This development log will address what was my intention at the beginning of the Lineon project, how I approached this intent and where is Lineon currently at. I feel like the project is coming full circle, since it started as an imitation of video games and is now getting a web browser adaptation. But let's start at the beginning.

1. HOW TO PRESS JUMP IN A BOARD GAME

I've been designing board games for the past 3-4 years now. I made some tabletop games when I was 10 years old as well, but for the first 25 years of my life I mostly created in other fields (music, literature, film). Then board games came into my life like an avalanche and it's been an obsession ever since.

One thing I always missed while playing board games was the platforming genre. I immensely enjoyed playing video games like Rayman, N++, Cuphead, but haven't found anything in the tabletop category that would scratch the same itch. I was looking for the fluidity of movement that's present in my favorite platformers. Then, in March 2020, I kind of stumbled upon it – I sketched some points on a piece of paper, drew some lines between them and immediately knew I have something interesting in front of me.

That's how CoronaLine was made. It started as a two-player abstract game, meant for bored out pairs to pass time while stranded in a lockdown. Do you remember those first months when Covid hit? You can check CoronaLine out here: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/307430/coronaline

2. CELESTE

Around the same time, I started playing Celeste. Celeste is a beautiful platformer that really changed my perspective on how can a simple platformer impact the player. It made me think about how I could use the mechanics of Coronaline to make a one-player puzzle game that would tell a story as impactful as that of Celeste. And so Lineon was created.

I'm eternally grateful to Celeste for sparking that first light of inspiration. There were of course many other games that inspired me during the development (Into The Breach, Undertale, Stephen's Sausage Roll...), but Celeste started it all. This is why I made a tribute puzzle for Celeste. You can check it out below. The goal is: Theo and Madeline must collect all strawberries and Madeline must reach the Exit! (It works like a normal Lineon puzzle, with strawberries instead of keys).

3. IN COMES IGOR

Once I made enough progress with Lineon, I shared in on the internet – Reddit, Itch.io, etc. I got some nice feedback by many wonderful people and I am still grateful for everybody who walked with me and is still walking on this journey. One of the people who approached me was Igor Zuber, a Polish guy who at first playtested and helped with the development of a cute little card game called All Is Bomb that I'm also working on (it will be released eventually – I hope!).

We had some fruitful discussions and at one point we talked about usability of Lineon – how it's difficult to play it on the screen for those who won't buy the physical book. »Have you ever thought about an app?« Igor asked. Of course I have, but I'm no programmer – that's why I made Lineon a paper-and-pen puzzlebook in the first place. I channeled all of the video game inspirations into a medium I could handle.

Igor said he will look into it. I haven't thought much about it, but in the past week he contacted me with a fully working web broswer game prototype of the first chapter. I was blown away! And so, with the help of a Polish friend, the Lineon story got a new dimension.

Once the book will be finished, you will be able to play it either physically - directly onto a book or onto separate printed pages - or digitally - using the web browser adaptation. You will still use the book to track your progression, follow the story, learn the rules and discover secrets.  I'm excited! Thank you Igor! Can't wait to finish the project and share it with all of you.

4. INCREPARE'S PLAYTHROUGHS

Also, one of my puzzle-creator heroes, Stephen Lavelle - also known as Increpare, developer of Stephen's Sausage Roll, English Country Tune, etc. - has played Lineon on Twitch! I'm really happy about it, because he gave me some great feedback during the playthrough and seemed to like it.

You can watch all the streams here:
https://www.twitch.tv/videos/971684344 (starts at 42:30)
https://www.twitch.tv/videos/972507802
https://www.twitch.tv/videos/972867191
https://www.twitch.tv/videos/977933811
https://www.twitch.tv/videos/978956397

5. CONTACT ME!

Lineon is still in development. I think it's coming together very nicely, I've had some fresh and tasty ideas lately. If you'd like to be a part of the playtesting group, feel free to write me to blazgracar@gmail.com !

Alright, that's it for today! Sorry for all the misspellings and awkward English sentences, haha.

Stay safe, Blaž