Amazing pool game. There are way more powerups and modifiers than I was expecting. And the game’s got me learning spin physics on top of that; I overlooked that initially since the tutorial didn’t introduce them. Just a couple of questions and potential bug reports based on my findings so far:
1. In the Solo mode, is it intentional for you to have the ability to reposition the cue ball wherever you want at the beginning of a level without “Gold Hand” being given to you at the start? Also, is this intentional when you get a redo via “Invincibility” after potting the cue ball? I figured the cue ball would just go back to its original position in that scenario.
2. Is the game supposed to foul you when you pot your last colored ball(s), then the black ball in the same turn?
3. The free repositioning of the cue ball you get from your opponent’s foul uses up your “Gold Hand” if you have it.
4. Trying to go to the Solo mode after playing a Quick or Custom game puts you in a 2-player match instead.
5. After playing any of the modes, the UI popups for the Quick game and Custom game menus stop working.
Thank you so much for your time and feedback ! It means a lot.
I was on a break but i'm soon gonna work on this game again so it is a lot of motivation for me to see your post.
To answer your questions and reports : 1. The solo mode was added just before my break, and didn't got a lot of attention on my side. So consider it a work in progress. I was actually considering removing it from the game. But it is a thought still in progress. From what I remember, the first move is always a free gold hand indeed. I actually dont recall how I handle invincibility bonus on one player mode though. I'll look into this.
2. Yes, I followed as close as I could - considering the modifiers - the real pool rules. So Black ball should only be put on a turn when you don't have any colored balls left on the table. Only exception is if a ball appeared during the turn, since if it feels unfair to lose for something you can't control.
3. From what I remember, it shouldn't, If it from a direct foul from your opponent. I'll note this. But ! I'm often wronged by the fact that if your opponent plays and let say the ball get rocked. The cue ball reset on the left side of the table but since it's not from a direct fault, you can move it freely but can't go beyond the white line. Now... If you have a gold hand, you use it only if you cross the line ! It's hard to convey to the player and feels very obscur right now. I should think of way to better indicate this specific concept. Again though it stills can be a bug.
4. Noted !
5. What do you call ui popup ? The thing that tells you what you unlocked ?
1. If I remember correctly, a couple of levels in the Solo mode started me with actual "Gold Hands" (which was what made me suspect this might've been a bug), and I don't think you get the free move in every level either. I guess in hindsight it's not really a big deal, but I figured it was worth mentioning. Out of personal preference I've just been playing without the freebie (unless I actually get the "Gold Hand").
2. You know, I thought back to this question at work and figured that was actually the case. Well, that's what I get for not knowing the rules of pool that well. XD
3. I remember having a moment like the scenario you mentioned where I could move the ball freely but not past the line. Maybe I had "Gold Hand" then and that's what happened. I did further testing with only "Gold Hand" enabled, and the free repositioning of the ball after an opponent's foul didn't use it up.
5. My bad, I could've been more specific. Anything that gives you details on what you hover over with the mouse is what I'd call a UI pop-up. I was referencing your update notes when trying to find an appropriate name for them.
Glad to help. Looking forward to seeing what more you do, but no need to hurry; your game's already got me hooked.
Thanks for the in depth answer again. it's precious ! I noted everything, I'm used to write patch note if you want to keep in touch you can follow the game (if that's a thing) and you'll be informed ! Thank you !
Found the time to try the game out, really cool stuff! Did not have the chance to actually play the game with a friend, yet, but here are some very random notes I took while giving the game a try:
-The timer took me by surprise (I think you could also have it disabled by default) -The quick match, with all the random things, felt like a lot to take in. If there's no tutorial, perhaps the first quick match could be forced to be super simple -The game at its current state might be fun for two people, who want to explore a new game, slowly learning the rules. Kind of like learning to play a new board game -Setting the spin perhaps doesn't need that extra view, you could set it right on the lower right corner UI element -Does this need to have fake 3D? -Ball rotation and movement is really good -Stick handling is nice and pretty intuitive (once you learn to shoot) -A web version and a tutorial would make this more approachable
All in all, the game feels impressive, so much settings to fiddle with and to have your own weird custom pool game experience, and I think your description on Itch is very fitting. Thanks for making the game!
