This month marks the end of the rework phase since the new demo release and post-mortem. Ive watched around 50 playthrough videos from demo players to paid playtesters to really pin down the few elements that still werent clicking. Ive implemented most of those fixes in the game, and some are still WIP but will be added as level design progresses. I reckon Im about 2 months behind now overall, but Im not too worried if it means delivering a better experience within the same scope I promised at the start.

Lets dive into the main changes for Paper Sky (June Edition):

[img src="https://clan.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/images/44786142/de9babfbfb491b566affc56fda8c6e888ca17491.png"][/img]

New Message System

One major issue with the demos message system was the freeform writing, which unfortunately opened the door for offensive content. I initially believed the number of people whod abuse it would be negligible, spoiler: I was wrong. Nearly 5% of demo players wrote "bad" messages, even using alternate alphabets to bypass the filter.

The new system I came up with this month makes players find and unlock words from messages left by others. Words now have powers and stats that carry through people's journeys. The more words appear in messages, the more maneuverability and abilities it grants for your paper plane. This means I am binning the "tech tree" ability system and make it more simple and modular.

This eliminates the risk of offensive messages entirely. Ill also be working with professional translators to reward coherent or funny messages with gameplay bonuses. For instance if your message makes sense like a cheering up message would be, then you have more boosts etc...

Fauna & NPCs

[img src="https://clan.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/images/44786142/36e8deb97566471af47c175b6c2d8b216ef81c21.png"][/img]

Some words can only be unlocked by visiting specific animals and NPCs. These unique words are fixed across playthroughs, helping players target specific upgrades and plan their builds more easily.

Boost Re(Re)Worked

[img src="https://clan.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/images/44786142/77d911a6c65fec077b3f1b55b45db4ccbf221b7d.png"][/img]

From all the playthroughs, one thing was clear: the stepped boost system wasnt as intuitive as I thought. Instead of refining the tutorial, I decided to change the system entirely.

Boost now works with a traditional boost meter: as long as you have energy, you can boost; essentially entering a free-flying state. Energy regenerates by flying close to surfaces or doing acrobatic moves (like entering wall holes), which already reward players with a significant boost.

Also, I heard feedback about the plane feeling too floppy compared to real paper. Ill be improving the shader for that. Its tricky to fully capture paper physics with just math, but Ill get closer.

World Checkpoints

A major missing feature was landmarksnatural goals to help players navigate the world. Now, these huge landmarks will combine upgrades, messages, and checkpoints in one. Theyll be visible from far away and let you:

• Save/load progress

• Teleport via the world map (once discovered)

• Upgrade or fold a new plane

• Edit your message

Skins and unlockable planes will be tied to in-game achievements, which also sync with Steam achievements for PC and Steam Deck players.

Thats it for this month. Sorry for the lack of visuals; last month was packed with work.

I hope you have a nice week, and see you all next month.

[ 2025-07-08 17:26:57 CET ] [ Original post ]

We're in June already?? Alright here's what happened in May:

New Trailer

Like I said last week, Paper Sky was part of the AG French Direct show, a celebration of French devs. Lots of neat games in there, I highly recommend giving them a look!

Heres the Paper Sky trailer that was showcased: [dynamiclink href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WfCnBpXJE0"][/dynamiclink]

New Steam Page

The Steam page got a new look and better description of what to expect from the game

[img src="https://clan.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/images/44786142/47a548d70b5668367cc7b2d2e4a32e61ddafffac.png"][/img]

[img src="https://clan.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/images/44786142/65f531f1953dc9b53adffaec8e413b08fc7de644.png"][/img]

If you want to see for yourself: [dynamiclink href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/1617230/Paper_Sky/"][/dynamiclink]

New Visuals

With the new Steam page came new visuals that better reflect the work done on Paper Sky. Here are the major new ones:

[img src="https://clan.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/images/44786142/543098e169e466d7adfba2fc53df38802dcff0d9.png"][/img]

[img src="https://clan.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/images/44786142/3caca756951ae5a494a3bdeea48d6111d7d3cd18.png"][/img]

[img src="https://clan.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/images/44786142/80ab9838e01e563d783e46d43d089a22b898f5dd.png"][/img]

[img src="https://clan.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/images/44786142/876dd0b244b23d400d0ea42f1717632309c38808.png"][/img]

[img src="https://clan.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/images/44786142/27523a8a95ef528a46876e7b943ca3794e2ae86b.png"][/img]

[img src="https://clan.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/images/44786142/884cb79d39c289132a142dc2273ed31d184b7a64.png"][/img]

[img src="https://clan.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/images/44786142/4ca2e7306fea7296f937180b7628fbfc36cc9e84.png"][/img]

Beta Playtest Reward

Beta keys should roll out very soon (planned for this month).

