Welcome back, Kin!
A lot has been going on, if you haven't seen it I've released the alpha demo update to version 0.0.4 and it's been receiving incredible reviews from players and content creators alike. I'm very happy it's been so well received.
But where do we go from here? Well, it's time to move away from the alpha demo and on to the full game development. I decided a few days ago that the full game would receive a makeover, the Lower First Floor is currently having a complete redesign and so is every other floor. The reason? I don't want players to get too comfortable with the layout from the alpha demo, and the changes I'm implementing will allow for greater customisation for scares.
There are a lot of factors when it comes to developing ManneKin: Hessler Storage, one of the key things I wanted to do was give the players random scares based on a number of factors. This way no player should expect things to happen, and you won't experience the same thing as a friend who also plays. Making this happen is a lot of work as I'm now making custom room blueprints that allow for all of this.
Doorways, corners, shadows, junctions, stairs, I'm factoring in every place that a trigger could and should be, and then letting the game decide if a scare should be there based on a number of factors, AND a dice roll.
The redesign of the Lower First Floor also includes some new features. Lightswitch panels now have an emissive texture around the switch so they're easier to find in the dark. Lights themselves will also randomly flicker. There's a lot more, but I don't want to give too much away.
Sound design has also been a massive factor that I want to make larger use of. So far, many base sounds have been stock and that doesn't sit right with me. I've since recorded more sounds; ambient, sound effects, object noise, and more.
Full-on scripts for each area and branches are also in development. If you've played the latest version of the demo then there's one other voice in the game that isn't voiced by myself. You first hear it during a phone call. That voice will be accompanying you through your journey as Professor Shaw in Hessler Storage, acting as your guide and a plot device. I can't say much more, but you'll find out when the time comes.
This feels like a lot to type but I'll also leave you with some pretty cool numbers!
This month we had:
10+ YouTube videos covering ManneKin: Hessler Storage
14+ Twitch Streams
106 Twitch Clips created
2000+ Twitter Profile visits
And now we have 500+ Wishlists on Steam!
Come find more info on Twitter or join the Discord!