Welcome to this special edition of ‘The Rebound’. We’re picking up your signals loud and clear — you’re keen to dive deeper into what’s happening behind the scenes, and as we approach our alpha testing, we’re offering a new segment that delves right into the nerve centre of our development process.
Consider us, as a team running agile two-week sprints, seamlessly moving from one task to another and passing you regular updates on our development milestones. Our tactic is simple but efficient — spot the hurdle, formulate a plan, and then execute the solution.
We’re excited to announce that in the future, we’re gearing up to give live development updates, covering every month’s progress. We know you’re eager to stay in the loop, and we want to keep you there, every step of the way. But before we can delve into the now, we need to cover what’s been done until now. We believe in understanding the journey to appreciate the destination.
In this one, we’re taking you behind the scenes with a focus on defence mechanics and community events. In the next edition, we’ll be shifting our gaze to the exhilarating world of offence mechanics.
So, without further ado, let’s embark on a journey through our latest development sprints, exploring the challenges we faced, the strategies we devised, and the solutions we implemented to achieve our goals.
Let’s ball!
UPDATING: GAME PHYSICS AND INTERACTION
Getting the PvP online gameplay specifications just right is a tricky task. We’ve gotta deal with stuff like timing, collision mechanics, and what decides who’s the champ and who’s the chump.
Why does it matter?
Because crafting these details perfectly means you get to experience the thrill of going up against other players in the best way possible.
So what’s our game plan?
- We combed through the vision document.
- Whipped up a nifty technical document for the code design.
- Carried out a deep dive into use case research.
- Formulated a tech definition for development.
With this approach, we’ve sifted through every nitty-gritty detail, and now we’ve got a crystal clear plan in our hands. It’s all about making sure each piece of the development puzzle fits seamlessly into the overall vision.
Up next? We’re rolling up our sleeves to tackle the Marking System.
SIMPLIFYING: THE MARKING SYSTEM
Introducing the concept of marking to our basketball game, while refreshing, has posed an exciting challenge. It has the potential to inject an exhilarating amount of adrenaline into the gameplay. However, our players found the existing marking, and particularly stealing mechanics, a bit cumbersome and less enjoyable.
Our lightbulb moment?
By streamlining the mechanic and upgrading its UI, we think we can make it more fun and less baffling at the same time.
Here’s what we did:
- Explored different ways to nab the ball.
- Suggested alternate marking systems.
- Gave the Mark UI a facelift.
But we weren’t done yet.
The new marking iteration still needed to be implemented.
We thought we could take the feedback on marking, concoct a new way to approach the mechanic and test it in gameplay.
So we got down to it:
- We validated the design document
- Implemented and tested the changes.
Having battled the behemoth task of enhancing the marking system, we’ve really stepped up our game. We’ve managed to jazz up the mechanics and UI, making it less of a headache and more of an adrenaline rush.
And you know what? It’s only going to get better from here. As we welcome more testers into the mix and gather a goldmine of feedback, you can bet we’ll be continuously refining this feature to bring even more thrill to our basketball game. Keep your eyes on the court, because the game is only heating up.
POLISHING: THE BLOCKING MECHANIC
The original block implementation was a bit of a challenge in gameplay.
Our hunch?
By simplifying the mechanics, we reckon players could get more out of this defensive move, enhancing the defensive experience.
Our actions:
- Analysed the block needs.
- Jotted down a proposal for changes.
- Implemented the new block.
- Put the new implementation to the test.
While we’ve made strides with the block mechanic and it now functions as expected, it’s clear that we’re not quite there yet. Some testers are still finding it not as enjoyable as we’d anticipated.
So, it’s back to the workshop with this one. It’s clear we’ve got more work to do, but we’re dedicated to refining it until we hit the sweet spot. Keep an eye out for more updates as we continue to fine-tune this aspect of the game.
STEAL — MAKING THE SWIPE
Players weren’t able to swipe the ball whenever they fancied. They always had to wait for the mark. Plus, the marking interaction was a bit wonky for our B-ball fans. We dig the “pass or lose” mechanic, but it was clear that we needed to jazz up the steal system without losing this thrill.
Why it’s a Big Deal?
Stealing is a crucial part of the game, offering a chance to flip the script on your opponents in an instant. Nailing this feature could seriously ramp up the tension on the court!
