Player Movement - Devlog 1

The first devlog for SPEAR, focusing on the implementation of player movement and mechanics associated with that.

Platforming Movement

The general movement in SPEAR has been implemented with A/D to move left/right, and spacebar to jump. 

Currently the jumping mechanics feel "floatier" than they should, which can be resolved by making the distance between platforms larger, or increasing the gravity on the player. 

Spear Movement

The spear movement has been implemented, with a way for you to swing by holding the mouse down, and pull yourself to a point by just tapping the mouse when you throw the spear, and it allows you to drop back down by tapping the mouse again.

Feedback

the swing mechanic is a little weird if you're on the ground as u can swing but might be cool to be able to pull up the "rope" slightly or adjust the height at which you are on the swing

This is something I realised after the initial implementation of the spear, and it shouldn't be too difficult to fix following the suggestion that was given with the feedback. As it stands the joint that's used for swinging sets its distance based on how far away the player is from where the spear lands. By adding an offset and recuing the distance, it should stop colliding with the platform you're standing on.

It's a bit hard to tell that's wood

This is fine, as it's just a placeholder texture at the moment and will be clearer later in development.

Swinging feels a bit weird without a rope

That's next on the list! Should be as simple as drawing a line to the spear in some code, which will help clarify where the spear is located, and the player's position relative to that.

References
Spear artwork by WillM (https://opengameart.org/content/spear-5)