My intent was to do this a lot more frequently, especially once this new Web site goes live. I guess I need to get this Web site live!
It is truly difficult to convey just how much work I've done on Super Duper Multitasking since the last time I wrote here. A convention will cause that. I raced to refine and/or finish features in the weeks leading up to TooManyGames, I furiously worked to fix issues mid-convention, and then, in the days following that weekend, I fixed and refined many more things. The finish line is starting to appear in the distance. I've been working on Multitasking since 2015, and finally, all these years later, the end is finally in sight!
Rather than bore you with the details of everything I've accomplished recently, however, I just want to crow about finishing a single feature that is quite possibly the most EXTRA thing I have ever created. It is wholly unnecessary, utterly ridiculous, and I doubt that more than a handful of people will ever actually take advantage of it. It is "Workout Mode."
One of Super Duper Multitasking's new minigames is called "Dance." Make no mistake: it is basically DanceDanceRevolution. To play this version, you simply flick the appropriate analog stick (or press the D-Pad, or whatever key is assigned if you're using the keyboard) at the right time to "step" on the correct arrow. The charts are made by combining chunks semi-randomly depending on difficulty, but ultimately, when you're playing the normal game modes, the steps are pretty simple (no jumps, for example, as these would be impossible to input on an analog stick) and it only lasts 10-15 seconds. But...
To play "Workout Mode:" first off, you connect a dance pad. Yes, really. You then select one of 3 full-length (about 2:00-2:15) songs, choose a difficulty, and go. 2 of the songs ultimately hail from Sharpshooter, but the other was made just for this.
The Dance game takes over the Center slot, and you'll use the dance pad to play it. You'll hold your controller in your hands, and use it to multitask the Top, Left, and Right slots while you play. Of course, both the steps and the multitasking get more complex as you get deeper into the song. If this sounds crazy...well, I can assure you that it is. But it's a lot of fun, too!
There is no life gauge or passing/failing the song, you just play the whole thing. When you reach the end, you'll get a score and grade. The scoring and grading systems are identical to DDR, so if you have experience with it, you'll know exactly how you did. For scoring purposes, minigames count as 8 steps; you get 8 Marvelouses if you clear one, or 8 Misses if you fail.
It is utterly and completely ridiculous. But I love it. At the convention, those who witnessed it saw their jaws drop, and the few other folks besides me who tried it were blown away. Yeah, it's insane. But I hope you'll look forward to trying it. =)