Fourth Week of April

This week I began covering the more in-depth details of the documentation, but I also went back to the flash prototype and added a menu and loading screen which should make the game easier to demonstrate.

The flash proto-type could easily be developed to include the transformation sequence making it more like the final game and more complete. It could also have a large number of tracks added to it resembling the maps of the real game with the same grand prix system put in place for unlocking new tracks and upgrades.
This would be a suitable game for the Nintendo DS, PSP and Game Boy Advance. However the current graphics were designed to be very simplistic so that the game would run fast and smoothly, if it is going to be written onto a disc and features such as loading screens implemented then the graphics could be made much better with the addition of textures to the vehicles and animation to the transformation sequences. However I still believe the game would work better on a handheld console if played in the top-down perspective.

And some detail about the transformation sequence:

The transformation stage in-between areas of the race track will be vital to success in the game, especially at later stages. Originally I intended for the transformation stage to be a cut-scene slow-motion automatic transition in which the player had no participation other than as a spectator until the transformation was complete.
However after further consideration I realized that this would not only be boring after several repetitions but would also detract an opportunity to make this more than just a racing game, to add another element of challenge.
In the revised version of the transformation it will still begin automatically, however during the transformation the player will be given a very short time to enter a button combination following on-screen prompts. The more successful the player is will influence the success of the transformation.
When prompted to enter a four button combination of the arrow keys the player will have a limited time, depending on the level of competition they are racing in to enter them in the correct order. If the player enters all four correctly then they receive a 20% speed increase for the first 5 seconds after transformation. If they enter three buttons correctly they maintain their current speed and continue as normal.
However if the player only enters two buttons correctly the transformation was inefficient and they will continue at a 20% reduced speed from what they entered the transformation. If only one button is entered correctly the player suffers a 50% speed reduction and if the player fails to enter any buttons at all or gets them wrong the vehicle stalls and the player is required to start from standing.
Failure to successfully transform on a regular basis will make winning, especially at later levels, extremely difficult.