Viverna Marble Run
Battle Royale!

We left off with the question: what's on the next sprint?
Let's see if you're on the mark.

To ensure user satisfaction, I've introduced a fresh gaming experience: Battle Royale. What is it? Check out the video, everything's explained there!

I also realized that the applause were a bit excessive and starting to bother the viewers, so I scaled them back. Boosting the engagement is definitely business value.

Ultimately, the most likely future for this project is to become a game for public release, so I've decided to invest time in reworking some classes in the programming code to make them more reusable and streamline future development.

Quite captivating, isn't it? Dive into the video for further details and please do share your feedback!

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Value-Centric Planning

Let's keep it simple: a project is essentially something done at some point in time to achieve a specific outcome.

No matter which life cycle or approach you go with, the main goal remains the same: delivering business value.

However, perspectives on what constitutes value can vary significantly. Drawing from my experience, I generally classify it into three main categories: user satisfaction, business impact, and developer efficiency.

A well-rounded and effective sprint should then include elements that are easily recognizable and appreciated by the user, components that drive business progress, and aspects that enhance the production chain.

Following the recent MVP release of my zero-player project "Viverna Marble Run", can you predict the objectives for the upcoming sprint based on the strategy I've just outlined?

Viverna Marble Run
Concept MVP

Getting straight to the point here: creating a game is a real challenge, it's actually much more demanding than developing a regular app or software.

Once you've got that initial idea brewing, the crucial first step is shaping a concept. This gives you a bird's-eye view of what you're aiming for, helping you gauge if the game is as enjoyable as you envisioned. This preliminary version is often referred to as the MVP, your Minimum Viable Product.

A solid one should strip down to the bare essentials, focusing solely on core game mechanics with just one distinctive feature. The catch? It needs to be whipped up in three weeks or less.

Picture it like a slice of cake - it's got all the layers and ingredients, but just in a compact, concentrated form.

Remember my latest project, the zero-player game? Well, the concept MVP is officially in the bag! Check it out, drop a comment, and stay tuned for all the upcoming updates!

Update 1.1 - What's new?

• Green tiles spawn distance has been increased
• Shuffling potions are now collected from the board and can be stored through levels
• Special tiles (Azure and Blue)
• Difficulty ramp lowered (level up)
• Tiles GFX has been improved

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A game with no players

In the theory of game design there is a concept that, even though it might sound extreme, is indeed very popular. I'm 100% sure you've already encountered it without recognizing it; I'm talking about zero-player games.

If you're wondering, 'What on earth is it?' well it's exactly how it sounds: it's a game that has no player.

To be precise, there are players, usually a lot of them, but they are differently referred to: they are spectators.

The target audience is officially termed 'popcorn gamers' and this genre manifests in various forms: sports games (such as tennis or football), pachinko and slot machines (where, although players insert coins, the core game mechanics involve watching), esports, speedrun videos, and the list goes on.

I'm highly interested in exploring this genre; in fact, I'm currently developing a concept MVP. We'll delve deeper into the topic throughout the year. Stay tuned!

Minigame
The Devilish Sprite's Riddle

The Sun shines brightly on an enchanting afternoon of June, and you find yourself succumbing to the embrace of a slumberous haze.

Nestled beneath the whimsical shade of a majestic willow tree, in that realm where you can't discern whether you are sleeping or awake, you meet the gaze of a devilish sprite, emanating an aura of wickedness.

You, insolent adventurer, dare to sleep beneath my companion tree?!? Guess the Monster I'm thinking of, or your soul will be mine... FOREVER!

Enter a letter: Guess

The monster is " ... "

Welcome AIntelligence, my old friend
I've come to talk with you again

In late March, ChatGPT faced a temporary ban in Italy due to processing users' personal data. It was the only country where this happened, and while I'm not one to believe in conspiracy theories, it certainly raises some questions.

After a month, ChatGPT is back, but now there's a "I'm 18, I can enter" banner that resembles something you'd see on an NSFW website.

Despite this, I believe that AI is an essential tool that has become a part of our daily lives, much like calculators and blenders.

Gone are the days of whipping cream by hand or doing mental math calc like "105:7." AI has revolutionized the way we approach problem-solving and has opened up new possibilities for innovation and progress.

A mindreading game?
Seven hidden words!

Save a penny for MY thoughts in the latest Viverna Social Club mini game.
 
Seven hidden words and just an image to solve the riddle!