Today's update brings a new look to the upgrade system! The original system used the points you won during the match to give you upgrade tokens that could be used in the upgrade tree. The new system does away with the tokens and lets you spend the points you win in a match directly on upgrades - cutting out the unnecessary middle step!
There are also fewer constraints on what you can unlock, so if you see something you particularly like, it's faster and easier to work your way towards getting it. I've also fixed bugs including: - Missing text when selecting options at the end of a match. - Option to access upgrades at the end of a match wasn't working. - Two different coloured backgrounds sometimes appeared. - Controller prompts no longer show up in the hidden modes and give the player away! Happy Unlocking, Philip

[ 2023-09-19 05:02:33 CET ] [ Original post ]

Today I've released an update that overhauls the instructions and improves how you learn to play Mini Matches. The old system dropped every player into the same tutorial, and showed the same basic controls. This update improves things by introducing game-mode specific button prompts. Every time you start a match with a new controller or keyboard configuration, the game will show you the controls you need for the specific game mode you're playing. Once you've mastered them, it'll stop prompting you until you encounter a new interaction in a new mode.
As well as improving the instructions, I've also fixed several rendering bugs, fixed an issue with vanishing borders, and stopped the game freezing when one player got too far ahead! Happy Playing, Philip

[ 2023-08-30 09:23:46 CET ] [ Original post ]

Just in time for the Steam Summer Sale, there's a big new update available for Mini Matches! You can download version 1.7.2 today.

Colours

The biggest change is that Mini Matches is now more colourful. Backgrounds take their flavour from the characters who aren't playing the match, and transitions between matches are now smoother and slightly faster so you can get into the action more quickly.
The majority of game modes have had this facelift, but you might notice a few missing while I bring them up to par over the next few weeks. This is because, in the background, I've also been making some major changes to support future features - including multiple players per team, and stable online multiplayer.

Racing

Another new feature in this update - and one of the most requested overall - is that race courses are now procedurally generated for the racing mode. Each time you play, you'll be given a new course with different obstacles - sharp corners, tight passages, forks in the road. Even the direction that you race is randomized to keep you on your toes.
I realize this update has been a long time coming, and my aim is to make sure that the next update isn't quite so far away! Happy playing, Philip

[ 2023-06-29 22:41:00 CET ] [ Original post ]

There's a new update to Mini Matches (1.6.4) with a brand new game mode, and some other big improvements.

Drive Tanks, Shoot Triangles

A variation of the Tank Duel game mode, this one lets you shoot your opponents but the final score is based on how many triangles of your own colour that you shoot. It's not as confrontational as the duel, and I've found that it makes for a nice breather between more energetic rounds!

Ability Indicators

One improvement that had been on my list for a while was adding an indicator for whether or not you'd used your ability during a round. It's not only good as a reminder that you have it, but it also lets you sneak a look at your opponents and judge just how dangerous they are.

Other Improvements

• Emotes are always big (There's no short or long tap for small or big emotes any more. Just tap, they're always big!)
• Remove Asteroid references where appropriate. (The game is much more than shooting asteroids now, so now they're shapes and triangles.)
• Tighten controls in jumping modes (They're now less floaty, and should be better for precision jumping in the Floor is Lava and Jump and Shoot.)
• Demo players can play more rounds
• Fixed bug where end of match scores would sometimes be assigned incorrectly.
• Fixed bug where the game could crash during 'Follow The Instructions' mode
• Fixed patterns in You Are The Asteroid (All asteroids had the architect pattern.)
• Fixed bug where the scores in Hidden Racing for all but the winner were random. (Now it's based on how far you managed to get without being shot.)

As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts about the new game mode, and whether or not you think the ability indicators are a useful addition! Happy shooting, Philip

[ 2022-08-02 22:09:16 CET ] [ Original post ]

Version 1.5.3 of Mini Matches is now available, and brings with it the largest content update since launch!

Follow The Instructions

It's not your typical action game, but you still get to give your reflexes a workout as this mode rapidly throws instructions at you. Jump to comply or be eliminated.

More Mini Golf

I spent some time implementing a neat procedural generation algorithm that creates an almost infinite range of minigolf courses that you can play. Each time you get the mini-golf round, you get a brand new layout.
If you're interested in hearing more about how this works, I wrote a thread on the technical side of this here.

Other Improvements

• Bullets now disappear immediately when they hit the walls in the platformer mode. (Otherwise they sit around on the ground and block players from moving.)
• Fixed bug where emotes used in effects were not selecting correctly from player's emotes.

Happy Golfing, Philip

[ 2022-07-04 22:16:07 CET ] [ Original post ]

There's been an update (1.4.11) to Mini Matches! These are the problems that were solved:

• Don't include bonus score in points assignment. Points earned at the end of a match are now based on where you (or any local player in the game) placed.
• Changed old reference to "extras" menu to the correct "newsletters" menu.
• Alternative keys for keyboard players to avoid bug when shift is used with numpad numbers. (WSAD Player can now use Q (thrust), E (shoot) and R (ability). Arrow keys players can use M (thrust), K (ability) and L (shoot).)
• Fixed bug where Mini Matches would only show a black screen on startup on MacOS 12 and higher

[ 2022-06-27 07:50:39 CET ] [ Original post ]

A new game mode is now playable in Mini Matches!

