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Devlog#17: Introducing puzzle element - Battery

Hi! Today, we will delve into the exciting mechanics we have developed for Toyzone. We explored countless ideas, seeking the perfect concept that seamlessly blends the whimsical world of toys with the challenge of solving intricate puzzles.Our focus was on finding a concept that would align with toys while also creating connections between elements. That's when we came up with the idea of using batteries and their containers.

The battery container, specifically designed for our game, features two slots for batteries. The unique twist is that when a battery is missing from one of the slots, the container becomes unable to supply power to other connected devices. These devices could range from a fan to an electric car, each requiring a functional power supply to operate effectively.

To implement the mechanics for the batteries, we built upon the foundational functionalities of our existing orb/boulder, which we extensively discussed in our previous devlogs. Leveraging these functionalities allowed our character to interact with and push the battery effectively. Furthermore, we developed additional functionalities to facilitate the battery's connection with its container. When our character successfully rolls the battery into the designated container, the container activates, initiating the power supply to other connected devices.

To ensure a smooth learning curve, we designed the initial levels to introduce players to the puzzle element gradually. In these levels, we filled the battery container with both batteries, allowing users to familiarize themselves with the mechanics and understand the concept. However, as players progress to subsequent levels, we deliberately left both slots in the container empty, presenting them with a more challenging task of figuring out how to roll the battery into the designated container to restore power.

Here’s a visual demonstration of this exciting gameplay feature, showcasing the mechanics in action.

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

The incorporation of the battery and container puzzle elements adds an intriguing layer of complexity to Toyzone, offering players a unique and rewarding gameplay experience. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to enhance the game with new and exciting features!

Best Regards,
Playdew Team

Devlog#16: Toy Zone Concept Inspiration

Welcome back to our devlog! Today, we'll delve into the details of our art direction, from the choice of a fresh and forest-inspired aesthetic to the incorporation of vibrant colors and larger-than-life toy structures. You'll get a glimpse into the level of detail and intricacy required to create an environment that sparks wonder and ignites the imagination.

For this zone, we imagined stepping into a world where everything is bright, colorful, and brimming with life. Toyzone is a whimsical and enchanting place that reflects the colorful days of childhood, where fun and joy are abundant at every turn. This zone serves as a manifestation of the twins' imagination, a world they yearn to be a part of. It is reminiscent of beloved theme parks for kids, where imagination knows no bounds. In Toyzone, players will encounter familiar daily life items and toys from the twins' lives, bringing back a rush of nostalgia.

Toyzone is the last stop in the twins' journey. From the icy corridors of the Frozen Castle to the fantastical realms they've explored, the players have witnessed their trials and triumphs. But in Toyzone, we wanted to instill a feeling of familiarity and warmth, a reminder that their journey is nearing its completion.



To enhance the dream-like atmosphere, we incorporated interactive elements into Toyzone. We've meticulously designed and modeled a vast array of toys, ensuring that every detail is faithful to their real-life counterparts. As players venture through Toyzone, they will come across various artifacts and mementos that hold personal significance to Ben and Abi. Picture their favorite stuffed animals, well-worn storybooks, and even artwork created from their own wild imaginations. Each item serves as a thread connecting the twins' present adventure with their home and personal lives.







Aesthetically, we aimed for a harmonious blend of natural elements and playful toy-themed structures. Towering trees provide shade and add an organic touch to the landscape, while whimsical giant mushrooms and flowers serve as interactive play areas and points of interest for players to explore.. A vivid blue expanse, adorned with fluffy white clouds that seem to form familiar shapes invites the players to let their imaginations run wild. As the day progresses, the sky transitions into a palette of warm hues, as if signaling the approach of a breathtaking sunset. This dynamic sky adds a touch of magic and wonder to the overall atmosphere, amplifying the sense of awe and discovery as players navigate the zone.

Creating Toyzone has been an incredible journey for our team. We've poured our passion and creativity into designing an environment that transports players back to the carefree days of their own childhood. Stay tuned for future updates as we inch closer to the release of our game. We're excited to continue sharing our progress, insights, and experiences with you.

Best Regards,
Playdew Team

Devlog#15: Introducing puzzle element - Mushrooms

Welcome! In this devlog, we'll unveil the intricate design and mechanics behind our mushroom implementation. Within our mesmerizing enchanted forest zone, these bouncy fungi serve as the gateway to reaching new heights, quite literally. So strap in and prepare to embark on a journey where mushrooms become your springboards to unimaginable adventures!

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

In our forest zone, you'll find mushrooms scattered on the ground, while some are cleverly growing on vertical organic walls. To add an extra layer of challenge and excitement, we've placed alternating mushrooms on nearby left and right sides of the walls, giving players the sensation of wall jumping. Each mushroom possesses a unique bounce factor, determined by its size. While some mushrooms allow you to bounce higher with a simple jump, others are massive, requiring you to find a higher ledge to reach their tops.

Implementing the player's jumping mechanics was relatively straightforward. We created a detection system that triggers whenever the player's feet touch the top side of a mushroom. Once detected, we simulate a regular player jump, but with the height of the jump varying based on the bounce factor of the specific mushroom. This allows for a satisfying and dynamic jumping experience, encouraging players to strategically plan their movements and explore the environment.

