A wise man probably once asked "can anything work right the first time?" And the answer is no. Bubble Bounce version 1.3.1 makes a few tweaks to things introduced in 1.3. I've decided that Bubble Frenzies and Dodge Mode don't mix, and will no longer happen when Dodge Mode is turned on. I've also added a few helpful bits of UI to explain how to use the new player selection screen. And the final change is a heads up when the game starts that a controller is the optimal way to play the game. These aren't big changes, because all things considered, 1.3 was actually pretty stable. There are just a few things that make the experience of playing the game a bit more good. Despite not many changes, here are the patchnotes:

• Bubble Frenzy will no longer trigger in Dodge Mode
• Added information on joining and starting the game
• Added a screen at the start of the game to indicate that it was designed for controllers

These changes, like the ones in 1.3, will be implemented in the demo at some point in the future, though it's a low priority at the moment.

[ 2021-05-12 15:05:10 CET ] [ Original post ]

It's been a few months since I released version 1.2, and I originally meant for 1.2 to be the last update, at least for several months. Anyway I started working on 1.3 almost immediately. The main focus on version 1.3 was to improve the menus. The main menu of the game was functional, but it was far from pretty. I changed it to be more pretty. I also made the character selection and level selection process quicker, and players other than player 1 can vote for a level. I also made a tweak to gameplay where random bubbles now cause what I call a "bubble frenzy." A bubble frenzy is where, for a very brief period of time, a bunch of bubbles will come up from the ground. There's about a 10% chance when popping a bubble that's only worth a single point, and bubble frenzies do work when dodge mode is enabled and will badly hurt players that are still alive. There are also the typical glitches that have been patched as well, namely a glitch in the cave level where the floor, on extremely rare occasions, would stop being a floor. I also fixed a glitch that caused certain loading screens to not show correctly. Here are the patchnotes:

• Added "Bubble Frenzy" which causes bubbles to rise from the ground for a short period of time.
• Fixed a bug in the Cave level which, on very rare occasions, causes the floor to lose its collision.
• Made the UI on the main menu more user-friendly.
• Changed the sprites of the characters to have more personality and look less creepy.
• Made the experience of getting to the game faster.

Unfortunately not all news is good, which also leads to a little bit of good news. I don't plan on updating the game any further than 1.3, at least for the foreseeable future. I've been working on Bubble Bounce for over a year, and I'm ready to move on to developing new games. And the good news is that the demo of Bubble Bounce will be updated to include some of the features from 1.3, namely the new menu. The demo might take a little bit longer than the full game to get the update, however. The demo will keep the same functionality as it has, the two default levels, default mode, and 3 minute time limit, but the improvements to the menus will be implemented. The full release of the 1.3 update should be out later this week, most likely on Friday. But if you want to play, and possibly delay the update, the "experimental" beta branch on Steam allows you to try the update out right now! If you have any issues or opinions, the bug tracker has been updated to support 1.3. Thank you for playing Bubble Bounce.

[ 2021-05-05 17:35:57 CET ] [ Original post ]

It's been awhile since version 1.1, and I thank you for your patience. Updates after 1.0 have a focus on fixing issues that come up, and 1.2 is no different. The main issue that I've noticed with Bubble Bounce is a lack of things to do. The game gives you everything right away, which limits the amount of time people want to spend on the game. Some games would go the route of locking content away from the player and forcing them to pay real money for the content. For a game that people have already spent money on, I consider this to be unreasonable. I've added an in-game store where players can spend the bubbles they've popped on modes, levels, and a timer that extends to 59 minutes. The store currently only has two modes and the levels that the game has had since version 1.0, however more modes and levels may be added in the future. You may have noticed that I mentioned the store having two modes. While one of those modes is "Dodge Mode" which is already in Bubble Bounce, the other mode is a new one. "Swap Mode" makes it so that players have the chance of having their position swapped with another player at random. This mode, when mixed with Dodge Mode, can lead to some interesting strategies! Here are the simplified patchnotes:

• Added a title screen
• Added Swap Mode
• Added an in-game store
• Added the ability to extend the timer to 59 minutes

Unfortunately, the Bubble Bounce demo will no longer be receiving updates, including 1.2. Updating the demo for Windows, Mac, and Linux takes a long time, and it simply isn't worth the time it takes to end up with a slightly different demo experience. The demo will continue to be available for now, but will only have features from 1.1. Honestly I don't think any of the features in 1.2 would carry over into the demo anyway, nor would any planned features in any future updates.

