Hello everyone thank you for taking the time to check out Ionic Surge! This post will discuss the current state of development. I look forward to discussing key features mentioned below thoroughly in later posts so make sure to check back for updates! Keep in mind the game is currently in alpha.
The Foundation is Solid
The core gameplay mechanics are in excellent shape with just some tweaking left to do. Piloting the hovercraft is a fun and exciting experience. There is a bit of a learning curve at first due to the omnidirectional movement mechanics. In most futuristic racing games the cars act like they are on wheels, meaning they can only move forward or backward and have to rely on turning to move horizontally. The hovercrafts in Ionic Surge do not act like this at all. They can move in all directions regardless of orientation which when combined with boosting allows the pilot to quickly dodge in any direction. It takes some practice, but it is exhilarating once you get the hang of it!
Support Systems are Good
Of course a game is not simply comprised of fun core gameplay mechanics. The random endless track generation system works well and keeps the gameplay fresh and unpredictable. Most importantly I can easily add new track content such as new obstacle types as development continues. Other aspects such as the scoring system and powerups are also functioning well. Of course some of these systems still need tweaking and polish. Overall the game is in a playable state with all major systems functioning.
What's Left Before Open Beta?
I am very close to having the game ready for an open beta which I will be making available at ionic-surge.com. There is still some development and polish I want to get done before I put it out there. I am almost done revamping the GUI to be more attractive and informative. After that I want to get the 'How to Play' section done. Music still needs to be added as well as a few sound effects. Other than that, there are a few small bugs I want to fix and a handful of small polish tasks. Check back soon for more information!
Looks really great! Will definitely be tracking :)