More Demo Feedback
Thanks for the continued stream of feedback from the Demo(we'll update the demo when we're close to early access), it's really helping us focus on those elements to make the game even better for everyone.
Team Expansion
We have a new programmer joining us part time soon, that brings us up to 2 part time Programmers, an Audio Engineer, and a Designer.
What we worked on in July
General Improvements
We have improved a lot of things throughout the game generally:
- Doors now have an off yellow to denote the main path and a teal light saying this is a side area and not important to the completion of the game. This helped with navigation. Key Doors also became more distinguished and clearer on their status.
- GUI panels got some love with multi-unlock security panels that can unlock various things in the nearby areas.
- Dozens of new props to help convey what the environment is.
- Some performance tweaks and enhancements, with no down grades
E1M4 - Admin Complex
E1M4 - Admin Complex is a large level with large open vertical spaces, lots of places to explore and Trains. The level starts off with a power failure so you need to restore it, exploring portions of the level in a no power state, then eventually returning to those areas with power, changing how they behave.
There are a slew of puzzles to solve, and new enemies (if you're in the Beta).
Enemy Damage
Enemy damage is something we have wanted for a while but couldn't really make it work with the resources we have (UE4 doesn't support skinned decals). So we had to tap in to the early 90s for inspiration for Damage Skins.
Damage Skins allows us to provide the player with feedback that the enemy has received damage. There is no overheard performance loss for this technique so it's nice and cheap. We have 12 damage zones: 2 for each arm and leg, 3 sections for the torso, and 1 for the head (if it has one).
Health Stations
Health Stations are another item that had been designed for a while but never fully implemented and finished. We now have finished Health Stations.... but be wary though.... Some TEC Employee thought it was funny to pour Whisky in to some of the Health Stations..... effects are unknown.
Item Cabinets
item Cabinets have a slew of items inside, which can be unlocked via a console nearby.
Audio Work
- Sound Occlusion so enemies can't be heard as clearly through walls/floors.
- SMG and Shotgun sounds were beefed up a little
- more ambient sounds and music work
Thanks for taking the time to read through the update and your continued support, it's been great seeing people continuing to post videos of gameplay moments.
-FBS Team