Changes: Fraymakers

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Fraymakers, initially codenamed McLeodGaming Next, is an upcoming indie crossover fighting video game developed by Team Fray and published by McLeodGaming. The game is a "platform fighter" in a similar vein to Super Smash Flash 2 and features a large cast of characters and stages hailing from independent game franchises such as BIT.TRIP, Downwell, Octodad, and Rivals of Aether. Touted as "the Infinitely Replayable Indie Platform Fighter", it is included with a development tool called FrayTools that allows for streamlined creation and implementation of custom-made content. An early access version of the game is set to be released for Microsoft Windows, macOS, and Linux through Steam in early 2022, and to Kickstarter backers in March of that year. A Nintendo Switch release of the game is also planned.

Gameplay

The gameplay of Fraymakers is heavily inspired by that of the Super Smash Bros. series of games, in that it is a platform-based fighting game where up to four players are tasked with knocking their opponents outside the boundaries of the stage. Each player has a damage total represented by a number that starts at 0 and increases as damage is taken. As players take more damage, attacks will knock them progressively farther away, making it easier to be launched off the stage. Players are generally able to recover back onto the stage upon being launched off, but failure to do so will lead to them falling out of bounds, resulting in a KO.

Like in the Super Smash Bros. games, the controls in Fraymakers are simplified compared to traditional fighting games, with most attacks being performed by pressing one button and holding in a direction. Players are able to move and jump freely across stages and platforms. One button is used for standard attacks including several grounded attacks and five aerial attacks. Another button is used for four special moves, which are more unique than the standard attacks and generally have more complex functions. A third button can be used to hold a shield out in one direction, which can block attacks but leaves the player vulnerable on the other side. Pressing the shield button and the special move button together will perform a parry against an incoming attack, leaving the player vulnerable if mistimed. When in mid-air, players are also able to use an airdash to gain momentum in any direction and cancel it into an aerial attack.

Each playable character features unique attacks from one another, along with differing properties such as running speed and weight. In addition to choosing a playable character, players are also able to choose one of many Assists to summon during battle, each of which performs a unique function and can be used after filling a gauge by attacking opponents. There is also a variety of optional items that can appear randomly around the stage for players to interact with.

Playable characters

Fraymakers Characters — Six of the planned playable characters of *Fraymakers*.

Fraymakers is currently planned to feature at least ten characters hailing from differing independent games, nine of which are included in the base game. Each character is designed to have a unique and distinct playstyle while also carrying attacks from their source franchises.

Below is a list of the six characters currently confirmed for the game.

Playable characters
Name	Franchise(s)	Description
CommanderVideo	BIT.TRIP	CommanderVideo is an adventurous runner and space traveler and the main protagonist of Choice Provisions' BIT.TRIP series of games. He has a fast and aggressive playstyle and can deliver attacks quickly to overwhelm opponents.
Welltaro	Downwell	Welltaro is a young boy who falls down a well and the main protagonist of Moppin's Downwell. With his pair of gunboots, he is a uniquely vertical character who can fire downward projectiles to catch opponents below and rack up damage.
Octodad	Octodad	Octodad is an octopus disguised as a human father and the main protagonist of Young Horses' Octodad series of games. He moves about clumsily and uses his stretchy, flexible tentacles to deliver slow but long-reaching attacks.
Orcane	Rivals of Aether	Orcane is a playful trickster from Water Town and a playable character in Aether Studios' Rivals of Aether. Attuned to the water element, he uses a variety of synergistic water-based attacks to control the stage with a tricky playstyle.
Ultra Fishbunjin 3000	Ittle Dew Slap City	Ultra Fishbunjin 3000 is an anthropomorphic, muscular Fishbun and the secret final boss of Ludosity's Ittle Dew, as well as a playable character in Ludosity's Slap City. He is the bulkiest, heaviest character on the roster and can deal powerful attacks with his raw strength.
The Watcher	Slay the Spire	The Watcher is a blind monk of strong self-discipline and a playable character in MegaCrit's Slay the Spire. Being a master of the divine stances, she uses them to alter her own physics while dealing powerful attacks with her staff.

Assists

Eighteen of the planned Assists of Fraymakers.

