A new update just in time for the Summer Steam Sales. Two and a half years, over 30 major updates, dozens of getting back to the drawing board, and countless feedback later, our small but mighty team of two has crafted a truly ambitious game in Spheriums.
This new update shows the new visuals for a range of weapons, showcasing our dedication to enhancing your immersion and gameplay experience.

FEATURE ADDITIONS

• Bosboon's latest update introduces a double attack feature to make it mode difficult and challenging,
• Every weapon now comes with a Recharge capability, accessible via the 'R' shortcut key. However, it's important to note that controller support for Recharge is still in progress.
• Experience the new visuals and animations for the Psionic Fusion Disruptor weapon.
• Enjoy the brand-new visual representation of the Magnetokinetic Disruptor. No animation support yet.
• A few new islands on Meolia have been reimagined with a fresh color palette.
• Improve the AI of both the Drainer worker and the small Drainer commander.

BUG FIX

• Address the problem of electrical fires not depleting the player's energy when initiated by the Bosboon creature.
• Fix the issue of fog not being appropriately rendered when loading a previously saved game.

SPHERIUMS - 2024 LAUNCH CONFIRMED!

As we inch closer to the big 2024 launch, we're excited to say that the official release of Spheriums will be significantly different from the early access version:

• Dive into a deeper storyline with actual voiceover performances.
• Ultra-refined level designs.
• A more comprehensive array of skills and abilities.
• Upgrade power-ups.
• State-of-the-art weaponry.
• A badass roster of enemies with a very challenging hard difficulty level for the hardcore gamer.
• And a few more surprises we are going to reveal soon :)
• All these elements combine to create an immersive gaming experience not just for the hardcore gamers out there but something the whole family can play and enjoy.

While we're in the final stretch, our focus is on completing, testing, and polishing the game to perfection, so we'll only be patching major bugs in the early access version. All to ensure you get a top-notch gaming experience. Jump in on the action early! Grab the early access version of Spheriums on Steam at a 40% discount now, as the price may go up on the final release, and buckle up for the official Spheriums - Origin release in 2024. Happy gaming! JP & Nick

[ 2023-06-29 17:07:42 CET ] [ Original post ]

Welcome to our most significant update yet! We've revamped and improved several key areas of the game to provide a more immersive and engaging experience. This update redefines the game from dynamic weather systems and adaptive music to challenging enemies and visually stunning weapons. This is a preliminary update ahead of the next major one, perfectly timed to coincide with the impending Steam summer sales.

FEATURE ADDITIONS

• Revamped Weather System: Introducing dynamic day-night cycles across various worlds, along with shifting fog patterns. Prepare for an enhanced challenge under the cover of night or fog.
• Adaptive Music Integration: Experience our new adaptive music on Korala, Meolia, and Mazir. The tunes will shift according to battle intensity, day-night cycle, and fog presence, enhancing your immersion.
• Sound Effects Overhaul: We've replaced 80 placeholder sound effects with fresh, immersive ones, amplifying your gaming experience.
• Bosboon Behavior Revamp: Be ready to face a tougher adversary in Bosboon - its behavior has been overhauled, making it an unpredictable enemy when combined with others.
• Innovative Spawning System: Experience improved enemy randomness and a fresh concept of territorial defense, along with a heightened AI challenge during battles.
• Weapons Redesign: The Energy Flux Blaster and Antimatter Railgun have been visually revamped, now featuring firing animations, muzzle flashes, and more. More enhancements are underway!

IMPROVEMENTS & BALANCE CHANGES

• Game Tutorial Update: We've completed the first part of the tutorial for new players. Expect more improvements in future updates.
• Planet Korala & Meolia Overhaul: We've redesigned parts of these levels with new textures and assets for a better aesthetic appeal. Meolia's color scheme redesign is also in progress.
• Baby Birlum & Zirca Scout Balancing: These enemies can now be defeated with a single energy blast.
• Expanded Scanning Options: We've added many scannable items for more interactive gameplay. Examples include Dimensional Gate, Interstellar Energy Transmitter, Energy Matrix Enhancer, Shield Matrix Enhancer, and Quantum Crafting Station.
• Enemy Behavior Enhancement: The behavior of Poppox, Zogan, and Bosboon has been improved for more unpredictable combat scenarios.
• Telekinesis Mechanic Update: We've standardized the distance for holding items, improving gameplay mechanics and player visibility.
• Draining Crystals Update: These crystals are now more reactive - they'll unleash an electric wave if you're too close while gathering Energium.
• Crafting UI Enhancement: Expect a smoother user experience while crafting new implants or upgrades - we've animated the padlock to highlight upgradeable items.

KNOWN ISSUES & IMPORTANT INFORMATION

• Bosboon Enemy: This adversary is currently undergoing a revamp. The new integration into the game is still rough around the edges, with incomplete animation and a lack of sound effects. Completion is expected in the subsequent update.
• First World: Planet Korala: Despite being the most developed in terms of level design, there still need to be new assets and new enemy spawns. Currently, only 20% of the new enemy spawning system is operational.
• Second World: Planet Meolia: This planet is under renovation, leading to an incomplete gaming experience. Certain areas pose increased difficulty. The old enemy spawning system is still in effect.
• Third World: Planet Mazir: Progress in this world is steady. However, it still operates on the old enemy spawning system.
• Fourth World: Planet Zeros: This world is currently in an unplayable state but can be observed to grasp the direction of our development progress.

COMING SOON

• Kindra, your AI companion, will, at last, be equipped with offensive capabilities!
• New asset placement across all worlds.
• Completion of Meolia's color scheme and design.
• Major fixes for Mazir.
• Continued redesign of Zeros.
• Replacement of old spawning mechanisms across all planets.
• Replacement of remaining old weapon designs.
• Redesign and completion of the skill tree.
• An opening cut-scene.
• Completion of the in-game tutorial.
• And much more!

[ 2023-05-14 17:51:49 CET ] [ Original post ]

Hello everyone! We're excited to share another update on our journey as we continue to make progress with Spheriums. We're diligently working on refining the game's core to provide an improved player experience. Although we initially planned to release an update in April, we've opted to take our time due to the extensive gameplay mechanic changes.

Dynamic fog, day/night

We've completed the weather engine, which now features day/night cycles and random atmospheric fog in three worlds, significantly enhancing gameplay and ambiance.

