Welloh there !

When I started this project, I didn't really anticipate having to build a tutorial. I was scared with the programming of it, tutorials being notoriously a complex part of game development. Also, the interactions being very simple (simply plopping & picking objects), I initially though I could do with an instruction manual page/screen. I want Ploppin' to feel cozy and this approach felt a bit too cold. Creating a dedicated level ended up being quite a fun challenge to solve. I aimed toward a compromise between a clear introduction and an easy implementation.

This latest update  is also a significant milestone by bringing a new environment to Ploppin'. Being the starting point of the experience, I like to think of it as the blank slate for the other environments. I imagine every level of the game defined by a very clear color palette,  so I felt natural for the tutorial to be white. The abstract nature of the world and its items is intentional as well. My goal is to have the player more focused on the learning and less on creating a meaningful scene.

I think tutorials in game development are a very interesting exercise to go through as a creator. You have to unravel all the creative meandering you've been through since the beginning and do a deep introspection of what your game really is. In way, it feels like taking a walk backward to try to get a fresh clear look at what you are creating. Going through those steps helped me strengthen key aspects of Ploppin' and gives me confidence going forward.