Project Nocturnal: Progress, Puzzles, and Priorities

Hello everyone,

We’re back with another update on Project Nocturnal. Progress may have been incremental, but every step forward is a step closer to bringing this game to life. This week, we’ve been focusing on refining the map design, improving the light gun mechanics, and preparing the groundwork for puzzles and UI/UX design.

The Layers of 2D Development

Working in a 2D environment may seem straightforward on the surface, but in reality, it involves more layers than you might expect—often more than in a 3D environment. Every element you see in the game is carefully placed across multiple layers to ensure the player interacts with the world in a way that feels intuitive.

Unity’s tile map system has been instrumental in streamlining this process. It allows us to paint tiles directly onto a grid, speeding up development significantly. However, it’s not without its challenges:

• Asset Preparation: Sometimes, existing assets need editing or entirely new ones must be created to achieve the right look and feel.

• Layering: Ensuring that players walk in front of or behind the right objects requires meticulous organization.

• Collision Management: Unity’s tile map collision system is a fantastic tool that auto-generates collisions, but it’s not perfect. We’ve had to get creative to fine-tune these collisions, ensuring players can access all the right areas without any unexpected obstacles.

This process is time-intensive but crucial for creating a seamless and immersive experience.

Puzzles: Simple, Yet Strategic

Puzzles are a central element of Project Nocturnal, and we’re laying the foundation for them to fit naturally within the game world. The puzzles are designed to work with the light gun mechanics, challenging players to think strategically without overwhelming them.

• Logic-Based Design: The puzzles primarily focus on problem-solving and logical thinking, offering a mental break from the action-oriented gameplay.

• Environmental Integration: Instead of feeling like standalone challenges, the puzzles are embedded directly into the map, enhancing the sense of immersion.

While we’re still designing and refining these puzzles, the upcoming weeks will focus on implementing them into the game. We’re excited to share some sneak peeks soon!

UI/UX: Clarity and Accessibility

Another key focus is designing a UI that’s both functional and user-friendly. For Project Nocturnal, simplicity is key:

• Clear Visuals: Ensuring players can focus on the action without being overwhelmed by cluttered interfaces.

• Essential Information Only: Prioritizing what’s truly important for players to see during gameplay.

Accessibility is another area we’re thinking about, from customizable key binds to potential options for colour blindness. These features are critical for inclusivity and ensuring that as many people as possible can enjoy the game.

Lessons and Challenges

Game development is a continuous learning process, and this week reminded us of how much work goes into even the simplest-seeming elements. Adding collisions to the map was a time-consuming task, requiring careful attention to detail to ensure no areas were accidentally blocked. It’s these small, unseen layers of development that often take the most effort but are vital to the player’s experience.

Looking Ahead

As we continue building Project Nocturnal, the focus will shift to implementing puzzles, refining the UI, and preparing for testing phases. Each small step brings us closer to our goal, and while the road may be long, we’re determined to see it through.

Thank you for following along with our journey! We’d love to hear your thoughts: what’s a puzzle or UI feature you’ve always appreciated in games? Share your insights in the comments below.