The first round of testing will focus on GPU performance across each world and their respective unique art styles, giving testers a sneak peek at some worlds I havent shown yet!

After that, testers will try out the Boss fights to help tune their difficulty.

This is it for May, I had a rough month with some hardware issues, version control bugs, and I got a random cold. Let's say the work environment wasn't ideal. But hey; keep on keeping on!

[ 2025-06-09 14:21:54 CET ] [ Original post ]

Alright, it's been a month since the new demo launchedtime to share what Ive learned and whats changing in Paper Sky.

Warning: Wall of Text Incoming

Demo Post-Mortem

Let's begin from the top, the release of the new demo was a success overall, over 40,000 players completed the demo, and I'm seeing 500800 new players weekly, passively generating wishlists. That gave me some space to step back from content creation (as I mentioned last month) and focus on business and upcoming events. Still, I cant get too comfortable. While the numbers exceeded my expectations, I want to stay true to the original vision for Paper Sky.

The Positive Feedbacks

Heres what players liked most:

• Fun Gameplay
• Fluid experience
• Great sense of speed
• Delivers on the pitch
• Beautiful graphics
• Very well optimized for its content

The Negative Feedbacks

• Confusing controls (keyboard/mouse)
• Too short
• Not enough incentive to explore or collect
• Minor bugs (see Steam forums)
• Sparse options menu
• Harder than the previous demo (about 10% of players, based on Kickstarter feedbacks)
• Offensive content in online messages
• Steam page visuals could use a refresh

At a Crossroads

The demo was meant to be a proof of concept, even if some features were missing. But feedback made it clear: Paper Sky needs to evolve a bit. Im considering changes to the core gameplay, which would extend dev time by a few months. (This wont affect asset creation or visuals)

What I want to change

Player feedback is valuablebut its often silent. I need to keep steering toward the game I want to make, not just vocal player feedbacks (good and bad). Here's what I'm planning:

• Online messages: No more free-form input. Players will choose from curated word sets (Dark Souls kind of messaging). I hate to do this, but too many messages were offensive. Im exploring a system where words you choose reflect how you upgrade your planewords will have power.
• Options menu overhaul: Full redesign with V-sync, remappable controls, and accessibility settings.
• New trailer and Steam page assets, including translations.
• Fix Plane-to-Ball transformation to prevent clipping.
• Major gamefeel shift: The current level design leans too much into platforming. Most players expected a chill, floaty experience with bursts of challengenot constant uphill struggle. Future levels will be larger, more open, and downhill, with generous air currents and more space to flow. Early game = chill and contemplative. Later game = faster and more skill-based. This should also ease difficulty complaints and better match expectations.

A new trailer drops next month along with some platform announcements. Ill also share visual progress on other worlds.

Wall of text oversee you next month!

[ 2025-05-05 17:12:57 CET ] [ Original post ]

Late again, but this time Ive got a solid excuse: I spent 72 hours in a game jam and also released the new Paper Sky demo. Alright let's dive in:

Demo Release Recap

The new demo has been out for two weeks, and the feedback has been amazing. Ive fine-tuned a lot of game mechanics, and Im really proud of how the demo represents the final project better than the previous one. Its reached over 15k players in that short time, which means Ive been reading a ton of new messages from the Paper Sky world. There will be another demo update before the full release of Paper Sky, featuring all the mechanics Ive mentioned in previous updates: more challenges, fauna, NPCs, a world map, and the complete gameplay loop of at least one world (the current demo only covers half of it). https://store.steampowered.com/app/1617230/Paper_Sky/

Mac Port

Good news for Apple users! The Mac port is up and running smoothly, so I can confirm itll be available at launch alongside the PC/Linux versions.