Don't Touch the Ground

This is a task made harder by the fact your opponents are lobbing shells at you. Artillery games have been a staple of local multiplayer games for years, and the satisfaction of a perfectly calculated trajectory is still there today.

Double Bonus Round

Another new feature in this update is the double (or triple!) scoring round at the end of a match. If one player has been dominating the scores, you now have a chance to catch up! If the game sees there's too big of a score gap it'll double or triple the scores for the final round, making for a real showdown.

Other Improvements

There are also a number of other changes. The biggest quality of life improvement are the new options for continuation at the end of a match. Instead of automatically continuing, it now shows buttons for upgrades, changing characters, and playing another round. The following bugs have been fixed:

• Fixed bug where some asteroids weren't destroyed when level ends (And could be seen floating around the scorecards.)
• Fixed layout issue with the upgrade hint arrow (The more upgrade points you got, the more the arrow overlapped the text.)
• Fixed error when tanks were swapped by Magician
• Ships now glow as brightly as asteroids.
• Fixed bug where you couldn't progress from tutorial using WSAD. (It would never show the prompt for a big emote.)
• Fixed bug where timer at the end of The Floor is Lava would appear beside the scorecards.
• Fixed a bug where hydra's ability would crash game while playing Eat Your Asteroids
• Show emoji in death explosion

Happy shelling, Philip

[ 2022-06-23 21:43:09 CET ] [ Original post ]

A new version (1.3.19) of Mini Matches is available.

• Minor bug fixes for the Tank Duel game mode.
• Fixed crash in Invaders mode.
• Fixed bug where first time players couldn't progress past tutorial.
• Fixed bug where volleyball nets would appear in the middle of the screen.

[ 2022-06-17 22:27:57 CET ] [ Original post ]

A new update to Mini Matches is now live, with a brand new game mode: Tank Duel Battle it out in a last-man-standing arena, where you can move and aim independently. The AI in this mode is a little more sneaky than other modes, so you'll have to hone your tactics to come out on top.

Other Improvements

Version 1.3.3 of Mini Matches also brings the following bug fixes and features:

• Fixed an error when using emojis in the tutorial, when the tutorial ended while emojis were still being displayed.
• Fixed bug where Unity failed to get cursor position on game startup
• Block off dead volleyballer's areas
• Made end screen more celebratory (Bigger difference in panel size, show particles for winner.)
• Updated volleyball AI to cope with blocked off areas (Now able to jump and fetch ball from other "sides" of the court.)
• Assigned directions to D-Pad in menus. (Easier to navigate menus.)
• Support all abilities in tank mode.

Happy Tanking, Philip

[ 2022-06-17 04:09:28 CET ] [ Original post ]

This patch has a number of bug fixes as well as some great quality of life updates. There are some new features:

• Timeout for Floor is Lava (a 15 second timeout appears after 2 minutes)
• Added an emote effect to the winner at the end of each mini match, as a way to show off the emotes the player has chosen.
• Added an option to go back to main menu from the end of demo screen.
• Levels that are easier to learn are now prioritized the first time you play Mini Matches
• Mini Matches now shows rich presence details in Steam

Bugs have been squished:

• Fixed bug where demo end screen would still show newsletter option even if you'd already signed up.
• Fixed graphics problem with pool pockets, so they no longer flicker.
• Crosshairs in inposter modes have different rotations so you can see them more easily when overlapping.
• Fixed bug where bomb explosion would go right through walls.
• Player ships spawn offset in Drop Bombs mode, so that if you accidentally drop a bomb right at the start you have somewhere you can run and hide.
• Several blocks removed from centre of Drop Bombs mode, so that it doesn't take as long to get to the other player.
• Fixed a bug where players could fire their ability just after the end of a round.
• Fixed issue with highlighted objects (due to freezing or swapping) didn't disappear properly at the end of a level.

[ 2022-05-10 06:54:02 CET ] [ Original post ]

A new version (1.2.7) of Mini Matches is available!

• The instructions shown before a match are now in the same style as the rest of the game.
• Fix Drop Bombs mode to be more intuitive (Bombs now drop in the same position as the ship, and only block movement once you've moved away from them. The layout of blocks has also been updated to fit the grid better.)

[ 2022-05-06 10:40:43 CET ] [ Original post ]

A new game mode is now playable in Mini Matches, in the second major update since launch! Blend In Shoot Players Collect Your Asteroids This game mode is one of the most chaotic yet. You have to sneakily collect asteroids of your own colour, while trying to blend in with the dozen AI players that are roaming around. At the same time, you'll need to keep an eye out for suspicous movements in the other ships, to catch your opponents red handed and eliminate them.
It's the second imposter mode in Mini Matches, and it's just as exciting (and nervewracking) as the first. If you play it, let me know how you found it in a comment below, or on discord.

Other Improvements

Version 1.2.4 also includes a number of improvements and bug fixes.

• Fixed bug where game would crash while showing the prompt at the end of the demo.
• Fixed missing asteroid error when finishing a round of Shoot Only Your Asteroids
• Fixed crash when returning to main menu from the pause menu.
• Added workaround for bug in the Steam UI where it would only show DLC instead of full game purchase screen.

Happy Impostering, Philip

[ 2022-05-04 22:45:04 CET ] [ Original post ]

A new game mode is now playable in Mini Matches, in the first major update since launch!