[ 2020-12-22 22:42:28 CET ] [ Original post ]

The first post-release update to Bubble Bounce is now available, and it adds a fair bit. The single-player experience has always been one of the game's weaker elements, but now you can actually play with a computer player! It isn't the smartest AI on the block, but it's better than nothing! It will automatically appear when the player has no opponents. I've also made changes to the physics. The method used to make the player bounce has been tweaked to be less physics-driven. That means that, for instance, the Roller Coaster level will now bounce players the same height even when the coaster is going up or down. The new system should allow players to bounce with more confidence than ever before. The cave level has had a couple of small changes to how stalactites work. They no longer slow down or speed up depending on how close they are to the edge of the screen, and now move at a consistent speed. I've changed how they look. -Added computer player to the game when no other players are present in a match -Changed the bounce physics to be more consistent -Changed the graphics and speed of stalactites in the Cave level -Added a sprite that shows how many points you get when you pop a bubble -Updated a small portion of the UI to work better in full screen The changes to the physics and the bubbles popping are also available on the demo of the game as well. I would encourage you to check out the official Bubble Bounce Twitter page, as that's the best way to get information regarding updates, additional platform support, and any other information that isn't suited for the Steam community page. However updates will continue to be posted here just as they always have been. Link to the Twitter page I'm at a point with Bubble Bounce where I'm running low on ideas for future updates. As a result, I'd like to ask that any ideas be submitted to the feedback form that I include in the game's options menu. Here's a link to that form. Thank you for playing Bubble Bounce!

[ 2020-09-14 16:34:19 CET ] [ Original post ]

Bubble Bounce has finally left Early Access, meaning all six levels are now complete! It's honestly hard for me to believe that the game that I've been wanting to make for over five years is finally out, and I'm incredibly grateful to everyone who has bought, wishlisted, or only just heard about Bubble Bounce. Essentially I'm grateful to you since you're reading this. Version 1,0 does bring a new level, which is probably the weirdest themed level of the game but is also the most interesting in terms of gameplay. The level is called the Dungeon, and what makes this level stand out is that the floor changes frequently. The system for the floor's movements is random, meaning you aren't likely to get the same pattern multiple times. Also included in this update is a new Bubble Dodge mode, which changes the whole idea of the game. Instead of popping bubbles to get points, every bubble becomes lethal, and touching it will result in a loss. This mode could technically go on forever, so get comfy. Since this is version 1.0, it's fair to say that the majority of this update is spent on bugfixes and adding polish. So with that in mind, here's the changelog: (A (D) means the change applies to the demo as well) -Added the Dungeon -Added Dodge Mode -Fixed bug that allowed players to stick to the Pool walls -Fixed bug where players would be layered above certain HUD elements (D) -Fixed bug where players could change their skin tone after choosing their character (D) -Added particles when players bounce off the ground (D) -Removed "Beta" from the title screen (D) -Randomized the way logs spawn in the River (D) -Fixed bug where the background could sometimes overtake the menu (D) -Moved the version number to the options menu to clean up the title screen (D) -Enabled V-sync (D) -Added button to the title screen to take you to the Bubble Bounce Twitter page (D) -Changed the bubble popping sound effect (D) -Fixed bug in the Cave that sometimes sends players through the ceiling While the update isn't huge on new features, I've also made Bubble Bounce compatible with Mac and Linux computers! I also plan on talking about potential future updates in a future community post. I am leaving the feedback button available since just leaving Early Access doesn't mean the game is perfect. I've worked hard to make sure Bubble Bounce is as bug free as possible, but I kindly request that any bugs you find would be submitted through the feedback button on the options menu.

[ 2020-08-28 23:15:12 CET ] [ Original post ]

