Devlog #9 — Programming Jeff, Our Train Driver
Hi everyone,
Today we want to show something different from the railway editor.
We have started programming Jeff, the main character of Speed Rivals: Model Trains.
Jeff is the train driver. Most of the time, he will be riding on top of the locomotives while the player controls the train.
But Jeff is not just a visual detail.
He can also get off the train, move around the layout and interact with systems that will become important for gameplay.
Character Controller Test
This first version of Jeff’s controller is focused on movement feel.
We are testing how responsive he feels, how he moves around the layout and how he transitions between being part of the train experience and being a controllable character.
There is still a lot to improve, especially animations and polish, but the base is already working.
More Than a Driver
Jeff will also help us handle certain gameplay situations outside the locomotive.
For example, if the player makes a mistake and derails a train, Jeff can leave the train and use a handcar to return to the central station.
The handcar is a small funny vehicle that feels almost like a playground seesaw on rails.
It only works if Jeff places it correctly on the track, so it still connects with the railway systems we are building.
We do not want to reveal everything yet, but this is the kind of interaction that makes Jeff important beyond simply being the character sitting on the train.
What Comes Next
We will keep improving Jeff’s movement, train interaction and the systems connected to his role in the game.
Speed Rivals: Model Trains is still about trains, missions, wagons and delivery times.
But Jeff gives us a way to make the player feel more connected to the world.
Thanks for following the development.