Game Jam Day 2 - Physics and First Level

Day 2 has come and gone. I work full time, so I wasn't able to make too much progress in the game. I was, however, able to get some cute interactions working in a simple scene. 

Physics:

As expected, the Jolt physics engine is working flawlessly. I am able to stack rigid bodies, define physical traits that matter in the game interactions, and it all works smoothly.  I'm happy to report that the physics work was uneventful!

Batting:

Cats like to bat at things, and they love to bat at things to make them fall over. I have implemented some batting that feels just right! In the .gif below you can also see the beginnings of the first level - The Living Room. 

Here is a still image from the living room

Scoring Plan and Updates:

I think leaning into the Tony Hawk Pro Skater style scoring is going to be fun and interesting for the game. My current thought is to give the player a timer for about 30 seconds or a minute, then let them bat at things or throw things off the table. I am a little worried that adding a timer will make the game less relaxing, so there is definitely some thought that still needs to happen in that aspect. That said, there are a few goals I want to achieve in scoring:

1. I want to give higher scores for objects that just barely get knocked off the surface in each level. I plan to do this by rewarding more points to objects that leave the surface with a lower velocity.
2. I want to allow combos to add or multiply scores, so if a potted plant knocks over a coffee mug on the way down, it should give bonus points.
3. I want to add points for doing other mischievous things - like knocking over the lamp in the living room.

 I mocked up a quick scoring bug that I'm starting to like. I think a small HUD that floats above the eyeline of the player could be added. In that HUD, it should show the current combination in play, a rolling score, and highlight any extra mischievous things. 

What's Next:

Tomorrow I hope to start on the scoring and HUD aspects, as well as finish up the first level by creating and adding knick-knacks on the little coffee table.