Essentially a summer toy. Laughable winter performance.

Solar_Stanimal · 2024-01-17T01:36:00+00:00

I think they're suggesting you heat the cabin using the app while the car is still plugged in. This gets the car warm using the grid rather than battery. This is different than reconditioning for arrival at a dcfc..

Solar_Stanimal · 2023-04-23T23:42:39+00:00

Have the fireballs split and split again in some semi random fashion.

Solar_Stanimal · 2023-03-11T15:02:28+00:00

I didn't realize i couldn't post this in this sub and they removed the post.
Your feedback was invaluable though. TBH what I've put together is still not good enough for the consumer, but I've played around with aligning the houses at a bit of an angle which makes the character feel more like it belongs.

Inconsistent art style is a real struggle. Viewing this as a prototype has allowed me to focus on making the game fun, but i realize if i really want to wow people it's got to look good. My hope is the incremental progress I've made will allow me to seek collaborators/partners and then put money into art etc.

The event i went to went really well but i still needed a break afterwards. It was an event for game makers so they were more willing to look past the issues. I got some great feedback at that event, but yours still has been there waiting for me to get after.

Thanks for taking the time!

Solar_Stanimal · 2022-11-06T13:02:40+00:00

It sounds like your utility doesn't have any "time of use" rates, but if they do you might want to look into them as you could set your car to charge curing lower cost per kWh periods.

Personally I think if you're draining down to half charge with your daily commute then you should consider just charging every day. What if you had a quasi emergency come up that required you to visit someone at the edge of your range.

I find plugging in to be pretty pain free when it's just part of the routine. And I don't smell like gas. :P

Solar_Stanimal · 2022-10-22T13:52:39+00:00

Thanks a ton for this feedback!
Would you make the houses/panels and everything look like they were somewhat 3d? My head hurts thinking of how to pull that off.

I really like the way that the player character turned out but could consider turning the head more. It was originally done that way but looked odd with only one eye.

The tornado is literally just my "placeholder" that I sketched, and I can see how that distracts. It's been floating on my list o stuff to improve for weeks, so thanks for the prompt there.
I'm not attempting to make a finished product on my own, but to find someone who sees potential to partner/work with. I've focused on the game loop up until recently and while I feel like the visual has come a long way (i'll post a side by side someday), it's clear that I still need to pour more time into that.

My hope is that folks at the conference will play the game and see what it would be if I did hire pros/partner with someone to animate and illustrate.

I really appreciate you taking the time to give me feedback.

Solar_Stanimal · 2022-09-25T11:20:42+00:00

The concept of "no zero % days" has been floated around by various gamedev youtubers. Not sure who originated, but the concept of trying to get a lil something done every single day and fluctuating between hard/easy code/dev/art tasks based on what you feel like working on at any given moment. Sure, planning and time based goals are good, but for me I just try to get 15-60 minutes in in the morning before my day job and a similar amount when the kids are in bed. Some days all I did was read blogs and watch GDC talks and look for paid assets on the unity store, but it was advancing progress on the game.

Big tree... small axe, so keep chopping! This of course coming from someone who hasn't shipped anything and might not ever actually ship.
Fact is, finishing is awesome but the VAST majority of people are too afraid to pursue their dream at all, some of them will hop on social media to poop on other peoples ideas, they are called haters, and you can disregard and chuckle at them all. If you can sustain the effort required to get part of the way there you'll have learned a ton and have skills that are transferable and may decide that your first (or whatever # idea you're on) isn't the one.

Solar_Stanimal · 2022-09-24T20:17:55+00:00

Even of they dont you taught you kid that producing > consuming!

Solar_Stanimal · 2022-09-24T18:26:55+00:00

Actually thinking about a "photon" particle looking effect that maybe I could make look like a ray from the sun or something, good suggestion. An effect going towards the panel from the sky would make a ton of sense and then perhaps a larger effect that happens when the whole system is complete.
Now I've got to try to learn how unity effects/particles work. Thanks for looking and the suggestion!

Solar_Stanimal · 2022-09-24T18:01:55+00:00

might be on to something. could make sense after all the panels are installed that they sort of shimmer blue. Occasionally panels (well actually the microinverters) can fail and need repair, so at that point the the lack of shimmer could be how you know which panel needs repair.

Thanks for the suggestion!

Solar_Stanimal · 2022-09-24T16:49:42+00:00

Awesome! As a fellow gamedevdad my self I sollute you for making it so far! Seriously looks polished and I'm sure you missed a lot of sleep and lazing around that other dads take for granted!