Kralian Battle - You cannot hide!

You can also watch on YouTube a video showing a battle with the Kralians on Korala at night with fog. This also shows an improvement of the AI of the enemy as well as you cannot hide easily as Kralians can destroy rocks...

Adaptive Music & Sound effects

The adaptive music engine is also finished, with music adapting to various game factors, including day/night cycles, atmospheric fog, and battle sequences. Thanks to the freelancer Steve from 3rdEchosound, the first three worlds now feature 18 music segments. You can watch a dev diary video about our adaptive music engine on YouTube. Over 70 sound effects have been redone from scratch, significantly improving game immersion. We're grateful to have the freelancer Alan for his incredible sound effect creation skills.

Weapon redesign

We've also begun the weapon redesign process, starting with the Energy Flux Blaster. After receiving feedback that the original design was too basic and did not effectively depict a weapon, we decided to redesign all our in-game firearms, starting with the Energy Flux Blaster.
We realize a gap exists between a design we think is unique and what players expect. With this in mind, our modification aims to enhance the game's visual appeal and streamline the player experience, allowing them to quickly grasp the purpose of a weapon when viewing screenshots or short videos. [previewyoutube=E6QuYCTqGcA;full][/previewyoutube] Thanks to the freelancer Saif's exceptional contributions, improved visuals and animations are being implemented for all weapons. Weapons will also benefit from enhanced muzzle flash, particle effects, and recoil animation.

Meolia world visual redesign

We're also reworking the color palette of the planet Meolia better to match the striking visuals of Korala and Mazir, enhancing its alien appeal. Initial feedback from our group testers has been positive.

Tons of changes

Furthermore, we're adding more assets to all worlds, refining the level design, and adjusting enemy AI for a more challenging experience. We appreciate your patience and support as we strive to deliver the best possible game.

If you like what you see, please consider adding the game to your wishlist.

Our two fearless souls embarked on this incredible adventure two years ago. It is a rollercoaster of highs & lows, but our hearts are set on our 2024 official release! Nevertheless, we hope to release the next update before the Steam Summer sales. Please join our Discord server to learn more and discuss directly with the dev! Yes 1 dev and 1 3D modeler/tester are working on this fantastic journey! Feedback and Wishlists are much appreciated! JP & Nick

[ 2023-05-06 13:58:39 CET ] [ Original post ]

Over the past month, we've diligently focused on numerous aspects of Spheriums. We're thrilled to share that the gifted freelancer "3rd Echo Sounds" has joined our team to compose music for the game, while the talented freelancer Alan Dalcastagne is revamping sound effects in Spheriums. Here's a sneak peek at what we're currently working on:

• A weather engine for controlling day/night cycles, fog, and potentially rain/storms.
• A dynamic music system that responds to weather conditions and combat situations.
• A brand-new spawning system to improve enemy randomness, territorial defense, and more challenging AI during battles.
• Initial integration of new sound effects and music segments.
• Asset updates for Korala, Meolia, and Mazir.
• Intensive work on Zeros to create a new world for players to explore.

We aim to release an update in the coming weeks, provided everything proceeds smoothly. If you like what you see, please consider adding the game to your wishlist. Spheriums is a bold venture for our team of two: one programmer and one 3D modeler. You can also support us on Patreon. We appreciate all of your support! JP & Nick

[ 2023-03-29 14:29:19 CET ] [ Original post ]

Hey everyone, We're excited to announce that we just launched a Patreon campaign to bring Spheriums to the next level! For those of you who don't know, Patreon is a platform that allows creators like us to share exclusive content with our supporters in exchange for their ongoing support.

Patreon

We are self-funding everything for our game, but to bring the game to our vision, we need the money to hire freelancers. They will help us to deliver better audio, enhance the graphics (texture and materials), and graphics designer for a slick UI and create promotional materials. By becoming a patron, you'll access behind-the-scenes updates, exclusive content, and other rewards we've put together for our supporters. This is a great way to get more involved with our work and to help support us as a creator. If you want to learn more, head to our Patreon page and check it out. And if you decide to become a patron, We want to say a big thank you in advance! Your support means the world to us. Thanks, Nick & JP

[ 2023-02-23 21:53:36 CET ] [ Original post ]

Just in time for the Indie Cup Celebration, we are releasing an update with a few new critical changes in AI. We have received many comments about AI, and it is time for us to start addressing them. A few changes are in this build, but more significant changes in the AI department are coming in the subsequent updates.

NEW

• AI Kraspian - Now attack the player while keeping their position. If they are fired at, they may stay, avoid or run away. They will dodge in the air as Kraspian have a helical propeller. They will also shoot 3 projectiles when they escape. (Work in progress)
• AI Floating crystal - Will wander around, and if they see the player, they will start firing while moving toward the player as they are attracted by the energy signature and will self-destroy at the player's contact. The player can no longer destroy their projectiles. (Work in progress)
• AI Baby Birlum - If you start shooting them, they will try to run away from the player as they have no defense mechanism.
• AI Birlum - They are creatures that do not bother with your presence. However, when they see you, they will stare at you as they ensure your intention. Then, they will return the favor and start shooting at you if you start firing at them.
• Partial controller support - The controller can be used while playing the game, except when going into any UI (e.g., Inventory, journal, etc.). Full controller support will be implemented for the official release of the game.
• Structonite Field - Update the structonite area on Korala world with new assets & new grass.
• Structonite trap - Complete redesign to use them strategically to block enemies and/or hide behind. They are still dangerous if you move over before being activated. Only implemented on Korala will be migrated to other worlds for the next update.
• Navigation Nexus - Previously, the player used the same Nexus to travel to a new planet and was able to travel back to a previous world. This is no longer possible. The player will arrive from a Nexus Arrival gate and need to find the Nexus to travel to another world.

ENHANCEMENT & BALANCE

• Planet Korala - Balance the number of resources.
• Planet Meolia - Balance the number of resources.
• Bosboon - Reduce by half the poisonous circle. Bosboon visual (hit, destruction & explosion) will be updated in the next update.

FIXES

• Fix a few collision problems with some trees.
• The display of some resources was blocking the ability to click on a dimensional gate and preventing the user from traveling to other parts of the world on the Map.

