Touch 'n Ghost - Update (Improve My Game Jam #29)

Hi everyone,

Thanks for reading this Dev log. 

All sorts of feedbacks are welcome, about what you like and what you think should be improved.

This version is the first playable prototype. Do not hesitate to share your feeling about graphics, gameplay, difficulty and what you would like to see in-game. You might help to improve or prioritize the work to be done in the next future updates.

Have a good reading, and maybe a good game session !

Arcade Eleven

Context and objectives

• This update is performed during the Improve My Game Jam #29.
• This project was recently submitted for another jam (MGGJ8), and which was formerly named "Spektra's Tower". Spektra's tower was a rush and very draft version of a concept and theme I wanted to try together. Graphics and game mechanics were very basic. 
• The version to be released together with this Dev log is intended to be a first playable version of the Endless mode, with improved graphics and first set of game mechanics. The version is an advanced prototype and still contains some placeholders or missing features.

Change log

1. Game Title changed : Spektra's Tower becomes Touch 'n Ghosts
2. Itchio : new version of the itchio page, in line with graphics updates (new page as well, since the voting period is still open for the other jam)
3. Title Screen : animated pixel art illustration and first version of the logo added.
4. Tutorial : basic instructions added, placeholder. 
5. Graphics : all game graphics have been updated.
6. Enemies : all regular ghosts can now be purged by using touch input and slide input.
7. Enemies : placeholder boss has been added.
   
8. Enemies : added a first forbidden zone (electric disturbance)
   
9. Scoring : Score added, with regular ghosts and boss ghosts granting a fixed amount of points.
   
10. Difficulty : difficulty currently scales according to the amount of "boss" ghosts killed, resulting in more ghost spawns and the activation of forbidden touch areas. 
11. Lose conditions : The run ends after losing all health points. Health points penalties are applied when failing to deal with a boss (not killed in time) or when a forbidden zone is touched.

Known-issues

1.  When losing the last health point, the animation and SFX do not play properly.
2. Ghosts may spawn over forbidden touch areas, leading to hard input and frustrating gameplay. This will be fixed together with a spawn area rework.

Upcoming changes

1. Slide input will be totally reworked (management and mechanics usage)
2. Boss and boss capacities implementation
3. Rooms management and randomization
4. UI improvements.
5. Score saving and leaderboards