Imposter Racing

Blend In Shoot Players Win the Race In this game mode, you race to the finish line. However, there's a catch! You can eliminate one other player from the race - and they can eliminate you. To survive and reach the line first, you'll need to blend in with your human opponents, as well as the dozen AI players that make up the field.
This mode is trickier to learn than some of the existing ones, but I think it's one of the most exciting (and nervewracking) minigames yet. If you play it, let me know how you found it in a comment below, or on discord.

Other Improvements

Version 1.1.1 also includes a number of improvements and bug fixes.

• Stopped player from turning back on themselves in snake and dying
• Fixed issue where the character selection layout broke if someone joined the game when picking characters
• Fixed bug where you could have no control in race mode (If you got frozen, then shot while frozen, you would lose control of your ship for the rest of the match.)
• Changed name for newsletter and character unlock menu (It's now simply called "Newsletter")
• In You Are The Asteroid, all of your ships now go invisible.
• Ghost can now pass through enemies in Eat Your Dots
• Fixed bug where invaders would sometimes stop (Happened at start or end of match)
• Email address input now shows an onscreen keyboard (If you're playing in big picture mode, using controllers.)

Happy Racing, Philip

[ 2022-04-17 05:29:30 CET ] [ Original post ]

Mini Matches version 1.0.15 is live! The following bugs have been fixed:

• Fixed issue with phantom collisions after ship being destroyed in Protect Your Boundary. (Paddle was becoming a negative size if you let too many asteroids past.)
• Fixed bug where restarting game from menu causes freeze (Second time lucky)
• Fixed z-fighting on the match countdown with 4 players in the lobby
• Resolutions in the options menu had horizontal and vertical swapped
• Fixed bug where AI would sometimes stop working in Don't Touch Anything

There are some new changes:

• Show rankings in volleyball

[ 2022-03-25 03:02:14 CET ] [ Original post ]

A new version (1.0.10) of Mini Matches is available! Some general updates:

• Increased lengths of snakes in snake mode. (To make it more tactical, and less about who makes a mistake first.)

The following bugs have been fixed:

• Fixed a bug where AI would stop shooting after a while in You Are The Asteroid mode.
• Fixed issue where leftmost player in Volleyball was difficult to score against. (Due to a bug, only rarely did missing a shot remove a point.)
• Possible fix for bug where game sometimes hangs randomly between levels.

[ 2022-03-23 08:43:44 CET ] [ Original post ]

There's been an update (1.0.7) to Mini Matches! The following bugs have been fixed:

• Fixed error when opening and closing the development feedback view quickly. (If you tried to close it before the tasks had loaded.)
• Possible fix for error when using emotes between levels. (It shouldn't be possible.)

[ 2022-03-22 02:25:17 CET ] [ Original post ]

Race, shoot, golf, jump, and compete with your friends across 20 frenetic rounds, as Mini Matches leaves Early Access today! Level up to unlock new characters and power up your abilities in the extensive upgrade tree.

New Game Modes

You Are The Asteroid turns a classic game on it's head as you control an asteroid that needs to evade the spaceship and last the longest without being broken up. Controlling your flock of asteroids as it diminishes is an intense but satisfying mini game.
Volleyball is a summer classic that gets more complicated the more players there are. What happens when there are four teams instead of two? Do you team up and take the early game advantage, or do you keep your distance and let your enemies battle it out?

What's Next

Mini Matches will continue to get updates! There's a long and exciting list of ideas for game modes, and I'm looking forward to getting more of them into the game and playing them with you. I'll still be using the in-game development tracker to drive new features, so make sure you vote for your favourites. And if you're having a great time playing Mini Matches, please leave a review, a comment, or join the discussion on our discord server! Happy Playing, Philip

[ 2022-03-21 19:15:18 CET ] [ Original post ]

There's been an update (0.17.42) to Mini Matches! The following changes have been made:

• In online mode, wait for players to join before starting match.
• Show a popup and return to main menu when the server leaves an online match.

[ 2022-03-17 23:38:35 CET ] [ Original post ]

A new version (0.17.25) of Mini Matches is available! This is what's no longer broken:

• Minimum round count when starting demo (Always allow small amount of gameplay before showing demo-finished screen, even if the rounds have previously run out.)
• Game language was wrong in analytics (Updated to correctly show the language of the player, to help track which localizations should be done first.)
• Select unique rounds per match (Always select a unique set of rounds per match, so you don't play the same thing twice.)
• Record average fps for modes (Starting work to track down a potential memory leak.)
• Fixed minor bug in Eat Dots mode

[ 2022-03-09 21:43:22 CET ] [ Original post ]

In two weeks, Mini Matches will launch out of Early Access! This is an exciting moment, and it marks the point where the game becomes fully featured, with 8 different characters to play, 20 different mini-games, and over 100 items and upgrades to unlock.

New Game Modes

To celebrate the launch, and to complete the roster of 20 mini-games, two new game modes are launching on the 21st. The modes are Volleyball, which is an especially chaotic time with 4 players; and You Are The Asteroid, an upending of the classic asteroids formula where you play the asteroid running away from the spaceship that's trying to destroy you.

