2.1 Update, Preview of Future Updates

Hello everyone!

I've just released version 2.1 of the demo for Beeknighted. I consider the demo to very much still be a work in progress, and will be continuing to add content, but as of version 2.0, the demo provides a substantial chunk of the beginning of the game.  Version 2.1 is a debug version, so it will launch with a debug window. In the event that the game crashes, the debug window will list the cause of the crash as the last line. If you happen to encounter this, please let me know  what the line details! I'm currently trying to track down a bug causing the game to crash in the boss fight. If you prefer to play a release build, version 2.0 will remain available to download.

If you played the 2.0 version, the update does not include new content, but fixes some bugs and polishes a few things:

* Added a camera reset button: R3

* Added the ability to pause and access a skip menu in the opening cutscene

* Fixed a bug where the bee could fly when holding an item if the button was quickly pressed after falling from a ledge

* Changed how the camera collides with small objects to prevent a few awkward zooms

* Fixed an issue where the rope bridges in the rafflesia room displayed some objects incorrectly

* Fixed the collision shape of the dirt clod in the center of the rafflesia.

* Fixed a bug where the red mites would not play a death squeal upon inflicting a final hit

* Fixed the pop pod sound not playing until after the boss's defeated animation has finished

* Adjusted the stone elevator position to ensure the bee cannot get stuck between the two upper platforms (will be adjusted further later)

Known issues being worked on:

* adding optional tutorial signs to inform the player of basic controls

* adding additional facial animations to all characters

* adding a manual progress text button to the opening text crawl so that it is not on a timer

* adding a wander state to the mites

* moving the second climbable wall in the vertical shaft so that the player doesn't need to position the camera between the bee and the wall to see the platform

* making the stone elevator shortcut more visually distinct (to make it obvious that it is in fact an elevator and not an empty platform)

* sometimes pickups spawned from jars will land on the other side of a wall

* some animation glitches with climbing and worms burrowing

* doubled sounds (such as two jars colliding) will add volumes

* sometimes particle effects cause slight slowdown

So what's next?

My list of priorities for content updates is as follows:

First, build the first half of Antfort proper, the first true dungeon, up through the miniboss.

Second, add the basis for a save and load game function, options menu, and work on improving the camera system

Third, finish Antfort through the dungeon boss and demo end cutscene, the total intended content of the demo

Fourth, rewrite the bee's controls entirely to improve the feel of the game, fix some lingering issues, and add the lock-on system, short hops/ledge grabbing, falling stinger, and an item menu where you can assign weapons to buttons. At this time I will also be refining the look of the bee. Based on quite a bit of feedback, I'd like to focus in the design to be slightly more congruous with the world and reduce some elements of the design that can be construed as sexualized. The original costume may be made available as a later unlock, but for the default look I would like to reduce the perceived sexuality of the character. I've also learned much about designing and rigging 3D characters since and there are a few holdover weak points in the original model to address.

Lastly, I would like to get started on the aerial combat segments, and prepare a short independent demo to be included with the larger demo accessible from the title menu.

For now, here's a preview of a character I'm working on that you might encounter in the next major content update:

Spiders might look threatening, but perhaps there's more than meets the eye?