Hollowspire

Not directly related to Paper Sky, but I wanted to share everything Im working on. Over the past few years, Ive participated in 10+ game jams. This weekend, I did one called Hollowspirea fun, clicker-inspired game where you dig deeper and deeper until you can ascend. Its highly addictive and easy for anyone to play. It was a nice change of pace from Paper Sky with different art style, different mechanics. Give it a try here: https://ldjam.com/events/ludum-dare/57/hollowspire

What now?

The past few months have been intense between the game show, the new demo, and the sleep-deprived game jam. Im feeling the need for a brief pause (less than a month) to avoid burnout. Dont worry, Ill still be working on Paper Sky, but itll mostly be administrative stuff that Ive been putting off and cleaning the project work process. The next update will likely be light or a bit empty, but Ill be back to full speed in May.

[ 2025-04-09 11:12:58 CET ] [ Original post ]

This isn't an April fools joke I swear!

Paper Sky demo is now available on Macplus, it's optimized enough to run on a baked potato on all platforms! This update brings 3 new quality settings. "High" is the intended experience, while the others are for extreme stuttering cases. The "Potato" setting ensures the game runs on virtually any low-end hardware from the past 15 years. Enjoy the demo!

[ 2025-04-01 15:45:09 CET ] [ Original post ]

Hey people! The new demo is here!

Play it here:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1617230/Paper_Sky/ Available for PC/Linux

What's new?

• New Level Design
• New visual art style
• New flight controls
• Upgrade mechanics
• Boost mechanics
• Huge optimization pass
• New online messaging system

Lots of good stuff and more. Feel free to let me know what you thought about the new demo either here, on the steam forums or on the discord! The mac version is coming in the coming days. I have so much to share, but Im saving it for the March updatesee you soon!

Roadmap

Hey would you look at that, right on time. Crushing the deadlines

[ 2025-03-21 18:38:13 CET ] [ Original post ]

Hey people!

The new demo is almost here! Huge progress has been made, and exciting opportunities are ahead. Lets dive in:

New Gameplay Tease

I couldnt fit the full GIF here, so check out my Twitter for higher-quality videos and (almost) daily updates: https://x.com/BruteForceGame/status/1894064670505418967 Almost all planned features for the demo are in, except NPCs and a secret animal interaction mechanic that lets you blend into the worlds fauna and "evolve". The GIF shows a track challenge where you pass through gates to unlock rewards. These gates also provide a natural environmental boost for relaxed exploration.

Paper Sky at the Future Game Show

Paper Sky will be featured in a demo showcase at the Future Game Show on March 20, 2025a great chance to introduce more players to the paper plane concept and gather fresh feedbacks!

New Demo Release Date & Info

The new demo update will launch on Steam on March 20, alongside the show. This update introduces a second part with progression and environment interactions. A major change is the flight control scheme, refined based on feedback to offer the best experienceno more difficulty selection! The demos beginning remains mostly unchanged, aside from bug fixes and level design tweaks. See you for the new demo release and thanks for the support! doggo

[ 2025-03-21 18:28:49 CET ] [ Original post ]

Hey everyone! Let's dive in January's update

Multi-Stepped Boost Mechanics

After lots of testing, Ive refined the boost mechanics. While last months version looked cool, it didnt feel quite right and let players bypass too much of the games challenge. The new boost system is inspired by Abzif you time your inputs right, you can chain boosts for longer distances. Im still deciding if missed inputs should have negative consequences, but for now (and in the upcoming demo), it wont. I'll tweak this based on how it fits with level design. Speaking of level design;

Cloth Simulation & Rewards

Ive added cloth simulations to help you glide across vast aerial sections and to highlight where other players' messages are hidden. These notes give you upgrade points when found. Look for the red drapings! And dont worry if you miss anytheyll be marked on your map, with progress tracking for all the completionists out there (myself included!).

Story Finished

Now we're entering in a spoiler and weird territory, much like my precedent game when I was in that period of development there are some things I do not wish to discuss simply because it would spoil a great majority of the game's narrative and game experience. So without diving into spoilers, Ive wrapped up the core narrative of Paper Sky. Its not a direct story with characters or dialogue but an underlying thread that ties the universe together and gives meaning to your journey.