The Future

Just because Mini Matches is leaving Early Access doesn't mean it won't get updates! There's a long and exciting list of ideas for game modes, and I'm looking forward to getting more of them into the game and playing them with you. Updates will come less often, but I'll still be using the in-game development tracker to drive new features. Make sure you vote for your favourites. Catch you in 2 weeks for the launch, Philip

[ 2022-03-07 17:00:42 CET ] [ Original post ]

There's been an update (0.17.21) to Mini Matches! This is what's no longer broken:

• Shorter time for wall in racing
• Gravity is now restored in platformer after North's ability.
• Fixed bug where HTTPS was interferring with api
• Fixed null ref on demo complete
• Fixed explosion shader that was black, not coloured.
• Spin effect fixed from grey to coloured.
• Fixed bug where racing finish line was sometimes offset .
• Fixed black dot in the floor is lava.
• Fixed lava not animating in floor is lava.
• Snooker rankings overlapped pocket.

[ 2022-02-10 03:31:53 CET ] [ Original post ]

A new version of Mini Matches is available, with the following bug fixes and updates:

• AI in platformer no longer gets stuck
• No longer get stuck when using controller in credits & resolution settings
• Selection border shows by default for items in settings
• Screen doesn't flash white at end of level transition
• When using controller, selected upgrades shows details automatically
• Automatic regression testing for future bugs in future releases!
• Popup confirming new character unlocked when unlocking Random.
• Report Bug form changed to general Feedback form

[ 2022-01-27 10:06:10 CET ] [ Original post ]

A new version of Mini Matches (0.16.6) is available, with the following bug fixes:

• Colours on flag now work in networked mode.
• Character 's' now rendering properly.
• Front of flag shouldn't collide with flagbearer.
• Reduced flag capture time.
• Stop flag from flickering/intersecting background
• Game crashes when medusa uses ability in tutorial.
• "Connecting" menu still flashes up briefly when not in online mode.
• Game crashes when playing "Capture The Flag" directly after tutorial.

[ 2022-01-19 03:55:07 CET ] [ Original post ]

Update 0.16.4 has been released, with a new and chaotic game mode as well as several bug fixes.

Capture The Flag

Run away from your friends and hold on to the flag for as much of the round as possible. This mode takes place in an obstacle course with plenty of little corners to hide in - which you'll need because your enemies will be hunting you, and they have weapons!
When have the flag you are unarmed, but when you're the hunter, you can shoot both your competitors and the flag holder to clear the way and take up the flag yourself.

Other Updates

As well as the game mode, there are several other bug fixes and smaller updates:

• Numbers 8, 6 and 9 now render properly.
• Minimum firing time for snooker (If you kept spamming A, then you could steer yourself around.)
• Defend your Border mode sped up (Respawn the asteroid as soon as it disappears.)
• Fixed bug where Hydra dies completely when ability ends in Border mode
• Game crashed when windows was in Portuguese (Number formatting is different and corrupts the save game.)
• Development screen shows everything in one list. (Simplifying the UI and removing the categorization.)
• Online mode now requires command line switch (Use the command line flag "online" to start the game in online mode. It will wait 30 seconds when starting a match to find other players. This is temporary until a proper "invite friend" feature is added.)

Happy flag hunting, Philip

[ 2022-01-16 03:25:19 CET ] [ Original post ]

A new version (0.15.5) of Mini Matches is available!

• Asteroids collision fixed for Snake (When North uses his power and moves them.)
• Several game modes were broken and are now fixed. (Drop bombs, Snake, Invaders, and Bricks.)

[ 2021-12-22 04:29:27 CET ] [ Original post ]

This new update (0.15.2) brings a game mode that requires planning and a little strategy. It also has a long list of improvements so that Mini Matches is the best it can be for the holiday season.

Eat And Get Longer

A classic game mode, this has become my new favourite for playing against (and trying to outsmart) the AI.

Improvements & Bugfixes

Some improvements:

• Bots can play locked characters.
• UI Colour based on winner
• New UI mouse design
• Three players by default (If no AI are selected, then you should play against 2 other bots to make things more chaotic.)
• Start game with two upgrade points to spend.

These are the problems that were solved:

• Mouse selection in menu (Options should deselect if mouse is far enough away.)
• Joining Match text UI (Should have a background in line with new UI, to be more readable.)
• Mouse jitters and lags
• AI Player doesn't actually spin (In racing mode, they just pause.)
• Less camera tilt in some modes. (Where players are jumping round (ie, lava), it can be disorienting.)
• Pressing back too quickly in upgrades causes a crash
• Lap counter not showing in Racing
• Asteroids spawn on top of ships and destroy them in Eat And Get Longer
• Professor North's ability, once used, never stops
• Porcupine ability balance (Gets more spines at a lower ability, and fewer at a higher ability so it doesn't get too overpowered.)
• Position of ship preview gets misaligned when removing player (In character select)
• Spend points to upgrade arrow is wrong.
• Can't shoot in platformer mode
• Can't move in racing mode when using magnet.
• Lines in upgrade view are misaligned.
• When entering upgrade menu, nothing is selected.
• Fewer upgrade points per level

Happy Eating, Philip

[ 2021-12-16 21:06:21 CET ] [ Original post ]

This latest update (0.14.13) brings a new game mode, some balance changes, and bug fixes.

Eat Dots, Get Chased

In this new game mode, gobble up dots while avoiding enemies and luring your opponents into danger. The winner is the last one standing, or the player who has eaten the most dots when there are none left.

