New Mechanics: Dialog box, merchant, upgrades, drop items

The best way to show the latest changes is through a video.  The graphics are still placeholder but you can get an idea of what it will look like.  My next step is to make it possible to move from floor to floor.  Once that is in, it should feel like a real adventure rather than just a tech demo.

The aesthetics like text and menu animation are details that could have been ignored until later in the project, but it helps keep motivation up to see cool visual effects. When it’s just a slog of behind-the-scenes changes, it is easy to lose track of the excitement of the game. The visuals are also not nearly as complex as the tough stuff like AI and collision, so I can get some easy wins on those days when I just don’t feel like working.

It’s really coming together.