Bean Beasts News

Hello!

Below are the latest updates to the playtest file. If you'd like to join the playtest, be sure to join the Discord :) There you can see how the playtest process works in #announcements.

Invite to Discord: Anxious Noob's Server on Discord!

[h3][ ! ] Warning for Existing Testers [ ! ][/h3]
If you have save data that precedes this patch it may bug out - please reset via settings if this happens... This is due to some workarounds I had to do to create a special Pixel Pitch build.

No longer a Pixel Pitch build! - Doesn't load into 1-5 with everything unlocked by default. The game loads into the skippable intro/tutorial as before.

Enemy AI Improvements! - Enemies spread when densely packed (this is new behaviour, could cause bugs).
- Enemies can target multiple tiles around Rider/Mount (wall exploit fix).

Optimisation: Animation Update! - I've created a custom animation script to reduce the number of Unity Animators running in each scene, improving performance.

Endless Mode - Cash Reduction Multipliers Reduced! - More cash for higher scores!

• Enemies bunch up on one tile instead of spreading at the end of their path.
  
• Enemy shield particle effect sometimes in wrong location (somewhere random on map).
  
• Chicken sometimes doesn't attack enemies close to it.
  
• "New" indicators for inventory displaying when they shouldn't sometimes.
  

Be sure to let me know if you discover any others!

• Ability to go straight to next level without going back through the main menu.
  
• Menu & UI Improvements: Map, Level Info & Info Section.
  
• Performance Improvements: Enemy AI / System Improvement.
  
• Making Trees Removable at a cost.
  
• Post-level Stats: Total Damage from Towers.
  
• Enemy info will be locked until you defeat a certain number of them.
  
• Language Setting Implemented.
  

Exciting news! I had the opportunity to pitch Bean Beasts to thousands of viewers live! It was great fun and the judges awarded me $2500 for investment in future ports and translation!

ːsteamthisː Asmon

"So why are you riding a giant chicken...?"

There were some better quotes, but they had naughty words... ːsteammockingː

ːsteamthisː Ovilee

"This is a fantastic game, this is a game that I would play! I really like the game, I want to support it, I want to support the dev!"

ːsteamthisː Sibs

"It looks awesome, it definitely inspires nostalgia!"


Check out the video here:
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

Hello Playtesters!

I need you to take on the first World Boss to make sure it's fun and beatable! The game is almost demo-ready in the lead up to the London Games Festival!


I have also added a cut scene to the game which sets the tone of the adventure!

This will play automatically the first time you boot up the game, or can be watched when you select the Tutorial from the Map. Players who already have save data will have to watch via the Tutorial.

Other Updates

• Big Tutorial Update - the tutorial is now on it's own separate level (no longer 1-1) and is much more concise - breaking down a few elements some players struggled with to improve the learning experience.
  
  
• Endless Mode has been updated. Fewer Choppas and a smaller playing area makes it easier to focus on the multiple lanes. Leaderboards will be coming soon!
  
  
• First Summon added to the game - unlocked after the World Boss.
  
  
• Thank you message removed, replaced by a one-time message that also plays the game's trailer (will be updated with a more appropriate video once I have one).
  
  
• Beating 1-5 unlocks an extra trap slot and 3x upgrade options for Traps!
  
  
• Weather Effects added, will build upon this in further updates.
  
  
• Bean Beasts cost is displayed differently, hopefully making it clearer to players.
  
  
• Many boring bug fixes and minor QOL adjustments made.
  

With the extra trap slot, extra upgrades, smaller map and summon in your inventory it's now possible to get much further on Endless Mode - my new record is 43!

Cheers!

Anxious Noob.
Josh.

Hi All - Been working away on fixes and features for Bean Beasts, here are the latest updates! If you would like to take part in a playtest, feel free to contact me :)

1) Info Pages

• Added a placeholder "Info" section to the Main Menu.
  
  
• Any feedback regarding layout, topics, language and depth of information would be greatly appreciated!
  

2) Trap Upgrades to Try

• Demon Eye / Ballister. Shoots piercing long range arrows that deal magic damage.
  
