Mom's play attempt and thoughts.

[Tyrrlin]

So my parents were up to visit over the weekend and, being the good daughter that I am who got Mom into video games in the first place, I decided to show her the Cattails game and let her play it a bit.  She spent quite a few hours playing, both before and after I sat next to her giving her instructions.  :-)  She was quite intrigued by the game, and was interested in possibly getting it when it comes out fully.  Here are some of her thoughts.  (Just as a note, my mom is going to be 71 later this year)

- For older people, especially those who didn't grow up using a keyboard, the WASD movement is not intuitive, and not explained at the beginning.
- Added to this, with her arthritis, it was very difficult for her to use the keys one-handed to stalk and catch prey, so her poor kitty starved to death multiple times before I starting giving her instructions.  (Note: I also have arthritis, and trying to hold the SHIFT key down with my left pinkie finger gets very difficult when it acts up)
- As above, she didn't know you could drop items to store them in the den, and I had to fumble around a bit to remember how (it had been a little while since I played).
- I played her kitty a little bit to try and catch some prey for her, and since my kitty was maxed out in Hunting, it was amazing how difficult it is to get close enough to catch anything at lower levels.  (I did suggest she pick berries for food and work up XP from them to level Hunting)

We had some suggestions from her play-through and commentary:

- Could you expand the initial "How to move" dialogue as an optional feature for people who have never actually played a computer game before?
- Would you please expand the initial instruction dialogue to explain about the "R" and "E" keys more fully?  (Holding and dropping items)
- Is it possible to make an "Easy" or even a Handicap/Septuagenarian mode for people with physical difficulties?  Mom really liked the game, but her fingers just don't have the small muscle dexterity to move quickly anymore.

I'm really looking forward to the Beta, and I think you may have a customer in my mom!  Thank you so much for making this game!

[Falcon Development]

Hi Tyrrlin,

Thanks for the insightful and constructive feedback. I'm glad your mom enjoyed the game!

I'm happy to report that there will be an option to change the overall difficulty level of the game starting in the beta this October. It ranges from Very Easy (almost always catch prey, hunger does not drop as quickly, take much less damage, etc) to Hard (harder to catch prey, hunger drops faster, you take more damage, etc.)

As far as the WASD movement is concerned, the tutorial will explicitly tell you how to move once the beta starts as well.

For issues sneaking, would it be helpful to rebind the sneak key to something more within reach? You can find this option under Menu -> Controls -> Sneak

[Beka]

One thing I've found is people who don't have much experience playing computer games do much better when using a controller. It's easier to move around with a control stick and the sneak/pounce are the left and right triggers. Great to hear she had fun playing it!