Coming soon

• Zeros planet redesign.
• AI redesign of other creatures and Drainers.
• Wave spawning for particular creatures and invaders.
• Structonite Field and traps update on the three other planets.

[ 2023-02-14 14:12:23 CET ] [ Original post ]

Being a small indie studio of only 2 developers, we are excited about this new update. We have entirely changed the in-game story and started the integration in the first three worlds that the player will play. However, the tutorial in the first world (Korala) is still a work in progress, and the initial cut scene still needs to be done. The initial cut scene will visually explain that you are a sentient energy-sphere being sent to investigate why your homeworld is losing its vital energy to survive, leading your civilization to mass extinction.

NEW

• Planet Mazir - Completely redo the level design of the third planet. This includes many changes in the landscape, redesigning the combats area, new assets, new foliage, new enemies, lighting changes, and much more.
• Planet Korala - Update the level design of the first world by enhancing some areas, adding new assets, changing some enemies AI, redoing the lighting, and adding atmospheric fog.
• Planet Meolia - Update the second world by adding more assets in some areas and tweaking the lighting.
• Psionic Power-up - The psionic power-up can be triggered by using the middle mouse button while having the psionic orb weapon. It sends a high psionic beam that drains the energy from the Drainers and adds it to your shield. Immensely powerful and helpful in challenging situations.
• Force-field - A new force-field implant is now available, letting the player convert its internal energy into a force field to protect itself from enemies' attacks. Unfortunately, the force field drains energy very quickly. Therefore, the player will need to use it wisely. An upcoming update will let the player uses skills to reduce the energy-draining factor.
• Laser worker Drainer - A dangerous new invader that can fire lasers with its claw and fire laser shots with his armed turrets. The AI is still incomplete, but still, be careful...
• Mine planter Drainer - No specific attack from this Drainer, except that he is dropping mine while moving randomly on the terrain! Hard to destroy.
• Spaceship dropping troops - A new type of Drainer spaceship that can drop troops while flying is now available in one place in the game. It's still a work in progress, but very fun to see when he is coming close to you and dropping Drainers to attack you from the sky.
• Zirca enemy level 1 - Implement a new AI behavior to act as a swarm. They are easy to destroy, but when they are many, it can be challenging. They are also firing a new type of projectile.
• Larva - A new enemy that is note very dangerous as it moves slowly. Explode when the player is getting to close to it or fires at it.

ENHANCEMENT & BALANCE

• Update the visual of all the Drainers.
• Update all the colonist archive logs with the updated story
• Replace obsolete Drainers enemies with new Drainers mech on Meolia floating platform.
• Change the visual structonite trap in the structonite field for better gameplay.
• Change the Bosboon plant with better material and reduce the energy blast required to disable it temporarily.
• The energy barrier no longer removes energy from the player when it collides with it.
• Add sound effects when refilling a Triphasium container
• Add new Kindra audio messages and changes some previous one that needed to be more accurate or shorter.
• Change a few Kindra floating hints by displaying Kindra beacons, so the player understands better what to do.
• Add a log title in the journal when reading an archive log.
• Add new LOD to many 3D assets to improve rendering performance.

FIXES

• Fix the spaceship ghosting around after the animation was completed in the first two worlds.
• Fix spaceship turrets on the Drainer floating platforms on Meolia that were indestructible and were not moving.
• Change the turret scanning text to explain that psionic-based weapons are required to destroy a turret.
• Giant Poppox on Mazir stays selected after being scanned.

FUTURE

We still have a lot of things to do before the release planned for the Steam PC version in 2023. The next big update will include the redesign of Zeros, the 4th world, and more enhancement in the previous three worlds, enemies, AI, etc.

[ 2023-01-31 15:34:27 CET ] [ Original post ]

Another strong milestone. The overall revamp of Meolia is done. The second world has eight islands to explore, and you must fight your way to free all the emitters from the invaders.

Gameplay and Visual Enhancements

• Complete revamp of the level design of Meolia, getting the second world closer to its final version. It still needs decoration assets and must change some materials, and no level optimization.
• Drainer Mechs - New firing mode, muzzle flash, and enhanced AI.
• Medusa - New Medusa visual, animation and AI.
• Add four new Psionic weapon upgrades.
• Reduce the spread when firing multiple psionic rockets for better accuracy.
• Raise the energy required when firing psionic rockets.
• Update the visual of the Psionic and Magnetism weapons (still a work in progress)

Fixed Bugs

• The choker on world two was broken.

Known Issues

• Objectives are not done for Meolia.
• Kralian creatures are not scannable. Fix: Use the Energy blaster to defeat.
• Drainer commanders will sometime be stuck somewhere. FIX: Save/load to correct the situation
• English voice-over plays even if French is selected.
• The battle sound may keep playing after killing all enemies in a region. FIX: Save/Load to fix the music until we fix the bug.
• The soundtrack cuts when Kindra is speaking.
• The game will currently display in full screen only on the native resolution of the screen. Otherwise, it will be displayed in a window.
• Resolutions with an aspect ratio different from 1.77 will result in a distorted display.

Upcoming

• Revamp from the ground up Mazir (world 3).
• Better and funnier AI with more creature animations.
• Add new drainers
• Improve the map by showing all resources.
• Improved layout and design coherency for the user interface.
• Animate weapons.
• Sound effects, sound mixing, and interactive music.
• Texture painting on enemies.
• Controller Support (Xbox/Playstation)
• Full options to adjust graphical settings.
• Add Steam Achievements (full suite of 25+)
• Much more.

We are proud to be part of the Top 100 IndieDB of the year. You can visit the site and also take the opportunity to vote for us for the Top 10! https://www.indiedb.com/games/spheriums

[ 2022-12-16 16:39:00 CET ] [ Original post ]

• Animate some weapons firing effects to get feedback.

[ 2022-11-23 14:55:05 CET ] [ Original post ]

We are proud to have reached another milestone by releasing a massive update for the early access of Spheriums. We hope you like the latest update and invite you to play it again if you have bought Spheriums and leave a review.

Gameplay, Interface, and Visual Enhancements

• Complete revamp of the level design of Korala, getting the game closer to the final vision of the first world.
• Electromagnetic discharge - Implement a new secondary fire for the magnetism weapon. Hit an enemy to slow it down considerably for easier shooting. Like any secondary weapon, it uses energy.
  