Balance Updates

There's been a number of changes in this update to address balance. Each special ability now has variations depending on the mode, so that they're not too overpowered. For example, in racing, the Architect's wall only lasts for half the time, so that you can slow down your opponents but not trap them while you get a guaranteed win. This also allows for abilities such as the porcupine's spines to act more intuitively. In Defend Your Border, they now all fire outwards towards the other players, rather than behind you into the wall.

Other Bugfixes

• Support for ultra widescreen
• Settings menu now highlights correctly using a game controller.
• When using North's ability, objects aren't constrained by rails or grids, and so move towards you.
• Porcupine ability now works in Drop Bombs
• Sound effects and music for Join Menu

Happy Eating! Philip

[ 2021-12-12 23:14:44 CET ] [ Original post ]

Mini Matches build 0.15.6 is out, and comes with major performance increase as well as options to select your AI opponents.

Select Your Opponents

When setting up a game, you can now add AI opponents - up to 3 of them for a singleplayer game! Mini Matches was designed to be fun for up to 4 players, and now you can take full advantage of this.

Performance Optimization

As the complexity of the AI players increased, the performance of the game dropped, and on older PCs as well as when playing with 3 AI opponents, Mini Matches ran very slowly. This update brings a major performance overhaul, and should double your FPS in most cases! On higher-end PCs it should now run at a silky smooth 60fps.

Other Updates

Other minor bug fixes and improvements are:

• Slightly larger platforms in the Floor is Lava mode.
• Fixed bug where AI would get stuck at lower speeds.

Happy Playing, Philip

[ 2021-12-06 22:04:06 CET ] [ Original post ]

This 0.14.5 update has two new game modes and some smaller bug fixes.

The Asteroids Are Invading

This was one of the very original game modes in the first prototype of the game. With a fresh look and support for online play, it's now back and as much fun as ever. Some small tweaks mean that the level clears a little bit faster than before, keeping the game flowing better.

Break Your Bricks

Ball-bouncing and brick breaking games have always been one of my favourite genres, and I was excited to make something that would be fun to play as part of Mini Matches without the tedium of waiting for your ball to bounce it's way around the level. This meant a little tweak:
Yes, you play as the ball, firing yourself around the level and bouncing off the walls and other bricks to be the first to clear all of your colour. As usual, all your special abilities work to interfere with your opponent's plans and score you that win.

Other Improvements

• Several small changes have been made, and bugs have been fixed:
• Signing up to the newsletter now doubles your demo play-time to 50 rounds.
• Testing a fix for an issue where the game freezes after Drop Your Bombs mode.
• Removed requirement for emotes for mouse player in tutorial, as it's not always possible with the buttons available.
• Fixed bug where wall didn't work in invading asteroids mode.

Happy Invading, Philip

[ 2021-11-23 23:59:10 CET ] [ Original post ]

Starting today, you can download a free demo version of Mini Matches.
It's got the same features, the same upgrades, and even plays on the same network as the full version. This means if you own the game, you can play with your friends on the demo version. It also means that if you're playing the demo and upgrade, you can keep your progression! The only limitation to the demo is the number of rounds you can play - after you've played 25 rounds, you'll need to buy the full version. (And if you subscribe to the newsletter, you can play for even longer!).

Other Improvements

There are also some bug fixes and improvements in this update. The settings menu has been bought up to date with the new graphic style, and new options added.
The most important is the colour-blind pattern mode, that ensures every asteroid has a pattern identifying which team it's on, so that you don't have to rely on colours to differentiate them. The volume slider has also been fixed so that it no longer breaks the game, and more resolutions are supported in the resolution settings. Happy Playing, Philip

[ 2021-11-16 01:55:06 CET ] [ Original post ]

The latest update (0.14.1) to Mini Matches is now live, and it brings with it high fashion and a new game mode.

Choose Your Style

The biggest new feature is the ability to pick your own style at the beginning of a match. Use your upgrade points to unlock new skins and new sets of eyes.
There are over 30 different looks to unlock, I'd love to hear which ones you're the most excited about. Leave a comment here, or come and join our discord.

Shoot Only Your Asteroids

There's a new game mode in the rotation - Shoot Only Your Asteroids. I've always enjoyed this as a balance between speed and accuracy.

Other Improvements

There's now a prompt to use your upgrade points when you earn them for the first time:
The following bugs were fixed:

• Mouse support for character selection
• Smooth appear & disappear for levels
• Asteroids no longer spawn just after Border mode finishes
• Text display issue in post-level screen is fixed
• Asteroids no longer get stuck in protect your boundary mode
• Scoring has been fixed for protect your boundary mode
• Random character ability doesn't duplicate at the end of a level

Happy shooting, Philip

[ 2021-10-28 01:57:05 CET ] [ Original post ]

This week brings another major update (0.13.4), with four new playable characters, a new game mode, and some tweaks to improve accessibility.

Random Character

The first new playable character is Random, the only ability in the game that you can use multiple times. This is because the first time you use it, you have no idea what it's going to do! If you react fast enough, you'll be able to leverage 2 (or even 3 after upgrading) freezes, walls, magnets or similar in the round. You can unlock Random by signing up to the newsletter from the menu in Mini Matches.

The Magician, Hydra and Wooooooo

These three exciting new characters with three new abilities you can unlock from the upgrades menu. You earn upgrade points by playing matches, and as you progress further into the upgrade tree you'll find ability upgrades and these new characters waiting for you to unlock.
As for what their special abilities do, I'll leave that for you to find out!

