February 2024 update

For the last month and a bit, I have been very focused on UI and usability.

• Tutorial system added! Some tutorials added to the start of the game.
• Button callouts now exist and have gone through some revisions as I've started implementing them. Just Xbox for now but the system is designed to support Nintendo and PlayStation style buttons as well (with the ability to choose which you prefer on PC). Keyboard/mouse will likely be a whole other beast.
• Added new Cockpit screen, with WIP art from an artist helping out with the project! The first art in the game that isn't by me.
• New "Enhancements" menu replaces the old store. Designing and coding this has been the bulk of my work in the past couple of months.
• The player now starts with 3 of the each of the two items that are in the game.
• Item stocks have button callouts.
• The ability to lock your facing direction is now expressed in the UI with a button callout and lock/arrows icons.

Everything mentioned above can be seen in the attached video.

The reason for the cockpit is as a venue for narrative, so something I'd like to start on soon is figuring out dialogue in the game. I'm also itching to go back in and improve some of the level design though, so I may do some of that to give myself a break from spreadsheets full of text and UI coding.