Almost in Steams Top 1000!

Were close to breaking into the top 1000 most wishlisted games on Steam! Its incredible to see so many people excited about Paper Sky, trying out the demo, and giving valuable feedback. This support is helping shape the game into something truly special.

Development Progress

Ive got three worlds left to draft art-wise, and things are moving steadily. The prologue I planned for March will now be an update to the current Steam demo, thanks to recent changes in how Steam handles demos compared to prologues. While I missed the chance to release it as a separate prologue and benefit from the Steam changes (because they did the changes right after I released the demo ), the game's media traction and your support mean I dont need to chase visibility as much, so I'm not too bummed about it. Im aiming to release this updated demo in the coming weeks, but it may land around the March milestone. Thats it for this monthback to polishing the demo! Thanks for being part of this journey.

[ 2025-03-21 18:24:08 CET ] [ Original post ]

Heres a quick look at what Ive been working on for Paper Sky this December:

New Grass

Let's start with the coolest one, Ive added another layer of detail to the grass in the demo, which looks amazing when flying over it at high speed.

Skybox Rework

The old skybox (that we all agreed wasnt great) is gone! Its been replaced with a new dynamic skybox that blends beautifully with the world. It aligns more closely with the concept art. Check out the before/after comparison and how it integrates into the game:

Shadow improvements

Shadows now look softer, reducing aliasing and improving overall stability. Plus, Ive got some cool environmental color bleed effects for added style!
The shadows will appear more soft which will prevent aliasing and streaming bitrate going down.

New Gif

Grass now reacts dynamically to the players wind displacement, and Ive added patches of white flowers to guide you through denser areas.

Update Details

Progress has been slower than Id hoped, but for good reason: Ive been reworking assets to be compatible across all worlds in Paper Sky. This will speed up development moving forward. Heres whats left before the new demo can drop: Last town assets: A key city hub essential to the demo (yet to be revealed). Interactive map: A fast-travel system that doubles as a pop-up art book, complete with guidance and secret-hunting features. Upgrade/customization menu: Still tweaking it to make sure its perfect! Im aiming to release the updated demo in January. Thanks for your patienceIm excited to keep building the world of Paper Sky! Cheers!

[ 2025-03-21 18:23:20 CET ] [ Original post ]

Hey everyone! As we near the end of the year, its time to recap all the exciting progress made on Paper Sky this past month. Lets dive in!

New Art Assets

Ive made big progress in the new art style and assets, especially for the demo world and areas beyond the demo playthrough. And yes, Twitter can now officially stop commenting on how orange the buildings are! The demo environment is shaping up beautifully, and you can catch a sneak peek in the background of the pic. Ill reveal the full map once the demo is ready!

CNC Funding Recap

If you didn't see the special announcement last month, The CNC has granted 45,000 (roughly $48,000) to Paper Sky. The CNC (Centre National du Cinma et de l'image anime) is a French Ministry of Culture agency dedicated to supporting cinematic and audiovisual arts, including video-games.

Full Scope

Ive been refining what the Paper Sky experience is meant to feel like. At its core, the gameplay revolves around Movement and Exploration. I want players to feel the natural flow of the world without frustration. Upgrades will be tied directly to gameplay and exploration: Earn upgrade points by finding messages left by other players. Unlock upgrade slots by achieving feats within each world, like flying long distances without touching the ground, reaching high speeds, or pulling off daring stunts for style points. This system means every playstyle is rewarded: whether you prefer to chill and explore, or tackle challenges head-on, youll have a fulfilling experience. I will soon work on the clear visuals for that upgrade feature, the main thing to takeaway from it is that you'll be able to customize your experience based on the actions in the game, if you want to upgrade the ball more than the plane you will be able to do so. Another key feature is the world map, which will show your location and allow fast travel between worldsbut not within them. This preserves the sense of journey and discovery in every environment.

