Dev Log 4 - Presentation / Graphics

Presentation:

This is one area where I feel that Scale Racer has mostly achieved the goal. It looks like a scale racer from the 80s with most the assets being low resolution 2D sprites. I really enjoy this look and I think it would definitely help the game stand out. At the moment, I've got 2D trees, cliffs, and a tunnel. I'd like to add signs, grass, and a railing too to finish off the look.

Also on the TODO graphics list are particles for tires off the road and maybe splashing through puddles.

Since I'm fairly happy with the look as it stands, my focus as been on gameplay elements instead.

The feedback I received this week included:

• Still no collisions.
• There should be traffic to dodge.
• Drift and flipping is still not right.

So I added some AI racers! Unfortunately, there are some issues with them at the moment. If they're not traveling fast enough the jump really does a number on their tires.

AI attempting to navigate the jump section.

Still, that looks kind of cool.

But the physics simulation of the car suspension just isn't up to the task. I could try tweaking it for hours or I can just make their suspension static. Pretty sure I'll do the latter. I wonder what would happen if the drivers drove the other way? They'd explode into the side of the road when trying to jump from the landing area, for one. But, having them driving at you as well as you having to pass them might be a lot of fun. Especially if they stick to their lanes.

Hmm.

Feature creep!

Back to the presentation...

I've tried to keep the color pallet homogeneous but there are some colors I'm not happy with. The placeholder cliff tileset, trees, tunnel, and ground textures all came from OpenGameArt.org (links at the bottom). The car model and texture was my work. I nearly have another car model completed, but it's pretty unlikely at this point that I'll get it ready in time - but who knows! As for the pallet, I might go over all the textures and edit the colors.

As for the rest of the presentation, my placeholder background mountains aren't cutting it either. It looks like an Atari 2600 background. The idea to add a cityscape in the background is getting pushed further back by the unwillingness of the AI to not be stupid.

I'll be working on the AI, collisions, and possibly re-adding the flips on the jump this week.

Resources:

Sprite trees: https://opengameart.org/content/pixel-art-simple-trees
Cliff: https://opengameart.org/content/magic-cliffs-environment

Pixel texture: https://opengameart.org/content/pixel-texture-pack