Devlog: Health and Score UI Enhancements

Summary:

In this update, I focused on refining the player experience by improving the visibility and organization of key gameplay elements such as health and score. This version enhances the existing UI elements using TextMesh Pro for clearer and more customizable text, along with integrating a Gauntlet-style font to match the game's retro aesthetic.

New Features and Changes:

1. TextMesh Pro Integration:
   • I upgraded the health and score displays to use TextMesh Pro, providing sharper text rendering and greater flexibility in styling. TextMesh Pro allows for advanced features like rich text formatting and better support for different screen resolutions, significantly improving the readability of UI elements.
2. Gauntlet-Style Font:
   • I integrated a Gauntlet-inspired TTF font into the game, giving the health and score displays a nostalgic, arcade-style look that complements the overall theme. This custom font enhances the visual appeal of the UI and provides a unique identity to the game's interface.
3. Improved Health and Score UI Positioning:
   • I repositioned the health and score displays within the game scene for better visibility and accessibility. The text elements have been adjusted for size and alignment to ensure they are clear and easy to read during gameplay.
4. Flashing Health Alert:
   • I implemented a flashing effect for the player's sprite when health drops below 200, providing a visual warning that the player's health is critically low. The effect uses a red color flash with customizable duration and repeat count, making it an effective and eye-catching alert.
5. Responsive UI Layout:
   • I adjusted the layout of the UI elements to ensure they scale and reposition correctly across different screen resolutions. This maintains the intended look and feel of the game, ensuring the UI elements remain consistent.
6. Improved Collision Handling:
   • I added a damage cooldown mechanism to prevent multiple damage instances from a single collision, ensuring smoother gameplay and more predictable health reduction.
7. Score and Health Update Integration:
   • I integrated the score and health updates with the newly positioned UI elements, ensuring that all relevant information is accurately displayed in real-time during gameplay.

Known Issues:

• The flashing effect may need further tuning to balance visibility and player distraction.
• The layout may require adjustments for ultra-wide screen resolutions.
• Scene Reset and Score Management: The score currently does not reset as expected when the player dies and the scene reloads. The system needs further refinement to differentiate between player deaths and reaching the exit, ensuring the score resets only on death and persists across level transitions.

Next Steps:

• Implement health pickups and bonus items to provide players with more interactive ways to restore health and earn points.
• Add sound effects for health alerts and score updates to enhance feedback and player engagement.
• Consider moving the health and score UI elements into a dedicated panel for better organization.

Version: 1.1.0_20240926

This version represents a key step forward in enhancing the player experience. The integration of TextMesh Pro and the Gauntlet-inspired font significantly improves the visual appeal and readability of the game’s UI elements, while the new health alert system increases player awareness and sets the foundation for future gameplay and visual improvements.

Gauntlet Font

https://fontstruct.com/fontstructions/show/1508563/gauntlet-1