I’m pleased to announce the second alpha release of my multiplayer frog game entitled “2fr0g” (pronounce it TOO-frog.) 2fr0g version 0.2 is now available for Windows, Mac and Linux.

This new version improves the gameplay, AI, and physics in several ways, while also adding a kids’ easier-difficulty mode. Most importantly, I have added a cool pink hippopotamus to my game.

Now the frogs attempt to use lilypads to speed up their journey home with the fly, changing their path so that they can spend less time in the water. Also, there are no more accidental or own-goals because the fly bounced away—-in version 0.2 a Mama will only accept the fly if one of her babies touches her while carrying it.

But there’s a lot more to be said. Each frog on a team now has a particular AI strategy for use when a human is not controlling it. On each team formation, the odd-numbered frog is the Striker and the even-numbered frog is the Guard. These roles influence how the team members coordinate when both are AI; by choosing which humans control which frogs, players can choose which AI routines, if any, participate.

The Strikers are frogs 1 and 3, yellow and pink—the same colors as their Mamas. The Guards are their respective blue and green teammates, frogs 3 and 4. When the fly is free, Strikers go for it while their Guards try to knock opposing players away from getting the fly. Once their teammate grabs the fly, then Guards attack anyone trying to get the fly back. Once the action gets close to a Guard’s opposing Mama, the Guard will try to get in between them and knock the fly carrier away to prevent the goal.

The kids setting makes the AI frogs (and the hippo) less aggressive. The player is also stunned for a shorter duration if they do hit the hippo in Kids Mode.

I hope you enjoy the game!