Obstacles/Challenges

1. Discussion on whether to simplify jump mechanics to make the game more rhythmic and less of a platformer
2. Showing different UI based on which input method the player is using (Xbox controller, PS controller, Keyboard/Mouse) 

Feedback Received

• Playtesters generally found the game to be fun to play
• Platforming felt very enjoyable because the controls were simple and intuitive, and maneuvering the cat felt very satisfying. However, they did recommend making the cat feel less “floaty”.
• We discovered a controller bug where the start button did not bring up the pause menu.
• For the main menu, playtesters were not able to realize which button was highlighted.

Changes

• Changes to the jump mechanic:
  •  We've changed our jump to be static, previously the altitude depended on how long the player held the "Jump" button, but that is no longer the case, as players told us they would prefer a consistent jump height. 
  • We've removed the ability to double-jump. This feature doesn't make sense with the more rhythmic direction that we're taking the game. In our next updates, the player will have to jump on the beat and it will affect their score, so it just didn't make sense to allow them to double-jump as that would mess with the timing. 
    • Note: We still have our "save jump" mechanic, which allows the player to jump again when they fall off a platform.  
• Main Menu screen:
  • We now have a Main Menu screen! It has the options to "Play" or "Quit".
  • When using a controller, some players weren't sure of what button to click to select an option. So we've made changes to improve that experience. When a controller is plugged in, we display a prompt below the buttons that says "Press (X) to select", where the button icon is based on whether it's a PlayStation, Xbox, or Switch controller.
• Bug fixes & improvements:
  • We fixed a bug with opening the Pause Menu when using a controller.
  • We fixed a bug where the platforms were still switching states when the game was paused.
  • We improved the main menu song, there was a small delay between loops.