Honcho Game
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Avoiding Tutorials
🕑 Added 2025-03-27 17:10:50 +0000 UTCThe repair bench needed new art as it looked pretty rough. While working on that I began to worry that players wouldn't understand what it does or even if it's usable. Rather than add in a tool tip that players won't read, I settled on a visual callout that should hopefully attract the players' eye.
It's pretty simple in that when a player picks up a component, the repair bench will check to see if it needs to be repaired or treated for rust. If it does, then the bench will dimly light up and display the held component. If it doesn't then it remains off. Very simple and hopefully avoids the need for a tool tip interuption.
Let me know what'chu think.
Greg
Comments
Greg Pryjmachuk
This is something I really want to add. The Honda T-360 manual is a thing of beauty. Each component on the vehicle includes a handdrawn pencil artwork - something you just don't get anymore. Similar to the User Manual in Jalopy, I'd like to add a manual that goes into more depth about each component on the car, and provides you a broad overview of performance etc. Though this is something that would come towards the tail-end of development, as things are more locked down.
Lewis Wells
I've just had a thought about this. You could include tutorial books in the game on different subjects for sale. Then if a player didn't fully understand how a mechanic works, they could purchase a book. This would avoid a tutorial, but allow players to learn more within the context of the game world. They could be made to look like car owners manuals?
Greg Pryjmachuk
Yeah a little beep or something could fit and would also help.
Greg Pryjmachuk
I'll tone it down. I'm hesitant to get stuck in the weeds implementing a manual rotate but potentially in the future.
Stijn Berkvens
This looks cool, but the jumping and spinning while repairing feels a bit over the top. It helps players see where to repair, but most would probably prefer to rotate it manually with the mouse while actually repairing it.
Lewis Wells
Looks good to me.
Jethro Miller
Honestly that seems like a great way of advertising the intractability... but I wonder if there is a noise that could also be played?
spoopie
seems pretty slick to avoid a tutorial message but some players might still miss this
