This is a long one so here is a summary of what you'll find below:
- Pontus - On Core Systems
- Melissa - On Layout and Props
- Diogo - On Gameplay Scripting
- Stef - On New Level
- Studio Announcements - EMF Festival!
Wait did you say more team members?
For the first half of this year we were joined fulltime by Melissa on Art and Diogo on Level Design. With their help we have been polishing and adding content to the main campaign in Off Grid, but more on that later.
We have also been assisted by Pedro, who was with us early in the year working on scripting and tools, Elias, who has recently joined the team and is getting stuck into the Modding side of Off Grid and Raquel, our producer that is keeping us all on track!
Pontus - On Core Systems
Since the previous blog post, we've done a lot of background tech changes, including switching to a new version control system and remodelling our build pipeline to match, especially in the context of how our main project works with the Levelkit project we provide for modders. While not necessarily an obvious change from the user perspective, this will help us making sure we can always make Levelkit builds that match an exact Off Grid version and that are guaranteed to work nicely together.
We've also already tested this setup with some internal test builds, which means a long list of various small bugs, fixed here and there, and all kinds of game features tweaked slightly. Most of them not really big enough to write about here.
One of the more directly interesting ones from player's perspective is a new Tasklist app (making good use of our ongoing overhaul of the app system). As the old joke goes, "there's an app for that", and now there is one to help you keep track of your current objectives without having to go to the pause menu for that.
Melissa - On Layout and Props
We decided to improve the Apartment level by making new beds, furniture and personal items (clothing, shoes, notebooks, wall art, posters). We wanted the place to feel more like home and add dimension to the characters, especially the bedrooms, after all you can tell a lot about somebody by looking at their rooms!
Joe’s room is simpler and more practical, while Jen’s room is messier with a mix of girly/tech stuff.
We also updated the vending machine art and worked on some in-game branding for food items.
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| New Vending Machine and Snack Art |
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| New Coffee Machine |
Diogo - On Gameplay Scripting
The last few months have been focused on improving the early levels of the game, and with that comes tutorialization to introduce the player to Off Grid’s core mechanics. A particular section to highlight is when we teach the player about being careful with the noise they make when running.
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| Avoid the Sleeping Guard! |
To better tie this tutorial to the rest of the level and to the overall story, we used it as an opportunity to further showcase the characters’ personalities. We start by getting the player to unexpectedly come face to face with a guard (who luckily is sleeping on the job) before having them engage in a small conversation with the always sarcastic figure of Smedley, where they learn about this core part of the game through a humorous interaction.
Stef - On New Level
As well as all of the above, we have been working away at a new level location: the Harbour.
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| So...the Harbours name is Harbour? |
Harbours are interesting locations, they are like a living thing, designed to keep goods constantly moving, constantly shifting, pulsing and transporting stuff around, much like a human body. We rely on them for so much, our harbours are precious, and in constantly increasing demand - after all how do you think your Temu orders are getting to you? As such, they are always looking towards technology for solutions...lovely, hackable, technology.
Here are some early screen captures of work in progress. We have some unique and interesting plans for the harbour, but we don't want to spoil the surprise too much!
Studio Announcements - EMF Festival!
The Off Grid team is once again joining the Milliways Village for some modding fun. We'll be using it as an opportunity to play test our modding tools and immerse our team in the world of digital security to help inspire our level design and story.
Until then we are working away supporting the CCCamp Mod to show off there. If you are also going to EMF come find us and say hi! We'll be in the Milliways Village.
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| The CCCamp Mod |