• Drainer Mechs - A new invader with dual bullet shooting is patrolling Korala. Beware!
  
• Objective - Players were often lost at the beginning of the game. We have added many new goals to help the player knows what to do early on in the game.
• Boss - Rework the "Choker" boss on Korala with a better attack pattern, more apparent weaknesses, and a higher difficulty level for a better fighting challenge.
  
• Drastically change the firing speed of an energy blast for better accuracy.
• Control Panel - Add a new visual panel switch to help the player recognize a machine and how to interact with it (Dimensional gate, crafting machine, recharging power-pack station).
• When hitting him, the elemental Mexodin shakes the camera and pushes the player a little bit.
• Any weapons can now destroy poison puddles & Choker bombs.
• Show how to use a weapon after crafting a weapon implant with an informative visual.
• Reduce the needed resources drastically to do the first inventory storage upgrade.
• Update the liprite resource with a better visual (new mesh and material)
• Show missing shortcut in key mapping UI.

Fixed Bugs

• Enemies will not randomly disappear after firing on them.
• Fix Kralian AI bugs that sometimes were stuck.

Known Issues

• Kralian creatures are not scannable. Fix: Use the Energy blaster to defeat.
• Drainer commanders will sometime be stuck somewhere. FIX: Save/load to correct the situation
• English voice-over plays even if French is selected.
• The battle sound may keep playing after killing all enemies in a region. FIX: Save/Load to fix the music until we fix the bug.
• The soundtrack cuts when Kindra is speaking.
• The game will currently display in full screen only on the native resolution of the screen. Otherwise, it will be displayed in a window.
• Resolutions with an aspect ratio different from 1.77 will result in a distorted display.

Upcoming Update Features

• Revamp from the ground up Meolia.
• Better and funnier AI with more creature animations.
• Add new drainers
• Improve the map by showing all resources.
• Improved layout and design coherency for the user interface.
• Animate weapons.
• Sound effects, sound mixing, and interactive music.
• Texture painting on enemies.
• Controller Support (Xbox/Playstation)
• Full options to adjust graphical settings.
• Add Steam Achievements (full suite of 25+)
• Much more.

[ 2022-11-21 14:31:39 CET ] [ Original post ]

Our development journey is more exciting than ever, as our roadmap to complete the game is clear. We are working hard on new enemies, reworking the level design, new animation, and much more.

New Enhancements

• Introduce the new "drainer worker". Stay away from their mechanical arms :) We suggest you try the secondary psionic orb weapon on them! They are responsible for deploying military infrastructure and have a weak defense mechanism.
• Whenever you find an energy rune, you accumulate a 5% speed boost of energy recovery. They are 20 runes hides across 5 of 6 worlds for up to 100% faster speed boost regeneration.
• Whenever you find a shield rune, you accumulate a 5% speed boost of shield regeneration. They are 20 runes hides across 5 of 6 worlds for up to 100% faster speed boost regeneration.
• Energy regeneration is not affected anymore when the player walks for a better gameplay experience.
• Any weapons can now destroy poison drops.
• Pikoon can now be destroyed by any weapon for better gameplay and let the player focus on switching weapons only for enemies.
• Reduce and rebalance the required resources to perform the various inventory upgrades.

Known Issues

• Some enemies may disappear randomly.
• Drainer commanders will sometime be stuck somewhere. FIX: Save/load to correct the situation
• English voice-over plays even if French is selected.
• Sometimes the battle sound will keep playing after killing all enemies. FIX: Save/Load to fix the music until we fix the bug.
• The soundtrack cuts when Kindra is speaking.
• Materials on the TRX IV are to be redone.
• The game will currently display in full screen only on the native resolution of the screen. Otherwise, it will be displayed in a window.
• Resolutions with an aspect ratio different from 1.77 will result in a distorted display.

Upcoming Update Features

• Complete the level design of Korala and the other available worlds.
• Better and funnier AI with more creature animations.
• Add 10+ new drainers :)
• Improve the map by showing all resources.
• Improved layout and design coherency for the user interface.
• Animate weapons.
• Texture painting on enemies.
• Controller Support (Xbox/Playstation)
• Full options to adjust graphical settings.
• Add Steam Achievements (full suite of 25+)
• Much more.

[ 2022-11-03 15:54:11 CET ] [ Original post ]

New Enhancements

• Introduce a circle damage indicator to know where the enemies are attacking.
• Adjust the player's acceleration to be much faster to make combat easier when strafing.
• Move the first encountering energium resources in the user's main path as it was often missed.
• Add a road to the game's first part for more straightforward navigation. Roads will be added everywhere in the future with better visuals.
• Enhance the Bosboon creature to show where the player's weapon is hitting it.
• Make the Poppox enemy easier to see and introduce new attack and being attack animation.
• Replace the old "shield draining Drainer" with new animated Drainers to understand better what is happening.
• The New Stinger animation is in for world 3 (Mazir). However, AI and new materials still need to be done.

Known Issues

• Some enemies may disappear randomly.
• Drainer commanders will sometime be stuck somewhere. FIX: Save/load to correct the situation
• English voice-over plays even if French is selected.
• Sometimes the battle sound will keep playing after killing all enemies. FIX: Save/Load to fix the music until we fix the bug.
• The soundtrack cuts when Kindra is speaking.
• Materials on the TRX IV are to be redone.
• The game will currently display in full screen only on the native resolution of the screen. Otherwise, it will be displayed in a window.
• Resolutions with an aspect ratio different from 1.77 will result in a distorted display.

Upcoming Update Features

• Complete Korala.
• Update the other available worlds.
• Smarter AI & more creature animations.
• Improve the map by showing all resources.
• Improved layout and design coherency for the user interface.
• Add Steam Achievements (full suite of 25+)
• Controller Support (Xbox/Playstation)
• Full options to adjust graphical settings.
• Much more.

[ 2022-10-25 18:24:05 CET ] [ Original post ]

• Enhance the level design for better exploration
• Add road beacons to help the player know where to go

[ 2022-10-11 13:55:10 CET ] [ Original post ]

New Enhancements

• Add a new resource called Poppoxium that is used for crafting power-ups. Poppox drops 1 Poppoxium when disabled.
• Enhance the Zogan enemy visual and add animations when firing and being hit by a projectile.
• Change the displayed message and voice-over when picking up the Antimatter railgun power-up.
• MegaPox and Spectral vines are now scannable.
• Enhance Birlum enemy moving effect.
• Enhance Bango enemy AI and hit animation.

