Lemmings Forums

Lix => Lix Main => Topic started by: Simon on January 18, 2025, 01:54:14 AM

Title: 2025 Roadmap
Post by: Simon on January 18, 2025, 01:54:14 AM
2017 (https://www.lemmingsforums.net/index.php?topic=3191.0) -- 2018 (https://www.lemmingsforums.net/index.php?topic=3756.0) -- 2020 (https://www.lemmingsforums.net/index.php?topic=4995.0) -- 2022 (https://www.lemmingsforums.net/index.php?topic=5881.0) -- 2023 (https://www.lemmingsforums.net/index.php?topic=6202.0) -- 2025



UI

Scissors mouse cursor: Change the mouse cursor to scissors when a click will cut the replay. I tried this, and a full scissors cursor was annoying, it made it hard to point at things. Instead, it's now done in 0.10.30 as a small sidekick to the cursor, Github #400 (https://github.com/SimonN/LixD/issues/400).

Add an icon near the mouse cursor that means insert mode. There is no obvious icon for inserting. Done in 0.10.30, source of the idea (https://www.lemmingsforums.net/index.php?msg=98065).

Explain gadgets on mouseover (catapult, steam, trap). This is good newbie onboarding. Newbie onboarding is important; bad UX confuses newbies and they never play again. Done in 0.10.30, Github #494 (https://github.com/SimonN/LixD/issues/494).

Add flying shovel/jackhammer for basher/digger who hits steel. Done in 0.10.29, Github #496 (https://github.com/SimonN/LixD/issues/496).

Upgrade Allegro DLLs in the Windows release to 5.2.10. I forgot why I wanted that. But it's the newest version, updating is good anyway even if I don't remember why.  Done in 0.10.29.



Physics

Fix several of these bugs:


Write a manifesto on Lemmings physics. Never should a lix willfully enter terrain, unless we override it explicitly, e.g., for ascender. Never should a lix hover, unless we override it explicitly, e.g., for builder. Replace some physics primitives, e.g., scan at (x in front | y up), e.g., move ahead unconditionally, ... with higher-level commands: "walk ahead" should mean { move ahead iff you're standing on floor and there is air ahead }. Rewrite some physics in these higher-level terms. See how much of the physics will break. We can still decide if all this is too aggressive.

-- Simon