🎬 Devlog #3 – November Progress
Hey everyone!
With this devlog, I’d like to show you the latest progress I’ve made in developing the game.
The video you’ll see shows a gameplay fragment from a test area, where I’ve been experimenting with new mechanics and systems.
But before getting into details, I have a short yet important announcement.
🇮🇹 Game Concept Change
The game has gone through a major transformation.
Originally, the entire gameplay was supposed to take place inside a single gym.
However, as development progressed, I realized that I needed more space, atmosphere, and life.
That’s why the action now takes place on a small Italian island.
I started working on it at the beginning of November. You’ll find there typical Italian streets, warm colors, sunshine, the sound of cicadas, and the island’s characteristic architecture.
I want you to really feel that southern vibe — for the game to be more than just a training simulator, but a full experience of living in a beautiful place.
This change wasn’t random — it’s a result of your feedback on Discord.
Thank you to everyone who took part in the discussion! If you haven’t joined yet, I encourage you to do so — that’s where you can directly influence the direction and future of the game.
Everything I’m showing is still a work in progress, so what you see isn’t final. The footage comes directly from the game.
🔧 Progress from the Last Two Months
🧍♂️ Character Creation System
One of the biggest updates is a completely redesigned character creator.
Now you can create a character who truly looks the way you want — from body proportions to the smallest facial details.
In the creator, you can:
Fully edit the face — from jaw shape to facial expressions,
Change eye color,
Adjust body shape with automatic texture adaptation — characters with higher body fat have less visible muscles and veins, while those with low body fat gain realistic vascularity,
Choose skin tone,
Customize body and facial hair (including color),
Create both male and female characters with full customization options,
Select clothes that automatically adjust to body shape,
Set your character’s age, which visually affects skin and body appearance.
Thanks to these improvements, every player will be able to create a character they truly identify with.
🏋️♀️ NPCs and Gym Life
I’ve also made major updates to NPCs.
They’re no longer static background figures — they now live their own rhythm, train, rest, and their bodies react to what they do.
Each NPC can gain or lose muscle mass and fat — visibly changing over time.
That means if an NPC keeps training, their physique improves; if they stop, they lose shape.
Among them, you’ll meet Francesco, a trainer who will play an important role in the story.
Like other NPCs, his appearance will evolve based on his lifestyle and actions.
🕹️ Movement System
I’ve also reworked the player movement system.
There’s now full eight-direction movement with unique animations for each direction.
The character realistically starts, slows down, and stops — all influenced by physics and fitness level.
The better your condition, the faster and smoother your movement.
I also added deceleration depending on running speed, making the motion look more natural and dynamic.
💪 Training and Physique Development
This is the heart of the game — and it’s received a huge overhaul.
I’ve expanded the muscle-building system, adding more individual muscles and sections (so-called heads or fibers of muscles).
For example:
Previously, shoulder exercises trained the whole deltoid muscle, but now you can target the front, side, and rear parts separately.
Each requires different exercises, and secondary muscles develop at a slower rate — just like in real strength training.
In practice, every move and choice in the gym now matters.
Additional updates:
Muscle group visualization system – red shows main muscles, yellow indicates secondary ones,
New strength calculation system – each exercise analyzes the strength of specific muscle groups, so weak secondary muscles can limit your max weight,
Equipment cleaning system – machines get dirty after training; if you neglect hygiene, equipment will wear out faster,
Sweat system – clothes and equipment react to sweat, which will later affect NPC behavior,
Three-stage training animation system:
light weight,
medium with loss of technique,
exhaustion – when muscles fail, with smooth transitions and slower tempo as fatigue builds,
Cheat detection system – only full reps count; cheating can lead to injury,
Fatigue system – after sets, your character breathes heavily and reacts to effort, while during light training they recover calmly,
Facial animation tied to fatigue level,
Improved muscle tension system – veins, skin redness, and vascularity appear dynamically during workouts and fade afterward; intensity depends on body fat level.
😐 Facial Expressions and Emotions
Finally — a small but important detail: continuous facial animations.
Every activity — training, resting, talking, or moving — now comes with distinct expressions that depend on mood.
Currently, emotions react mainly to fatigue and hygiene levels, but in the future, they’ll also be linked to relationships with NPCs, gym achievements, and failures.
It’s a small touch, but one that greatly enhances realism and makes the character feel truly alive.
Do you like this form of devlog? Let me know what you think!