Hey friends!
It's been a while! Just wanted to share some progress news.
PAGAN has been going through some major changes, and some things needed to be put on hold.
Don't worry though, the game is still coming along, just not the way it used to.
Doing this whole change wasn't easy, in fact it was extremely demoralizing.
Current Situation
The version I have been sharing with you guys through the updates earlier this year has been "cancelled", and I'll soon be showing the final version in the not too distant future. I'll go into the details below for those interested.
But like I said, not to worry as the version I'm currently finishing is actually the final one.
I've already bought a Steam page for it, and when the game is nearing "completion" I'll post a link to it's page.
Here is a final build of the "open-world" version of PAGAN available to download:
https://mercysoft.itch.io/pagan
I'm sharing it mostly as a curiosity, and maybe it can inspire others in their endeavors as well.
It's obviously VERY unfinished, but it mostly works.
New Version
PAGAN will be a much more straight forward game than what I had originally planned. There are a couple reasons for that.
Video of progress so far, still a lot more to do and put in (sounds, weapons, voices, etc):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPIfCE4Cnbg
Screenshots from the 1st level:
This will be more of a direct sequel to CARNAL than anything else.
It's better in almost every way, more sophisticated with better systems, animations and quality of life improvements.
I'm giving the High Definition Render Pipeline another chance, a newer version at least.
It looks light years better than the URP iteration.
I am taking what I made for the earlier version and reusing them in a smarter, more tighly designed way, so nothing is going to waste.
What stays the same:
- The player still controls Cyrus.
- It's still the 1950's.
- You still have a slow-motion ability.
- You can kick doors, windows, objects and AI.
- You can shoot dudes apart with 6 different destructable parts.
- Only difference is it'll take place in various unique locations, with unique enemies and horror atmospheres.
- Instead of "open-world", it'll be level-based like a regular boomer shooter.
Why the Change brother?
I'll be super honest bro's, I wasn't happy with how things were panning out.
The longer I worked on it, the more I felt like I wasn't doing the concept/idea the justice it deserved.
Not to sound dramatic, but I felt an idea like what PAGAN originally was demanded higher quality everything.
Here are some reasons for the change:
- The Universal Render Pipeline is lacking in basic features.
- The rendering quality offered by URP was at odds with the lighting and volumetric effects .
- In order to be engrossed by the environment, it needs to look convincing enough, and it wasn't.
- The map is not rich enough detail/model complexity.
- Open-world design is not a built-in feature of Unity, causing me to create tons of systems to make it work.
- I was underestimating just how much knowledge and effort is required to make it work.
I felt that the game was not going to end up being what I initially imagined.
Until I gain better tools, knowledge and experience, this version of PAGAN will be put on hold indefinitely.
Basically, if I had continued with this version it would have turned out as an embarrassing shitshow, and you guys deserve better.
Conclusion
Like I said, don't worry. This isn't like all the previous prototypes, this one will be finished.
I'm a few months out from being ready to release, but it's coming along nicely with no issues.
It runs well, plays good and is functionally better than CARNAL.
I have a Steam page for it, and when it's close to release time, I'll let you guys know (if you're still interested after all these arduous months).
My communication skills are very rusty, so if you need any more info please feel free to ask!
Hope all is well, stay safe ːsteamthumbsupː
-JG
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kt8moNh_rz0&list=RDKt8moNh_rz0&index=1