GAPPY BI-MONTHLY #2 - PROGRESS UPDATE + SSF!

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coverart by MKMaffo[/p][p][/p][h2]WELCOME BACK! [/h2][p]Hello everyone! Welcome back to the Gappy Bi-monthly update! If you haven't read the last issue go check it out here! [/p][p][/p][p]What we have today is the July issue, which is the perfect time for swim trunks, bikinis, and other revealing swimwear alike! I hope everyone has had an amazing summer thus far! I know I have! :^) [/p][p][/p][p]In today’s issue I’ll be sharing the latest on the games progress, spotlight some neat fanart and share some REALLY exciting news! So sit back, get yourself a cold beer and a grill-charred wiener and enjoy the read!  [/p][p][/p][h2]DEMO RECEPTION[/h2][p][/p][p]But before we touch base with everything, I just wanna say THANK YOU! to everyone who gave such a warm response to the DEMO(s) that released last May! Specifically to the Newgrounds community & Staff as It got featured as the Newgrounds front page banner for a week or so![/p][p][/p][p](Gappy as the NG Frontpage Banner)[/p][p][/p][p]Along with this, the community voted it as the 2nd best game of May 2025 on the site! Only beaten out by another great browser game titled 'Waha's Circuit Break'! Congrats to them! :-) [/p][p][/p][p]And last but certainly not least, the social media reception has been fantastic! Seems like the people are finding Gappy who may not have heard about it otherwise, it's been great to see everyone so excited to see this game finished, I am right there with ya! [/p][p][/p][p]So special thanks to Tom Fulp, The Newgrounds staff, and YOU! for the overwhelming support! It really means the world [/p][p](This was a gif but I couldn't get it to load :/ ) [/p][p]Artwork by Sulfur-Creatin on twitter (OG post) [/p][hr][/hr][p][/p][p]Artwork by Pankakijyann on twitter (OG Post)[/p][hr][/hr][p]Artwork by BaldrekrGaming on twitter (OG post)[/p][hr][/hr][p]Please give some love to the art and the artist of the pieces shown below! Everything is linked so there is NO EXCUSES! And if you have any fanart you’d like to share, feel free to share it in the discord server or right here in the steam community! Who knows, maybe you'll be featured next! [/p][p][/p][h2]PROGRESS REPORT[/h2][p]As of today, I can comfortably say that HALF of the levels found in main campaign are FINISHED!* [/p][p][/p][p]It’s been a long time coming, A huge milestone! Does this mean the game is halfway finished? NOPE! But it’s getting closer and closer every day! The goal I have set for myself is to have all the levels of the main campaign done or close to done by this year’s end, along with a good chunk of the games finalized menus and other back-end stuff ready for the games side content + polishing state which (should) be my main priority during the last year of the games development. [/p][p][/p][p]Now some of you more astute readers might be thinking to yourself “Levi? How are you only half-way done with the LEVELS of the game? This game has been in development for close to 2 years at this point!” [/p][p][/p][p]first of all, SHUT UP.[/p][p][/p][p]Second of all, I know. It’s probably not the greatest workflow but my goal for this game is to have every level both feel and look unique. For context, the main campaign is split up into 5 worlds, each with 4 levels. That may not sound like a lot, but my goal is to not make 20 levels that all feel, play and look the same. I want something with lots and lots of variety! Each level has a unique tileset, unique mechanics, widely different set pieces and sometimes even different playstyles! [/p][p][/p][p]It’s been a lot of fun, but also a lot of hard work to make these levels feel truly unique yet interconnected along with actually fun to play. I really want to capture a sense of going on a big adventure throughout a world that seems somewhat believable, cohesive too! It’s a game and art piece that begs to be taken slow and cautiously but I believe it will pay out in the end! [/p][p][/p][h2]SHORT SHORT FEST 2025![/h2][p][/p][p]And for the big announcement, Gappy is going to be having a booth at Short Short fest 2025! Appearing at both PA & MA events! [/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]This is festivals first year of showing off indie game titles, as it has originally been geared towards showing off original animations! So there will be a lot of really cool people to meet there + Me + Gappy! [/p][p][/p][p]Also! There will be a SHORT SHORT FEST EXCLUSIVE demo that will only be playable at the event! Along with 2 NEW LEVELS not yet seen! There will also be prizes given away such as custom made printed tee-shirts, clay figurines, stickers, comics and so much more! [/p][p][/p][p]If you are able, please consider stopping by to checkout the Gappy’s Adventure booth, and stick around for a night of awesome cartoons and a great way to interact with some amazing creatives irl, I’ll be excited to meet all of you! Lee Thompson for his help throughout this to get this booth up and running, I’d like to also thank Nick Senny for pushing me to do this as well! (Also shoutout to Owen for giving me a place to crash after the event lol) [/p][p][/p][h2]ARTIST CORNER : MKMAFFO[/h2][p][/p][p]now I know you’d be lying if you said you haven’t been made a little hot and bothered by this issues cover art, hey I’m right there with ya bud! But who is the genius behind this work?… [/p][p][/p][p]MKmaffo is an Italian newgrounds artist! If there is anything you’d know her for it would probably be her artistic involvement on the game Ritz! a platformer where you play as a cute little rat character who I believe is in FNF? idk sorry cam… [/p][p][/p][p]anyways, Maf is very sweet and nice and she likes to draw sexy ladies and gentlemen in skimpy outfits! WONDERFUL! And so I thought it would be most fitting to have her do the SWIMSUIT ISSUE of Gappy Bi-monthly! [/p][p][/p][p]thank you Maf for doing the art of this month’s issues. Please come back to the states soon we need to hang out again and smoke big cigars together! Follow her on Newgrounds and Twitter and send her some love![/p][p][/p][h2]FINAL REMARKS[/h2][p][/p][p]And that’s a wrap on this month’s issue. [/p][p][/p][p]I know this wasn't a very long read, but with everything I've had to do to get ready for SSF this year I didn't have time to really hone in on one specific topic. Next Issue I really do wanna give a peek behind the curtain into some creative choices I've made on the game. I'm thinking either an issue about the game's bonus games or just a write-up of my level design philosophy, who knows we'll see. [/p][p][/p][p]I’m also trying to make an effort to be more active on social media. Post some more teasers, posts memes, keep the pages alive, etc. I know I can’t AFFORD to not be active on instagram and twitter and tiktok and what-have-you but there’s something in me that just can’t do it. There’s a part of me that has this artistic voice telling me that it is the process of creating that doesn’t need to prove it exists to happen. Social media promotes that we must constantly show off what we do instead of sitting in the silence of crafting something great. And there’s also a part of me that knows that my game, my baby, will drown under the waves of games who chose to be loud. And In the middle is me who simply doesn’t want to reveal there hand in fear of spoiling the fun of experiencing a game fully blind! [/p][p][/p][p]I just want you all to know that I am putting my entire heart and soul into this, for better or for worse [/p][p][/p][p]So wish me luck! And Until next time! [/p][p][/p][p] - Levi [/p]