I Am Sorry. We Made Another Prototype

Derek and I want to sincerely apologize for the fact that we have made another prototype. We can't help it, it's too fun! So, check out Buzz and see what you think.

We're honestly not quite sure what it is and which direction it might grow. Right now it's a little bit physic-y, a little bit shooter-y, and a little bit nature education-y. It's also a little bit dodgy, but given that it's a prototype we weren't too worried about that. Instead, we were focused on exploring the game space that the intentionally-challenging controls afforded.

From a development perspective, Buzz has been a lesson in player capacity. I have been thinking about the idea that every player can only juggle so many tasks at once. Too many and the game becomes overwhelming and frustrating. With Buzz, a lot of the player's focus is used up controlling the helicopter. Because the controls are complicated we have to avoid overwhelming the player with other tasks/obstacles in the game. The best additions are elements that overlap with what the player is already focused on. These ideas are what led to the beetle enemy and the challenge of carrying the pollen crystal between flowers.

We're considering expanding Buzz or Shifty Twisty Forest into more fleshed out experiences. If you have opinions, questions, or comments about either, feel free to leave a comment.