I've been working to get the code for the Mobware Minigames framework ready, and finally have the code on the Mobware Minigames Git Repository ready collaboration!

There's still lots to do, like getting the story elements ready, but all the basics are there and ready to go so that anyone can create and test their own minigames!

Currently I have the framework to load and play the minigames, as well as the code to programmatically generate the credits sequence for all of the minigames in the build.  It was important to me that contributors are credited so I wanted to make it easy to have their name show up in the credits. All you need to do is add credits.json with the name and roles of the creators as well as credits.gif which will display alongside it, and Mobware Minigames will read it from the minigame folder and add it to the credits sequence.

For example. for Bodega Cat, it has this credits.json file in its minigame folder:

{

    "Original game design": "Pawprints",

    "Minigame adaptation": "Drew Loebach",

    "Music": "RoccoW"

}

As well as credits.gif of a cute animated cat.

Here's how it shows up in the credits sequence:

(You can also see what happens when credits.gif isn't in the minigame folder: The credits are displayed next to the gif of the adorable "default dog")

Now that everything is ready to load the minigames, I also wanted to include bonus games that you can unlock as you progress. I created a pretty basic menu, but it gets the job done:

I could use the same code to load and play these bonus games, but still on my to-do list is to have them be unlockable (as well as some nice transition animations). In the final game, you'll unlock the games as you progress, and as they're unlocked they'll appear in the bonus game menu for you to play anytime.

So for now I have the framework ready to go and ~20 minigames ready with more in the making. I'm hoping more people will want to create their own to this a more diverse offering, so don't hesitate to reach out to me if you have your own minigame idea that you'd like to contribute! If you like to program in a shadowy basement and not interface with any humans, you can also just commit your minigame code to the Git repository directly and create a pull request :-).

Still to do:

• Create story elements: opening, ending, transition animations
• Implement new system for scoring / unlockables
• Playtest and polish existing minigames
• Create more minigames!

Join the discussion the Mobware Minigames channel in the Playdate Squad discord if you want to get in on the action:

https://discord.com/channels/675983554655551509/958424977193979955

And keep an eye out here for future updates!