“Crank the Weasel”

Special Items

Brian Silva

· Glue Bottle

· Scrapper Disguise Hat

· Weasel Disguise Hat

· Bear Trap

· Ukulele

· Bomb-in-the-Box

· Can of Rabies

· Blow Dart Gun

· Magnet

· Weapons

Special items are handy devices that are purchased from vending machines located throughout Scratchtown. The cost of special items usually runs pretty steep, so Weasel will need to round up a whole lot of cash in order to buy a special item. Weasel is capable of carrying more than one unique special item at a time within his inventory system. These special items can be carried-over from one level to the next. Special items are designed to be highly sought-after tools that Weasel can use to make his journey through Scratchtown a bit more interesting and a whole lot easier.

Detailed Design

1. Item Inventory System

The Exact number of special items allowed in Weasel’s inventory is undetermined

i. Hopefully, he will be able to carry every type of special item all at one time

Each new special item purchased goes directly into Weasel’s special item inventory system

i. Upon purchasing a special item, Weasel immediately stows the item in his pants

Available special items can be cycled-through and readied via the D-Pad
A HUD graphic displays the currently “selected” special item onscreen along with a time counter or number display that tells player how much more use an item has left before it expires

i. Limited number-of-use special items countdown by one on the HUD with each use

ii. Time limit special items have a second timer on the HUD that counts down the time while the item is in use

Since Weasel cannot carry more than one of the exact same special item, here’s what happens when the player attempts to purchase a special item that Weasel already has in his inventory:

i. Vending machine’s doormat will not light up when stepped upon, thus preventing the player from making a purchase

1. This would occur if the special item in Weasel’s inventory is currently at full usefulness

2. Negative tone is heard when attempt is made to purchase special item

ii. Weasel will purchase the new special item and it will simply just refill the already existing special item back to full usefulness

1. This would happen if the same currently-owned special item was not at 100% useful

iii. Weasel will disregard his current special item for the newly purchased special item

1. This would occur if Weasel was purchasing a swinging-like weapon

Weasel will not drop a special item whenever he suffers an injury

2. Using Special Items

Pressing the “use item” button will make Weasel use the HUD’s currently selected special item

i. Weasel will quickly pull it from his pants just prior to use

1. This animation is very short and the player should still have some control over Weasel’s heading and velocity throughout

ii. Special Items are only visible upon purchase and when “in use”

If Weasel is in a location or state where he cannot use a special item, the special item HUD icon will become translucent, and a negative buzzer noise will sound upon pressing the “use item” button
Special items cannot be used while Weasel is on a ladder, using a city gadget, performing a swan dive, being fired from a cannon, sliding down a zip-line, injured or unconscious
Pressing the “use item” button to activate a special item will interrupt some of Weasel’s states, causing him to immediately transition into the required “use special item” animation:

i. Jumping

ii. Falling

iii. Parachuting

iv. Carrying BTI or other object

Glue Bottle

Glue is a special item that provides a handy way to temporarily trap other characters… even Weasel if he’s not careful. Squeezing a bottle of glue upward will send a shower of glue spots falling back down onto the immediate playfield and surrounding characters. Glue spots are only temporary so Weasel needs to move fast if he wants to escape or take advantage of a trapped character.

1. A glue bottle comes with 7 squeezes (amount adjustable)

2. Pressing the “use item” button will cause Weasel to quickly squeeze a blast of glue straight up into the air

a. Squirting SFX is played

b. Weasel immediately returns glue bottle to his pants

c. If bottle is empty, bottle instantly disappears after use

3. One second later a flurry of glue spots rain down on the immediate playfield surrounding Weasel (surrounding radius adjustable)

a. Glue spots will land only on surfaces designated as being able to support glue spots

i. Note: It would be nice to have a more sophisticated method of emulating glue (other than texture cards)

4. The glue spots will trap any characters that step into them

a. If a glue spot lands directly on a character, the character will instantly become trapped

b. Glue spots will fade away after 10 seconds (time adjustable)

5. Any playfield NPC can become stuck in glue

a. Glue has no affect on anything other than characters

6. Once a character steps into a glue spot, he’ll become trapped and will begin struggling (stationary) to free himself

a. Any NPC trapped in glue will remain stuck in the glue spot (unable to escape) until the glue spot expires

i. Weasel cannot become permanently stuck but his top speed is greatly reduced (5 MPH?) while running through a glue spot

7. Multiple characters can become stuck in one glue spot

a. If a portion of the glue spot is exposed, a character can become stuck in it

Disguise Hat

Looking a lot like a cheap knockoff of a partially assembled Disneyland mascot costume, disguise hats, when worn, fool other characters into thinking Weasel is someone else, allowing him to freely move about dangerous enemies without fear of getting killed… unless he does something stupid like provoke an enemy while wearing the disguise.