Snooker

The newest game mode is Snooker! You both play as cue-balls, simultaneously, trying to pocket as many asteroids as possible to win the round.

Other Tasks and Bug Fixes

Made the following improvements:

• Made locked upgrade icons smaller.
• Quick-find indicator that shows where you are at the start of a round. (So modes like "don't touch anything" aren't a competition about who can locate themselves first.)

Fixed the following bugs:

• AI Player can't make one jump in lava (At the end of the level, the AI player jumps in place without making it to the next platform.)
• Ability upgrades should be networked
• Only assign characters that a player has unlocked. (When picking a random character to resolve conflicts.)
• Pressing back too fast will open two main menus (From the character selection screen.)
• Random character gets stuck in tutorial (In the ability section of the tutorial, the random character wouldn't be marked as complete and you couldn't progress further.)
• Lava level doesn't end if someone is respawning (If the host player finishes the Floor is Lava minigame while another player is respawning, then the level freezes and wouldn't progress.)

Happy Snookering, Philip

[ 2021-10-20 21:07:12 CET ] [ Original post ]

This latest update (0.12.15) should help you get up and playing more smoothly, and, once you're in the game, let you express yourself with the new emote system! There's also a new game mode to test out.

Emotes

When selecting a character, you can now select 4 emojis to use in the match. There's a limited selection to start with, but you can unlock dozens more in the upgrade screen, using the points you earn at the end of a match.
Once you're in the game, you can use them by pressing a direction on the D-Pad (for controllers) or number buttons (on keyboard). Holding down the button shows a larger emote!

Soccer

There's a new game mode added to the roster, making a total of 11 now. This is an exciting point, because it's where you're guaranteed to be able to play two matches back-to-back and not have exactly the same game modes in each! The soccer mode is all about getting the asteroids in your opponents' goals, while defending your own. There's no shooting (definitely an illegal move in soccer), and the first to 4 wins.

New Players

I've finally bought the playable tutorial back, and it's sleeker (and more useful) than ever. The first two times you play the game, you'll be taken through a tutorial that shows you how to move, shoot, aim, and use your special abilities and emotes.
This happens before you join an online game, so it won't interfere with other people's matches.

Other

Some minor bugs have been squished:

• When not playing as a server, emotes didn't always appear when you press the button.
• Support emotes on Keyboard & Mouse
• Rankings updated to fit the new style
• Rankings bug fixed where they didn't show on clients

There are some new changes:

• Show button prompts for all controllers in join screen.
• Instructions spawns asteroids (For players to see what their abilities do.)

Happy Kicking, Philip

[ 2021-10-14 04:57:50 CET ] [ Original post ]

Hello, This new update (0.11.21) fixes a number of small issues (thank you to the people who reported them!), and introduces two new features.

Character Selection

At the start of a game, you can now select your preferred character. When you start the match, you'll be given that character if nobody else has it, otherwise if several people all prefer the same character it'll be re-assigned randomly at the end of each round.
I'm also happy with the new interface that looks and feels a lot better than the old placeholder one!

Don't Touch Anything

This update brings back one of the very original modes, it now has an AI player to test your wits against, and supports online play. DON'T TOUCH ANYTHING
It's fairly self-explanatory, use any means possible to not touch anything - no asteroids, borders, or even the other player.

Bug Fixes

• Some upgrades start unlocked (The first four upgrades shouldn't be unlocked by default.)
• Stop colour banding (Add noise to lighting/shadows to stop colour banding when fading in and out.)
• Error when leaving boundary mode (Ships are destroyed twice over the network, which throws an error.)
• Quitting from ingame menu is slow (Asteroids all jump to the middle and then back into place, and then leaving is very slow.)
• Faster projectile in racing (So that you can't outrun your enemie's bullets.)
• Can hear score counting sound in background when winner is shown.
• Better navigation for upgrades screen (More obvious when you move between selections, and better detection of where you want to move to.)

Until the next update, Philip

[ 2021-10-04 20:05:21 CET ] [ Original post ]

Hello, Today is an exciting update for Mini Matches. You can now play online with your friends; there are several new and exciting game modes; and by completing matches you'll earn skill points that can be spent on upgrades and unlocks. Here's an overview of what's new and improved:

Online Multiplayer

When starting a new game, you'll automatically be matched with other players and dropped straight into a match with them. If there's nobody online to play with, you'll be able to play against computer-controlled AI players until another player takes their place by joining your match.
I've done my best to make sure this is both seamless and easy, but because this is an Early Access game there may still be some small issues. If you run into any problems, please report them in the bug reporting tool in the in-game menu. If you want to play locally with your friends, don't fret! You can still play local multiplayer (or even a combination of local and online) by joining additional controllers in the start screen.

New Game Modes

There are now nine game modes to play, with more still on their way! Two exciting new modes in this update are DROP BOMBS AND SURVIVE, as well as SHOOT THREE ARROWS.

Upgrade Points

Winning (or placing 2nd or 3rd) in a level gives you a number of points towards your match score - if you have the highest score, you win the match. But even if you don't win, you can now keep track of these points, and use them to increase your level and purchase new updates. The point tracker is in the main menu, and looks like this. It shows your progress towards the next level, as well as your upgrade level. Each time you increase your level, you get a new point to spend on upgrades. Upgrades can't be used in the current build, but they'll be coming soon!

