We noticed that other developers write DevLogs so we thought you would appreciate it if we did the same from time to time. So here is Devlog 001.
Its been a while since you have heard anything from us. So I thought it would be best to update you on what has been going on with Amazing Frog? since f0.2.8b -Who Let The Frogs Out?. We haven’t stopped, we are still developing like crazy and loving it. Thank you!
Reboot fOS?
One of the major parts of the next update f0.2.8c (The Frog Milk Coffee Co.) is the restructuring of the fPhones operating system. Generally at the end of a few weeks attacking the code I like to see some kind of output, you know, something poetic or artistic like an instantaneous "cough fart” in a crowd of frogs. It doesn’t always play out like that. Sometimes you’ve just got to roll up your sleeves and tackle the boring sh*t. These past few weeks it was necessary to rebuild the way the operating system of the fPhone (fOS) saves data. We had to think ahead and prepare the system for what we know is coming up in later versions. This has meant that I have completely changed the way data is saved. So at this point I would like to ask.
How do you guys feel about losing your saved data in the next Update?
Originally 0.2.8b was going to be our last Unity 4 version, so that we could focus completely on the Unity 5 version. We didn’t want to make you wait, so we have brought a piece of Unity 5 into Unity 4. That piece is Swindon’s first high street Coffee shop. There has been a lot of talk about currency and we have always intended to involve currency into the gameplay of Amazing Frog? The Frog Milk Coffee Co. is a good way for us to prototype this with you guys. There’s a shop, an app, coffee and rewards. Its a good way to prototype how currency can work in AF? We are only looking at using currency as a game play mechanic, like the good Ol’ days. But this also ties to the previous point about rebooting the fOS.
Pocket Mode
We know Amazing Frog? is not the most demanding game for your hardware compared to many modern games, but we do know that often there are people that play Amazing Frog on lower spec machines and run into problems in Swindon. So we have made a switch in settings called pocket mode. Basically this mode removes the 20km landscape, but allows you to just play in Swindon. Hopefully that will make a better experience for some of you on lower spec machines, especially while player split screen.
Is there other stuff in the next update ?
Are you kidding? There’s no way we could spend all that time just messing about with boring systems!!
But we’ll let you find out when check the Swindon Town Planning Change Log App . Also, I know I have not been great letting everyone know when its going to be ready , but we do put updates out as soon as they are ready. We don't sit on them.
To follow that - The Unity 5 Beta Branch
So, f0.2.9 is the Unity 5 version and we have been putting a lot of work into this one. Its a big change in a lot of ways. We really see this as a massive, positive step. I mean sure… a lot of the physics has changed and needed rewriting in places, every material had to be recreated, a ton of code was invalidated and most of the models needed remaking….
but we are really proud of how its looking. Problem is that there are so many changes we are having to pull things out to add them back in and we don’t like making you wait on that. So we are going to create a public Beta Branch very soon for the unity 5 version.
For many months now Hal has been creating and recreating assets to be Unity 5 ready . we have to then downgrade them for use in the unity 4 version. For example, have a look at the the Frog Milk Coffee Shop below from the Unity 5 editor window and the one above from f0.2.8c
Also here are a couple of screenshots from around Swindon in f0.2.9. If you are familiar where these are from then you'll be able to see how things are changing and thats the level of detail we are now working towards.
Amazing Frog? f0.2.8b Who Let The Frogs Out?
Welcome to the second part of Amazing Frog? f0.2.8 - Who Let The Frogs Out?For us f0.2.8 was a big mile stone for lots of different reasons.
FrogLife™
Our main focus this time has been FrogLife™. FrogLife™ is the Artificial Stupidity System (A.S.S.) responsible for how the frogs of SwindonShire … er think…Worried your computer can’t handle the new Population? Don’t worry, we have added a Population Density Slider in the Settings App to control how many NPC frogs you have around Swindon… if any :) We are always looking for ways to optimise Amazing Frog? and improve its scalability for high powered and low powered machines. we are working in stages and this will improve and we move forward.The Swindon Constabulary is very much in its infancy, but with every town with a rising population, certain civil services are imperative.