This is the biggest update the game has received by far, both in terms of it being an exciting update and in terms of the amount of features, changes, and bug fixes. This is also the most nerve-wracking update since I won't be able to hide any issues with the game behind the Early Access excuse. With that being said, it's fair to say this is the most interesting level an update has added so far, and it's the hardest one to explain. The name chosen for this level is the Dungeon. The name isn't what makes this level stand out though. The floor is constantly changing, and when there's no ground to catch you, you'll reappear at the top of the screen. There are various patterns the shifting floor can use, so it's unlikely you'll have the same experience on this stage when playing multiple times. I've also added Dodge Mode, which changes the rules of the game significantly. What was once the way to win (popping bubbles) now results in an instant loss. The aim of this mode it to outlast your opponent, which could take hours. As a result, this mode is not timed. Like the regular game, this mode can be played alone, but it's best experienced with a few friends. And those are the new additions to the game. But the list of changes doesn't end there. Early Access games are allowed to be a bit lacking in polish in some areas, but Bubble Bounce is leaving Early Access, and it's leaving Early Access right. The changelog mostly consists of bug fixes and adding more polish. I can't go over every change in detail, but a somewhat lengthy changelog should show just how much has gone into this update. -Added the Dungeon -Added Dodge Mode -Fixed bug that allowed players to stick to the Pool walls -Fixed bug where players would be layered above certain HUD elements -Fixed bug where players could change their skin tone after choosing their character -Added particles when players bounce off the ground -Removed "Beta" from the title screen -Randomized the way logs spawn in the River -Fixed bug where the background could sometimes overtake the menu -Moved the version number to the options menu to clean up the title screen -Enabled V-sync Keep in mind that this is the changelog as of now. The experimental build is currently available with these changes implemented, but the full update will be releasing later this month. As of right now I don't know of any bugs or areas that are lacking in polish, meaning this may or may not be the final changelog as well. If you would be so kind, I'd appreciate you trying the experimental build (right click the game in Steam, choose "properties" and click on the "betas" tab) and reporting any issues that you come across with the feedback button in the options menu. Thank you for playing Bubble Bounce.

[ 2020-08-14 19:50:09 CET ] [ Original post ]

Development of Bubble Bounce is almost finished. This update not only added a new level, the Cave, but also has changes to the looks of several levels. Namely all of them. The Cave has randomly generated terrain, meaning you never know what the stage will give you in terms of obstacles and platforms. Additionally, bats can randomly spawn and fly through the stage, though they're more of a distraction than an obstacle. The changes made to the graphics are in every stage. Some art pretty simple like the changes to the Roller Coaster, but some are a complete graphical overhaul like the Pool. Detailing every change in every level would make for an overly large changelog, so instead I'd advise you to check out the changes for yourself. Despite the many graphical changes, the patch notes are kinda short. Regardless, here they are: -Added the Cave level -Added more detail to the graphics in the Farm, River, Pool, Cave, and Roller Coaster levels. Players of the demo won't see any new levels, but the visual upgrades also apply for the demo. Next month will be the last regular update, and the last update before the game leaves Early Access. If you encounter any bugs that should be fixed before the full release of Bubble Bounce, I would greatly appreciate you letting me know by pressing the "feedback" button in the game's options menu. Thank you for playing Bubble Bounce.

[ 2020-07-31 21:17:27 CET ] [ Original post ]

This is a minor update for the experimental build. If you aren't playing on the experimental build, this update isn't going to impact you. -Fixed Cave level music being the same as the Farm level music. -Fixed problem that sometimes loaded the Pool level when selection the Cave level.

[ 2020-07-21 18:15:29 CET ] [ Original post ]

July is coming close to a close, meaning it's time for another update regarding an update. This month started with a free demo containing the first two levels, Farm and River. If you already own the full game, there's no reason to play the demo, but for those without, it's a good way to see if Bubble Bouncing is right for you. In terms of new content coming to the full game, the Cave is the new level this time. This level features random terrain being thrown into the mix. While it doesn't change up the basic gameplay too much, it can lead to players needing to make some changes to their play style. Along with random terrain, stalactites can be found randomly along the ceiling (where stalactites form). They don't have the ability to push the player to the left or right like walls in the Farm can, but they won't less you pass by them either. The only choice is to go under them. And it can't be a cave without bats, which also appear randomly and fly to the left. They don't impact the gameplay, but can make the already distracting level a bit more hectic. I've also updated all levels prior to the Cave with new graphics so they don't look quite as flat. That includes the Farm, River, Roller Coaster, and Pool. The Farm has the most substantial changes, since pretty much everything from the clouds to the ground was changed. The River has minor changes to the logs, ground, and trees. The Roller Coaster has a greater sense of depth on the rail. The Pool has more details on the fence, and better looking ground. The changes made in the River and Farm levels will also be made to the demo version, since those levels are shared between each version. This update took a decent amount of time, but sadly the patch notes aren't super interesting to look at. Regardless, here they are: -Added the Cave level. -Changed some graphics in the Farm, River, Roller Coaster, and Pool levels. The full update will be releasing later this month, but I don't expect any changes between the experimental build (available now) and the final release, with the exception of any bugs that are found. Thank you for playing Bubble Bounce!

