Welcome to the First Devlog!
Hello everyone, and welcome to the very first devlog for Delve Down Under! It's been an incredible journey so far, and I'm thrilled to announce that our latest update, Version 0.2.6, is now live on the Steam demo page!
This is a big one. It not only adds new content but also introduces foundational systems that will shape the future of the game, all based on great feedback and my goal to make the gunplay as satisfying as possible. Let's dive in!
Learn the Ropes: The Tutorial is Here!
First up, and probably the most important feature for new players, is the brand new tutorial! Your guide will walk you through the essential skills needed to survive the nightmarish apocalypse beneath Uluru: shooting, slashing, and of course, the all-important damage-immune charge.
This is a dedicated, multi-stage experience designed to get you up to speed on the core mechanics before you take the plunge.
Deeper Gunplay: The Dynamic Spread System
This is a feature I'm personally very excited about as it adds a new layer of skill to combat. The old static spread system is gone! Now, every gun has a dynamic spread value that changes based on your actions, much like in modern FPS games.
Your accuracy will now be affected by:
Movement: Running and gunning with a heavy LMG is now much less accurate than with an SMG. Stopping to take a shot makes a huge difference!
Continuous Fire: The first shot from your weapon is the most accurate. As you hold down the trigger, the spread will increase, simulating recoil and making sustained fire harder to control. You'll need to manage your bursts to stay on target.
To help with this, I've also updated the mouse cursor! The crosshair will now dynamically expand and shrink to give you real-time feedback on your weapon's current accuracy.
New Playable Guns: STG44 & Gewehr 43
Two new German firearms have been added to the arsenal! The priority on implementing playable guns in the game was previously very Australian and American centric, so I thought it was about time to give the German guns some love! 
Foundational Work: The Conversation System
Behind the scenes, I've built an entirely new conversation and dialogue system. You'll see the first version of it in the tutorial with your guide. This system, with its typewriter text effect and dialogue choices, lays the groundwork for us to add much deeper story elements, quests, and character interactions in the future.Preview Event
Smaller Changes & Quality of Life Fixes
This update also includes a host of smaller but important improvements:
Implemented a Borderless Fullscreen display mode in the settings.
Fixed a pesky bug that caused the default system cursor to occasionally reappear.
The "Continue" button will now appear after you collect a key, making it clearer that you can proceed.
The map button icon no longer looks like a slice of bread. You're welcome.
Enemy health bars are now smaller and only appear for a couple of seconds when they take damage, reducing screen clutter.
Reduced the intensity of several visual effects (camera shake, muzzle flashes, explosions, flashbangs) for a better and more comfortable user experience.
The Reward Modal (which shows items you've picked up) now stays on screen longer and can be dismissed by clicking its close button.
I've received some fantastic feedback, including this gem:
"Currently it feels like I’m battling through a bunch of random squares rather than infiltrating a base.”
And you know what? They're right.
Creating an immersive experience in the depths of Uluru is important to me, and so the goal now is to move towards a level/map system more like you'd see in games like Enter the Gungeon, with more intelligently designed rooms, more interesting layouts, and a world that feels like a coherent (if twisted) place you are exploring. This is a huge undertaking, but it's essential for the future of the game.
Thank you all for your support, for playing the game, and for your invaluable feedback. It truly makes a world of difference.
Cheers, and happy delving!
Will, Viking Roo