New Demo release date

Originally, the new demo was set for the end of November, but plans have shifted. Steam recently updated how prologues and demos are featured on their homepage, so Ive decided to aim for a 30th December release. This change gives me time to pack in more content and polish, including some final-stage features. I want to start 2025 on a good note and get early feedback on all the finished, polished mechanics. Thanks for your patience!

TikTok viral video

One of my Paper Sky TikTok videos hit 1.3M views in just a week! More and more people are discovering this project, which feels surreal. Its also a great reminder of how much has been accomplished over the past year. I cant wait to see what 2025 holds!

Doggo Surprise Pic

Doggo got a bath

[ 2024-12-02 19:42:02 CET ] [ Original post ]

Hey everyone, special surprise announcement today! Im thrilled to share that Paper Sky will be receiving financial support from the CNC!

What is the CNC?

The CNC (Centre National du Cinma et de l'image anime) is a French Ministry of Culture agency dedicated to supporting cinematic and audiovisual arts, including video-games. Their mission includes offering financial aid to outstanding artistic and video-game projects; and Im incredibly honored that Paper Sky has been recognized as one of them.

What does this mean for the project?

While this doesnt change the core plans of the game, it makes everything easier for me as a solo developer. During my last project, Crumble, I often found myself worrying over; Will the game sell well?, Will I have the resources to make another game?, Am I making a mistake somewhere? With the CNCs support, many of these concerns are now behind me. Heres what this means for Paper Sky:

• The CNC has granted 45,000 (roughly $48,000) exclusively for the project
• I am now 100% confident the game will have enough funding to reach completion, including handling any potential delays
• I wont need to depend on Paper Skys future sales to start my next project
• Development and marketing are significantly less stressful, allowing me to focus on making the best game I can
• A detailed development roadmap and comprehensive game design document are now fully in place, ensuring every planned feature is accounted for
• Some features that I wasn't sure I would have enough time and resources to implement will be implemented, this includes the progression system with skill points, an underwater world and many more secrets
• The soundtrack will now receive extra care and attention, with more features to make it truly stand out
• Im now committed to releasing Paper Sky on PC, Mac, Linux, and the Nintendo Switch!
• Due to the project financial viability, Paper Sky will be more tailored for the people who've been following and supporting the project instead of aiming for mass-market appeal

A word of gratitude

As a solo developer, this combination of Kickstarter funding and public support is what makes creating games like Paper Sky possible. I am deeply thankful to the CNC commission for this incredible opportunity. You can check out the official public release of the CNC commission results here: https://www.cnc.fr/professionnels/aides-et-financements/resultats-commissions/fonds-daide-au-jeu-video-fajv--resultats-de-la-commission-du-26-septembre-2024_2294001 (Warning: A lot of french words) In next months update, I hope to share the new demo with you, featuring completely overhauled mechanics and a brand new look of the town world. Thank you so much for your support and enthusiasm. See you in the next update!

[ 2024-11-16 12:41:36 CET ] [ Original post ]

Another Month, Another Paper Sky Update! Were back with another update on Paper Sky! Heres whats new:

Quick Updates

The big announcement is still in the works, but Ive shared a sneak peek in an unofficial post on the project Discord! The new demo release is delayed slightly due to some exciting features Im adding, including a redesigned upgrade menu. This extra work wont affect the final release date, as these features were always planned.

Boost Reworked

Ive finalized the visuals for the updated boost mechanic. Now, recharging your boost charges happens by flying fast and close to the environment; essentially rewarding "cool" and risky maneuvers. This setup reinforces a sense of flow, encouraging you to stay airborne as long as possible. To guide you, red trails will mark the main route for progression, and flying near them will naturally boost your speed and recharge your boost charges. I cant wait to hear your thoughts on this feature once you try it out.

Upgrade Menu

The upgrade menu has been revamped to feel more interactive and engaging. Now, when you open it, a popup book unfolds, letting you turn pages to select and upgrade different paper transformations. Each page is like a mini diorama of the model youre customizing. Upgrade points are represented by messages left by other players that you find on your journey. I hope this visual approach makes customizing your plane even more fun, the visual here is still very rough.