Updates for your fPhone
The operating system for the fPhone has had an update to help with various aspect, but more importantly we have added some apps for you to play with, Including The GemSmash and Time Trial Apps
More Stuff
We always love adding weapons, but the Desert Eagles cannot be collected from the spawners.. you’ll have to find them. Play nice though :)Oh… And This… becauseAnd more… Don’t for get to check the Change Log Apps.OK Now I feel like putting an Update out f0.2.8b
Thanks for your support every one !
Amazing Frog? Regarding Ant Room Award
Hello Everyone, I just wanted to bring a small typo in f0.2.8a to everyones attention. This is mainly regarding the Change Log in the recent Holiday Rush Update. The Holiday Rush Update was just that - a massive rush to get you guys some new content for Christmas, but there were (as always) a few things that got over looked.
In the Change Log there were two entries that were input incorrectly.
“teleportation in toilet and wardrobe fixed”
- I didn’t manage to fix this for the Holiday Rush update.
“nobody found the Ants in f0.2.7 ? well the room has been upgraded with an award”
- Unfortunately in the mad rush I forgot to activate the Award system in The Ant Room so this log is also incorrect. I just wanted to warn every one about this incase you actually gained access to our Secret Ant Room and were then subsequently disappointed by the lack of suitable reward.
Both have already been corrected for the new update f0.2.8b Who Let the Frogs Out? which we are aiming to get to you as soon as possible. We clearly can't allow santa Frogs running around Swindon for much longer.
In other matters we wanted to let you know that we are checking the screenshots daily and really excited by what we are seeing, not just in terms of artistic merit, but the sheer, mind boggling sense of achievement needed to capture some of these awesome images.
Below is an image of Hal's Cactus for your consideration… ;)
Amazing Frog? Linux added, f0.2.8a - Holiday Rush 2015
Happy Holidays every one. This is The Holiday Rush Update for Xmas 2015. I’m going to keep this short, its 4 am here. We both really wanted to get f0.2.8 out before Xmas, but its not ready yet. But we couldn’t bear the thought of not doing a Xmas Update - So this is it
f0.2.8a Holiday Rush 2015 note the ‘a'
In usual fashion I have just made it live and I think its best to just go and mess about in the game to get a feel for whats going on, But today its worth mentioning a few things.
SO...
SteamOS Amazing Frog? is now Linux too.
We have now taken the jump to support Linux as well as OS X and Windows. so Amazing Frog? is now available on the three platforms.
Ammunition!!
We are concerned this will be an issue for some. when you have been used to infinite ammo of so long and now you have to go o a vending machine or smash crates to get ammo. There is plenty of ammo around Swindon. Ammo has been introduced, because of where we are taking the game we didn’t feel infinite ammo was a good way to go. It certainly changes the process of death matching…
Roads and Pavements
Fayju Construction Ltd commences work on the roads of Swindon. The roads and pavements have been reconstructed with a better road system, We encourage you to jump in a car or a bus and and drive around a take a look. Or view Swindon from a blimp to get a feel for the improved road layout
FrogLife™
the main focus of f0.2.8 “Who Let The Frogs Out” is developing the intelligence of our NPCS. This update touches on what we have been working on in that areas and will give you a feel for where we are heading.
but FrogLife™in this Update is a simplified version of it.
Also its xmas and Starwars two of our favourite things apart from both Morty and Rick so we have to put the outfits in just for that!
Amazing Frog? The Technology Update f0.2.7
As many of you have noticed we released the Technology Update (f0.2.7) for Amazing Frog? Last week. Thanks so much for the feedback. As ever you guys are awesome.We have been very busy this past week making fixes and finishing of a few things which didn’t make the update in time. We will get that out as soon as possible, so stay tuned for another update pretty soon. Thank you to every one posting bugs, ideas and observations, Minecraft replicas! and illuminati guides in the Community. We are listening and always appreciative.So here, one week late is the official announcement for The Technology Update.
fPhone
Introducing the fPhone. You all know where we are heading, we all want Amazing Frog? to be playable online, this is no secret. Rather than jumping straight in we need to get all the right “kit” in place. Since we launched Amazing Frog? on Steam Early Access, we had not had any kind of interface really. We always knew we were going to make the fPhone as the frogs way to access ’stuff”… we just didn’t know at what stage. We made the decision to get our heads down and build the OS at the end of Summer. As much as the Amazing Frog? world is being updated and developed, so too now is the fOS and the fApps (heh) that go with it. Currently the fPhone’s hardware is the fPhone 1G powered by fOS 1.0. There are a bunch of Apps to discover and we have built the system with the purpose of adding more.
