FMP 23 - Evaluating the Project

In this final post I will just semi-quickly go through my thoughts about the project I handed in.


I stated in my design folder that I wanted to have a completed first chapter of the game, and while the definition of chapter is definitely vague, I initially thought I would have a longer demo - as per the previous post, there is a very good reason for that. All the corner-stones have been lain now, which means that actually adding to the project will be a breeze - I definitely think it is possible to double the length of the demo in less than a day for example; the only thing that will take time now is asset-creation.


I am really pleased with the different scripts, and seeing them work together is always a joy (not so much a joy when you get an obscure error you cannot fix).

Regarding the characters, I had initially planned to create them in the same style (with sprites) as my previous game, but that could not work with a non-orthographic camera. Creating them in my own way, with a series of two-faced quads, was a lot of trouble, but it definitely taught me a lot about the best way to go about it - I am now almost 100% sure that the characters in Paper Mario are indeed frame-to-frame animated, and are drawn completely per frame, instead of stitched together. I think I will try my hand at this, at least with complex characters, which will also teach me more about traditional animation.


I am quite pleased I managed to add a little puzzle to the game - the assets themselves were quick, but again, it is just a model that can be exchanged, when the code works it works. Some of my favourite parts of Paper Mario and Monkey Island were just discovering random things because you went to look. I think I will add more little things like this, and more puzzles in general.


The enemies were a lot of fun - the coconut especially. I had initially planned for a larger presence of monkeys, and even sketched out a mean, obese Monkey King, but they did not make it in. The fact that they are sketched out and planned for makes it quicker to add though.


Lastly, regarding the world itself, I am really happy with how the different 'world-tiles' work together - it feels akin to Paper Mario to me, like exploring a jungle, and that is what I wanted.


To sum up - I like what I produced, and even though it was not as much as I had hoped for initially, it was the right choice to delay adding more stuff for increased functionality. I have no doubts that the game will expand rapidly from this point on, and with the things I learned from making this project it will be all the better.


Thanks for reading! I'll be back in some shape or form!


-Mads