Amazing Frog? News

As you may know we were hit by some problems with the Jam Maker update.


In this patch we have made sure that the process for collecting berries and turning them to jam jars was fixed! We wish we could have released it sooner.

[h3]Buuuut, sometimes you just have to fix a bunch of stuff at once. [/h3]
(and it can take some time)


First, we got wrapped up in another major bug - what happens when you eject from the jets or indeed what happens when you crash a jet... ( If you had not noticed it ... it was a bad one )


However, its not just jets that should be able to take to the skies!


[h3]Indeed, Pigs will fly![/h3]
Since one of the major parts of the Jam Maker update was the Saddle Launcher (If your Jam Maker was working) The saddle logic itself needed some care and attention.


Especially when it comes to using Jet Packs either in saddles or indeed on some bikes.


We still think we need to spend some more time on this part of the control system, but we also think we moved it a big step forward in this patch.

There were other issues that we solved and there are some that we are aware we haven't solved yet. We want to say thanks for all the feedback (and awesome artwork), we try and keep up with everything posted, it's all really very helpful and is going to lead us to leaving Early Access soon.


[h3]Buuuut, The saddle logic is actually really dangerous![/h3]


I will say though, we had a lot of fun shooting each other with the Saddle Launcher. Even as i write this i am aware that there is a bug where you can continally get Saddle Launchers from the dispencer... gulp.

The saddle logic did send us a down a bit of a rabbit hole, especially when thinking about how to control a shark... we ended up following a path that had not expected to engage with so soon . Luckily it will yield a new update pretty quickly.


This image should give you some idea of what we aaaaaaare currently wrapped up in.

[h2]The Jam Maker
[/h2]

Yes thats right! Make Jam. A new fundemental and core system added to Swindonshire.


Here's a video with some ideas on how to farm for berries to make jam.
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
We are expanding our range of objects throughout the world and of course thinking about their value. This is all important mechanics that will make Law and Order have more depth... I hope its all starting to make a bit more sense now.


[h2]More Persistence with Collectables[/h2]
This is a feature upgrade. Have you ever been familiar with scenes like this


You have just been on a kill Rampage and there is just so much stuff to collect, but if you walk too far away it will all be gone?


Not any more...
(Heres the boring Game dev bit)
Lots of physics objects = bad for runtime
especially when they are left just hanging around. So Gaz decided that cleaning them up after you went away would be a "normal" thing to do. but what if you need to go back to the hideout to get the vacuum or you got killed whill fighting a load of zombies?
Since the objects are becoming increasigly valuable when we found a way to make them persist in the session. They won't stay if you refresh Swindon (ie go to moon or sewer) but the objects should stick around and wait for you to collect them.

[h2]Time To Mount UP ![/h2]


Unlock the saddle Launcher (with jam Jars) you should be able to shoot any living thing with it to add a saddle and ride it...




When you mount up, it might be easier tovisit places you could not get to before.




But be careful.



[h2]Team up in the Sewer.[/h2]


We've put some chainsaws in the sewer and a vacuum to make collecting things of the dead in teh sewer more productive.


Cos Zombies carry loot too.


We don't know what the fastest way to gather "stuff" is yet, what are you doing?





[h2]First Pathogen Dart Gun[/h2]

We won't tell you how to get it, but like the saddle launcher the gun will appear in the hideout when unlocked.


You can Infact just about anything with a pathogen dart gun


And try new things



[h2]Yeah... there has been Fixes[/h2]
There have been fixes and there are a few new outfits and unlockables and more Magic! I won't go into detail.
One notable fix is to make the treads on the tanks more deadly and the tank shot explosions too.


As we move towards Law and Order and "1.0" (which is very close now) we are also refining some of the core components. Jam jars, saddles and pathogen darts all work with various aspects of the evolving tech that drives frog life in Swindonshire.
[h3]Unity 6[/h3]
This was also another major step for us since we have moved the project to Unity 6 - this allows us to future proof the game and unity 6 is very much becoming a requirment for us roll out the console version when we hit 1.0 with Law and order.

Also we should be "delivering" a new update very soon.