  
• Mud Blaster / Cannon. Fires balls of mud that can hit more enemies that explode and inflict poison.
  
  
• Ice Daggers / Spikes. Fast firing ice damage while also inflicting slow.
  

2) Quality of Life Features Added

• Feedback for Challenge complete/failed made more obvious.
  
  
• Remixed mini-boss music.
  
  
• Players can pause during the tutorial.
  
  
• Change-Direction buttons on upgrade UI now have "cost" clearly labelled.
  
  
• Change-Direction buttons also transparent when players cannot afford.
  
  
• V-Sync option is now available for players experiencing screen tearing.
  
  
• Retry "Last Wave" is now retry "This Wave" - players restart from current wave instead of previous one.
  
  
• Pause button is displayed when using a gamepad.
  

3) Graphical Changes

• Hellfire Arrows changes colour on higher levels.
  
  
• Frog's "in-water" graphics fixed pixel aspect ratio.
  
  
• Ground nodes glow made brighter.
  
  
• Range display has been made brighter.
  

4) Bug Fixes

• WASD key movement getting stuck - fixed.
  
  
• Improved animation performance.
  
  
• Enemy weight now affected by shield.
  
  
• Some players to not be able to pet Tortoise - fixed.
  
  
• Frog's special range affected by time-speed - fixed.
  
  
• Some shielded enemies lose their shield sprite prematurely - fixed
  
  
• Fixed a bug causing camera/icon movement to be linked to framerate.
  
  
• Bombs no longer flying off randomly.
  

Cheers!

Josh.

Once again a huge thank you to those who have donated their precious time to help me improve Bean Beasts! I’ve received a lot of great feedback and have implemented the following updates to the game.

1) Rebalancing

• Beasts have received a significant power buff: 50% for low level, 150-250% for mid-level and 300%+ for top-tier.
  
  
• Beast passive XP gain has been adjusted, they now grow much faster while they’re attacking (including ability damage) so players will have to think carefully where they place their Beasts and when to use their specials as this will affect their levels on later waves.
  
  
• Trap upgrade costs have been adjusted – the cost-per-DPS ratio has been made steeper. You now have to work a bit harder to unlock the OP top-tier traps and should no longer be able to win most maps with a single well placed trap!
  
  
• For Boss Maps and Endless Mode the power escalation of enemies has been toned down and the currency generation per wave has been increased to balance out the trap price adjustments. My record is now Wave 34 after this update so the difficulty should be roughly the same as before.
  

2) Quality of Life Features Added

• The range of Towers is now displayed while hovering over a node.
  
  
• Shortcuts added to exit Upgrade UI panel: Escape / Right Click / Clicking elsewhere in the level.
  
  
• Pressing Escape now closes all UI panels or goes Back to previous page in the menu.
  
  
• You can cancel out of building directional towers, by hitting back, escape or the “X” button – there is no cost penalty to changing your mind, energy is returned upon cancelling.
  
  
• WASD now controls the camera, along with arrow keys.
  
  
• Additional Keyboard shortcuts added:
  (C) Challenge Panel
  (F) Fast Forward
  (Z/X) Zoom In/Out
  (U) Quick Upgrade (while Upgrade Panel is open)
  (Y) Select Path 1 Upgrade / (I) Select Path 2 Upgrade (while Upgrade Panel is open)
  (1-7) Ability Button Shortcuts
  
  
• Info panels added to items in the shop.
  
  
• Beast XP Boost button now displays current Beast Level.
  
  
• Adjusted damage number graphics to make them clearer.
  

3) Bug Fixes

• Transparent hand icons on shop buttons fixed.
  
  
• Endless Mode starting energy/beans discrepancy fixed.
  
  
• Audio levels being too loud and not adjusting on the opening logo screen fixed.
  
  
• Fixed the bug causing some players to unlock additional Beast Inventory Slot early.
  
  
• Other minor bug fixes.
  

4) Graphical Improvements

• Some graphic improvements and bug fixes.
  
  
• "Restart" text added to Win Screen (above Last and First wave buttons)
  
  
• UI Buttons on book panels made clearer.
  
  
• Frog spawn challenge text made clearer.
  

Cheers!

Josh.