1. Pressing the “use item” button will cause Weasel to instantly pull the disguise hat from his pants and place it on his head

a. Weasel can move about as normal while wearing disguise hat

2. Disguise hat is automatically “in use” while worn by Weasel

3. Weasel must press the “use item” button again while wearing the disguise hat in order to remove the hat

4. Scrapper hats have a limited lifespan of 10 seconds (adjustable)

a. Timer counts down only while hat is being worn

b. Hats eventually burst with a non-injuring explosion of confetti and streamers

i. Boom SFX

ii. New Year’s horn during explosion

iii. Confetti/streamers particle effect

5. Disguise hats can be repeatedly taken on and off Weasel’s head (“use item” button) until the hat’s time runs out

6. NPCs will simply ignore Weasel in disguise hat

a. However, if Weasel provokes an NPC, the NPC will retaliate according to their predetermined behavioral rules

Weasel Disguise Hat

Sort of like a regular disguise hat but with a twist. This disguise hat isn’t worn by Weasel but by other characters. In fact, Weasel is the guy that actually pus the hat on the other characters. If a character is within close enough range of Weasel, he’s fair game. Once Weasel forcibly administers the disguise to some unsuspecting victim, all enemy characters will turn their focus and aggression toward whatever character happens to be wearing the Weasel disguise, ignoring the real Weasel. This diversion allows Weasel the chance to make a getaway or join in on the fun with the rest of the mob by beating up the poor sap whose head is stuck in a moldy Weasel mask.

1. Weasel simply needs to stand within range of an NPC (distance adjustable) and then toss the Weasel hat onto the deserving victim’s head

o Pressing “use item” button will administer the Weasel hat

o Weasel hat will automatically fly from Weasel’s hands and guide itself onto the head of the nearest available victim

o If no victim is within range, a negative tone plays when the “use item” button is pressed

2. Weasel’s hat stays stuck on a victim for 10 seconds before exploding, even if the victim is injured (time adjustable)

o Weasel hat eventually explodes (burst of confetti)

3. The victim is shocked for a couple of seconds after the hat is administered and then begins struggling to remove the hat (stationary action)

o If the victim is attacked, the victim will suffer an injury just the same as it would without the hat

o A victim could potentially be killed while wearing the hat

§ Hat would burst in confetti and streamers

4. A character wearing a Weasel hat will be looked upon and treated as if he actually is Weasel

o In fact, enemies will be more interested in the character wearing the Weasel disguise hat than Weasel himself

Enemy-Seeking Bear Trap

Releasing a bear trap while Weasel is within range (adjustable) of any character will cause him to let loose a vicious, inescapable, character-eating beast. Once released, a bear trap will instantly seek-out the nearest character (besides Weasel) to repeatedly sink its teeth into. Bear traps run wild after their victims like a frenzy of steel-toothed pit bulls.

1. Weasel receives 10 traps from a new vending machine purchase

2. Pressing the “use item” button will unleash one bear trap at a time

a. A bear trap will seek out and repeatedly attack the nearest NPC

i. The bear trap moves throughout the playfield by hopping along and snapping its trap

ii. While attacking a victim, the bear trap will bite non stop, injuring the NPC as often as possible

1. Loot constantly scatters from a victim while being attacked by a bear trap

iii. If the NPC isn’t killed before the bear trap times out, the trap will be eliminated

iv. If the NPC is killed before the trap times out, the trap will seek out the next nearest NPC

b. Bear traps exists for 10 seconds (adjustable)

i. Once time is up, the trap slams shut (puff of smoke and metal shrapnel)

ii. Clanging metal SFX

Ukulele

When weasel plays the ol ukulele, all characters within range (radius adjustable) can’t help but stop in their tracks and kick up their heels uncontrollably to the roaring good tunes he’s delivering. Once Weasel stops playing the ukulele, the affected characters will continue to dance for 5 seconds (adjustable) even after the melody has ended. Characters under the ukulele’s spell leave themselves open for all manner of mischief or will simply let Weasel pass on by unhindered.