Optimization Pass

I know the first demo was a bit sluggish on the Steam Deck, though it mostly ran well on PCs. Ive optimized the lighting model, and the game now runs consistently on the Steam Deck. Moving forward, the Steam Deck will be the primary benchmark for optimizationso if your hardware outperforms a Steam Deck, youll have no issues running the game at high settings. However, theres one world in the game that uses a different render pipeline and incorporates ray tracing. This area may still be demanding on certain graphics cards, so Ill be working closely with beta testers to make sure its accessible for as many players as possible after the new demo is out. Im still exploring ways to make clouds interactive for players. If the current shader approach doesnt work out, it wont be a big loss, but Ill keep you updated! What I'm working on in November? Im focusing on filling out and polishing the art assets for the third world, which will be featured in the upcoming demo. Once thats complete, the new demo will be released for you to enjoy. Thats all for nowsee you in the next update, or for the big announcement (hopefully soon )!

[ 2024-11-16 12:26:18 CET ] [ Original post ]

Time is flying by faster than a paper plane! I could have sworn September just started last week. Anyway, Im thrilled to bring you some exciting Paper Sky updates for September.

New Demo

The new demo is almost here! I've reworked every gameplay mechanic and introduced a few new ones, all based on the feedback I received from the first pre-alpha demo featured during the Kickstarter launch.
What you're seeing is a still from the current blocking phase of the demo's playground, which is intended to represent the final gameplay and serve as a sample of the full game. It will feature everything the main game offers: an upgrade menu, different paper transformations, optional environment-based quests, and a brand-new messaging system. The goal of the demo is to allow players to freely explore the world while progressing through the story and challenging their flying skills. After some internal testing using this new game design workflow and prototype blocks, I found that the new demo is four times bigger than the old one. Players also tend to spend more quality time exploring areas of interest and relaxing in the natural, chill flying zones. Each world, except the first and last, will follow this main progression cycle:

• Discover a new world
• Freely explore a playground filled with small challenges (both explicit and hidden) and secrets
• Progress the worlds story
• Complete a speed/fun phase
• Face a custom-scripted, large event
• Then, repeat!

Camera Tilt

One day, someone asked, "Hey, why isnt there any camera tilt when turning the plane at high speeds?" It hadnt even occurred to me until then, so I decided to test it outand it works great! So now, camera tilt is officially part of the game.

Water Gameplay

One thing that bugged me about the first demo, which was a bit rushed for the Kickstarter, was the lack of time to polish and add water interactivity. This month, Ive been hard at work on a detailed, wave-based ocean. It will act as both a failing state when you go too far and a fun feature to surf across at high speeds. What youre seeing is still a work in progress, and its missing the water trail effect that the player will create. Of course, this is the intended gameplay before you unlock the boat transformation and the ability to go underwater.

Major Announcement

And now, for the most exciting news since the Kickstarter launch! After months of behind-the-scenes work, Ive been contacted with some fantastic news. Although it hasnt been officially approved yet, Im posting this Kickstarter update as late as possible this Monday, hoping I can share it here. If I cant make the announcement this month, dont worry! Ill make a special update on all social media channels and on Kickstarter to let you know as soon as possible! All right this is it for me, so much good news in the future I am very excited!

[ 2024-11-16 12:21:32 CET ] [ Original post ]

Hey guys! Welcome to the third monthly update, recapping all the progress made in August. Another month, another update! So, lets dive in and take a look at what I accomplished last month on Paper Sky.

Moebius-Inspired World

I dedicated most of August to completing the shaders for the Moebius-inspired world. This will be a challenging, desert-like environment filled with buried secrets and rocky towns.

New Online Message System

After releasing the open beta demo for Paper Sky, one of my main concerns was managing the online messages with a live upvote system. Im happy to announce that I've finally completed a new framework to address this. It will allow me to easily monitor and control whats being shared in the world. Previously, messages in the demo world could only be updated when players logged in and out, but now, theyll be updated live and regularly without any input needed. This marks the near-final state of the messaging system backend.
Your messages will now be permanently carried on your paper plane, so whatever you write will always be there to encourage you!