Swindon Citizen Points
Frog Court has been Refurbished and is home to the Swindon Citizen Points Totaliser and the trophy cabinets. We are really excited about this building as like the fPhone for us it was another major milestone. Now that we have the building we can continue with our plans for The Swindon Constabulary. What is SCP ? Every super hero has to start somewhere. Keeping the streets (and beaches) tidy, forwarding lost post and rescuing lost kitties is a step in the right direction. Your tasks start here.Collecting SCP point will unlock various thing in SwindonShire. The first and most important is the new network of Gold Cannons, courtesy of Swindon Transport.
FartTech Laboratories. “The Lab"
Swindon is home to the Swindon Space Program and FartTech have been secretly active in the Sewers below. But there have been strange noises coming from the sewers. Find your way into the Lab, open the LOL door.
Misc. Game Development Stuff
The Technology update saw a whole bunch of changes, updates and additions. We love developing Amazing Frog? I can’t state that enough. The problem is that we find it hard to stop “building” it for updates and we get wrapped up in adding, fixing and modifying things. So Here are some of the things that have been improved, fixed added extra throughout the whole game that we felt were worth mentioning.
Blimps
The Blimps are indeed faster… be careful of the ground … they are very fast. However, we reserve the right to slow them down when biplanes are introduced. But the Blimps should help you get around for now.
Sound
We basically rebuilt the way that sound is delt with after we replaced the boom boxes. The way we were doing music on the Boom boxes was not doing the music any credit, now you can hear it from any split screen frog player and we have handled the environment sounds differently. We added air speed and with it contrails on the frog should help you feel like you are falling faster :)
Controls and Cameras
We made a first person cam for thrill seekers. Also Easy Cam, which was mainly mainly for people who get a bit lost when using both sticks of a controller, it may also be help for for those on keyboard and mouse. It basically adjusts the camera to move behind you as you run forward. These are accessible from the controls fApp on the fPhone. In the cars we made the camera have the option
Weapons
We added a whole bunch of weapons, the sniper rifle is our weapon of choice, but now you can holster weapons theres every possibility a shotgun wielding frog can descend rapidly on a sniper for a win. However, if you want guns in Swindon you will have to prove yourself. The switch to turn on “Dangerous” guns is on the tallest building in Swindon. If you achieve this you will be rewarded the “Gun” App. You will need this app to activate guns in Swindon. The water pistols, nerf guns and nerf crossbows however are always available. The overall Gun system was upgraded, not just allowing for Holstering, if you want to take your gun around, but they should just work better.
ScreenShots
We love your screen shots, because we know what you had to go through to get them. We go through them every day, so many awesome screenshots. I have grabbed a load of bunch and downloaded them to my machine so I can grab relavent ones when I need them and I have sprinkled a few in the announcement. The ones from the community I have put links to their community entries on the images.As far as Nature photography goes this one of the Mega Shark blew our minds.enjoy The Technology Update - more coming v soon.
Amazing Frog? Development News From Gaz n' Hal
We know a lot of you are eager for the new Update. Its close… I am going to say we should have f0.2.7 available the first or second week of October. Its certainly the biggest content update we’ve done… code name - “The Technology update” .
Originally, we planned to just do a hot fix to make the blimps faster, but both Hal and I got carried away adding a bunch of other things.
We’re really excited about f0.2.7, but we don’t want to give too much away. For those of you who want spoilers heres some images that should give you a glimpse into what we have been cooking up. (Also Thanks SO MUCH for all the support in the community and the awesome screenshots!)
Amazing Frog f0.2.6 Update Blimps and Rocket Launchers etc...