Thanks a lot for the detailed feedback and for your time !
I totally agree, the biggest issue with the game right now is clearly the onboarding. I need to add a proper tutorial, and probably a solo or duo mode where you unlock things step by step, so players can really get familiar with each bonus and modifier. Something a bit like how you unlock characters in the old Smash Bros games (not sure if it still works like that in the newer ones).
About the extra spin screen, it's actually meant for the Android version, but I haven’t looked into how to make that version-specific yet (I think it’s somewhere in the export settings). You're right though, I should just let you handle it in the right-hand corner for now. I even have a bit of space to make it larger if needed.
What did you mean exactly for the fake 3D? To answer that and the game feel, I tried for a while to get that look in 2D, but couldn't quite get it to work, so I switched to 3D with an ortho camera. That being said, I'm sure it’s doable in 2D :)
I tested the web version and had a few small issues at first, but I'm sure i'll make it work in the end ! (i'm not using anything really problematic for this I think)
Thanks again for the feedback, it really means a lot! Time for an update !
By fake 3D I meant the pool table, which I am assuming is a bunch of 2D sprites instead of a 3D model - sorry for being unclear :--) The way the balls hit the walls and drop in pockets might feel just a bit nicer too, in 3D.
Ah yes, of course sorry! Well... I was supposed to change that at some point, I originally did it to make the bigger pocket bonus easier to implement, but I kind of regret it now :/ sinking a ball doesn’t feel satisfying at the moment. It’s on my to-do list, but I’m still a bit scared to tackle it :)
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Amazing pool game. There are way more powerups and modifiers than I was expecting. And the game’s got me learning spin physics on top of that; I overlooked that initially since the tutorial didn’t introduce them. Just a couple of questions and potential bug reports based on my findings so far:
1. In the Solo mode, is it intentional for you to have the ability to reposition the cue ball wherever you want at the beginning of a level without “Gold Hand” being given to you at the start? Also, is this intentional when you get a redo via “Invincibility” after potting the cue ball? I figured the cue ball would just go back to its original position in that scenario.
2. Is the game supposed to foul you when you pot your last colored ball(s), then the black ball in the same turn?
3. The free repositioning of the cue ball you get from your opponent’s foul uses up your “Gold Hand” if you have it.
4. Trying to go to the Solo mode after playing a Quick or Custom game puts you in a 2-player match instead.
5. After playing any of the modes, the UI popups for the Quick game and Custom game menus stop working.
Thank you so much for your time and feedback ! It means a lot.
I was on a break but i'm soon gonna work on this game again so it is a lot of motivation for me to see your post.
To answer your questions and reports :
1. The solo mode was added just before my break, and didn't got a lot of attention on my side. So consider it a work in progress. I was actually considering removing it from the game. But it is a thought still in progress.
From what I remember, the first move is always a free gold hand indeed. I actually dont recall how I handle invincibility bonus on one player mode though. I'll look into this.
2. Yes, I followed as close as I could - considering the modifiers - the real pool rules. So Black ball should only be put on a turn when you don't have any colored balls left on the table. Only exception is if a ball appeared during the turn, since if it feels unfair to lose for something you can't control.
3. From what I remember, it shouldn't, If it from a direct foul from your opponent. I'll note this. But ! I'm often wronged by the fact that if your opponent plays and let say the ball get rocked. The cue ball reset on the left side of the table but since it's not from a direct fault, you can move it freely but can't go beyond the white line. Now... If you have a gold hand, you use it only if you cross the line ! It's hard to convey to the player and feels very obscur right now. I should think of way to better indicate this specific concept. Again though it stills can be a bug.
