tools.

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10/5/2024

• Decided to remove garbage sprites in the background for both aesthetic and functional reasons.
• Began integrating sound effects into the game using a free-to-use sound effects pack from the Unity Asset Store. You can find the sound pack here.
• FREE Casual Game SFX Pack | Audio Sound FX | Unity Asset Store

10/6/2024

• Updated Graphics for the First Cutscene.
• Working on Creating cutscene Animation

• Current Project can be played on Itch.io
• Spot-A-Fish by dreamsniper (itch.io)

10/12/2024

Integrated Timeline into the project after troubleshooting various issues when it would not load into my game. I identified it as a cache problem at the root of installation issues.

Began working on cutscene animations once the cache was cleared and Timeline was installed:

• Initially created rudimentary animations but found the need to separate characters for advanced cutscenes.
• Characters now exist as separate sprites rather than a single image, allowing more dynamic animation control.
• Each character has been assigned two animations: an idle animation and a talking animation.
• Successfully utilized Timeline’s Animation and Activation tracks to produce a 30-second clip for the cutscene, though further refinement is required.

10/13/2024

• Reviewed Timeline features via @obalfaqih’s tutorial videos, gaining insights that clarified Timeline functionalities such as the animation track, the signal track, and the activation track.
• Added text and text boxes for dialogue in the cutscene sequence.Finalized character placements and timeline animations.

10/20/2024

• Revisited the Timeline tutorial, focusing on Signal Tracks for event control.
• Created word boxes for each character with an interactive “Continue” button, allowing players to advance the cutscene.
• The remaining issues include:
  • Animation jerking when pausing certain characters.
  • The game does not start immediately after the cutscene ends—adjustments are needed here for smoother flow.
  • Sound integration and Options Menu setup are still pending.

11/10/2024

• After the last panel discussion, I focused on enhancing the sound effects to make them more aquatic.
• Unable to find a suitable pack in the asset store, I turned to freesound.org.
• I found and edited the “Synthetic Water Bubbles” sound by Anarkya using a free PC program called Audacity.
• https://freesound.org/people/ANARKYA/sounds/402778/
• This sound file, which I split up to create the game’s sound effects, can be found here.
• Next, I will work on updating the info screen to explain the rules of the stage better.