Hello there, dearest friend!
What’s that?
Why, thanks for asking! Shadow Field development has been coming along swimmingly – each of the four main characters now have a (rudimentary) version of their special ability that they’re able to use upon incoming foes, and the camera and combat controls have been improving day by day. Planning-wise, we’re starting to really nail down a lot of the core design elements such as the structure of the player progression throughout the game. Next on my list is the task of actually programming up a dynamic world for the player to explore, complete with “inhabitants”.
One thing that is really a focus for us in Shadow Field is creating a world that feels complete and as real as possible – not necessarily graphically (we are a 2D topdown game after all), but structurally and societally. One of the games that I look to as a shining example of what feels like a living, breathing ecosystem is Bioshock.
It's OWN!
Between the creatures who inhabit it there exist relationships that make sense, and that may not necessarily involve you – it doesn’t feel like a “game”, with a bunch of enemies placed around a level, but rather an existing habitat were entities actually live their lives, unrelated to the player or the protagonist. Rapture is definitely a key inspiration for us in our approach to world design.
I’m hoping to get a video prepared sometime in the coming weeks – the gameplay is coming together nicely, but we want to make sure to have something to show you that will reflect how the game will play in the final version – the only major thing left for that really is setting up the dynamic world.
Wish me luck!
- Jason