Fixed Bugs

• Fix multiple voice-overs playing at the same time.
• Fix firing high-speed bullets when selecting the same weapon very quickly.
• Fix no message being displayed if the voice-over volume was set to zero.
• Megapox now tracks the player slowly instead of facing the player instantly.
• In the French version of the game, log 1.5 was missing the code to unlock the Nexus.

Known Issues

• English voice-over plays even if French is selected.
• Sometimes the battle sound will keep playing after killing all enemies. FIX: Save/Load to fix the music until we fix the bug.
• The soundtrack cuts when Kindra is speaking.
• Materials on the TRX IV to be redone.
• The game will currently display in full screen only on the native resolution of the screen. Otherwise, it will be displayed in a window.
• Resolutions with an aspect ratio different from 1.77 will result in a distorted display.

Upcoming Update Features

• Complete Korala.
• Update the other available worlds.
• Smarter AI & more creatures animations.
• Improve the map by showing all resources.
• Improved layout and design coherency for user interface.
• Add Steam Achievements (full suite of 25+)
• Controller Support (Xbox/Playstation)
• Full options to adjust graphical settings.

[ 2022-10-06 17:27:23 CET ] [ Original post ]

Fix material display bug for the panel message.

[ 2022-10-03 12:46:28 CET ] [ Original post ]

It's been almost 2 years now that JP and I have been working on this incredible game. While being only 2 is not easy, we are proud to release a revamped Korala section today that finally starts revealing our vision for Spheriums.
The narrative was rewritten from the ground up. The story will be slowly revealed by reading the logs left by the colonist and Kindra, your AI implant. Important: All voiceovers will be redone to convey more emotions and increase game immersion.

• A brand new Energy blaster weapon with two firing modes; Energy blast and vaporize missile. Use the power-up and unleash the power surge!
• An antimatter railgun with two firing modes; Disintegrator and Antimatter spread. Use the power-up to fire at a blazing speed.
• A new skill tree offers powerful weapon upgrades and more possibilities in upcoming updates.
• A new fabricator to craft power-up and critical machinery components.
• New deadly enemy, the Megapox!
  
• We redid some enemies like the Bosboon, reworked the animation of others, and enhanced the AI.
• We still have a lot of work ahead of us as we now need to complete the rest of Korala, update the three other available worlds, and finish the last two remaining worlds.

Known Issues

• Previous saved games will no longer work as the save format had to change to cope with new featuresan excellent opportunity to replay the revamped section.
• Sometimes the battle sound will keep playing after killing all enemies. FIX: Save/Load to fix the music until we fix the bug.
• The soundtrack cuts when Kindra is speaking.
• Materials on the TRX IV to be redone.
• The game will currently display in full screen only on the native resolution of the screen. Otherwise, it will be displayed in a window.
• Resolutions with an aspect ratio different from 1.77 will result in a distorted display.

Upcoming Update Features

• Complete Korala.
• Update the other available worlds.
• Smarter AI & more creatures animations.
• Improve the map by showing all resources.
• Improved layout and design coherency for user interface.
• Add Steam Achievements (full suite of 25+)
• Controller Support (Xbox/Playstation)
• Full options to adjust graphical settings.

[ 2022-09-26 19:40:06 CET ] [ Original post ]

We've got core changes to Spheriums combat! All primary and secondary weapons fire twice as fast with reduced damage, giving the feeling of more firepower and encouraging a looser and more chaotic combat.
Huge visual changes are starting to appear in World 2 (Meolia) as we change the color palette to a striking green/yellow/orange.
If you had played the game before, we encourage you to replay the first half of the first level and give us your impression of the changes we've made. Don't hesitate to add a review, as it helps us to confirm if we are going in the right direction!

Gameplay, Interface and Visual Enhancements

• Energy Ball Weapon Primary fire is twice as fast, and the secondary mode fires a two-projectile burst to a center target using the player's energy resource.
• Antimatter Weapon - Shells fire twice as fast and no longer require the structonite resource. The secondary mode fires antimatter shells without gravity at 3x he speed of the primary mode using the player's energy resource.
• Psionic Weapon Primary fire orbs fire twice as fast, and the secondary mode is now a close-quarters energy blast (similar to a shotgun) using the player's energy resource. The secondary mode requires close-range but can do 2x damage.
• Weapon Wheel A visual was added at the bottom of the HUD to give the player a better idea of the currently selected gun. The visual is still a work in progress.
• HUD Info Readability - Informative text displayed at the bottom of the HUD now uses a black stroke around the white text to be easier to read.
• Waypoint/Checkpoints - The Obelisk tower for in-world teleportation has been replaced by a large dimension gate Easier to see from far away and recharges the player's shield & energy when upgraded!
• Creature/Enemy Visual Updates Improved the animation of the Birlum creature, and added new facial features to several other creatures.

Known Issues

• Sometimes the battle sound will keep playing after killing all enemies. FIX: Save/Load to fix the music until we fix the bug.
• Materials on the TRX IV to be redone.
• The game will currently display in full screen only on the native resolution of the screen. Otherwise, it will be displayed in a window.
• Resolutions with an aspect ratio different from 1.77 will result in a distorted display.
• Aspects of the skill tree management are missing content- The Energy ball, Psionic Orb, and Antimatter Shell options in the skill tree will be expanded soon!

Upcoming Update Features

• Phase 2 of weapon updates, firing modes, and world interactions.
• Reworking the narrative, Creature Codex, and Journal entries.
• Redoing the first world's tutorials with less text and a better user interface.
• Words 5 and 6 launched and updates to all currently available levels.
• Powerful, engaging upgrades to powers and weapons.
• Smarter AI & more creatures animations.
• Improving every aspect of the in-game Map.
• Enhance gameplay mechanics (resources, scanning, enemy weaknesses)
• Fully developed skill trees.
• Add Steam Achievements (full suite of 25+)
• Improved layout and design coherency for user interface.
• Controller Support (Xbox/Playstation)
• Full options to adjust graphical settings.