Upgrade System Showcase

Still WIP but you get the point You earn points by discovering player messages in the world, whether theyre hidden or part of a quest reward. You can then spend those points on various paper forms (plane, ball, boat, etc.), which will enhance your mobility and speed on your journey. Thats all for this months progress! Ill soon need beta testers to help populate the new messaging system and stress-test it along with the new movement mechanics I mentioned last month. Also, theres a possibility of some exciting news for Paper Skys development next month. If I dont mention it in the next update, it probably didnt pan out, but Im keeping my fingers crossed! Thats enough from me for now. Ill be more active on social media as I dive back into art asset creation. Alright, see you soon.

[ 2024-11-16 10:21:24 CET ] [ Original post ]

Hey guys! Welcome to the second monthly update, recapping July's progress.

I've got some exciting new mechanics and features to discuss. Ive been hard at work refining and expanding the project's base architecture to ensure it's solid and easily scalable for future growth.

Boost Mechanic

I've implemented one of the most requested features from the demo: the boost mechanic. This addition enhances level traversal and adds depth to player movement. The boost will be unlockable and upgradable, which leads us to the next topic, content expansion! I've also reworked the "Speedlines" effect and it will now distort the edge of the camera at extreme speed giving a better sense of speed.

Content Expansion

To increase environment interactivity and enhance player movement without introducing entirely new features or complex designs, Ive come up with a solution. Players will be able to upgrade and customize their paper plane using messages found throughout the world. This means that players who finish the game and leave a message will directly help others progress. This system encourages exploration and creative approaches to movement-based gameplay. Youll have the choice of upgrade paths, allowing you to enhance any aspect of your paper character, including the plane, the ball, the boat, and more. Youll be able to decide whether to increase your roll speed or your aerial distance capabilities etc...

Steam Deck

Great news! I just received my Steam Deck and will use it to benchmark Paper Skys general optimization. The Steam Deck was the last piece of hardware needed for my desired platform porting list. With my experience from developing for the Nintendo Switch, Im confident in shipping all platforms simultaneously. See you next month!

[ 2024-11-16 10:05:58 CET ] [ Original post ]

Hey There! Welcome to the first of our monthly updates, recapping June's progress. Expect these updates every first Monday of the month. I've been refining the game concept based on demo feedback, leading to some great new ideas and a clearer project vision.

Forbes

Forbes wrote a nice indie game article and included Paper Sky into the mix, it was a welcoming surprise to see my name and Forbes in the same sentence:

Art Levels

I've streamlined the art levels and condensed them into 12 different art worlds that will be all seamlessly integrated to the experience.

New Aerial controls

Alright, let's dive into the most exciting part of the update. After compiling demo feedback from the past months, I decided to simplify the aerial controls, which were a major hindrance to players. The old "intuitive mode" allowed you to aim at a destination for the plane, but the latency made navigating tight spaces impossible. The "realistic mode" rotated the roll of the plane instead of its yaw, making it difficult for most players to master. The new controls, which are consistent for both mouse and controllers, are similar to the game "Superflight." Moving the mouse sideways now directs the plane the same way. This new system is easy to grasp and very precise, rendering the old controls obsolete. These new controls will be included in the upcoming demo update!

New Demo Update

The final demo update before beta access will feature the new control scheme, optimizations, Mac support, better Steam Deck support, and additional content. See below for more details:

Upgrade Mechanics and Online Messages

So you're already familiar with the messaging system allowing you to write a personal message and leaving it in the Paper Sky world for others to find; Well I want to expand on that and make it really interesting gameplay-wise. Finding player messages now grants upgrade points for enhancing your paper plane's abilities. Upgrade points can be spent in a dedicated menu, allowing for customization and improved gameplay, upgrade special power moves such as the Boost (which will be featured in the upcoming demo update). Already discovered message locations will not grant you another upgrade point. The upgrade points can be spent inside a dedicated paper menu that is also the place where you will be able to fold and customize your paper plane. What can be upgraded include every shapes you can take, meaning if you want to upgrade your paper ball for more precision platforming or if you want to upgrade your paper plane for more speed you can do that freely. Let me know what you think of this decision? I believe it greatly complements the existing mechanics and incentivizes players to seek out world messages, enhancing the value of your own.

Wishlist Graph

Paper Sky is now performing 10 times better than my last title in terms of wishlists, and I hope to release Paper sky with at least 85k wishlists, this would ensure the game does well upon release and this would help the game's future tremendously.