1. Any character within range of the ukulele’s music will cease any current action and dance right there on the spot

a. Weasel must play the ukulele (“use item” button) for a minimum of 1 second after the “use item” button is pressed

b. The Ukulele only has a limited time available to play (15 seconds) before its strings break

i. The ukulele falls apart (dust & splinter particles)

ii. Once the strings break, all entranced characters will instantly return to their previous state

c. The ukulele can be played intermittently

i. Press and hold the “use item” button to make Weasel play the ukulele

ii. Release the “use item” button to make Weasel stop playing

2. A character under the ukulele’s musical spell will continue dancing for 5 seconds after the music stops

a. Once a character stops dancing he/she will return to his/her previous state

Blow Dart Gun

The blow dart gun is a shrewd long distance method of attack. Weasel holds the dart gun up to his mouth and lets out a good strong burst of wind, sending a poisoned tipped dart sailing out across the playfield in the direction the dart gun was facing. If Weasel manages to hit a character, depending upon the character’s size, the character will either pass out immediately or the character will become wobbly, moving slower and slower. Weasel can eventually topple a bigger character simply by landing a couple more darts in him.

1. The blow dart gun comes with 10 darts (amount adjustable)

2. Pressing the “use item” button will cause Weasel to quickly blow a dart from the dart gun in the direction he’s facing

a. The darts will loosely track and strike any character within the general vertical or horizontal path of the dart

i. This is done in order to not frustrate the player and to give the player the benefit of the doubt

b. One dart can only strike one character

i. Smaller characters only require on dart before passing out

ii. Larger characters require 2 to 3 darts

iii. A Pinup cannot be rendered unconscious

1. Larger NPCs move slower and slower before passing out

2. Length of NPC’s unconsciousness should be adjustable

c. An oversized dart will fly out from within the dart gun upon firing

3. During head cam mode, while controlling Weasel’s heading, the player can fire a blow dart

a. While the blow dart gun is the selected special item, during head cam mode, a small reticule will appear mid screen

i. If a target is within range, the reticule will indicate this fact

ii. If a target is out of range, the reticule will indicate this as well

1. Reticule art (TBD)

Magnet

Holding and aiming an oversized magnet at an NPC, allows Weasel to drain a character of cash from a somewhat safe distance. Weasel stands still and aims from left to right while using the magnet. If Weasel is far enough away or hidden well enough from a character, Weasel can freely steal the NPC’s entire cash worth.

1. The magnet only last for 15 seconds (adjustable) before shorting out

a. Magnet sparks and then poofs-away

2. Pressing and holding the “use item” button causes Weasel to pull magnet from his pants and aim it directly in front of him

a. Weasel cannot travel around the playfield while using the magnet

b. Weasel can aim the magnet either a certain range to the right and a certain range to the left

i. Any character within a specified conical range of the magnet’s heading will automatically have his/her loot sucked away slowly (amount of loot adjustable)

ii. Perhaps, the closer Weasel is to a character, the faster the character’s loot is drained?

3. Unless a character is naturally aggressive toward Weasel, most characters will not even be aware that Weasel is siphoning all their cash, even if he is standing right next to them

Bomb-in-the-Box

Everyone loves a surprise, and the citizens of Scratchtown are no exception. Used to injure or eliminate characters, or blast holes through weak walls and floors. Once a bomb-in-the-box is placed down, it begins playing a music box version of “Pop Goes the Weasel” which attracts most nearby characters. Unfortunately, when the top pops open, the surrounding NPCs are greeted with a nice big explosion that sends them flying up in the air, spilling their loot all over the playfield.

1. Weasel acquires 3 bombs (adjustable) with a new vending machine purchase

2. Bombs can be set on any surface flagged to accept bombs

o Bomb automatically begins playing “Pop Goes the Weasel” tune once dropped

o Weasel can kick a “set” bomb a short distance by standing in front of it and pressing the “action” button (much like “kick-the-can”)

o Bombs attract any NPC within range (adjustable)

§ NPCs will immediately wander over to the bomb and idle around it

o Bombs explode 5 to 10 seconds (adjustable) after being set

3. A bomb’s blast radius should be fairly substantial (adjustable)

o Bombs inflict severe injury

o Weasel can be injured by bombs too

4. Bomb explosions will eliminate structures and surfaces that are flagged as “destructible”

o Floors

o Walls

o Windows

o Playfield structures

o Etc

Weapons

These handheld weapons allow Weasel to feel like a real tough guy! It’s nice for a Weasel to have the upper hand every now and again. A few swats from one of these weapons will eliminate most any NPC from the playfield. They pack a wallop!

1. A weapon only offers a limited number of strikes (ones that actually make contact that is) before it breaks

a. Stronger, more expensive weapons last longer

2. Weasel swings a weapon in a variety of styles

a. Upper hand

b. Overhead

c. Across the body

i. These strikes are all played in a combo-like sequence: “1-2-3!!!”

· This sequence constantly repeats

3. A weapon can be used to knockout and eliminate most any NPC

a. Smaller NPCs should be eliminated upon first contact

b. Larger NPCs require a couple more hits