thanks for the feedback, sockbag :)

i've been experimenting with "un-sequenced" Runs and i'm loving it as it feels a little more Crib and is making for some high-flying fun!

• on that, i still want to limit Runs to consider only 3 Gems at a time. so, for example, 78987 would be 2 Runs as would 12324. and, 54321 would be 3 Runs, while 41234 would be 2 Runs (4123 wouldn't be a run as it's 4 Gems).

meanwhile, i'm not sold on vertical scoring as it makes it a lot easier to score (low scores) and doesn't allow much room for strategy, in my opinion. it's been a lot of being "forced" to take low-point scores for me and i'm in no fear of filling up the 5x5 board compared to a semi-bad run in non-vertical scoring.

regardless, i'll be including multiple game modes (with separate leaderboards) so folks can play how they want to. 

• non-sequenced Runs will be in all Modes as i don't see it as a game/fun-breaking offering while there will remain a Classic non-vert scoring mode, a so-called StarCross mode with vertical scoring, and an Infinite mode of never-ending gems with the Classic (non-vert) scoring where you'll play until the board fills up/you can no-longer Drop (another suggestion from early on and i think that could be fun (tho potentially exhausting? alas, i might be up for a marathon like that sometime :) ).

thanks again!

10/05/25

• Inline Scoring back in for Classic & Rush (i'm still digging Rush :) )
• Tracks Unlockable @ Classic only
• Select Modes @ Leaderboard
• BETA game Updated

I want to do something better @ End Game re: animations... after that, pending any bugs that might be reported, i'm ready to wrap GEMBOT up!

hi, gamer1867 :)

did you know that there are additional tracks available that are unlocked at scores of 75 and 150 which build upon the original loop while the 3rd track is the full 5:28 song? otherwise, yes. perhaps i should have spaced out the loop, playing it only occasionally. and, i realize now that beyond the Unlocked devlog, i don't mention the additional tracks on the main project page while the notion shows when you achieve a high score in-game.

then, yes, TBM on the drops with the speed preference acting as a multiplier of the base DropSpeed

• Tick# = (DropSpeed*SpeedFactor)*GetFrameTime()

originally, i was going to use Box2D (which i tend to bring into my games unnecessarily :) ) for the Drops but i didn't like the effect where setting Restitution to 0 still allows some bounce so i scrapped that. but, i did end up bringing Box2D into the game where Blink is automated asteroids code. then, he wasn't very efficient in only picking up 1 "target" star at a time so i made him a Sensor and process all contacts he comes across (and now i think he's too efficient... there's always something :) ). that said, this is my first Studio offering as Zaxxan's brought the Geany IDE into the mix and fixed a couple of things thus forcing me into the future where i no longer had reasons to stay with Classic :)

otherwise, the next jam i plan to participate in is Craftpix Jam #2 followed immediately by my favorite 20 Second Game Jam which hasn't yet been posted but should begin early november as it did last year :)

thanks for stopping by and for rating the game which helps me share my work. that's much appreciated. and, i do hope to see you on the discord server; it's where all the cool kids are hanging out nowadays :)