In addition to its playable roster, Fraymakers is set to feature a wide array of Assists to be called upon mid-battle. Each playable character is able to be selected as an Assist, and there is a large selection of guest characters to be featured exclusively as Assists. Currently, 50 Assists are planned for the game, not counting playable characters.

Below is a list of the 21 characters currently confirmed as Assists for the game.

Assists
Name	Franchise(s)	Description
Aine	Renaine	Aine delivers a four-hit combo with her sword that knocks opponents forward at the end.
The Ape	APE OUT	The Ape charges across the stage toward the player and throws opponents forward on contact.
The Bard	Wandersong	The Bard sings to form the song wheel around the player, pushing opponents back on contact.
Birthday	King of the Hat	Birthday throws his hat forward, stunning opponents that make contact with it.
Captain Viridian	VVVVVV	Captain Viridian temporarily flips gravity for the player, causing them to "fall" upward.
The Crewmate	Among Us	The Crewmate grants nearby players temporarily increased hitstun when the Assist input is pressed once, or the Impostor delivers a powerful stab to nearby opponents when pressed twice.
Diogenes	Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy	Diogenes uses his Yosemite hammer to lunge forward across the stage, launching opponents in his path.
Fancy Pants Man	Fancy Pants Adventures	Fancy Pants Man jumps forward with his pencil and delivers a powerful slash to launch opponents.
Gunman Clive	Gunman Clive	Gunman Clive fires six bullets in rapid succession straight forward, attacking opponents in their path.
Josef	Machinarium	Josef quickly extends his body straight upward, attacking opponents in his path.
The Kid	I Wanna Be the Guy	The Kid runs underneath a powerful Delicious Fruit that falls slowly downward.
Kragg	Rivals of Aether	Kragg raises an Earth Pillar from below that acts as a destructible platform and wall.
Lady Luck	Dicey Dungeons	Lady Luck rolls dice forward that inflict status effects on opponents hit.
Lea	CrossCode	Lea fires a series of VRPs that bounce off of surfaces and attack opponents in their path.
Nikandreos	Apotheon	Nikandreos delivers a quick, short-ranged stab and uppercut with the xiphos.
Niko	OneShot	Niko uses the Sun to create a circular field that powers up the player's attacks.
Peppino	Pizza Tower	Peppino runs forward to grab an opponent and throw them straight upward.
Pizza	Chicory: A Colorful Tale	Pizza moves the Brush across the stage, painting a surface that damages opponents on contact.
Rhythm Doctor	Rhythm Doctor	Rhythm Doctor presses a button over the opponent's head on the seventh beat to knock them downward.
Rockman	FTL: Faster Than Light	The Rockman walks slowly forward and powerfully pounds down upon contact with an opponent.
The Shopkeeper	Downwell	TBA
The Silent	Slay the Spire	The Silent delivers a quick stab with her dagger that poisons opponents hit.
Stardrop	Stardrop Indie Pogo	TBA
Super Hexagon	Super Hexagon	Super Hexagon closes its walls in on itself, pulling in nearby opponents.
Tankman	Newgrounds	Tankman fires a bullet diagonally upward from his tank, attacking opponents it hits.

Stages

Currently, eleven stages are planned to be made available in Fraymakers for players to fight on. Much like the characters, each stage hails from an indie game and features references to their original games. Each stage will also have optional stage hazards that can change the mechanics or layout.

Below is a list of the three stages currently confirmed for the game.

Stages
Stage	Name	Franchise(s)	Description
	Stratostar	BIT.TRIP	Stratostar takes place in the first level of the Welkin Wonderland and features a large platform with a smaller platform moving slowly above it. The larger platform features trampolines that players can use by jumping to leap high into the air. With hazards turned off, the trampolines are removed and the moving platform is placed lower.
	Backyard	Octodad	Backyard takes place in Octodad's backyard and features a flat fenced-in area with outdoor furniture. A soccer ball and barbecue grill can be knocked around to attack opponents with, and hitting a fence enough will eventually cause it to break. With hazards turned off, the stage is flat and featureless, lacking the fences or interactable furniture.
	Merchant Port	Rivals of Aether	Merchant Port takes place in the merchant capital of Aether and features a large platform with a smaller platform at each edge and a water wheel. With hazards off, the water wheel does not spin and includes two platforms just higher than the platforms at each edge.
	Pepperpain	Ittle Dew Slap City	Pepperpain takes place in the Pepperpain Prairie and features a large platform with two smaller platforms floating above it. A currently unknown character from Ittle Dew is planned to appear with hazards turned on.
	The Spire	Slay the Spire	The Spire takes place in the titular tower of Slay the Spire and features a large platform with three smaller platforms above it and two below it. With hazards off, the bottom platforms do not appear.
TBA	Unknown Downwell stage	Downwell	A currently unknown stage hailing from Downwell is planned to appear.