[h2]Welcome to the Chainsaw Update![/h2]
While you may know we have been working on some bigger updates, we wanted to give you a little slice (..wink..)


[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
Its pretty powerfull You can chop most things :)


So many things to cut up... but remember, you are not the only frog packing a chainsaw.

[h2]Washing lines...[/h2]
Its washing day! some frogs will have put out their special items.


Don't steal new T shirts for your collection.


Find that perfect something to complete your outfit.


Other clothing items have also been left lying around, it may be hard to find the dustbin as a seperate costume.



[h2]Bouncy Mushrooms ?[/h2]

You demanded it... You got it. What will you demand next? a yeti? with sun glasses? I dunno.
(We always intended for the big mushrooms to be bouncy, like big parasols, but we had not got around to it - So Thanks for the push! )



[h2]Magic Toilet Progress... [/h2]

I won't spoil the magic toilet surprises, but check the Toilet Message Board for new things to add.

[h2]So Whats next?[/h2]

Well, Its been 2 months since the bin day update. We didnt want it to be so long, but there was a lot of "groundwork" to do. Now, we will start another run of updates which will add more magic, more places to spend you hard earned... um "things"... jobs, death, coffee, LAW, aliens, loads of costumes and much more and not nescessarily in that ORDER!

[h2]It's 'BIN DAY!'[/h2]

[h3]A new Employment opportunity![/h3]

[h3]Earn £££'s and SCP as a BIN Frog disposing of all the rubbish on "BIN DAY".[/h3]

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

On BIN DAY throughout Swindonshire, the residents and businesses will throw out their trash. You can earn money as well as Swindon Citizen Points (SCP) throwing the trash into the 'Waste Away' Rubbish truck.


Due to the back log from the holiday season its going to be "BIN DAY" for the rest of January and then every Thursday is BIN DAY in Swindonshire ! So get out there on thursdays and earn big £££'s in your brand new job!


We have more jobs brewing in Swindon, you can maybe guess whats some will be...

[h2]And of course there is more magic![/h2]


Just be careful what you put in the magic Toilet.


Rubbish should be disposed of appropriatly, if not it could have disastrous effects and make me very grouchy.



There is a few new hidden shops/costumes too... ) But Remember after January Bin Bags will only be put out on Thursdays!

[h3]NOTES from Gaz...[/h3]
As always, we have been trying to improve the core systems. The main one we focused on this time was "throwing physical objects" (we needed it to work better in particular for bin bags), but throwing frogs also will see improvents in coming updates. There are many systems we know need some love and attention, eg falling over with grapple hook - there are work arounds, but it simply needs some of my time.
I should explain, many issues arise without us knowing. Its important to us that we always keep Amazing Frog? updated with the latest version of Unity. We don't want the system driving the game to become obselete like many did in legacy. Unfortunately with so many systems in Amazing Frog? things change beyond our control frequently and its hard to always keep track. We are so grateful when the community (on what ever platform) reaches out to let us know about issues. I do try to respond to all, but often I think my best response is to keep my head in development and fix and improve as many features as possible.
Also, your screenshots over the holidays make us extremely happy I will have to do a post with a collection of awesome screen shots

Thanks!
( for more info or videos ? - try those "more ways to connect" buttons below )

[h2]YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED !!
[/h2]

If you see one of these boxes be sure to read the label.
Check it twice!
You can't stop the grinch at xmas, so don't even try. You need to stay away from Danger Presents or risk Swindon getting frogged up a notch by some anti-Xmassers, They are heavily armed, but short on Xmas Spirit.



So not open and presents that are labels with "Danger"


[h3]- you have been warned![/h3]

May contain nuts... nuts with guns
[h3]...and maybe some with Teeth[/h3]


Infact Swindon was just updated on Steam and if you open a Danger box they just keep coming forever.
Do not open Danger presents if you want a chill Holiday Season
[h3]Where ever you go [/h3]


[h3]They will follow[/h3]


[h3]Don't let them Take over ![/h3]







Merry Xmas you filthy animals! (oh...and a Happy new year )