Let me know your thoughts

I'd love to hear your thoughts on the new game modes, the online play, and the upgrade points! Drop a comment here, or come and say hello in the discord channel. Happy Matching, Philip

[ 2021-09-28 21:15:13 CET ] [ Original post ]

I've been quietly working away on a giant new feature. Although it's not quite ready to play yet, I'm excited to say that Online Multiplayer is coming to Mini Matches! There's no release date yet. I'm still working hard on it, a programming task that turned out to be exactly as difficult as everyone says it is. At the moment, most of the connectivity (starting matches, joining other people's matches, etc) is nearly ready for testing. I've started work rolling out networking across multiple game modes, and integrating it with the different characters.
While doing this, I've been bringing characters up to date with the new style. In this screenshot you can see the new "freeze" effect for Medusa. I'm using the same effect for Professor North's magnet ability, and it really helps readability during chaotic games.
I'm also continuing work on the game modes, bringing them up to date with the new style and integrating them with networking at the same time. When I start the first networking tests, it should be with a larger roster of characters and levels than what's currently available.
I don't have an date yet for the launch of multiplayer, it's still a ways out, but keep your eyes peeled here or join the newsletter to be reminded when it's available! Happy Matches, Philip

[ 2021-08-06 05:13:50 CET ] [ Original post ]

There are some new changes:

• Racing mode updated to new visual style. (Instead of dropping asteroids to slow them down, you can now shoot other racers to make them spin out of control.)
• Snooker mode updated to new graphic style.

[ 2021-06-20 02:41:31 CET ] [ Original post ]

Hello, I've been working on this behind the scenes for a while now, and I'm excited to finally be able to share a major update : a new look, and a new name!

A New Name

The game is now called Mini Matches! Why? Well, the old title "Watch This Space" was a fun nod towards the changing game modes and the ever-present instructions, but it didn't make sense if you hadn't played the game - and worse, it looked like a placeholder. Mini Matches is short and catchy. It embodies the game better, and tells you a little bit about it even if you've never played. I think it feels better, and that's something I'm excited about!

A New Look

Along with the new name, Mini Matches has a shiny new art style to match. I wanted something that kept the bright, friendly, and playful feel of what was there, but pushed it to the next level and made it feel more modern.

Early Access

I wanted to get the new graphics in front of you as fast as possible, but this required a trade-off in functionality. In the current build, only 5 characters and 7 modes are available. Please be aware that there may be more bugs than usual as well as I work to stomp them all out. I'll be working hard over the coming weeks to bring the rest of the characters and modes back as well - in a new and updated format! Once that's done, the game will go up (slightly) in price to reflect the new graphics and content that's been added. If you haven't already, this is a great time to grab the game while it's cheap. Happy Mini-Matching, Philip

[ 2021-06-17 09:38:24 CET ] [ Original post ]

Hi, I'm happy to announce that the second game mode update is now available! Bounce your way around the level, beating your opponents at breaking bricks. Update the game to the latest version on Steam to play.
Don't forgot to vote on new features in the Early Access menu in-game. I'm already hard at work on two new game modes, followed by some big (secret, but exciting) changes in the works! Keep bouncing, Philip

[ 2021-05-06 22:37:35 CET ] [ Original post ]

Hello, I'm excited to announce that the first new game mode update is here! Jump between platforms (and cast your enemies to their fiery demises) in ...

The Floor is Lava

Update your game now on Steam to play the new mode. You'll need to select it from the "Levels" screen after unlocking it - which you do by destroying 200 asteroids while playing the game.
I'd love to hear your thoughts on the new mode, and don't forget to vote in-game on which updates you'd like to see next! Happy jumping, Philip

[ 2021-04-30 10:06:26 CET ] [ Original post ]

Hello, Today I released the first big update for 'Watch This Space'! Over the last few weeks, I've been busy programming the brains of the computer players. As of today, when you start a new game, you can choose to play against any combination of local friends and AI players.
The computer players face off against each other, as well as against you, and will cope with the ever-changing game modes. Computer controlled players have been the most-requested feature so far in Early Access, and I've been working to balance the difficulty: tricky enough that they're fun to play against, but not too difficult to feel unfair.
If you have the game already, simply update to get access to the bots. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this new feature - let me know in the discussion forums here, or join us on the Discord Server. Happy Playing, Philip

[ 2021-04-08 20:24:44 CET ] [ Original post ]

The finalists were announced over the course of the last week, and it's a strong field with some wonderful and interesting games in the mix. You can check out the whole field here: https://nzgamesfest.com/the-pavs/2021-finalists/ 'Watch This Space' is a finalist for best design and best audio!
The audio in 'Watch This Space' was composed by Chel Wong, and it composes itself dynamically in the game as you play. That means it sounds different when different characters are winning, or as you progress through different game modes. Keep an ear out for this as you play, but if you'd like to hear it all in one place, you can find the Original Sound Track for the game on Chel's bandcamp: https://chelwong.bandcamp.com/album/watch-this-space-ost
The awards ceremony is in April, so .... Watch This Space! Philip

[ 2021-03-25 21:47:26 CET ] [ Original post ]

