Developer Log: Designing Little Sky Courier
Little Sky Courier was designed to be a relaxing, cozy experience. Inspired by games like Pilotwings and modern cozy indies, we focused on the joy of flight and the satisfaction of delivering parcels to floating islands.
The Physics of Flight
Achieving the right 'feel' for the courier's biplane was crucial. We didn't want a hardcore flight simulator, but we also didn't want it to feel weightless. We implemented a simplified aerodynamics model in JavaScript that accounts for lift, drag, and thrust, resulting in smooth, sweeping turns and satisfying glides.
World Building
The floating islands are rendered using a custom isometric projection engine built on top of the 2D Canvas. This gives the game a charming, pseudo-3D look while keeping the file size tiny. We also added dynamic wind currents that players can use to gain speed and save fuel during their delivery runs.