Maybe final update(?)

Hi folks!

After long long delay (spent procrastinating and slowly dabbling the game on the side), I decided it's time to write some random thoughts down on my rhythmgame ZakZakNeko. 

The biggest news is that the game has reached its beta status, which means that all the features and fidgets are there. And pretty much everything I planned from the get-go are in the game. So I am quite happy about reaching another game release :)

Talking about updates, I think the biggest things I added are:

• Anime style(!) introduction with cool new logo and a text scroller
• Few new beat charts: Sharkatzor and Affection addiction.
• Options menu to change keyboard layout and tune volume

Some updates are still under development, mostly:

• Colored enemies (one color per lane)
• Visual effects customizable and put behind options menu

While it has been yet another enjoable gamedev journey, during which I learned much of Godot's sound and input systems, I can't help but feel somewhat deflated. I admit during the project I somehow grew passively expectations that the game maybe get some more traction than my first game (professor bubbles), but those expectations aged like milk :D. At some point I learned that rhythm games are quite a niche genre among video game enjoyers, so getting a word out was not too easy. Well, I guess that's the reality for many hobbyist gamedevs who slap their games on itch and do only a minimal effort for marketing/visibility.

But then, in a post-mortem style, let's make a happy/unhappy lists:

First the happy things:

• I finished the game
• The musicians I asked about permission for using the songs were super chill (this boosted my motivation when I was on the verge to give-up midway)
• I enjoyed pixelarting and I guess I was able to ramp my skills here a bit
• Testing beat-charts was a thrill and that way I got more into rhythm games

Then the not-so-happy things:

• Charting with LMMS was a pain-in-the-neck
• The game did not spark too much interest

That said, my head is now full new game ideas and I will probably take some rest and slowly cook prototypes in Godot. Then one day, should one of the prototypes "stick", I'll post more about them.

Thanks for reading this smol devlog!

Take care,

Haru