'Watch This Space' is a 2-4 player mash-up of classic arcade games. Sometimes you're shooting asteroids, sometimes you're racing them, sometimes the asteroids are invading.
In addition, you play characters with special abilities - everything from freezing time to shuffling objects around the screen. The abilities can both help and hinder you: turning invisible at the right time could be the move that wins you the match, but becoming magnetic at the wrong time could result in disaster.
'Watch This Space' is launching into Early Access, so I'll be adding more content and features in the months to come. You can vote on the features you'd like to see next from within the game, and submit your ideas and suggestions as well. I'll be listening to you to make this the best game possible! Click here to go to the Store page. I'd love to hear what you think of the game once you've played it. Join us on discord to discuss everything from strategies to feature ideas. Happy Playing, Philip

[ 2021-02-09 19:40:39 CET ] [ Original post ]

Hi, I'm excited to announce that my multiplayer arcade mayhem game 'Watch This Space' is going to launch into Steam Early Access on the 9th of February! In case you missed it, Watch This Space is a 2-4 player arcade mash-up, where you play fast-paced rounds that have different rules each time. Sometimes you're shooting asteroids, sometimes you're racing, sometimes you're playing snooker with asteroids.
In addition, you play characters with special abilities - everything from freezing time to shuffling objects around the screen. They can both help and hinder you: turning invisible at the right time could be the move that wins you the match, but becoming magentic at the wrong time could result in disaster.
If you haven't already, please wishlist Watch This Space. Not only can a simple click help make the launch a success, but you'll also be notified as soon as it's out - as well as any time it goes on sale! Happy playing, Philip

[ 2021-01-11 22:26:37 CET ] [ Original post ]

Hello, It's the Tiny Teams game festival! Organised by the folks over at YogsCast, the Tiny Teams festival celebrates games that are made by solo developers or tiny teams, and I'm proud to say that Watch This Space is taking part.
Both my previous game (39 Days to Mars) and Watch This Space have been designed, programmed, and drawn by myself, with help on the musical side from a talented composer, extra hands on the marketing front, and a lot of help from play-testers to make it as polished as possible. A Tiny Team indeed! You can play the demo of Watch This Space right now, and if you have fun, please Wishlist it so you'll be notified when it releases!
You can check out the other games in the Tiny Teams Festival here. Have fun playing! Philip

[ 2020-08-09 18:50:17 CET ] [ Original post ]

Hi! I'm Philip, the developer of Watch This Space. Come and chat with me, ask questions about Watch This Space, hear about new features, and have the chance to be invited to participate in the Early Alpha access! I'll be hosting this chat and question session on the It's Anecdotal Discord server on Friday the 12th June, at lunchtime (Eastern US time). Join the Discord channel here.
Talk to you soon! Philip

[ 2020-06-08 20:14:04 CET ] [ Original post ]

Hi! I'm Philip, the developer of Watch This Space. Come and chat with me, ask questions about Watch This Space, hear about new features, and have the chance to be invited to participate in the Early Alpha access! I'll be hosting this chat and question session on the It's Anecdotal Discord server on Friday the 12th June, at lunchtime (Eastern US time). Join the Discord channel here.
Talk to you soon! Philip

[ 2020-06-05 22:25:28 CET ] [ Original post ]

Hi! I'm Philip, the developer of Watch This Space. Come and chat with me, ask questions about Watch This Space, hear about new features, and have the chance to be invited to participate in the Early Alpha access! I'll be hosting this chat and question session on the It's Anecdotal Discord server on Friday the 12th June, at lunchtime (Eastern US time). Join the Discord channel here.
Talk to you soon! Philip

[ 2020-05-28 16:01:00 CET ] [ Original post ]

Hello, I'm sharing some exciting news today : Watch This Space is launching into private alpha. And you're invited to join! Private alpha access is a great chance to get a sneak peek at the game, to help me find bugs, improve the gameplay, and help shape things as it heads into Early Access in the coming months. I'm looking for people who are keen both to play the game and to give feedback and report problems.

Sign up here

I'll be bringing new testers on in small batches, so feel free to come back and sign up later as well. I'll be testing local multiplayer first, and then expanding the alpha testing to online multiplayer once that is implemented in the coming months. I hope you'll join me in this exciting part of the game's development! Happy asteroiding, Philip

[ 2020-05-01 22:39:08 CET ] [ Original post ]

Hello! Progress is being made on Watch This Space leading up to Early Access. As part of this, the game had its first public outing at the Boston Festival of Indie Games last weekend. I had a great time showing it to festival-goers and watching how it hooked players both young and old.
The Boston Festival of Indie Games (BFIG) is one of my favourite game events of the year, because it's the perfect balance of relaxed and down-to-earth developers, with a wide variety of attendees and a crowd that's busy yet not overwhelming. It's a very friendly festival, and a great place for the first outing of Watch This Space.
However, I don't have a large development budget for Watch This Space, and setting up a booth at a festival can be a costly exercise. I decided to get creative - and to try and build a booth with materials from the dollar store, some milk crates, and an old sewing machine I'd rescued from the side of the road.
I used some foam board and light strips to create a title that stood out, while plastic tablecloths served for seat covers. The result was a lounge that looked attractive and offered plenty of seating for a heavily-multiplayer game! The feedback from players was outstanding, and overall the event was a real success. Here's a quick video to show how it all went: [previewyoutube=LJvxvjAQp9Q;full][/previewyoutube] The best thing you can do to support development of Watch This Space is to add it to your Steam wishlist! If you'd like more regular updates, you can follow It's Anecdotal on Twitter. Have a wonderful, colourful day, -Philip

[ 2019-09-21 23:22:01 CET ] [ Original post ]