[ 2020-07-16 20:43:55 CET ] [ Original post ]

It's been quite a month since the previous update, in both the world and in Bubble Bounce's development. The first new feature worth mentioning is the new level, the Pool! Now players can take a dip or play with a ball. Or do both, it all depends on where the ball ends up. I've also made some changes to the countdown font for both the normal level timer and the countdown at the beginning. I've also added a loading screen when loading the selected level. And I also changed the sprites used for the players. Hopefully these changes make the game look a fair bit higher quality. The final noteworthy addition is the ability to change the character's skin color between six preset colors. I made this change because I've always loved being able to personalize whatever game I'm playing, and this seams like a good way to do that. I've also fixed a couple of bugs. The two main bug fixes are that players can no longer push the logs in the River level, and players can now actually change their character after making their initial selection. Here are the more simplified patch notes: -Added Pool level. -Made changes to the HUD fonts used. -Changed character sprites. -Added the ability to change skin color. BUG FIXES: -Players can no longer push logs in the River level. -Players can now change their character after making their initial selection. I want to take a little bit of time to talk about what I plan for the future of Bubble Bounce. Obviously their are two more levels to finish, but I've also been working on additional features aside from just the levels. In the end my objective is to have a finished game, meaning I want to find and fix as many bugs as possible. I currently only have two more features I want to add (that I know I can add). One of those is a gameplay option that would change how the entire game is played, and the other is achievements. I'm really happy with how Bubble Bounce has been coming along, and hopefully you are as well. Thank you for your continued support!

[ 2020-06-25 03:59:48 CET ] [ Original post ]

The experimental build released on June 16th did its job, as some new bugs were found in that version. As such, the game has been updated to fix some bugs introduced, as well as add a new feature. These are the patchnotes for 1.2.1e. This does not include changes introduced in 1.2e. Features: -Added the ability to change skin tone. Bug fixes: -Fixed players being unable to move after entering the pool in the Pool level. -Fixed certain characters colliding with one another. -Fixed logs being able to be pushed in the River level. -Fixed some clouds appearing in front of the fence in the Farm level. -Fixed players being unable to change character after making their initial selection. Thank you for continuing to make Bubble Bounce the best it can be.

[ 2020-06-20 18:17:01 CET ] [ Original post ]

June is already half way over, so it's time for another update in terms of what to expect at the end of the month. Now that summer is right around the corner, everyone wants to spend some time in a nice refreshing pool. But that's a really terrible idea, since there's a bit of a pandemic going on. But have no fear, because Bubble Bounce doesn't have pandemics implemented, so the Pool is open for business! The Pool is similar to the Farm in terms of gameplay, but there's a big difference in the form of the big gaping hole filled with water in the middle. Going in there will slow you down, so it might be best to stay out of it if you can. There's also a beach ball moving around the level. It moves when you touch it, but it doesn't matter. The beach ball doesn't impact gameplay in any way, it's just a fun extra and maybe a distraction. This update also adds a bit of a new look to certain elements. Each character has new sprites that don't look quite as soulless. I personally find them to look a lot better than the previous ones, and hopefully you do as well. I've also updated the font for the countdown both at the top of the screen during gameplay and the one at the beginning. I would love to hear your thoughts on the new timer. The update is available now for testing. Just choose to play the "experimental" beta on Steam. Keep in mind that the experimental branch should only be played if you're prepared for bugs to appear that otherwise may not. But if you want to use experimental mode, please consider reporting any bugs you find using the "options" menu from the title screen. And that's what to expect in the June update. This update will bring the total number of levels to four, so there are only two more levels. However that doesn't mean Bubble Bounce will no longer receive updates. I genuinely want to support Bubble Bounce for as long as I can, and there's plenty more I want to add. Thank you for making Bubble Bounce the best it can be.