[ 2022-08-14 16:54:25 CET ] [ Original post ]

Minor Patch Version 0.90c

Fix the shortcut mapping user interface to support remapping the W/A/S/D control.

[ 2022-07-15 14:12:00 CET ] [ Original post ]

We have entirely changed the game's start as the previous version was confusing for the player on where to go and the first things to do. It is still a work in progress, but the first 10 minutes of the game give a better tutorial on what to do and where to go.

New Enhancements

• Objectives are displayed in reverse order to always show the last objective instead of scrolling often.
• Inform the player how to disable an energy barrier when getting close to it.
• Inform the player how to harvest elastrum from a tree.

Fixed Bugs

• Rework some of the lightings in the outpost on Zeros.
• The objective dialog is displayed over the compass.
• The compass orientation showed the wrong direction when looking to the right or left.

Known Issues

• Sometimes the battle sound will keep playing after killing all enemies. FIX: Save/Load to fix the music until we fix the bug.
• Materials on the TRX IV to be redone.
• The game will currently display in full screen only on the native resolution of the screen. Otherwise, it will be displayed in a window.
• Resolutions with an aspect ratio different from 1.77 will result in a distorted display.
• Aspects of the skill tree management are missing content.

Coming Updates & features

• New levels.
• New weapons, firing modes, interactions.
• Powerful upgrades to powers.
• Better AI & more creatures animations.
• Enhance gameplay mechanic.
• Fully developed skill trees.
• Complete list of Steam Achievements.

[ 2022-07-13 14:26:35 CET ] [ Original post ]

Come try out our game, and chat with the Braintonik developers at the Loto-Qubec Indie Game Zone today until Sunday! The first 500 visitors to the booth will also get a cute, collectible surprise!

So many things have changed since the first release. Please, if you play the latest update, make a review on Steam so we can build an even better game steamhappy

[ 2022-07-08 12:03:00 CET ] [ Original post ]

So many things have changed since the first release. Please, play the latest update and make a review on Steam so we can build an even better game. Here are more details:[ We have been looking for a while to improve the shield mechanic, and today, we are introducing the first phase of the shield enhancement in 3 areas:[

• It was tough to know when the shield was almost depleted, and many times the player was taken by surprise and respawned at the last activated Obelisk without understanding what happened. Therefore, we have drastically improved the feedback when the shield is low so that the player can take evasive action.

• When the shield implant is created, the player automatically gets some shield based on the difficulty level. (Easy 75%, Normal 50%, and Hard 25%) for a better gaming experience.

• After an emergency teleport (manual or automatic), the shield partially refills based on the difficulty level (same value as above), as this prevents the player from starting gathering resources to replenish the shield right away.

More New Features

• Drainer-Commander shields utilization has been harmonized through various types of Drainers.
• Tornadoes are now susceptible to energy balls instead of psionic orbs to limit the psionic usage to the Drainers and their technologies.
• Some objectives wording was changed to limit spoiling some story elements. We will not tell you which ones as it would spoil the surprise ;-)
• New messages were added when activating emitters to increase feedback.
• The energy ball weapon is automatically selected to reduce confusion when unlocking the energy ball implant.

Fixed Bugs

• Turrets now have restricted shooting angle range, preventing them from firing through walls.
• Some objects were missing the capacity to be scanned.
• Some icons in the scanning tab of the journal were updated.
• Shield recharge interrupted by saving/load operation corrected
• Improper resource respawns fixed.

Known Issues

• Sometimes the battle sound will keep playing after killing all enemies. FIX: Save/Load to fix the music until we fix the bug.
• Materials on the TRX IV to be redone.
• The game will currently display in full screen only on the native resolution of the screen. Otherwise, it will be displayed in a window.
• Resolutions with an aspect ratio different from 1.77 will result in a distorted display.
• Aspects of the skill tree management are missing content.

[ 2022-07-06 18:47:29 CET ] [ Original post ]

A major milestone!

Since our most recent game update, we have received a lot of feedback on Spheriums from our incredible community and gameplay testers; we've been hard at work this month developing new and revised game systems we think you'll enjoy!

New Objective System and UI Changes

• Introduced an objective tracking mechanic for clearer in-game goals for player to accomplish.
• Greatly simplified in-game tutorial system.
• Added a compass to the user interface to help the player navigate while in-game.
• Inventory and Map menus are now easier to view.

Your AI companion Kindra has been upgraded to now provide helpful level completion info through new animations and dialogue. We believe this will greatly aid the player in deciding where to go and what to do. The state of each active and completed objective will now be displayed on an easily accessible page in-game. Spheriums' tutorials have been simplified as a result of these changes, and partially integrated into your interactions with Kindra. This has helped with the early-game's flow, and overall player immersion.

Combat Powerup!

• Added unique, alternate firing modes main weapons.
• Weapon range increased by 50%.
• Antimatter Shell bullet-drop reduced by 50%
• Added a shortcut for triggering the right power-up for the equipped weapon for increased responsiveness in combat.

The weapon system has been improved by adding alternate fire options to all of the main weapons, giving the player even more options to fight the Drainers. Energy Blasts and Psionic Orbs, for example, now have a powerful spread-shot which fires three projectiles. The Antimatter Shells, however, can be fired without using up any Structonite resource for a weaker alternate shot! These new firing modes spend your energy bar, so energy management and a clever use of energy powerups is essential for getting the most out of your abilities. Playtesting found it was difficult to perceive when the player was hitting some enemies due to the overall short range of weapons. We've increased weapon range by 50% for all the main weapons and reduced the curved arc on the Antimatter Shell by 50%. Combat feels more responsive with these changes and the Arcos also feels more powerful, especially at higher difficulty levels.

Quality of Life Improvements

• Added more primary resource nodes to the Korala, Meolia, and Mazir levels.
• Primary resource nodes of Structonite, Membranium, and Elastrum throughout the levels now have a faster respawn rate, and all respawn at the same increased speed.
• Doubled the pick-up range for useable items in the levels.

We wanted to reduce downtime spent gathering essential resources and get the player back into the action quickly. To get there we've increased the overall total of these resources nestled into level environments and had all resource nodes new and old respawn their resources at a faster rate. The pick-up range for all objects was also increased to help with game flow, and speeds up resource gathering, and works on many of other objects Arcos interacts with in the levels as well.

