Adding ANIMATIONS, custom UI, and COLLECTABLE coins to my Indie Game - Devlog #3

In this #devlog3 I break down the process I took to get the player character animated in Unity using both Blender 3D and Playmaker. I also create collectable coins and cookies (similar to the stars in Super Mario 64) as well as health pickups that change your health bar and custom UI to go with them that I created using Krita. With the 2d Art User Interface done, I fine tuned the character's controls and added a very funny animation where he just falls directly on his face. While this is very comical, it also serves several functions. Watch the video to learn more about what I'm working on for my Kickstarter funded indie game in the unity 3D game development! As a solo indie game dev learning playmaker instead of coding, the process is slow but steady! Thanks for your support in the dev log series!

[@dred_dreamr]

Maybe making Toby blink once in a while would help to make him seem more friendly, but his idle animation looks great otherwise! I really like the candy cane in his hand to be honest, it might be cool if it was on his back whilst he glided though.

[@3gnomesgames909]

That's not a bad idea! But what makes you think he's supposed to seem friendly? 🤔

[@Bighaid91]

If you are full health and you collect a health coin you should gain two coins from it. Also I think a pulsing effect of red on the screen when low health would look nice

[@3gnomesgames909]

That's actually one of the things I added today- a red damage screen effect for when you take damage, so good thinking! It does add a lot. I don't think it's a bad idea to translate a health pickup to coins if you're at full health except that health pickups are a lot harder to come by in this game to add to the difficulty, so I want them to be available when you do end up needing them. Although choosing between getting some rare health pickups or getting extra coins could be an interesting dynamic. I'll think about that! Thanks!

[@nathamxplosion]

You should make weapons that you buy with the coins.such as a candy corn knife And power ups like a sour candy.that if you eat it then you get faster but your health goes down by one.I'm loving the content.

[@3gnomesgames909]

Those are some really fun ideas! I'm definitely interested in trying out some different weapons that hopefully can even have different effects

[@Selrisitai]

Great episode, you're really on a roll! I would say that, from my taste, the jumping and movement on the ground are both too floaty and imprecise. It doesn't look like it would actually be fun to control. I highly recommend studying Jak and Daxter, Ratchet and Clank and games of that ilk. Or of course Super Mario 64 which you've taken inspiration from already. Those games all have very satisfying movement because the movement itself is closely tied to the animation. For many other things I'd say, "Good enough," but 99% of the game will involve your character moving around. That IS what you do in this game, so I don't think you can afford to skimp on its "feel."

[@allandomahabeer3768]

Something about the face fall animation is so funny to me lmao good job

[@3gnomesgames909]

Haha thanks!

[@projectavalongame]

underrated devlog series. I love the face plant mechanic xD

[@3gnomesgames909]

Thank you!!!

[@DarkParadice]

The slide on face from glide is low key the MVP for your game. lol, love it man!

[@3gnomesgames909]

Thank you so much!

[@Aizam3480]

I just got recommended your channel and this looks so cool. U earned a new subscriber

[@3gnomesgames909]

Hey thanks! That means a lot!

[@ball0on]

I think you should add multiple of the same sounds but recorded separatelyfor the cookies and coins! And by the way the animations for toby are really cool

[@3gnomesgames909]

Thanks! And that's another great idea!💡

[@ManuOromithDevs]

Damn, that is a creepy cookie haha. Looking good 🤣 Edit: I love that glide animation

[@3gnomesgames909]

Haha thanks!

[@Ghost58202]

add shadows and lighting to make the game look beautiful

[@bigdanny321main]

That coin sfx sounds alot like binding of issacs sound

[@ziccodx]

Looks like a fun project and I love the movement! It seems quite fun ) Though I don't know if I agree with the decision of making Toby invincible while attacking. But also maybe it could be an interesting mechanic, if it's well built into the game ^^. I feel though you would just attack whenever enemies target you or the projectile is about to hit you, possibly you could jump into killzones while attacking and pass into places that you shouldn't, I guess that's just something to look out for if you're making this a mechanic and make sure it behaves well will all the systems. Btw cool to see you use visual scripting, it makes it pretty accessible.

