Devlog #4: where players got stuck, and a much faster browser version
After Brick Pocket went out I looked at the numbers, and they surprised me. Most people cleared the workbench just fine, opened the shop, met Owen at the window… and then two out of three left before taking his Splash Hoops.
When I played it as a first-time visitor in the browser, the reason was obvious: while Owen talked, the game was busy getting his toy ready behind the scenes, so the conversation froze for a second or two at a time and clicks seemed to do nothing. Click through quickly and he vanished, leaving an empty bench and "Unpacking the box…" for almost twenty seconds. Not a great first customer.
What changed in 1.5.1 and 1.5.2:
- Owen's toy is now prepared behind the loading bar after Play, so his visit is smooth.
- The browser version runs on a slightly customised copy of the Godot engine that only prepares the graphics the game actually draws. That's about a third of the work, and loading after Play went from roughly 30 seconds to 18 on a first visit.
- No more frozen conversations with later customers either.
- The glowing CLOSED sign now opens the shop when you click it (it used to just blink at you).
- Clicking the speech bubble skips to the end of the line, and Go on is a proper green button.
Full notes: Toy Mender 1.5.2. If you tried it before and bounced off Owen, I'd love to know if it feels better now.