HELLO! Welcome to our June update including the latest on our Epic Monster Creator. We wanted to expose some of the work we’ve been doing over the last couple of months.
So, here’s the headlines and then to the detail.
- We’ve been forming a final vision for the game and building tools to help us achieve it.
- We’ve been adding powerful new features to the Ship Creator, and building out the all new Epic Monster Creator to produce the BEST creative editor that’s out there. Why? See detail later.
- We’ve been designing and building an awesome set of new Monster blocks that will allow us to build amazing creatures great and small, each with unique sets of movements and scriptable AI.
The Final Vision
Of course, we’ve always had the vision for the game, but as we go through the process of actually making it and seeing how you, the players, use the game, some things need to change to best support that. So, what we want to achieve when the game is finally released is an engaging Voyage mode with lots of content to burn through, fierce multiplayer, and a set of tools that really empower creativity. For the Voyage, this means lots of levels designed and built, so we’ve been and still are building a level editor to support this. This is a big task and will take us a while. We also wanted you to know that what we really want to do with this (if at all possible) is give it to you. To build and share your own voyages. That will be amazing!
The Ship and Monster Creators
Since starting to build monsters we’ve been thinking outside the box, or more specifically outside the cube. We’ve completely overhauled the mount point systems to allow for building on angles at any size. This has been a fundamental overhaul of our system which believe to be crucial to bringing more freedom to your creations.
New Editor features include:
- Rotation: you will be able to rotate 1 or more blocks to any angle, not only expanding ship building possibilities but also giving monster creation a much more organic feel.
- Scale: individual blocks can be scaled overall and on each axis.
- Translation: Move blocks or groups of blocks around.
- Symmetrical building mode: Mirror your block placement on 1,2, or all 3 axes in a single click.
- Copy block: Copy a block and all its settings and parameters, and paste it somewhere else.
We really want there to be no limits to your creations, and we think this set of features give you everything you need to build on the next level. We want this to be the BEST creative editor out there straight out of the box.
New Blocks
Without giving too much away we’re building a flexible range of organic monster blocks that you’ll be able to bind together in whatever form you want. These guys can look like the Kraken, Godzilla, Aliens or giant insects. They can be any shape or size.
Some Monster Bits
The Monster blocks are designed to be flexible but with the ability to have functionality too. Some parts might be great as limbs on one monster but form a mouth or body on another. Each monster will have the capability to move in its own unique way, which will be controlled by our new controller block. And finally bringing the monster creation together, the brain provides awareness and intelligence, bringing life to the monster through a fully scriptable AI.
Notable Monster Blocks:
- Epic Monster Weaponry
- Numerous body, limb, mouth and head blocks.
- Ball-and-Socket joints that are powered by monster muscle. Key or controller activated.
- Wings, tails and fins to power the beasties through sea and air. Let the critters fly!
Notable Ship Blocks:
- Pistons: Pump it!
- Powered Joints & Powered Ball Joints: Joints that are… powered! Move ‘em around, set their angles, set their scope.
- Flight blocks: Wings and tail rudders.
Animation and AI blocks skinned for both Monsters and ships:
- The Controller (Working Title): This block is unbelievably powerful. Opening up all the parameters from every block on the ship or monster to a keyframe-style editor giving you the power to control blocks over time. For monsters this means you’ll be able to ‘animate’ movement and attacks creating their personality.
- The Brain: That’s right, we’re allowing fully scriptable AI.
The Ship Controller Block
Work in progress Keyframe Controller Interface
Schedule
We are indy. We are a small team. We are genuinely doing everything we can to get the game to you as soon as we can.
Our next game update will expose the new editor tools for both monsters and ships. This will be the first monster content in the game and will be expanded upon repeatedly after that.
Then Multiplayer and Voyage mode.
Closed Beta
Pretty soon we’ll be opening up a closed beta. We really need your help testing the new features so if you’re interested in this, please stay tuned!
That's all for now.
We really can’t wait to get this supercharged monster creativity update into your hands. As always let us know your thoughts!
Cheers!
SPG