4. Noted !
5. What do you call ui popup ? The thing that tells you what you unlocked ?
Again thank you so much for your feedback !
Hey. Thanks for getting back to me.
1. If I remember correctly, a couple of levels in the Solo mode started me with actual "Gold Hands" (which was what made me suspect this might've been a bug), and I don't think you get the free move in every level either. I guess in hindsight it's not really a big deal, but I figured it was worth mentioning. Out of personal preference I've just been playing without the freebie (unless I actually get the "Gold Hand").
2. You know, I thought back to this question at work and figured that was actually the case. Well, that's what I get for not knowing the rules of pool that well. XD
3. I remember having a moment like the scenario you mentioned where I could move the ball freely but not past the line. Maybe I had "Gold Hand" then and that's what happened. I did further testing with only "Gold Hand" enabled, and the free repositioning of the ball after an opponent's foul didn't use it up.
5. My bad, I could've been more specific. Anything that gives you details on what you hover over with the mouse is what I'd call a UI pop-up. I was referencing your update notes when trying to find an appropriate name for them.
Glad to help. Looking forward to seeing what more you do, but no need to hurry; your game's already got me hooked.
Thanks for the in depth answer again. it's precious !
I noted everything, I'm used to write patch note if you want to keep in touch you can follow the game (if that's a thing) and you'll be informed !
Thank you !
Found the time to try the game out, really cool stuff! Did not have the chance to actually play the game with a friend, yet, but here are some very random notes I took while giving the game a try:
-The timer took me by surprise (I think you could also have it disabled by default)
-The quick match, with all the random things, felt like a lot to take in. If there's no tutorial, perhaps the first quick match could be forced to be super simple
-The game at its current state might be fun for two people, who want to explore a new game, slowly learning the rules. Kind of like learning to play a new board game
-Setting the spin perhaps doesn't need that extra view, you could set it right on the lower right corner UI element
-Does this need to have fake 3D?
-Ball rotation and movement is really good
-Stick handling is nice and pretty intuitive (once you learn to shoot)
-A web version and a tutorial would make this more approachable
All in all, the game feels impressive, so much settings to fiddle with and to have your own weird custom pool game experience, and I think your description on Itch is very fitting. Thanks for making the game!
Thanks a lot for the detailed feedback and for your time !
I totally agree, the biggest issue with the game right now is clearly the onboarding. I need to add a proper tutorial, and probably a solo or duo mode where you unlock things step by step, so players can really get familiar with each bonus and modifier. Something a bit like how you unlock characters in the old Smash Bros games (not sure if it still works like that in the newer ones).
About the extra spin screen, it's actually meant for the Android version, but I haven’t looked into how to make that version-specific yet (I think it’s somewhere in the export settings). You're right though, I should just let you handle it in the right-hand corner for now. I even have a bit of space to make it larger if needed.
What did you mean exactly for the fake 3D? To answer that and the game feel, I tried for a while to get that look in 2D, but couldn't quite get it to work, so I switched to 3D with an ortho camera. That being said, I'm sure it’s doable in 2D :)
I tested the web version and had a few small issues at first, but I'm sure i'll make it work in the end ! (i'm not using anything really problematic for this I think)
Thanks again for the feedback, it really means a lot!
Time for an update !
By fake 3D I meant the pool table, which I am assuming is a bunch of 2D sprites instead of a 3D model - sorry for being unclear :--) The way the balls hit the walls and drop in pockets might feel just a bit nicer too, in 3D.
I tried the Mac version, by the way.
Ah yes, of course sorry! Well... I was supposed to change that at some point, I originally did it to make the bigger pocket bonus easier to implement, but I kind of regret it now :/ sinking a ball doesn’t feel satisfying at the moment. It’s on my to-do list, but I’m still a bit scared to tackle it :)
Oh man, I'm gonna go play this right now.
Thank you ! ahah, I have a big update soon for you then ! :)