Super Toaster X: Learn Japanese

I don’t know if you’ve noticed but I work a bit on the log logo. It sucked before and I like it better now.

I figured I would provide a list of things which still need to be done. It’s only partial but it’ll give you guys an idea of the amplitude of the task.
To do
a. Design the levels for all 8 stage plus the final stage.
b. Design the 7 bosses and the final boss.
c. Determine the patterns for each boss and the final boss.
d. Design the enemies for each of the 7 stages.
e. Make the title screen
f. make the stage select screen
g. add an upgrade system (I have an idea about this, I think you’ll like it).
h. Play test
i. Change game based on feedback and playtest
j. compose one song for each stage, plus the ending song, plus the final boss song... about 11 songs in total
k. make the sound effects (SFX)
l. integrate the SFX.
m. determine the narrative track
n. choose the font
o. write up the dialogues (not very long but still)
p. prepare the KS campaign.
q. get feedback on campaign and fix it.
r. Prepare rewards for backers, ship them.
t. determine final price, contact steam, get greenlit
u. bug test and fix bugs
v. determine advertisement campaign and launch campaign (advertise...)
This is just from the top of my head. :)
Programming:

After testing the first prototype, I’ve asked Sahand to make some modifications to the code about certain things. The grappling hook system is well underway but also required more modifications as it’s a fair bit more complex than the rest of the stuff. But it’s getting there. Sahand is quite hard working and efficient.

Music:

Trev is very busy with real life so I don’t have any news regarding the music besides that the “main title” song linked previously might be used for another stage depending on how the title screen looks like.

Design:
Upgrade System!!!

DNA or deoxyribonucleic acid, which carries our genetic information, has slowly been revealing its secrets over the years, allowing genetic manipulation ton inch ever closer to our reality. What of BNA though?

What is BNA?

BNA, or Breadoxyribonucleic acid, carries the genetic makeup of all sorts of bread. It determines if the bread is long, like the French baguette or if it stout and nutritious like the black, German bread or even if it contains raisins or chocolate chips! It is the equivalent of DNA for humans.

In STG, Pan can collect deviously hidden canisters of BNA in the various stages of the game. Those canisters can be used to modify the genetic code of Pan, giving him various abilities and powers.

Spent BNA can also be reset. This means that you can modify Pan’s genes in between each stage in order to be better prepared against what you’ll be facing. For example, need to avoid dangerous falling traps in a stage? Better boost your speed. Keep dying because you’re taking too much damage? Improving your plating might be the solution to your problem then.

This is just to give you an idea of the concept. Black and white upgrades have yet to be purchased. More powerful upgrades are further up the upgrade tree. In this example, the player can choose to boost his butter container by 10% or increase his battery by 10%. Of course, there will be a lot more upgrades than these two. I just whipped those two quickly to give you an idea. I’m trying to have something like FFX level up system with the spheres:


I really want people to treasure their BNA, so I’ll try to make the BNA hard to find. I think this should encourage exploration as opposed to rushing as quickly as possible to the end of each level. I hope players really get a sense of accomplishment finding BNAs and the bonus they unlock should be fairly substantial.

Why BNA and not screws like in Mega Man
To prevent grinding, quick simply. I don’t want players to stick at one stage and kill the same enemies over and over again to grab stuff to upgrade their characters.

Annnnnnnd that’s it. Quite honestly this took a good 3 hours to think through and sprite (the BNA sprite was a major pain to sprite and I’m still not 100% happy with it).