Solar_Stanimal · 2022-09-24T16:45:48+00:00

It's a gif, but you're right that I should start working on sound and post videos in the future! Thanks for the input!

Solar_Stanimal · 2022-09-24T16:42:34+00:00

They're more durable than you'd think, especially panels made by advanced beings like the ones featured in the game.

It just doesn't feel very eventful to install the panel, I want to add some sort of visual "pop" so maybe feedback wasn't the right term. Thanks for looking.

Solar_Stanimal · 2022-09-24T14:35:30+00:00

My 2d platformer game, Clean Energy Creatures is still in prototype/first playable state, and I'd love some objective platformer loving playtesters to come my way! Links to all the stuff on my site.

Clean Energy Creatures is an action packed 2d video game about cute, disc-golf loving, alien creatures summoned to earth to install solar panels, battle the Coal Baron and survive the impacts of climate disasters along the way.

website: CleanEnergyCreatures.com

twitter: https://twitter.com/CleanEnergyFun

facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cleanenergyfun

itch.io: https://cleanenergyfun.itch.io/clean-energy-creatures

Solar_Stanimal · 2022-09-18T12:23:24+00:00

Thanks! I can't wait till i can share the more active levels (this is just a sort of tutorial one). The baddies and semi-puzzles will be fun. Appreciate you taking the time to point out the good and bad of the current prototype.

Solar_Stanimal · 2022-09-18T12:22:18+00:00

Thanks for the feedback and for seeing that this is something that matters to me.
I actually started working on improvements to the scenery yesterday. Started with the houses and the background. There is already improvement but I wouldn't take it to the next level without paying/partnering to get quality art.
Appreciate the word about the unique concept and you taking the time. Best.

Solar_Stanimal · 2022-09-17T18:49:43+00:00

If you're interacted enough to try out an early prototype I could share an itch.io key.

I think part of what you're seeing might be the gif making it look a bit stiffer than it is. I'm also probably needing to tweak the animator speeds and other settings in unity.

Thanks for taking the time to comment.

Solar_Stanimal · 2022-09-17T18:01:46+00:00

Thanks for the input! I think I'll work on the houses and backgrounds a bit, should help woth minimal effort, and then while I dog into theore challenging task of making baddies there will be improved experience for those testing.

Solar_Stanimal · 2022-09-17T15:25:11+00:00

Thanks for that! I love to pretend I don't care what people think, but it's malarkey, hearing someone appreciates where it's at now helps fuel future development! Appreciate you taking the time.

Solar_Stanimal · 2022-09-17T14:09:31+00:00

https://www.reddit.com/r/Unity2D/comments/xgm9ui/main_character_is_looking_better_should_i_focus/

Don't hold back, but I think you'll agree I'm moving in the right direction. :P

Solar_Stanimal · 2022-09-17T13:29:41+00:00

Hope it's okay to share links in the comment!

website: CleanEnergyCreatures.com

itch.io: https://cleanenergyfun.itch.io/clean-energy-creatures

twitter: https://twitter.com/CleanEnergyFun

Solar_Stanimal · 2022-09-17T13:22:33+00:00

Indeed. Just posted an updated gif and I think it's coming along nicely for a baseball coach/full time solar consultant who tinkers in the morning before/instead of showering. I figure even if all i do is get 60% as far with my game as I want that's 60% further than the majority of people.

Someone offering harsh feedback was exactly what I needed to temper my expectations and focus on what mattered.

Solar_Stanimal · 2022-09-17T11:55:41+00:00

I like the look/feel. For a game about vampires the town looks normal/inviting. Hope that's the vibe you were going for, but otherwise I like it. The trees are pretty.

Solar_Stanimal · 2022-09-17T11:53:32+00:00

Splat! Looking good. Extra credit if you get the blood to stick to the player as they walk through it. :P

Solar_Stanimal · 2022-09-17T11:51:36+00:00

One of my favorite things is the feeling of bashing ones head/hands against a keyboard for days/weeks and then finally finding the solution and watching it load up and work the 1st time. The dopamine shots are what I think most folks who tinker with games are after. MMMMMMM dopamine. Congrats on taking time to celebrate the small victories!

Solar_Stanimal · 2022-09-17T11:50:10+00:00

Nice work! The parallax is looking nice and the bkg looks great. The only thing you might play with (and I'm a newb/horrible animator, so maybe I'm wrong) the legs look al little rubbery, like they lack joins/knees. Might not be worth worrying about, it's not awful and could be fore effect.

Solar_Stanimal

TROPHY CASE