📣 About this Devlog Ever wondered what happens when you throw five passionate, (and slightly overworked) game developers into a game jam? Consider this month’s devlog our official case study. Earlier this year, we hit a point where progress started feeling slower even though everyone was working nonstop. We had combat ideas, prototypes, systems, experiments, and a whole pile of mechanics, but…
The Story — Where He Came From The Luchador actually started with a pretty practical problem. Early on, while the team was building out Porto Morto, we realized we needed a space where players could experiment: test combos, learn mechanics, and figure out how to not immediately get wrecked by CureBots. A classic “tutorial room”… but in our world, nothing gets to stay classic for long. A new env…
Remember last month when we said we were going all-in on fixing the Bite mechanic? Instead, we deleted half the scaffolding and went back to prototyping in a blank room. 😅 It wasn’t a big dramatic decision, we just realized we were still building on top of ideas we hadn’t fully validated. So we went back to basic shapes and movements. And then we did something new for us, we split up! Instead…
📣 Real Talk from the Dev Team We spent months rebuilding Stay Dead, and now we’re digging into the mechanic that might carry the whole game: the Bite. This devlog is not about finished features. It’s a peek into our design process: the systems we scrapped, the sandbox we built, and the weird experiments we’re running to make the Bite feel like more than just a zombie trope. What You’ll See in…
📣 Real Talk from the Dev Team This isn’t a polished marketing recap. It’s the real story of a small indie team learning, pivoting, and starting over…more than once. If you’re into game dev, roguelikes, or just like watching things blow up (creatively), give it a watch. What you’ll see: Why our GDC and PAX demos didn’t quite hit How Pedro & Victor reshaped the whole game What we rebuilt from sc…
Coded message from the Rebellion! The Stay Dead Playtest is almost here, and the Resistance needs recruits. C.A.R.E. Thinks they can control us, but they’re wrong. It’s time to rise, spread the word, and prove you’re not one of them . We’re giving a few brave zombies early access to the upcoming Stay Dead Closed Playtest , plus some exclusive rewards for those who help spread the cause. · 🎮 5…
2025 has been packed with creepy, clever, and totally unhinged indie games, and we’ve been paying close attention. We’re constantly researching what’s out there, what creeps, clicks, and claws its way into players’ brains. Lately, a few of our marketing collaborators (the ones with Steam wishlists longer than their lifespans) have been diving into the weirder corners of horror gaming. So here i…
🧠 New Systems, New Smarts We’ve been rebuilding core gameplay with a focus on clarity and depth. That means not just adding new features but sharpening the ones that are already in place. ⚖️ Character Stat Balancing We defined and tuned base stats for each playable family member's health, stamina, and damage to reflect their personality & playstyle. This gives each character a clearer role in…
If this is on your screen, it means our busted antennas finally worked. You’d think sending a message would be easy: WiFi, upload, done. But out here in the tiny island of Porto Morto, every signal is stitched together with bubblegum and bat spit. For those who don’t know already, C.A.R.E. hasn’t just invaded our home and started force-curing us, they’re scrambling our signals and blasting thei…
Navigating New Horizons In the world of creative media, where various forms overlap and interact, the story of Animagic Interactive is one of subtle yet significant change. Jordi Ayguasenosa and David Calderón , the directors guiding this shift, have opened up about their journey from running an animation studio to entering the video game industry with their first game, Stay Dead . The Genesis…
Back on April 14, we marked Stay Dead’s first year of development. Despite being a small group, passion, creativity, and hard work brought something truly unique to the gaming world. Looking back at that moment now, it captured not only how far the team had come in 12 short months, but also the spark that set this whole project in motion. And yes, one of the key developers was only 17 years old…
The world of Porto Morto is coming to life, one scream, slam, and syringe at a time. Over the past few weeks, the Stay Dead team has been bringing systems, visuals, and chaos into sharper focus. Combat is punchier, characters are more expressive, and the environment is starting to feel like the strange little zombie paradise we always imagined. With our core systems implemented and polished, th…
The Art Development of Stay Dead Today, we’re diving into the colorful world of “Stay Dead,” offering a behind-the-scenes look at the magic our Art Team is creating, bringing our fresh take on a zombie video game. From the charming undead family to the eccentrically beautiful Porto Morto Island, this small but mighty team has been redefining what a zombie video game can be . It’s not just about…
At C.A.R.E., we believe in transparency, transformation, and-above all else-you. That’s why we wanted to take a moment to address a few common misinterpretations surrounding our recent infomercial-style educational outreach asset featuring the NZ-1 vaccine. This one, right here, in case you didn't see it. You should! It's really cool, promise. Dearest citizens of humanity, and… those with pre-e…
Meet the Zombie Family of "Stay Dead" Today, we’re giving you a sneak peek into the lives of the lovable zombie family that’s redefining family goals in the afterlife. The stars of Animagic Interactive’s “Stay Dead” live in Porto Morto, a zombie paradise where the grass is greener on the undead side. Want to learn more about their hilarious personalities? Keep reading! Stu: The Inventive Dad Th…
Punchlines and Protocols: Building the Combat System in Unity It’s been a monster of a month, figuratively and literally. We’ve reached that beautiful, terrifying moment in development where every system connects. Suddenly, your game starts talking back to you. Like, talking. With punches, combo chains, camera shakes, and a boss AI that now throws syringes at your head. The Combat System in Uni…
crackle… static… soft vinyl hum… “You’re listening to Deadwave Radio… where the static’s got soul and the night never skips a beat. You just heard the angelic song “Thoughts in My Mind” by Donnie and Joe Emerson. A track that drips with longing. Speaking of which… I got a thought rattling around my skull tonight. One I haven’t spun in a while. Not about death, no no… this one’s about rebirth .…
Imagine living the perfect life: a loving spouse, wonderful kids, and the cutest dog, all in a tropical paradise far from the hustle and bustle of society. But there’s just one tiny detail – we’re all zombies. That’s our delightfully twisted reality in “Stay Dead,” the game that turns the zombie apocalypse into our slice of heaven. Stay Dead is a hilariously chaotic survival adventure to protec…
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Announcements are the developer’s own posts to the game’s Steam news feed: updates and their patch notes, in-game events, releases and sales. The important ones are marked on the players chart.