Dear Skyfarmers,
A lot has happened since the last update, so I wanted to share a quick overview of where Skyfarm is at right now.
Most importantly, there’s a new trailer that shows recent visual updates and gives a better sense of the world and its tone!
Watch the new trailer here:
And if you prefer video updates, here’s the latest devlog
World & Level Updates
Over the past weeks I’ve implemented a new level layout and added more detail to the surroundings of the farm. This includes new props, furniture and environmental elements that help the city feel more lived-in. Some of these items aren’t interactable yet, but the foundations for the crafting and blueprint systems are in place.
I’ve also been experimenting with a new weather type: clear blue skies with low-hanging clouds drifting between buildings. It’s a lightweight solution performance-wise, and it adds a very different mood to the city.
NPCs, Story & Systems Planning
After Gamescom and an intense development period leading up to it, I spent some time focusing on world-building, story and NPC concepts.
Skyfarm’s city is imagined as a network of self-governed communities after the flood, all connected through rooftop farms. NPCs will interact with you mainly through a local network called Farmspace, where they post tasks, requests and stories. Relationships, friendships (and romance) are planned to grow through these interactions, unlocking new items, information and gameplay opportunities.
This NPC/task system is one of the last big pieces missing for the vertical slice, and I’m very excited to properly start implementing it.
Gamescom Recap
I had the chance to show Skyfarm at Gamescom with the Swiss Games delegation. It was incredibly valuable for feedback, networking and meeting other developers working on similar themes. Exhausting, but absolutely worth it.
What’s Next
I’m working towards a demo, so the focus now is on implementing the last missing features, such as the NPC system, and doing another round of testing in spring. The current plan is to release the demo sometime next year, once everything feels polished enough.
I’ll continue sharing progress through social media and especially Discord, so feel free to join if you haven’t already.
Thanks so much for following along!
Lena / Plaid Games