v0.0.4-alpha

MyIslandGame v0.0.4-alpha Release Notes

• Released on March 8th, 2025 at 10:46pm.

Overview

This development preview release introduces the initial implementation of the crafting system, a crucial feature for the game's progression system. While functional at a core level, users should note that this release contains several known UI rendering issues that will be addressed in upcoming releases.

New Features

Crafting System

• Implemented CraftingSystem for transforming resources into items
• Added Recipe and RecipeManager for defining and managing crafting recipes
• Created CraftingGrid (2x2 and 3x3) for different crafting station types
• Integrated basic recipes for common items (wood planks, basic tools)
• Added CraftingComponent for tracking crafting capabilities
• Implemented toggling of crafting UI with 'C' key

Item System Expansion

• Extended Item class with crafting-related properties
• Added support for different stack sizes based on item type
• Implemented improved item tooltips with crafting information
• Added quantity tracking for crafting materials and results

Backend Improvements

• Enhanced ECS with specialized components for crafting
• Improved inventory integration with crafting system
• Added event-based notifications for crafting actions
• Implemented specialized tool handling for resource gathering
• Increased tree harvesting range to improve usability

Technical Improvements

• Extended resource management system to handle crafting ingredients
• Added support for crafting stations with different grid sizes
• Improved input management for UI interactions
• Enhanced player spawn logic to ensure valid starting location
• Added more debug logging to diagnose rendering issues

Controls

• WASD/Arrows: Move player
• E: Toggle inventory
• C: Toggle crafting interface
• 1-9: Select hotbar slot
• Mouse Wheel: Cycle through hotbar
• Left-Click: Gather resources / Use selected item / Interact with crafting
• +/-: Zoom camera
• T: Fast-forward time
• R: Reset time to 8:00 AM

Known Issues

• Crafting UI may not render visually despite being functionally toggled
• Inventory item movement can be buggy with inconsistent stacking behavior
• Tree harvesting requires close proximity and may not consistently collect resources
• Breaking rocks has inventory stacking issues
• Resource breaking is proximity-based rather than cursor-targeted
• UI system has SpriteBatch management and rendering issues
• No initial crafting station exists in the world (must craft one first)

Development Roadmap

Our updated development roadmap divides upcoming work into three focused releases:

v0.0.5-alpha (UI System Overhaul)

• Complete rewrite of the UI rendering pipeline
• Simplified SpriteBatch management
• Consistent UI element registration
• Initial architecture improvements
• Font handling improvements
• Fixed crafting UI rendering

v0.0.6-alpha (Core Gameplay Loop)

• Fixed resource gathering mechanics
• Improved inventory management
• Enhanced crafting progression
• Basic building mechanics
• Continued architecture improvements
• Initial ecosystem framework

v0.0.7-alpha (World Enrichment)

• First NPC entities (deer)
• Grass and forage implementation
• Completed architecture improvements
• Enhanced environmental interactions
• Time-based growth systems
• Improved world generation

Technical Notes

• Requires MonoGame 3.8.1 or later
• Built with .NET 8.0
• Mac users need to install freetype6 library

What's Changed

• Feature/crafting by @jacuzzicoding in #9

Full Changelog: v0.0.3-alpha...v0.0.4-alpha

v0.0.3-alpha

MyIslandGame Release Notes

v0.0.3-alpha (March 2, 2025)

8:50pm

New Features

Resource System

• Added Resource class with ID, name, description, category, and properties
• Implemented ResourceManager for managing resource definitions
• Created resource categories: Organic, Mineral, and Environmental
• Added 12 initial resource types including wood, stone, berries, seeds, etc.
• Created placeholder textures for all resources

Environmental Objects

• Added EnvironmentalObjectComponent for interactive world objects
• Created object types: trees, rocks, and bushes with unique behaviors
• Implemented growth stages and visual changes based on harvesting
• Added resource regrowth over time based on in-game time
• Integrated environmental objects with world generation

Inventory System

• Implemented Inventory and InventorySlot classes for item storage
• Added InventoryComponent for player inventory management
• Created hotbar selection system with number keys and scrolling
• Implemented item stacking and management
• Added basic item types (Resource, Tool) with inheritance

Resource Gathering

• Created GatheringSystem for handling resource collection
• Implemented tool-specific gathering (axe for trees, pickaxe for rocks)
• Added tool durability system
• Created visual feedback when resources are gathered
• Integrated gathering with the inventory system

UI Improvements

• Added inventory UI with hotbar display
• Implemented inventory toggle (E key)
• Created item display with quantity indicators
• Added selection highlighting for current hotbar slot

Technical Improvements

• Extended ECS with new components and systems
• Added PlayerComponent to identify the player entity
• Created EnvironmentalObjectFactory for easily creating world objects
• Improved input handling for inventory management
• Added integration between multiple systems

Known Issues

• Tool acquisition is limited (will be addressed in v0.0.4)
• No crafting system yet to utilize gathered resources
• Art assets are simple placeholder shapes
• No visual confirmation when something can be interacted with
• Limited feedback when inventory is full
• Some environmental objects might spawn in inaccessible locations

Controls

• WASD/Arrows: Move player
• E: Toggle inventory
• 1-9: Select hotbar slot
• Mouse Wheel: Cycle through hotbar
• Left-Click: Gather resources / Use selected item
• +/-: Zoom camera
• T: Fast-forward time
• R: Reset time to 8:00 AM
• ESC: Quit game

v0.0.2-alpha

New Features

Camera System

• Implemented camera following with smooth tracking
• Added zoom functionality using +/- keys
• Added screen clamping to world boundaries
• Created camera transformation for proper rendering

