Final Project C game build

The previous post outlined the implementation of a pre-feedback version of the Project C game. This post provides an update to the game based on feedback from a virtual playtesting session held on 13./14.05.2025. I was assigned and reviewed all 5 peoples' games (+tyko0707, who asked me to review his, after he reviewed my game because he was late in submitting)

Date: 18.05.2025

Activity: 

• Participated in the virtual playtesting session, and received feedback for my game as well
• Implemented new features, and juiced up the game based on playtesting feedback

Notes:

The virtual playtesting session was a success, I played and gave feedback to some interesting and fun games, and I received constructive feedback for my game as well. I then implemented most of them because they were reasonable (and I also thought of some of the same ones myself, check previous post), learning about even more new things in the process. Judging by the responses,  testers liked the main ideas for the game and generally thought it was fun, which is always great to hear. Below is the list of added, or considered but not added changes (you are also free to read what the people said in the comments on the main page of the project):

• Added background music ✅
• Added various button sound fx✅
• Adjusted camera appropriately for better immersion ✅
• Made upgrade button darker (so more noticeable) when the player doesn't have enough money to purchase it ✅
• Added currency counter in-game (as a general improvement, but it also acts as a kind of score counter, since a dedicated one was not added, even though suggested; it seemed redundant) ✅
• Added health bars for player and enemies ✅
• Added various game sound fx (shooting, player hit, player death, zombie hit, zombie death+money obtained...) ✅
• Added impact flash for player and enemies ✅
• Added a new enemy variant with a different appearance, more health, and more gold on death ✅
• Background tween to a red shade to indicate the game progressing and level becoming harder (I thought this was more subtle and elegant than having a popup on the screen, so I decided against that idea) ✅

For the sound effects and music I learned to use the Audio Source component on my own (everything was pre done with 2D Game Kit we used for Project B and homeworks). The background music is an instrumental version of the song Imperial Circus Dead Decadence - Uta, and sound effects are from a free asset from the Unity store. I used UI Toolkit again for the new currency counter, but opted for leagacy UI for the health bars, I found nice and simple guides for this, I didn't figure out how to tie UI Toolkit UI Document to world space(?) I finally used DOTween, for tweening the transition to darker shades of red on the background which turned out very nice and subtle. I realized I probably could have used it for many different things in the project, but at least I am familiar with it now!

Overall, I added many different small changes that added up to create a much better and somehow more dramatic experience! I am once again really happy with how it turned out, and the fact that it represents a "vertical slice" of what could feasibly become a really addicting game in this genre. Of course, it might get a little repetitive after a while, but that's what where new patches with more content would help. A bigger overhaul of the mechanics was suggested in one of the feedback comments, and that would naturally be to allow free movement. This, along with maybe an isometric view with a more expansive map or more levels, are a way to level up the game a lot in hindsight. However, I am satisfied with how it came out, because I feel like I managed the scope well.

Invested hours:

• Playtesting others' games: 2-3h

• Estimated/actual time for implementing new features and audiovisual effects: ~4-5h/~6h

Outcome:  

Final build of the game, available as an HTML embedded WebGL version (attached also build .zip)