[@3gnomesgames909]

Thanks! I'm definitely gonna have to test whether the invulnerability is Plausible but we'll see with time if it's a good idea

[@mrgetrext297]

Omg, I get to watch three in one day!

[@3gnomesgames909]

I guess you picked the right day to jump on board, my friend! Thanks for the support!

[@mrgetrext297]

@@3gnomesgames909 Glad youtube decided to recommend you, I really enjoy your devlogs keep up the great work!

[@Bexermite]

Small pitch shift variations on playback for your pickup sounds will go a long way and will keep it from being annoying

[@3gnomesgames909]

Thanks, that's a great idea! I'll look into that!

[@YTcustomchris]

I am sure it would be hard to do but if you keep the candy cane out all the time then it would be cool if it got damaged to go along with how much health you have. That way the player has a visual Q on the player model.

[@3gnomesgames909]

That's a great idea. I'll definitely look into that

[@joulupukinorja]

yesterday i watched devlog 1 and 2 and now 3

[@3gnomesgames909]

I'm glad you're on board friend! More coming soon!

[@Azmyst__]

I think changing the color spacing in Prefrences / Player / Other settings from Gamma to linear would make the game look more appealing ?

[@3gnomesgames909]

I'll look into that! Thanks!

[@Hemogg1]

Wow you made a lot of progress My only issue is the walking animation is a bit too slow compared to the player speed so if you can speed up the animation a bit Everything else looks great Can't wait for the next devlog

[@3gnomesgames909]

Thanks! I'll look into that

[@jaidenkulawiec49]

You should add some different facial expressiosn for toby

[@3gnomesgames909]

I'm going to look into facial animations for sure!

[@jannyboi260]

this is looking sick, wud be nice to add facial animations to the gingerbread dude, he just looks like he's seen some shit xd but i think that an inevitable thing to add. and if u somehow explain that in the video sorry lol, i have a habit to comment late after the last devlog lol.

[@3gnomesgames909]

Thank you! I don't know if I specifically say it in this video, but that's intentional haha He's supposed to be a little unnerving if you pay too much attention to him 😂

[@jannyboi260]

@@3gnomesgames909 right o_o..and by coincidence u did mention it that u will animate him later on so dam .-. (and yes im binge-watching ur welcome)

[@imastupidmoronwithabigbutt4212]

Looks amazing! Why not use unreal engine 5?

[@3gnomesgames909]

Thanks! There are a few reasons. The visual scripting I'm using is a lot more streamlined and Unity seems to be working fine for my project so far. I don't have much experience with Unreal

[@minilabyrinth]

You should keep leaning into the derpy silly angle, it's the main draw in my opinion from what I've seen

[@3gnomesgames909]

Thanks, I definitely think that's something I want to play around with more in this project!

[@artmanstudios7037]

i think the glide show be limited per cookie each cookie will let you glide until you touch any surface but without it you glide only a short distance! is kinda like saying to someone Don't go skydive without a parachute and as for the weapon? i would ask my self a question? what kinda weapon belongs to a gingerbread man? candy canes are overrated and gingerbread man needs his own weapon i suggest maybe a sword made of cookie dough and the darker the sword and or weapon created from cookie dough the harder and more damage it should give to enemy. you can even have player collect cookie dough take it to a fire then they can add the mount 1 cookie dough gives you easy cookie sword, 2 gives you strong sword, 3 gives you stronger darker more a much denser sword and so forth! when i say darker i mean more like a burnt cookie that turn all dark and hard. however they should also have a break limit from over using it as they break!

[@Aizam3480]

Now that you have some basic gameplay I think you should start to work on the story of this game. What is the story behind this game BTW?

[@3gnomesgames909]

You're right, I'm super excited to start showing more of the story. Essentially you play as a gingerbread man trying to find out what happened to the person that created you. A lot of the story is told through environmental storytelling and hidden secrets- so you have to explore to fully understand everything. It's kind of like piecing together a puzzle

[@Aizam3480]

@@3gnomesgames909 wow that sounds cool and exciting I cannot wait to play this game

[@ullebaba5421]

Is the game on stem also the game looks fun

[@3gnomesgames909]

I'm still working on it but when it comes out, I'm planning for it to be on steam

[@3gnomesgames909]

And thank you!