Our idea was to devise a system where marking ups your chances of stealing, but you gotta tap that input to snatch the ball instead of it just slipping away.
So, here’s what we did:
- We mapped out the new behaviour while marked.
- Sussed out the steal mechanism.
- Spawned the first iteration.
- Put it under the microscope.
We’ve successfully tweaked the mechanics so that you can now pass without the necessity of marking, even though it might give you an added advantage.
REBOUND — GETTING A SECOND SHOT
When the ball rebounded, players had to be on point with their position to scoop it up.
Rebounds are prime opportunities to snag the ball from your opponent and swing the momentum. If players can nab those rebounds more smoothly, they’ve got more chances to make those game-changing plays!
By working the rebound feature, we believe players will find catching those rebounds a cinch.
Here’s the Progress Report:
- We brushed up on our notes.
- Set the changes into motion.
- Ran it through the wringer.
Despite the changes, it seems the rebound mechanics have a bit more fine-tuning ahead to truly feel in sync with the flow of the game. But no sweat, we’re no strangers to a challenge! We’ll be digging deeper into the issue and are excited to refine this aspect of gameplay.
And now, in other news, here’s what’s been happening in our community:
Collaborating with ChainGuardians
We had the exciting opportunity to collaborate with ChainGuardians on their captivating podcast, “What the phygital?!”. During this engaging episode, our CEO, Simon, took centre stage to unveil the thrilling journey that Basketballverse has embarked on. You’ll also discover how the dynamics of our gameplay are influenced by your favourite real-life basketball players, adding an extra level of excitement to the experience.
Check it out here
Engaging Events: Community Fun
Step right up, folks! The thrill of our Friday Discord Quizzes continues to captivate the community. Every week, our Ballers, from far and wide test their knowledge and compete for glory. Sharpen your skills, embrace the challenge, and see if you have what it takes to outshine our reigning champions. The fun never stops, and exciting rewards and bragging rights await those who rise to the top.
Join us every Friday at 3 PM UTC on Discord and indulge in the joy of friendly competition.
NBA Pick’em: The Ultimate Guessing Game
The NBA Pick’em game had our community on the edge of their seats as they attempted to predict the winners of each thrilling NBA match. With a total of 912 guesses, our Ballers demonstrated their analytical prowess and placed their bets. Among the participants, 74 lucky winners emerged, each earning a handsome 15 USDT prize.
Congratulations to those who triumphed in this exhilarating guessing game and demonstrated their expert judgment.
Halftime Talks: Developer Insights Unleashed
Discover the inner workings of Basketballverse straight from the source! Our monthly Halftime Talks on Discord provide an open platform for in-depth discussions with our CEO Simon and Community Manager Tomas. Gain exclusive insights into the latest developments, including mind-blowing in-game VFX, the highly anticipated Alpha release, the fascinating world of Metaverse building, and captivating Community initiatives.
Stay engaged with thrilling activities like the Gleam giveaway, where we distributed $1000 worth of $BVR tokens to 50 lucky supporters. Don’t forget about the exhilarating BVR Royale, a Discord mini-game that tests your mettle against formidable opponents or even yourself.
Join us for an interactive and enlightening experience as we explore the many facets of Basketballverse.
New Court: Unveiling a Gamechanger
Prepare to be awestruck as we unveil our newest addition — a state-of-the-art court with all the amenities and hidden surprises waiting to be discovered. Get ready to step onto the court like never before and immerse yourself in the captivating world of Basketballverse.
On the Horizon: An exciting transformation
Our creative team is hard at work, crafting a fresh new look that embodies the true essence of Basketballverse. Brace yourself for an epic metamorphosis that will be unveiled soon. Stay tuned!
Remember, Ballers, the game is always evolving! Stay tuned for more thrilling updates and features in the world of Basketballverse. We appreciate your patience, feedback, and unwavering enthusiasm as we continue our journey to bring your basketball dreams to life.
The Basketballverse Team
About Basketballverse
Basketballverse is a real-time online free-2-play video game built on blockchain for a truly immersive and fun playing experience. Our game empowers gamers to earn real income by playing as a Baller, managing a club, or owning an arena to host games and sell advertising space. We’re on a mission to create a full ecosystem which reflects real-world basketball business and culture, and allows you to enjoy immersive gameplay, balanced competition, and big rewards.
Connect with us: https://linktr.ee/basketballverse