We seem to be Developing a habit of announcing the new updates after we have actually released them. This is mainly because I am much more comfortable programming than writing announcements. We put out f0.2.6 which this weekend, it was f0.2.5, but was then updated with some “Friday Fixes”. This is a big milestone for Amazing Frog? A more optimized Swindon.
Hot Fixing and last minute madness
After a lot of fundamental changes, this has been our toughest update so far. Among many things we really wanted to make a performance boost and I hope this has worked, we have had a few problems and we have been hot fixing and testing like crazy and we may still output a few more quick updates over the next week or so. If you have problems with Amazing Frog? do come and tell me on any of your preferred channels. We really want you all to enjoy Amazing Frog? as much as we do. So Thanks to every one who flagged the bugs on this update.
So Whats New in Swindon?
Well..there are a few more things other than Blimps and Rocket Launchers. The Swindon Town Planning Office walls are starting to get a bit messy. I encourage you to head down there to get an update on how Swindon has been growing. As always The Swindon Town Planning Office is your local resource for ongoing Development information.
Around Town
Things are running more smoothly about town. There are a bunch more cars scattered around the Swindon and Swindon Shire and vehicles take less of an overall toll on the environment. Also, frogs will find explosions now look very different and are a much better way to get around.
In Local News
Town Mayor lets loose outside Frog Court, says some of the Frogs were “looking at me funny”. With new Gun skills he made short work of the menaces and restored safety to the Streets of Swindon one more time.
Strange Switches have been noticed around Swindon. The feeling is that more of these are set to appear, no one is sure if standing on them will being a positive outcome.
Fancy A Relaxing Getaway?
Swindon On Sea now has more to offer than before. The all new speedy Frogasaki Jet Ski is now available on the coast for recreational fun breaks from the city.
WARNING : Sharks enjoy dining on Frogs Legs dangling in the water.
More coming real soon...
What going on with the Amazing Frog update? (f 0.2.5)
The next update (f0.2.5) has been a tough one. As I said to various Community members, at one point we were almost ready to go live with it. So I thought it best to write an announcement to explain what has been going on.
Many people had pointed out that Amazing Frog? wasn't running so well on some of the less powered machines. Until recently we had expected to deal with most of the outstanding optimisation issues during the migration to Unity 5. the migration process is taking way too long and so we had to make a decision last month.
Plan A: - Release the new content for all and risk some of the less powered machines taking a big hit on performance.
or
Plan B: - Perform a series of much needed optimisations to make it run faster, but delay the next update as we would need to break quite a few key systems to progress. Eggs.. omelette etc.
We went with Plan B as we felt it would be better for All.
So for the past Month many optimisations have taken place. And I am happy to say they are now working really well and we are close to the next update, and just have to tidy a few remaining issues.
Quality
Culling - What we had for quality settings was in need of simplification and now with the new modifications many of the "quality options" are now redundant. We tried various configurations, but went for an object type culling system that can really help on all level of machine and basically just cleaned everything up to help the rendering run smoother.
Physics
Vehicles - Much of the demand on the CPU was actually in the physics and mainly from the cars. So they have been reprogrammed. This allows us to put loads more cars in scene at less CPU cost. We also had to look at this for other vehicles considering we put a load of Jet Skis in Swindon On Sea too and you can fly blimps now!
(After f0.2.5 its also puts us in a stronger position for NPC controlled vehicles.)
NPC - As it had been pointed out Swindon was looking kind of empty for frogs. This was because we made the NPCs/Zombies from the same mechanics as the avatar frogs were made from. This meant there was way too much "frogness" being calculated per NPC. This has been resolved and allows for more frogs to exist together…next we need to work more on their intelligence as… well currently they are a bit stupid.
So what's going to be new in the next Update?
Well quite a bit...
Through the optimisation process we also reworked the frogs control system. Completely new Weapon feel with scopes and sights and all the weapons have been upgraded to work and look better.
We're bringing Jet Skis and faster boats. And while a shark may be able to pull you from one of the numerous Jet Skis you can take your revenge as the Sharks are no longer indestructible :) also a Shark would now be just as content munching on a pig as they would you… oh and pigs and be killed too.
