Hey everyone, it’s been a while since our first devlog. I’ve been busy with real-life stuff, but now we’re back with Devlog #2! In this update, I’ll share our progress, game updates, and the main goal of the game. Also, get ready for the third devlog, which will come out with the demo. Let’s dive straight in!
Wave System and the Game's Objective
We're adding a twist to arena shooters! Typically, these games have endless waves of enemies until you die. While our game is also an arena shooter, it’s not endless. Instead, you’ll face only 5 waves of enemies (3 in the demo). You start in an arena like usual, but the key difference is in how you play.
The goal is to clear these 5 waves as fast as you can. When you start a run, a timer begins with the first wave. It's all about speed and efficiency. As you progress, each wave presents new challenges, and you’ll need to be quick and strategic to beat them all in record time.
Time is recorded in Milliseconds but we are changing it to show it as in seconds.. with three decimals so yes.. mere milliseconds makes the whole world difference in the leaderboard position
Once you finish all the waves, your time is recorded and saved to a leaderboard on Steam. This way, you can see how you stack up against your friends and players worldwide. Compete to see who can clear the waves the fastest and claim the top spot. May the best speed runner win!
In Game HUD
Lore and how it effects the Game
Our game's story is still being worked on and won’t be in the demo. But you’ll see some hints of it. When you start playing, you find yourself in a dark room in front of a computer. You can do different things on the computer, like starting the game and trying out different enemies one at a time.
In Editor view of a Isolated Computer Lab scene
In Game view of the terminal computer
For example, if you type 'test_svider' you'll see a scene with just Sviders to fight. And if you type other enemy names, you'll see scenes with those enemies. (available only in full release as its a bit buggy mess)
There’s also an option to learn about the game’s story, but that’s also only available in the full game. In the full game, you’ll find a digital library where you can read about how the world came to be and learn about the enemies you’ll face.
You'll also find lots of hidden surprises, called easter eggs, both in the story and the game itself. These are ideas suggested by our testers.
While our game isn’t all about the story, understanding the world it’s set in can make it more interesting. So, knowing a bit about how things came to be might add to your enjoyment.
Steam Achievements and Localizations
We're thinking of adding five different languages to the game and lots of Steam achievements for players who love collecting them. Adding different languages can help us connect with players from around the world. We'll try to include these languages in the demo too, but we can't guarantee it just yet.
List of planned Localization Languages
Game's Progress
It took us longer than we thought to finish the game—7 months instead of the planned 5. We admit, we tend to procrastinate a bit. But finally, we're just about ready to release a demo.
The game has improved a lot since our last update. We've fixed major bugs and made some big improvements to how the game works. But there's one thing giving us trouble: the Enemies AI. It's taking us a while to get it right, but we're working hard to figure it out.
Now, let's talk about the weapons. Originally, we were going to have an automatic rifle as the main weapon. But we changed our minds. Instead, we've created a pair of pistols called Twins. They're pretty cool.
Old Weapon Style
We've also made some changes to the enemies. They behave differently now. And instead of just using one weapon with two types of bullets, you now have two separate weapons.
The first one is the Dual Hand Pistols called Twins. They're fast and shoot one bullet at a time but keep pressing to shoot more since they are automatic weapons.
Dual Pistols (Twins)
In Game we are basically duplicating a single gun and using it as a dual weapon
The second weapon is a powerful shotgun called Chrono-burst. It deals heavy damage, but you have to charge it up first by killing at least 5 enemies. Once it's charged, you can unleash a devastating shot. But be careful—it takes time to recharge, so use it wisely. Save it for when you're facing lots of enemies or ones with a lot of health.
In Editor view of a Chrono-Burst Shotgun with pixelated outlines
In Game view of the weapon.. while its not that pretty to look at.. it is deadly when it shoots.
Level Design
We're aiming to create a level that's simple and focused, like an arena. The idea is to keep distractions to a minimum so you can concentrate on beating the clock.
But don't worry, the level won't be boring. While we're not fans of heavy level design, we won't just slap down a plain surface and call it a day. We added some elements to keep it visually interesting without getting in your way.
[No Screenshots for this one, you will see it in the game]
Final Notes
While we're not aiming to create the next UltraKill or Devil Daggers, we're working hard to get close to their level while adding our own unique touches. Sure, our 5-wave setup isn't in Devil Daggers, but that's what sets The Void Project apart.
This is our first big game, and most of the time, it's just the two of us (sometimes just one). It's also our first game on Steam—so, yeah, things could go wrong. But when the game is out, instead of hating on bugs or stuff you don't like, we'd appreciate constructive criticism. It'll help us make the game better for you.
Thanks for your support and being there for us. Sayonara!