I thought I’d give you a quick update on what’s been going on with Overcrowd in 2019.
First up, I've improved the commuters and staff sprites. As well as looking great with a super smooth walk cycle, we have now animated a bunch of new actions, from sitting, to foot tapping, to using objects and tools.
Combined with a new lighting system, the overall look of the game has taken a big step forward. I can’t wait to update this page and make a new launch trailer to show off the new aesthetic. But for now here's a gif of some staff relaxing in a the staff room (you can see more video on my twitter feed).
Of course, it's not all about the visuals. I’m also working hard to get as many features and items as I can in before hitting early access.
With lots of the core functionality done, I’ve been able to add a slew of new objects. These include new power generators, capacitors, an ornate clock, air purifiers, light fixtures, staff seating, benches, CCTV cameras, a PA system and an arcade machine. And there's more to come.
On the systems side of things, I've been refining a fully customisable sandbox mode. This lets you generate maps, set win/lose conditions, starting money, scenarios and goals, and generally tweak a load of settings to make the game as hard or as easy you like.
Alongside the custom sandbox, there is a procedural campaign. This is really where the heart of the game lies. Your aim is to build a series of underground stations – and a team of staff and procured tech – across a series of increasingly tough randomly generated terrain and scenarios.
Every time you restart you can enter a random seed to generate a new campaign. This should maximise replayability even during early access. I hope to add one or two more game modes on top of this (possibly more challenges or an endless-type play mode), though those will probably be introduced in early access (depending on your feedback).
In the coming months I'll be sorting out a gameplay video showing how it’s all coming together, so remember to check back if you can! If you have any questions, drop by the discord server, start a thread in the steam discussion group, or pop a question below.