Hey friends!
Been another while since I last posted.
I promised an update of sorts, and figured now might be a good time to do so.
I am releasing a new game very soon, like either the end of October or beginning of November (if all goes well).
Ultra Cop
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3274790/Ultra_Cop/?beta=0
Yes it's called Ultra Cop lol.
It's a Y2K style game set in the not too distant future where you control an advanced police officer equipped with a Mech, Riot car and destructive guns.
It's a first/third person shooter, it's violent and very 1999.
The idea was to make a game that feels like it could have been a launch title for the Dreamcast.
It's a shorter experience than CARNAL and it follows the old-school style of semi-open maps that you can tackle in any way you want.
It's also got 4 different soundtracks to choose from in-game.
If this looks like you're sort of speed, please feel free to check it out!
Roadmap
Ultra Cop is the first of three planned, smaller scale games.
The second game is a stealth-horror game in the vein of Thief with an authentic PSX style. I grew up playing Thief and Splinter Cell, always wanted to try making my own spin on it. Working title is Saturn's Gaze.
The third one is still in the works, but most likely will involve vehicular combat in the style of Twisted Metal with an authentic PS2 style (if I can get it working properly).
The plan is to release these three, then if everything works out, update CARNAL with a complete overhaul.
A CARNAL Reborn, if you will lol. This update will probably have a selection screen where you can choose between the original and revamped version.
So the release roadmap is basically in this order:
- Ultra Cop (2024)
- Saturn's Gaze (2025)
- Third unamed Car-Combat game (2025)
- CARNAL Reborn (2025? 2026?)
The plan is to release smaller scale retro games, with unique styles and gameplay. Then bigger games, like CARNAL Reborn and PAGAN.
If God keeps this little flame burning, then I will follow this course.
If this is not the sort of thing you're interested in I completely understand.
I do plan on doing the bigger games, but they're gonna be a bit further out time-wise.
I won't ever abandon the boomer-shooter crowd!
Why Are You Doing This? WHERE'S PAGAN?
Well friends, I'll be honest, I also don't quite know yet.
This has been an exceptionally challenging year so far, and a few things got pushed to the side.
PAGAN being one of them. There's a reason I was so quiet this year.
At the risk of oversharing and boring you to death, here is a summary:
I had a few breakdowns that messed me up real bad.
Had really dangerous mental states for weeks at a time, and at one point I even had to quit my job.
Many aspects of my life were taking a hit, and game development was one these things.
I had similar experiences throughout my life, but it reached a peak this year for some reason.
Never actively sought help, but things got so severe that I finally gave in and went to a mental health clinic to maybe help figure out what's going on.
Turns out I have been living with undiagnosed Asperger's Syndrome.
After getting therapy and resources, I had to take a step back, reassess my life, and make necessary changes to make things easier and managable so that I don't get burnt out and fall into a pit of depression and chronic anxiety.
This meant reducing work-loads and managing stress levels.
Game development needed to follow suite, otherwise I'd never get anything done ever again.
This is why there are three smaller games planned out instead of a big one.
I'm pacing myself, trying new things and expanding my skill set, while hopefully at the same time reinvigorating my passion for game development.
The way I make games hasn't changed.
If you liked CARNAL, you'll likely enjoy the new ones as well!
Conclusion
I can fully understand if this update did not impress.
This is not how I wanted things to go since releasing CARNAL.
I prefer being completely honest with you guys, instead of faking it and acting like everything is going well, when it obviously isn't, anyone can see something was amiss.
I was living under the illusion that I was normal and trying to keep up with everyone and society as a whole, even if it never felt natural to do so, slowly killing my creativity and productivity.
Maybe things will start to make sense after my explanation, the reason everything was so flaky and unpredictable over the years. It's because I'm a retard lol.
Even though things didn't work out as planned, I don't intend on giving up on this game dev endeavor.
If anyone can get some good times out of the things I make, then that's all that matters in the end.
Thanks for reading this far if you did, hope things are going well with you guys!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DS1vb3n3WEo&list=OLAK5uy_m3gWryhsvE-tja9CsC58nbpcEq1n-iqqw&index=2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVsEbjPUyGQ&list=PL9Moh-ey8DmxCON_fMgaYoAsXP5_teGJX&index=2