Down The Stairs: The Game · published
A lot has changed since our first Multiplayer Development Update.
What started as a basic Host/Join race test has now grown into a much more complete multiplayer race system. We have been steadily adding new features, statistics and gameplay mechanics.
The race loop is now working
The basic Stair Race can now be played from start to finish.
Players and bots wait together behind the starting gate while the countdown begins:
5... 4... 3... 2... 1... GO!
When the race starts, the gate opens and all participants begin their run toward the finish line.
Each participant now has a visible nickname during the race, making it much easier to follow who is ahead, who has fallen behind and who has just been sent flying down the stairs.
Empty places in the room can be filled with bots.
The bots have their own names and character profiles and participate in the same race as human players.
Current bot names include: Fado, Bruno, Berta, Sigma, Ixi, Pi and Pinky.
This allows us to test full 8-participant races even when only one or two human players are connected.
The race is no longer only about reaching the finish line first.
Treasures can be collected during the race and currently reduce the final time by 1 second each.
Falls work in the opposite direction and add a time penalty.
For example:
• 12 Treasures = -12 seconds
• 1 Fall = +3 seconds
This means the fastest route is not always automatically the best route.
Players can choose whether to run directly toward the finish or risk collecting additional treasures along the way.
At the end of each race, a full results screen is displayed.
The current results table includes:
• Final position
• Player nickname
• Final time
• Wins
• Win rate
• Raw race time
• Treasures collected
• Falls
The final time includes both treasure bonuses and fall penalties.
The Host can then start another race without leaving the room.
We have also expanded the multiplayer profile statistics.
Players can now see:
• Best Time
• Wins
• Races Played
• Win Rate
• Treasures Collected
• Total Falls
Room statistics are also displayed inside the multiplayer pause menu.
The multiplayer chat system is also working during the race.
Players can communicate directly while waiting for the race to begin or while playing.
The current race takes place on our large staircase course, but we are now experimenting with ways to make the route more varied and interesting.
Some of the ideas currently being tested include:
• Turns and multiple staircase sections
• Rotating beams
• Moving obstacles
• Dangerous shortcuts
• Additional treasure routes
• More ways to knock players into ragdoll
Instead of immediately creating several separate maps, our current plan is to first make one multiplayer course much more varied and fun to replay.
Multiplayer is still in development and is not yet available in the public version of the game.
There is still a lot of testing and balancing ahead, especially around synchronization, bots and race mechanics.
However, the multiplayer mode is becoming much closer to the experience we originally wanted to build.
Thank you for supporting Down The Stairs: The Game.
More multiplayer updates are coming.