Fixed Bugs

• Fixed a message that the inventory is full that displayed when the player tried to pick up some specific items.
• Fixed enemy Drainers' rocket launcher sometimes having the wrong initial firing position.
• Fixed missing collisions in some areas and the cull visibility of big rocks on the Volcano Island of Meolia.
• Fixed lighting issues with the bigger trees on Meolia.
• Fixed a bug where the Etherium sphere could be lost on Meolia when recharging.

Known Issues

• Sometimes the battle sound will keep playing after killing all enemies. FIX: Save/Load to fix the music until we fix the bug.
• Materials on the TRX IV to be redone.
• The game will currently display in full screen only on the native resolution of the screen. Otherwise, it will be displayed in a window.
• Resolutions with an aspect ratio different from 1.77 will result in a distorted display.
• Aspects of the skill tree management are missing content.

[ 2022-06-23 14:27:10 CET ] [ Original post ]

FEATURES

• Add a new Force Field implant.
• Update Mazir world for new laser weapons and Force Field usage.
• Add a new Drainer enemy TRX mk4 - Laser drone station.
• Add a new Drainer enemy TRX mk5 - Laser defender.
• The Tower on Mazir now fires laser instead of bullet projectiles.
• Bango is now firing a bullet projectile at a very high velocity instead of just hitting the player without any visual reference.
• Elastrum respawn rate has been changed from 10 minutes to 8 minutes for a better balance in the gameplay.
• Rename TRX mk1 to TRX mk1 - Protector and TRK mk2 to TRX mk2 - Bomber.

FIXED BUGS

• Add missing collision to TRK-MK2.
• Add missing collisions for many of the foliage in Mazir world.
• The game difficulty text is easier to read in the Options Tab of the Settings section, but the UX is still not completed.
• The difficulty level name in the New Game dialog box is now displayed correctly in the French language.

KNOWN ISSUES

• Materials on the new TRX may be confusing and will be enhanced in an upcoming release.

[ 2022-06-03 10:39:00 CET ] [ Original post ]

FEATURES

• Improve the level design of Korala based on extensive feedback from people playing the game to bring better gameplay, reduce ambiguity and add more challenges.
• Story and hard modes are now available when starting a new game.
• The player can change difficulty level while playing.
• Firing an energy ball will no longer use player energy.
• Enhance the inventory with a much better UI elements to tell what is locked and what upgrade can be unlocked.
• Reduce the energy required to open a Spheriums building.
• Add a message when getting closer to a magnetic object to explain to the player what to do.
• Remove confusion related to creating the CX32 power pack in the inventory.
• Rock teeth on Zeros can now be triggered by firing an energy ball from a distance.

FIXED BUGS

• Bosboon on the last island of Meolia was not working.
• Structonite teeth sometimes damaged the player, even if the player was not close to the creature.

KNOWN ISSUES:

• Changing the difficulty level while playing the game shows a bug in the UI with bad string formatting.
• The difficulty level string appears in English while playing the game in French.

[ 2022-05-25 20:39:39 CET ] [ Original post ]

We are happy to bring another update (V.081) as promised one week after the last major update.

• Major upgrade of Mazir world. (update the level design, add enemies, new puzzles, and more)
• Disable Big Poppox second attack until a new attack scheme is defined for a better gameplay
• Display a message to help the user knows when to upgrade its inventory
• Display a message to remind the user to recharge its shield
• Display a message how to trigger a powerup
• Add some missing items in the scanner

Thank you to our testers and streamers for helping us make a better game.

[ 2022-05-18 18:56:11 CET ] [ Original post ]

The Kickstarter campaign is a huge milestone for us to bring the game to a broader audience. Back us and get exclusive rewards like having your name on a monument in a world! Only one monument per world! Please check out our campaign to get more information.

[ 2022-05-16 23:13:46 CET ] [ Original post ]

An important milestone

Today, we are releasing a major update as many fundamental aspects were changed, like the enemies' AI, quantities, difficulties, resource availability, level design, etc. More details can be found in the 'Features' description. WARNING Unfortunately, despite our best effort, changes in the game were so significant that we could not keep persistence compatibility. Your previous saved games will not work anymore. The game changed so much that you need to start a new game.

FEATURES

• Rework the level design of W1 (Korala) to simplify the player path to reduce long back and forth to solve some puzzles.
• Revamp level design of W2 (Meolia) to enhance the gameplay.
• W1 and W2 have received many changes in terms of enemy placement for better combats and more challenges.
• Revamp is in progress for the level design of W3 (Mazir). You can start playing this world, but expects many changes in the next release, planned for the week of May 16th.
• An updated tutorial on what to do in W1.
• A beam of light is now available to light up the darker area in the different worlds.
• The Apex Mk I and Mk II boss difficulty level and pattern have been enhanced.
• Grass/Rock Pikoon (W1/W2/W3) can now be damaged with an energy ball from a distance.
• Pikoon in W4 (Zeros) reacts with lights based on distance.
• The player energy is back to 100% after emergency teleportation.
• Worm in W3 removes 50% of shield's player instead of 100%.
• Falling in a canyon of W3 now removes only 50% of the shield's player.
• A maximum of 4 power-ups can be kept in the power-up inventory. Use it wisely.
• The respawn time of membranium was changed from 20 minutes to 7 minutes +/- 3 minutes random.
• Update plasmian cocoon behaviors and hit points.
• Update the whole story to understand better what happens to the Spheriums.
• Introduce many new fauna creatures.
• Update all drainers as well as commanders with better AI and difficulty levels.
• Introduce new drainers.
• Complete revamp of the Bosboon.
• Reduction of the Medusa speed significantly when a player was getting closer too.
• Introduction of new drainer buildings.
• Introduction of new drainer weapons; TRX-I, TRX-II, TRX-III.
• Update the user interfaces for the journal, scanning, map, some dialogs, and introduction message dialog.
• Rework of some particle effects
• Changes and enhancement of materials for many enemies, fauna, and in-game items.
• The first phase of optimization for LOD was done on W1 and W2.

FIXED BUGS

• W4 emitters were randomly active.
• Some of the creatures in W4 were stuck in walls or could not easily be found.
• Some enemies were not doing any damage.
• The worm in W3 was coming from rocks in some cases.