Custom content

Main article: FrayTools

FrayTools example — FrayTools being used to create a custom playable character.

Many of the assets in Fraymakers are built using FrayTools, a custom cross-platform development tool that comes included with the game. Because of this, players are able and encouraged to use FrayTools themselves to modify the game by creating their own custom content, including playable characters, Assists, stages, items, game modes, and even menus. In addition to the user interface offered by FrayTools, players are able to test and adjust their custom content from within the game itself through a custom sandbox. Once custom content is complete, players are able to upload it for other players to browse in-game and download for themselves, and it can also be loaded directly from files.

Development

The development of Fraymakers was started by Gregory McLeod during the development of Super Smash Flash 2, shortly after the release of the Beta version. On July 25, 2017, Adobe announced that it would end support for Adobe Flash Player, which SSF2 uses for its engine, on December 31, 2020. Because of this, McLeod decided that he should work on a more sustainable and commercially viable project that would not rely on the aging software. Having developed SSF2 for many years, he wanted to apply what he learned from his experience into a new platform fighting game, which the development team had frequently come up with ideas for.^[1] Discussions would continue over the Internet and at events such as Super Smash Con, with one founding concept being user-generated content. Although the idea was previously considered for SSF2 with expansion characters, the developers desired a more accessible and streamlined implementation than what SSF2 would have allowed for. Other loose concepts, including a playable roster of characters from other independent games and an additional roster of assist characters, would also be established early into planning the game.^[2]

Production of the game alongside FrayTools started privately in 2018 with a small team consisting mainly of current and former SSF2 developers. Additional developers were also contracted to assist with artwork and programming, along with Kira Buckland, who would be the announcer for the game to reprise her role from the original Super Smash Flash, and the jazz band Super Soul Bros., the members of which would produce the soundtrack for the game. Many different independent game studios were also contacted to provide licenses for the franchises included, which the developers claim were very approachable.^[2] For prototypes of the game, much of the spriting and programming work would be performed using SpriteSatchel, a tool designed by McLeod to convert SWF files to HTML-compatible sprite sheets, in order to maintain the workflow offered by Adobe Flash development from SSF2. However, as FrayTools became more stable, it quickly became the standard tool used during development.

On September 10, 2020, the game was publicly announced under the codename McLeodGaming Next and scheduled to be formally revealed through Kickstarter during winter.^[3] The official name was later revealed as Fraymakers on October 13, 2020, with the Kickstarter date being changed to November of that year.^[4] The Kickstarter campaign showcasing the game was launched on November 18, 2020, with plans to include six playable characters, twenty Assists, five stages, a soundtrack by Super Soul Bros., and custom content using FrayTools, among other features. Its minimum funding goal was $46,000, which was reached within three hours of the campaign launching.^[5] To promote the game during its campaign, various content showcases were released to Kickstarter, stretch goals were planned and revealed for additional features, an art contest was held on Newgrounds, and developers appeared in several videos and podcasts to discuss the game. The campaign ended on December 17, 2020 after receiving a total of $364,922 and fulfilling most stretch goals, including three additional playable characters, a downloadable character to be released after the game's launch, thirty additional Assists, eight additional stages, Super Attacks, match modifiers, the Fraybets game mode, two alternative soundtracks by OverClocked ReMix and Jules Conroy, Jacob Alpharad Rabon and Joshua TomaMoto Tomar as alternative announcers, a Nintendo Switch release, and animated reveal trailers for two of the unannounced characters.