Big News Coming to PHOTOBIA: Tales from the Dark!

Hello everyone!

It's been a few months since the last update, and there's a good reason for that: I've been pouring all my energy into developing this game.

We're at a pivotal moment, and the incredible support received during last October's Steam Next Fest has motivated me more than ever. I can't thank you enough, players, for the trust you've placed in this project and the amazing connections we've built.

A Game Reimagined from Scratch!

Taking into account your invaluable feedback and some new ideas, the game has undergone significant changes and additions. Let’s dive into the updates together!

Main Changes

• "Did you... did you say something?": NPCs and the player can now have conversations! This feature has allowed me to greatly expand on the game's original story.
• A New Way to Travel Between Levels: The door has been replaced with a mystical portal, better fitting the game's atmosphere.
• Updated Textures: Basic blocks, shards, and some icons have a new look, enhancing the overall aesthetic.
• Input Improvements: Added controller and mouse/keyboard glyphs for a more intuitive gameplay experience.
• Revamped Interface: A redesigned UI makes it more visually appealing and user-friendly.
• Level Optimization: The structure and level sets have been completely revamped to improve game performance and scalability.
• Structural Changes: Technical refinements for a better gameplay experience.

And the Best is Yet to Come...

Let’s move on to the new implementations!

Game Additions

New Blocks

These new blocks join the existing ones, introducing new mechanics and puzzle types.

• Jump Block: Changes its state from solid to non-solid depending on the player's jump.
• Shard Block: Becomes solid by collecting hidden shards in the level set. This adds another layer of complexity to the game: a temporal one, complementing the spatial challenges.

Checkpoints

One of the most requested features! Checkpoints serve as respawn points in case of death and reset timers, giving players more time to complete levels. Shards collected are temporarily saved upon activation, but to fully claim them, you still need to complete the level.

New Power-Up: The Spring!

This new mechanic lets you jump mid-air, even repeatedly, depending on the charges provided by the power-up, allowing you to reach otherwise impossible distances.

New Areas!

The newly introduced areas come with unique mechanics to enrich the gameplay experience. They activate when the player enters or exits them. Here are the different types of areas:

• Info: Displays a customizable panel with an image and text upon activation (in Sandbox mode). In Story mode, they're used for instructions on controls and navigating PHOTOBIA's dark world. And more.
• Timer: Sets a time limit to complete the current level, increasing challenge and tension.
• Color: Changes the light dimension the player is in, creating dimensional pockets and making the environment more dynamic.
• Light: Enables or disables the light emitted by the character.

These areas add depth and vibrancy to the game world, turning each level into an even more engaging puzzle!

A New Tale, an Improved Story Mode

The listed features are integrated into a completely renewed story mode, with updated levels designed to make the most of the new mechanics.

Available Now!

All these additions are already present in the demo, with save progress, including collected shards, carrying over to the full version of the game. So don’t wait: download or update the demo, and let me know your thoughts on how PHOTOBIA: Tales from the Dark is shaping up!

Thanks again for your incredible support.

See you soon!