Making my game more replayable (devlog)

WISHLIST Star Mining Co. on Steam (and join the playtest!):
s.team/a/2584800/
Become a member!
www.youtube.com/@BarneyCodes/...
Join the discord!
/ discord
Chapters:
0:00 Replayability
0:43 Air tank
1:29 Drill setup overhaul
4:20 Asteroid types
5:34 Randomised parts
6:43 Initial parts
6:55 Tutorial
7:16 Playtest
Replayability is a really important part of any game, but especially so for roguelikes. Since the player will be dying a lot, there has to be something that makes them want to pick it up again and start a new run. Star Mining Co. had the basics in there, but in this devlog I try to take that to the next level and make the game even more replayable.
Follow me:
Twitter: / barney_codes
Reddit: / barneycodes
#devlog #gamedev #indiegame

[@BarneyCodes]

If you join up for the play test, be sure to jump onto the discord too to share your feedback! discord.gg/Qnc3jWTeEW
Cheers!

[@DirectorAmelia]

Looks really cool! Great improvements so far ✨👍

[@BarneyCodes]

Thanks so much!

[@biddls]

I think that you need to get back up to the surface before your oxygen runs out to finish the level else there is a penalty. Adds extra stress etc. mby there is a “rescue service” that costs you materials if you run out of oxygen or something.

[@BarneyCodes]

That's a really great idea! Maybe when you first arrive at an asteroid, you're in your spaceship, which lets you orbit the asteroid and choose where to land. You've then got to make it back to the landing craft to get off the asteroid again.
Thanks for the feedback!

[@caps_lock]

so a bit like noita wand building, except 2 dimensional. very cool!

[@BarneyCodes]

I haven't actually played Noita, I might have to watch a few videos! Thanks for the feedback!

[@elite_astro2820]

Have you thought about changing the typical slay the spire "path map" to something more of an solar system or maybe something more ciruclar (you start on the asteroid in the middle and you go to the outer edge) ?

[@BarneyCodes]

The thing that appeals to me about the slay the spire style is that you often get a chance to change path and access the whole map. With a circular style one, you'd only really ever have access to a wedge of the map.
Certainly an interesting idea though, maybe it would work if you started on the outside of the map and worked towards the centre?

[@elite_astro2820]

@@BarneyCodes Hmm you may try the idea of starting on the edge and going to the middle. That's may be also interesting. Also I have an question regarding art, is it all temporary?

[@BarneyCodes]

I plan on having a boss asteroid, so I think going towards the centre would work best (and have the boss in the middle), I might have to try it out!
For the art, some things are definitely temporary (like icons for drill parts, they need a lot of work), but most things will just need a bunch of polishing before release. A lot of it is very "flat" at the moment, but I plan on making things more detailed.

[@elite_astro2820]

@@BarneyCodes it great to think that I've might have helped in the improvement of the game 😊. Also I think that you should do more things like the rocket jumping from asteroid to asteroid the transition between them is a veeery interesting idea. Maybe you should try to make the rocket point to the next asteroid while transitioning?

[@UncoveredTruths]

this is so fucking clever haha, awesome mate!

[@corpsinhere]

Can inputs be used to modify other inputs?

[@BarneyCodes]

Not at this stage (at least, an input's value can't directly effect another). I was originally planning on having this, but it gets a bit tricky in the scenario where an input that is effected by other inputs gets processed before an input that effects it (if that makes sense!).
I do have some input's that look at the state of the grid though. For example, if the row the input is in is full, then it outputs a value, but otherwise does nothing.
If you've got a good idea for a drill part, I'd love to hear it though!

[@OscarLeites]

fantastic work! If you need music for the gameplay or to promote the game (trailer), let me know.🤗👌🏻😁🎮🤗🎶

[@BarneyCodes]

Thanks so much! I haven't gotten around to even thinking about a trailer yet hahaha... Will keep you in mind, cheers!

[@OscarLeites]

@@BarneyCodes Thank you very much for responding to my message. Well, my offer still stands for any other time. Have a beautiful day🤗.

[@LonelyTurtle-xd5yb]

About the map and path selecting thing. So normal rogulike map/paths are overused and boring, but what if you make your own one? Just saying, maybe it becomes a huge map and you travel from asteroid from asteroid, with no “actual” paths shown on screen but instead the player decides where to go. There are some problems need to solve, but just a suggestion, you can make a more unique map/path system.

[@BarneyCodes]

This could be cool! I haven't shown it in the devlogs yet I don't think, but I'm planning on having some boss asteroids, so I kinda need players to be heading towards that. Another comment suggested having circular maps instead of just the straight one, which could be cool.
I'll have to give it some thought, thanks for the feedback!