This is all peppered with a bunch of new things like balloons, telescopes and sea buoys, all in a new Swindon layout and naturally there is more hidden stuff too.
Including the flyable blimp to allow you to explore the landscape from great heights. Which has led us to start thinking about what the terminal velocity of a Frog might be.
But there's gonna be more, right?
Hell yeah!
One of the major things we have been working on is mission delivery and ammunition. After passing the optimisation hurdle of f0.2.5 we can get Amazing Frog? back on track with more frequent updates.
Its no secret that we are moving towards opening the Lab of the Swindon Space Program behind the LOL door to get to the Moon. From our point of view Amazing Frog? is not ready for space just yet and we want the mission flow for that journey to epic.
Before that can commence there are various systems that need to be put in place, such as the fPhone network.
Yes, we have build rocket launchers and water based weapons, but these are dependant on ammunition. Storage, accumulation and multiple types of customisation we be reliant on the fPhone interface.
So we can keep delivering content, we are introducing Switch activated micro missions and preparing for Versus and Party modes. Vs mode will likely be the first place you will be able to access our first online tests.
About Unity 5
Players have been asking about Unity 5, so here's our take on it.
We have had access to Unity 5 for some time and have been slowly moving the project towards Unity 5, behind the scenes. On the one hand it is really daunting that there are so many big changes for a project like Amazing Frog? but on the other hand its really exciting all the power at our disposal.
Early in the year, when we realised that the changes would be so vast, we decided that we would work on both Unity 5 and Unity 4 simultaneously. This was so we could keep moving forward, but actually deliver content. I can't really estimate when the Unity 5 version will be ready at this stage, but what I can say is its going to look and feel Amazing ….Frog?
Thanks for waiting, and thanks for all the support. Its a great community and you guys really Get it.
New update coming soon.
Gaz n Hal,
Fayju
:)
Dress Up Taster Update #9 f0.2.4
Hello Kitty…
Hello Again, welcome back to Swindon, home of Amazing Frog?
We have big plans for the cats of Swindon. Lets face it the first step to becoming a Super Hero is finding lost Kittens :) . For now the Cats have just come to say Hello.
Swindon Fashion Taster
The inhabitants of Swindon have been calling out for more fashion in the town.
The truth is we love dressing up frogs. We have been working on a library of quite extensive fashion capabilities for the frogs of Swindon. Alas, our frog customisation system is only one part of a growing web of larger game systems for Amazing Frog? that are not quite ready to put into the game. So we figured we would introduce a "Dress Up Taster". A temporary "Test Room" that allows you to use a standard GUI to edit the character skin with a Taster set of garments to choose from.
Also Dotted around the Countryside more brown toilets have appeared containing some of the more "special" costumes.
Swindon Expansion Progress
Swindon is still growing. Its a big task and we are working super hard on it. Behind the Scenes we have been
Migrating to Unity 5 for more awesome graphics and super optimised physics
Developing the Amazing Frog Multiplayer Engine
Looking at Steam Integration
Enhancing the weaponry aspects
A mobile phone interface to tie it all together.
We are doing our best to keep you posted about the progress, reading all the discussions. Thanks for all the suggestions, problems and positivity. Its a great community here on Steam Early Access and we're so grateful :)
Swindon Town Planning Office
Don't forget to check out the Swindon Town Planning Office for more information on the update.
Update #8 (f0.2.3) Frog Gate with VR for Amazing Frog?
SWINDON NEWS
- GIANT FROG GATE - NEW ROADS - SHARK ATTACKS - fART COUNCIL CRITICISM - SWINDON SHIRE NOW IN VR
Giant Gate added to the Great Wall of Swindon.