[ 2020-06-16 20:04:15 CET ] [ Original post ]

The first full update is now available for Bubble Bounce. This update adds a whole new level, a Roller Coaster. Players have to bounce off the moving roller coaster to pop as many bubbles as possible. Some of the roller coaster's movements will make that a bit tricky, however. I've also added a new menu labelled "options" that's used for adjusting music volume and sound effect volume. This is also where option to close the game lives. I've also added a feedback button, which when clicked on will open a short form used for reporting bugs or any other feedback you want me to see. And that's the May update. Most upcoming updates will be somewhat light, since my main focus is on finishing the levels. I fully expect new levels to come out on time, since I've been able to get a lot of work done on them. This is the first monthly update to the game, and I'm happy with the results so far. That being said, the game is still in beta, and anything can break. I appreciate your understanding regarding glitches that need fixing and features that still need to be added. And I hate to break the fourth wall a bit, but please report any issues you encounter with the Roller Coaster. I've done a lot of bug hunting on it, but it never hurts to fix as many possible bugs as possible. Thank you for your patience with Bubble Bounce's development. I plan on releasing a short update in the middle of June with more information regarding that update.

[ 2020-05-29 23:42:44 CET ] [ Original post ]

May is half over, which means it's a good time to talk about what's coming at the end of the month. As promised, the next level will be finalized. And the next level is a Roller Coaster. The Roller Coaster will move around the screen, changing its speed based on the slopes of the rails. Players will have to bounce on the Roller Coaster to pop bubbles. This stage is similar to the River, since you can fall off and will respawn shortly after. This makes ground-pounding very helpful, but also very dangerous since the Roller Coaster may not catch you. Flying, on the other hand, is a great option for popping the hard-to-reach bubbles, since not every character will be able to pop every bubble. Along with the Roller Coaster level, I've also added an options menu for adjusting sound effects and music volume. Also inside the options menu is a way to submit feedback without needing to make a community post or sending an email. Now it's easier than ever to let me know what you think of Bubble Bounce. But what's the point in talking about the new update if it's still a few weeks away? The Roller Coaster level is still not as polished as I'd like it to be, but it's now possible to play with everything I mentioned in this post. Just use the "experimental" beta branch. You can access it by right-clicking on Bubble Bounce in the Steam library, choosing properties, and clicking the "betas" tab. Then you just select the beta you want to opt in to. If the experimental build is a bit too experimental for you, you can simply choose "none" from the drop down menu. If you encounter any bugs, have any issues, or even have something positive to say, please leave it in the feedback section on the options menu. That gives me a simple list of what issues need to be fixed, which using a public forum doesn't help with very much. For players wanting to wait a bit for a more polished version, the full update will be releasing at the end of May. Patch notes: -Added Roller Coaster level -Replaced "Quit" button with an "Options" button -Added feedback button in the options menu -Added option menu for adjusting music and sound volume

[ 2020-05-15 18:37:51 CET ] [ Original post ]

Thank you for your interest in Bubble Bounce. I am personally very excited for the game's upcoming release, and I want to take an opportunity to share my plans for future content and take an some time to explain a little bit about the game. Bubble Bounce has been my pet project for over 3 years. 3 years may sound like a long time for a game like this to be in development, but a big part of that 3 year development time has been learning game development. Another reason for the 3 years it's taken is because of how I want Bubble Bounce to be received. Games in Early Access have a reputation for being poorly made and not getting much in the way of updates. Bubble Bounce is not going to be like that. After 3 years of development time, I'm going to finish the game. I plan to release new levels on a monthly basis until all 6 levels are finished. That means the game will have 4 new levels released at no additional cost to the players. Music for the game is also something I'm working on. The game currently has only royalty free music, which gets the job done but it's far from personal. Unfortunately I don't have any time frame for when the music will be changed, but it will likely be gradual. While the levels are planned to be completed by the end of August, music may take longer depending on how it's handled and who does it. With the game finally almost out, it's worth noting what's coming next. I plan to release a trailer on the Bubble Bounce YouTube channel in the coming weeks showing what the next level will be. Keep in mind that changes to each level will be made based on user feedback, so some things shown in the trailer won't be kept in the final game. That being said, not all changes suggested by the community will be implemented. Suggestions that I don't think would work with the rest of the game will likely not be implemented. That being said, I am open to suggestions. The worst thing I'll do is not implement them. And just because a suggestion doesn't get implemented doesn't mean it's a bad one. It might just not fit with what I think Bubble Bounce needs or it might be outside the scope of what I can do. Along with the monthly game updates I'd love to do regular Q&A sessions on the community page (which you're on). I hope you have fun with Bubble Bounce! And I hope you understand if not everything goes completely according to plan. This is my first game, and with any luck it won't be my last.

[ 2020-04-29 19:51:07 CET ] [ Original post ]