KNOWN ISSUES:

• The skill tree needs to be tweaked and will be rebalanced for the next release.
• Some new creatures do not have entries in the scanning journal
• Some creatures in the scanning journal still have their old visuals.

COMING SOON:

• A big update for W3 is currently planned for the week of May 16th.
• A big update for W4 is currently planned for the week of May 23rd.
• A big update for the first release of W5 (Dilara) is planned for the week of May 30th.

[ 2022-05-10 17:12:51 CET ] [ Original post ]

A new update is coming during the week of May 9th. Revamp the level design of world 1, world 2, and world 3. Plus, more enemies, enhanced AI, a new powerup, better balance of the energy and the shield usage, and much more for you to discover. World 4 is the same as the previous build in the upcoming update until we release its revamped version shortly after. World 5 and 6 are under heavy testing in preparation for the official release later this summer.

[ 2022-05-05 21:01:26 CET ] [ Original post ]

We are getting closer to the official release of Spheriums. The development has been quite a challenge for two people, and we want to thank the community for helping us create a better game. This ride would not have been possible without your precious feedback. A new world 5 is under testing, and world 6 will be fantastic as we are already halfway through the design and coding. The current early access build on Steam will probably be the last one before releasing the official version this summer. Furthermore, before we release the official release, we are drastically revamping the previous four worlds with better level design, enhancing the AI on enemies, beefing up the story, and reworking the gameplay to offer a higher challenge with more rewarding moments. This is quite a journey, and we are very excited to get closer to the official release of Spheriums. JP and Nick Braintonik GameStudios

[ 2022-04-05 20:57:58 CET ] [ Original post ]

- Fix the erratic movement rotation speed when using the arrows and the controller.

[ 2022-02-25 15:10:11 CET ] [ Original post ]

- Fix a bug when interacting with some physical objects throwing the players randomly anywhere.

[ 2022-02-22 15:35:14 CET ] [ Original post ]

New features and enhancements

• Brand-new world, called Zeros. A world of eternal darkness!
• Enhanced AI for the Drainer Commander level I & II with different attack phases.
• Enhanced AI of the Tornado to understand better its fighting behavior.
• Enhanced EPEX MK-I and EPEX MK-II enemy behavior.
• New energy ball power-up that fires up to 3 energy balls.
• New psionic orb power-up that fires up to 3 psionic orbs.
• Energy power-up now gives 5 seconds of unlimited energy while replenishing the energy player.
• Shield power-up now gives 5 seconds of invincibility while recharging the shield.
• Updates and enhancement of Korala, Meolia, and Mazir worlds.
• Flashlight support to help navigate in dark areas.
• Firing sounds on turrets.
• New particles effects and new sounds on plasma drone nest.
• Energy recharging station time changed from 10 minutes to 5 minutes after usage.
• Energy balls and antimatter shells no longer have a confusing fading effect if they do not hit a target.
• Support for mouse invert in the user settings.
• Reduce the HUD shield-hit display transparency from 100% to 40% when hit to reduce noise while playing.
• Reduce the attractor capture ball visual effect to 50% less opacity to help see the environment.
• Antimatter shells can now be recharged at any time.
• Drainers movement reduce by 40% to enhance the gameplay during the fighting.
• Play an error sound if an item cannot be dropped.
• Draining crystals will no longer drain player energy when close to them.
• More details were added in the journal for several resources.
• If the player's energy is very low or after running, the player will continue to walk at the normal walking speed.
• Zogan no longer shoots energy-draining balls.

Bug fixes

• Drop resources from inventory had a limited area.
• The number of runes acquired were kept after a new game.
• Levitation was possible without unlocking the levitation Memorium implant.
• Some resources that were not supposed to respawn were respawning, creating a wrong resource balance.
• Add persistence support for the tower on Mazir.
• Add damage from homing turret when hitting the player.
• Fix collisions errors on Korala.
• Phosphoride was not constantly spawning correctly when a Medusa was destroyed.
• Fix wrong player rotation after using the teleporter.

[ 2022-02-18 22:20:19 CET ] [ Original post ]

- Fix small display glitch of resources in the map

[ 2022-01-18 16:08:05 CET ] [ Original post ]

0.63 - The map now shows all scanned items, including resources, runes and other objects. - The Inventory Tab now shows the number of founded Runes (Energy/Shield) and level and progression. - Collecting 5 Energy Runes will now give 10% regeneration speed instead of 5%. - Change from 3sec. to 5sec the time a message is displayed at the bottom of the HUD. - A minor bug with the maximum level of shield possible is fixed. - Fix a few creature names in the scanning user interface. - The navigation interface now supports the French language.

[ 2022-01-18 15:19:42 CET ] [ Original post ]

- CX32 Powerpack must now be created at the Obelisk and not in the inventory

[ 2022-01-05 21:46:10 CET ] [ Original post ]

0.61 - Show a different title for Obelisk Navigation Interface to avoid confusion with the Map information. - Fix the white background in the HUD when a weapon is still locked. - Adjust sound fx volume when unlocking items. - Play an audio cue when the recharging shield was triggered. - Add voice volume control in the Audio Setting section. - Fix the volume music not always appropriately set based on user settings. - Change the powerup paradigm. Picking a powerup will automatically go to a specific powerup slot.

[ 2021-12-20 15:11:47 CET ] [ Original post ]

Spheriums, is a 1st-person adventure game about an energy-based lifeform called Spheriums. As Spheria, you will uncover the elders' old secrets, overtake the many dangerous habitats on dazzling alien worlds and repel the Drainers' your greatest enemies! Spheriums has been in development for a year. Being two developers working on the game, we know that the best ideas come from the communities. We had a few internal beta testers, but we believe it is time to open Spheriums to more users through Early Access. Our approach is to work with the community to help us improve all aspects of the game. We want to enhance the gameplay, the design, to name a few, by fixing issues and exploring new ideas to allow everyone to experience the great game you deserve. About Braintonik Founded by Nicolas Michaud and Jean-Pierre Harvey, Braintonik is an independent game development studio based in Montreal. We are driven by our passion for gaming, artistic creativity, and willingness to deliver fantastic games that will provide you with a thrilling adventure.

[ 2021-12-13 21:11:32 CET ] [ Original post ]