For those who what to get Geographical - Swindon Exists on an open world 20KM ISLAND called SwindonShire. Swindon is surrounded by a giant wall. What is unclear is if the wall was put there to keep something out or to keep the frogs in. Nonetheless, Fayju Construction Ltd. has installed a giant Frog Gate… but the switch on the inside is broken ;)
Swindon Borough Council Build New Roads
The Swindon expansion and restoration program in well underway. The new Swindon Town Planning Office was opened for Frogs to keep tabs on the growth of their town into Greater SwindonShire. The construction of a new planned Road network to explore the island has begun. Fayju Construction Ltd, who was commissioned by the Council to begin construction of the new holiday resort, Swindon-On-Sea, had requested a new road leading to the site in order to begin its construction work. Obviously the seaside a hazardous place to undergo construction work because of all the damn Sharks. Many frogs have been eaten and this is causing much criticism of Fayju Construction Ltd treatment of Health and Safety issues with regards to allowing Frogs to frolic around with reckless abandon.
Sharks keep waters Dangerous
2 surviving frogs stand by helpless as a tragic car accident quickly descends into their co workers being torn apart by vicious Sharks. This took place yesterday the construction sight of the future holiday resort of Swindon On Sea.
Swindon Borough Council Says -
"could have been worse…"
The Swindon fArt Council under attack.
A recent exhibition of a Shark preserved in Formaldehyde from a notorious Artist, famed for using shock tactics has received fierce criticism today from activists. In light of all the shark attacks some say this exhibition is in poor taste and many Frogs and are demanding its removal. Swindon fArt Council said -
"we are looking at the possibility of a replacement exhibit, perhaps Keith Robert Gazelda could help…"
BETA VR support for Oculus Devices
If you have Steam VR running and you open Amazing Frog? then it will run in VR mode. Head tracking is supported by Oculus DK1 and DK2 currently.
There have been some big VR announcements from Steam, like VIVE, so every one in Swindon is getting really excited about all this. Gaz and Hal from Fayju made a video of Gaz Playing Amazing Frog? VR with an Oculus DK2. Take a look and you can get a feel for what it is like.
Gaz and Hal have been running out of space on the walls of the Swindon Town Planning Office and have been looking for a different solution to supplying news about feature changes in Amazing Frog? other than scraling on the wall with a Sharpie.
Also, as aspiring film makers, Gaz and Hal rented a bunch of "movie cameras" from the local college in order to document "frog stunts" and film their crazy Swindon, Frog antics. Unfortunately the cameras have been misplaced and must have been left in key locations around Swindon Shire.
As Always...
This is the 8th update to Amazing Frog? in Early Access. We have always been committed to adding new features to the game.
Amazing Frog? is built by Fayju.
Fayju is Gaz Bushell and Hal Jackson and Swindon is a real town (-Minus frogs and Sharks :P )
Amazing Frog? is a openworld physics sandbox game featuring:
Welcome to the second part of Amazing Frog? f0.2.8 - Who Let The Frogs Out?For us f0.2.8 was a big mile stone for lots of different reasons.
The Swindon Constabulary is very much in its infancy, but with every town with a rising population, certain civil services are imperative.
Oh… And This… because
And more… Don’t for get to check the Change Log Apps.OK Now I feel like putting an Update out f0.2.8b
As many of you have noticed we released the Technology Update (f0.2.7) for Amazing Frog? Last week. Thanks so much for the feedback. As ever you guys are awesome.We have been very busy this past week making fixes and finishing of a few things which didn’t make the update in time. We will get that out as soon as possible, so stay tuned for another update pretty soon. Thank you to every one posting bugs, ideas and observations, Minecraft replicas! and illuminati guides in the Community. We are listening and always appreciative.So here, one week late is the official announcement for The Technology Update.
Introducing the fPhone. You all know where we are heading, we all want Amazing Frog? to be playable online, this is no secret. Rather than jumping straight in we need to get all the right “kit” in place. Since we launched Amazing Frog? on Steam Early Access, we had not had any kind of interface really. We always knew we were going to make the fPhone as the frogs way to access ’stuff”… we just didn’t know at what stage. We made the decision to get our heads down and build the OS at the end of Summer. As much as the Amazing Frog? world is being updated and developed, so too now is the fOS and the fApps (heh) that go with it. Currently the fPhone’s hardware is the fPhone 1G powered by fOS 1.0. There are a bunch of Apps to discover and we have built the system with the purpose of adding more.
Collecting SCP point will unlock various thing in SwindonShire. The first and most important is the new network of Gold Cannons, courtesy of Swindon Transport.