For the mushroom's bouncy animation, we employed a rigging technique within our 3D software. Multiple joints were added inside the mushroom, enabling us to create a base bouncy animation. To add an extra touch of visual interest, we included additional controls to rotate the mushroom cap left and right. With this, we created a custom Sine animation that reacts to the player's interaction with the mushroom. Depending on whether the player hits the mushroom on its left, right side, or center, the mushroom cap responds accordingly, adding a delightful visual feedback to the gameplay.

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

And that concludes our exploration of the marvelous Mushroom mechanics in our game! We hope you enjoyed this look into how these bouncy fungi elevate the gameplay experience in our forest zone. It's these little details that make exploring our game world exciting and engaging. Stay tuned for more.


Until next time, happy gaming!

Best Regards,
Playdew Team

Devlog#14: Introducing puzzle element - Mud

Welcome back! Today, we have an enchanting tale to share with you as we delve deeper into the captivating world of our Enchanted Forest zone. Our team has been hard at work, crafting a truly mesmerizing experience that will challenge your wits and immerse you in a realm of wonder. In this devlog, we are thrilled to unveil a new puzzle element that will test your mettle: the Mud.

As we embarked on designing the puzzles for this bewitching realm, we sought to create an element that would not only align with the zone's theme but also add a unique twist to gameplay. After countless brainstorming sessions and careful consideration, we found inspiration in the natural world. Mud, being notorious for hindering movement speed, emerged as the perfect addition to our puzzle repertoire.

Our intention with the Mud element is to immerse players in a soft, squishy, and malleable experience. As you step into the mud, it eagerly embraces your feet, creating a subtle sinking sensation and a feeling of being slightly stuck. To amplify this tactile and sensory experience, we've designed the mud's surface to be uneven, causing your feet to sink in certain areas while encountering resistance in others. The mud oozes between your toes, leaving a wet, cool sensation on your skin.

To bring this idea to life, we've developed a custom physics system specifically tailored for the Mud element. By strategically placing checkpoints at both the beginning and end of the mud area, we can accurately detect when the character enters and exits this unique terrain. Upon stepping into the mud, the character's animation smoothly transitions to convey the sensation of being slightly stuck, enhancing the overall immersion. Furthermore, we've disabled jumping while the character is walking on the mud, ensuring players fully experience the distinctive challenge it presents.

Curious to see the Mud element in action? We've prepared an exciting video showcasing its mechanics. Take a look and witness the captivating interplay between our character and the mud, and how it dynamically affects their movement.

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

Stay tuned for further devlogs, and thank you for joining us

Best regards,
Playdew Team

Devlog#13: Introducing puzzle element - Moving platforms

Today, we're diving into the creation of another puzzle element- moving platforms. Moving platforms play a crucial role in the game, adding dynamism and complexity to the level design. However, their implementation was not without its obstacles.

Moving platforms introduce dynamic and interactive elements to the gameplay. They are platforms that are capable of changing their position on certain triggers or player actions. These platforms add an extra layer of challenge and strategy, requiring players to time their movements and make precise jumps to reach higher areas or overcome obstacles.



We faced an exhilarating challenge in the implementation of button-activated platform movement. Each platform was designed to have a predetermined destination when the corresponding button was pressed, with the direction varying from upward movements to other directions. Upon releasing the button, the platform seamlessly reversed its course. However, achieving smooth and fluid motion for these platforms while handling collisions with environmental blocks, interactable elements, and characters proved to be a formidable task.

Our goal was to create a truly immersive platforming experience, where players could interact effortlessly with the moving platforms without any disruptions or glitches. The challenge lay in maintaining the integrity of the platform's motion while ensuring accurate collision detection and response, preventing characters and elements from becoming stuck or experiencing erratic behavior.

To address the challenge, we incorporated trigger colliders slightly larger than the platform's size. This setup allowed the platform to gradually decelerate upon encountering an obstacle, ensuring a smooth stop. If the path obstruction was removed, the platform resumed moving in its intended direction.

However, this wasn’t the end. Initially, we assumed that the character and other interactable elements would behave correctly on the platform by leveraging the standard physics engine. However, issues arose when characters stood on moving platforms. When moving vertically, the character would jitter, and when moving horizontally, the character would remain stationary while the platform continued to slide away.

To resolve the jittering and sliding problems, we implemented a system where any element or character landing on the platform's surface becomes a child object of the platform. This approach allowed the character to walk on the platform's surface while moving with it. We used a combination of OnCollisionEnter events and additional code to determine whether an element or character hit the top or bottom surface of the platform. Based on the Y position check, we could appropriately parent or unparent the character.

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

By implementing the parenting and unparenting mechanism, we successfully eliminated the jittering and sliding issues. Characters could now seamlessly move on top of the platform, maintaining their position relative to the platform's motion. We are delighted with the outcome of this solution, as it significantly improved the player's experience and ensured smooth interaction with moving platforms.

Thank you for joining us on this development exploration.

Best regards,
Playdew team