Four Months From Beta...

...and SO MUCH is FINALLY fitting into place.  Ever since we got the cat controller into its initial Beta state, we've had a consistent model upon which to finalize a lot of world details that previously were a constant issue.

FIRSTLY: We've adopted a uniform stair collider that we will soon be replacing all current ones.  For the longest time you could count on having to aim-jump over a great many staircases on Peace Island, because the cat collider would always be catching on the edge of something.

From now on - whether you are running or walking, cats will sail right up staircases, as if they were horizontal planes.

SECONDLY:  Over the weekend, I was able to find time to put together the proper colliders that allow for a proper dismount at the top of utility poles, and finalize the standard design for the walkable power lines.

I'll be putting these in over the next 48 hours.  Once they are in, this will allow for a new level of access in the game world.

These poles & lines will form a secondary roadway around the island that will allow the cats access to buildings that are locked at ground level.  In addition, you'll be better able to avoid gound-based NPCs such as Geese.

Lance has radically improved the Golf Cart's handling & camera.  He's also added headlights, a horn, and added a necessary function that prevents the player from hitting & running over other cats & NPCs. 

Once I'm done placing the aforementioned utility poles, I'll be posing the cats in more realistic driving positions.  Right now, they just sit behind the steering wheel!

Laura has been working dilligently on landscaping - which was an aspect of the game's development I always had my heart set on.  Unfortunately, I'm needed on so many other fronts that I was never able to give it the time & attention that it required.

This was necessary - as well-tended gardens are ubiquitous out on the Maine Islands.  Most importantly: She also found time to address the empty greenhouse by the Garden Supply shop.

In other news, I've taken to daily streams over on our Twitch Channel.  I'm usually there for only about an hour a day, and usually, I'm handling the back-end meta-systems that require infinite adjustment and solid minutes of looking at a loading bar.

That having been said, I've found it to be an enjoyable practice.  YouTube is one thing - but Twitch has a dedicated audience that is almost uniformly gamers, and if you don't remember:

Peace Island "Went Viral" just months before the outbreak of COVID.  As a result, we never had many opportunities to communicate one-on-one with fans of the project.  All gaming conventions were shut down or restricted for YEARS, so we never had the opportunity to publicise Peace Island in the venues that allow indie projects like this to thrive.

I will be back here next week - we have currently only 35 outstanding in-game name mentions to assign.  We will be clearing those out, this weekend.

UNTIL THEN, LIZ & CAGE SEND HUGS!