BorderStrain! PreAlpha =) Thread

First post in forum!!! (Yay to me!)

So, Im wanted to show a small indie game Im working on, BorderStrain! Its very PreAlpha right now, it is a one man project so it takes whatever time it takes, but I'm not in any hurry in trying to get finished game out, right now the sole motivation is making a game that at least some might enjoy

So, with that out of the way, what is it? Well the short version would be something like below (listing implemented/planned)

General:

Done from scratch based on c++/opengl
Design to support different playstyles
ARPG/Craft/Sandbox game
Block based
Retro style top down graphics

Implemented:

Prodcedual World with biomes, weather, day/night cycles
Procedual dungeons with increasingly difficult levels the further you progress
Character Leveling
Procedual quests and NPCs
Two skill trees, one active/one passive to use your well earned skill points on
Loot! (What would be world be without it??)
Craftable Weapons
Crafting! (Walls, floor, beds, generators, lights etc...)

Planned:

Multiplayer (coding style designed for it but has not yet seperated servside/clientside)
Craftable turrets (half implemented)
More interactable objects
More LOOT!
More enemies
More procedual dungeons
More procedual map locations and encounters
Better graphics/sprites (duh!)
Etc

So, I've been lurking around the forums for some while but thought it would be time to start interacting a bit and hopefully get some feedback on design choices!

Right now gametesting is for invited few only (sorry!) but I'm planning to invite more game testers when I get the multiplayer functionality ironed out

A short pre footage video below! (Yes, low res as hell but i didnt have time to recapture my crappy captured videos, I'll add better soon enough )

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More info/screenshots/videos will be posted on the development blog! I'll be adding more updates there continously

Find the development blog at: BorderStrain.com

Hope you might find some of it interesting and please, If you have any questions I would love to reply to some =)

//BG109

Hi,

I just visited your website and watched the game-play video. Everything looks really good so far. So is it safe to say MineCraft was a big influence for you?

I really liked the scrolling tree canopies, very nice effect for the top down view.

Thanx! =) Yeah definitely, can say for sure that diablo and minecraft would be the two major sources of inspiration, and maybe cyberdogs (yeah, been around for some time... =P )

The biggest issue with sandbox style games is (imho) giving the players a sense of goal. Being a loot based game this should help for sure but Im still struggeling a little bit with this

My plan for endgame right now would be a simple craftable "endgame" item which the players must complete a hundred waves to finish. This should be nearly impossible so some leaderboards would be nice maybe? Also, random quests should hopefully get the players to have some minor sidegoals to get them by as well

What do you guys think is a good endgame strategy in sandbox/ARPG style games?

I def agree with the leaderboards idea. That's the problem with some sandbox games, interesting gameplay but with no end. I like the badass wave at the end of the game though that would be cool. I love how some games have that dramatic last stand only to whoop your ass before you get to see the end. One last reason to keep trying to get your Goal= Beat this damn game!

I really like your artwork btw. Very clear and cool perspectives.