World Generation

• Added tile-based map system
• Implemented procedural generation for maps
• Created different tile types (grass, water, sand, stone)
• Added properties for passable/impassable tiles

Day/Night Cycle

• Created time management system
• Implemented day/night visual transitions
• Added ambient light color changes
• Created time display and controls

Technical Improvements

• Fixed collision detection precision
• Added boundary checks for player movement
• Improved entity rendering with depth sorting
• Fixed Vector2 modification issues

Controls

• WASD/Arrows: Move player
• +/-: Zoom camera in/out
• T: Speed up time (5x)
• R: Reset time to 8:00 AM
• ESC: Quit game

v0.0.1-alpha

Initial Features

Technical Foundation

• Set up MonoGame with .NET 8.0
• Created basic game loop
• Implemented window and graphics initialization

Core Systems

• Entity Component System (ECS) architecture
• Game state management
• Input handling system with action mapping

Basic Gameplay

• Simple player movement with WASD/arrow keys
• Collision detection
• Obstacle creation for testing

Technical Notes

• Requires MonoGame 3.8.1 or later
• Built with .NET 8.0
• Mac users need to install freetype6 library

What's Changed

• V0.0.3 by @jacuzzicoding in #8

Full Changelog: v0.0.2-alpha...v0.0.3-alpha

v0.0.2-alpha

v0.0.2-alpha (March 2, 2025)

New Features

Camera System

• Implemented follow camera that smoothly tracks the player
• Added zoom functionality with +/- keys
• Added camera boundary clamping to keep the view within the world
• Created a flexible camera class for future expansion

Day/Night Cycle

• Added time management system that tracks game hours, days, and minutes
• Implemented visual day/night cycle with lighting changes
• Created transitions for sunrise and sunset
• Added time controls for testing (T to accelerate time, R to reset to morning)
• Added on-screen time display with current time, day, and phase

Tile-Based World

• Implemented procedural tile map generation system
• Created different tile types (grass, water, sand, stone)
• Added passability properties to tiles to control player movement
• Integrated tile system with collision detection
• Added optimized tile rendering (only rendering visible tiles)

UI Improvements

• Added debug panel with game information
• Implemented UI manager for easier interface development
• Added text rendering capabilities

Bugfixes

• Fixed issue with player movement outside world boundaries
• Fixed incorrect night-time lighting appearance
• Resolved Vector2 modification errors
• Fixed property inheritance warnings
• Addressed compiler errors related to namespaces and duplicate classes

Technical Improvements

• Optimized rendering with camera transformations
• Improved collision response system
• Enhanced entity component interaction
• Added proper boundary checking for world limits

Known Issues

• FreeTtype6 library dependency on Mac may require additional installation steps
• Font loading may fail on some systems without proper dependencies
• Tilesets are currently simple colored rectangles without proper art assets

Controls

• WASD or Arrow Keys: Move player
• E or Space: Interact (reserved for future use)
• +/-: Zoom in/out
• T: Speed up time (5x)
• R: Reset time to 8:00 AM
• ESC: Exit game

Coming in v0.0.3

• Resource gathering system
• Basic inventory management
• Environmental objects (trees, rocks, etc.)
• Resource extraction mechanics
• Initial ecosystem elements

What's Changed

• Feature camera by @jacuzzicoding in #1
• Feature - day/night by @jacuzzicoding in #7

Full Changelog: v0.0.1-alpha...v0.0.2-alpha

v0.0.1-alpha

MyIslandGame v0.0.1 Release Notes

Overview

This is the initial release (v0.0.1) of MyIslandGame, establishing the core technical foundation for our island-based survival and ecosystem simulation game. While this version is extremely basic with minimal gameplay, it sets up the essential architecture that will support our ambitious vision for a living, evolving game world.

Key Features

Entity Component System Architecture

• Complete ECS framework implementation
  • Entity: Container with unique ID
  • Component: Data-only objects attachable to entities
  • System: Logic that operates on entities with specific component combinations
  • EntityManager: Central management of entities and systems

Core Components

• TransformComponent: Handles position, rotation, and scale
• SpriteComponent: Contains rendering information
• ColliderComponent: Defines collision boundaries (rectangle or circle)
• VelocityComponent: Manages movement properties

Basic Systems

• RenderSystem: Draws entities with sprite components
• MovementSystem: Updates entity positions based on velocity
• CollisionSystem: Detects and responds to collisions between entities

Game State Management

• State machine architecture for game state management
• GameStateManager for controlling transitions between states
• Basic PlayingState implementation

Input System

• Flexible input handling with action mapping
• Support for keyboard input
• Groundwork for gamepad support

Current Gameplay

• Blue square player character that can move using WASD/arrow keys
• Simple collision with colored obstacle blocks
• Green background representing the island surface

Technical Notes

• Built with MonoGame and .NET 8.0
• Designed for cross-platform compatibility
• XML documentation for all public classes and methods

Known Issues

• No camera system yet (fixed viewport)
• Limited collision resolution (simple push response)
• No persistent game world (restarts fresh each time)
• Missing proper world representation (just colored blocks)

Upcoming in v0.0.2

• Camera system that follows the player
• Tile-based world with different terrain types
• Day/night cycle affecting gameplay
• Basic UI framework for displaying game information
• Enhanced collision with spatial partitioning

Development Team

• Programming: [Developer Name]
• Art: Brock Jenkinson (upcoming)
• Game Design: Collaborative effort

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.

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This release represents the first small step in our journey to create a rich, interconnected ecosystem simulation where player actions have meaningful consequences on the game world. We're excited to build upon this foundation in the coming updates!