We’ve been debating how the actual game will flow, and we think this is the final set-up. Basically, the main single-player game will consist of 5 zones, each offering 20 levels. When you start the game, you’ll be able to start from any already completed zone and work onwards, and each zone will serve a playlist of 10 levels selected at random from that zone’s pack of 20. You’ll have a set time limit to beat each of the 10 levels, do so and you’re through to the next zone.
Every level you complete will be added to your list of levels which you will be able to practice in a seperate menu. We say practice, but in reality this will be used to obtain ’stars’ which will be awarded for beating a level in the minimal number of moves, and for beating the levels in a set time limit. Think ‘challenge rooms’ in Portal, but with less portals. We’ve not really discussed the two player mode yet, still working on the prototype of the game and devising levels.
We think the control scheme will either be a mix of the twin analog sticks (one to move the select rows, the other to scroll the bars) or movement with the d-pad and then hold the A button (with the d-pad) to scroll. We’ll maybe offer both and let the user decide, then fight between us which method should be the default. On the subject of levels, here’s an example:
The grid on the left is the target, and the grid on the right is how the balls will be presented to the player at the start of the level. This can be beaten in just 6 moves, and very quickly, so the ‘practice’ stars will be 6 moves and something like 3 seconds. We’re aiming to get a prototype of the game running with the 360 controller by the end of the week. The screen below can be beaten in 8 moves.
