Launching

When starting a new game / run, the player is presented with a mini game that will determine how fast their starting speed are. The mini game is the classic gauge bar timing game where the player has to stop the bar at specific spot for the maximum effect.

The launch bar

Mechanic

The bar is separated into multiple segment. Each segment has minimum and maximum values. A reticle will move from left to right and back and forth. When the player tap the screen, the reticle sill stop and launch Mr. Boulder. The launching power is calculated as the interpolated values of the minimum and the maximum values of the segment where the reticle landed which in turn will determine the starting speed of Mr. Boulder.

$$launchSpeed = baseLaunchSpeed * (Lerp(minVal, maxVal) + bonusMultiplier)$$

Segment	Min Values	Max Values	Duration
Yellow	70%	90%	0.3s
Light Orange	90%	110%	0.3s
Dark Orange	110%	150%	0.3s
Red	150%	150%	0.2s

The base launching speed is determined by Upgrades while the bonusMultiplier is determined from Research Launcher.

Visual

• Each Chapter have their own unique launcher design

• The idea is Pebble is helping Mr. Boulder to launch using the creatures from the land

• The launcher's animation will represent the state of the segments defined above, both when charging and launching