Steam Deck

I've been updating the Steam Deck build of Paper Sky Demo and it now works beautifully. I will be getting myself a Steam Deck so I can further support the hardware and make sure it runs well (I will be using the Steam Deck as a FPS benchmark) My main goal is to support as many hardwares and controllers as possible, starting with the same hardwares I developed my last game Crumble on.

That's it for now! Stay tuned for a special Steam Update and Discord notifications about the new demo update. See you next month!

[ 2024-07-02 07:13:53 CET ] [ Original post ]

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/bruteforce/paper-sky

Paper Sky is successfully funded!

With 668 Backers for a total of 37,523 Paper Sky is now successfully funded thanks to all of you

The project has reached its goal and is now guaranteed to be released, thanks to you! From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU!

What's next?

I will keep you updated on Paper Skys development with monthly Kickstarter updates, starting at the end of June. Thank you for all the supportfrom a simple retweet to small and large contributions.

Follow the development

[ 2024-05-27 16:19:41 CET ] [ Original post ]

Paper Sky is now 90% funded, and on its way to full funding in 3 days!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/bruteforce/paper-sky

Please consider supporting the project to make it a reality, you can pledge the minimum amount to get the game at a 5$/ discount, or pledge a bit more to get a copy of my previous game crumble

New gameplay footage

Wishlist Update

Almost reaching 20k wishlists in 5 months!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1617230/Paper_Sky/

It's a boy!

During the weekend one of our dog had a little baby dog It's a boy, weighing 160g. We named him Viking because he's a warrior, just like his father, King. It's been a rough week managing this alongside the Kickstarter campaign, but I'm glad to have the end in sight. I'm humbled by all the support you guys have shown in the comments, on Discord, Twitter, Reddit, in the game world, and through my emails.

THANK YOU!

I hope to see Paper Sky fly

Links

[ 2024-05-20 15:38:29 CET ] [ Original post ]

Special announcement from the Kickstarter campaign: Paper Sky is now half-way funded!

Huge thanks to all of you for believing in me and my project! I could not be doing this without your support.

1 year of gamedev

[previewyoutube=bf-N7L4K1AE;full][/previewyoutube]

I made this special video to celebrate the 1 year of developing this game. I actually started working on this game 3 years ago after my last project released.

New Windows & Linux demo build

I've updated the Paper Sky Demo with new optimization features, now pretty much anybody can play the demo without performance issues! I fixed the Linux build that previously had some graphical issues, now it's working perfectly. You may want to switch the graphics API to Vulkan when playing it on your linux machine or on the Steam Deck by using this executable command: "-force-vulkan"

[ 2024-05-07 07:39:24 CET ] [ Original post ]

Hey there, special announcement for the Kickstarter campaign, we just hit our first milestone of 25% funded in just 3 days!

Kickstarter Page

Community

The community of Paper Sky is growing and the game is getting a lot of attentions on social medias and journalist blogs -GamingOnLinux https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2024/04/semi-open-world-paper-plane-adventure-paper-sky-coming-to-linux-and-steam-deck/ By far my favorite game journalist and news reporter, I highly recommend following his stuff on Twitter, it's highly curated and very detailed stuff. The creator also used to help me setup the linux build of my previous game Crumble. So this guy is as real as it gets -IGN Japan https://jp.ign.com/games/74305/news/paper-sky Huge plug there, couldn't really understand what was said but I hope it's good stuff! -RockPaperShotgun https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/paper-sky-is-a-joyful-flight-sim-for-people-who-suck-at-flight-sims-and-theres-a-demo-out-now They linked the Kickstarter, the steam page, the youtube video and even one similar game that had a successful launch here and a very similar fund goal : Exo One! -80Lv https://80.lv/articles/stylized-adventure-game-where-you-play-as-a-paper-plane/

Wishlists

Paper Sky just passed the 15k wishlists mark in only 4 months, the demo has been played by over 5,000 people, there are a tons of messages populating the world. If you haven't played the demo yet here's the link: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1617230/Paper_Sky/

Top Messages left by players

Links

Yoo thank you everyone for following my journey and participating, supporting, playing, commenting, and reading! This is the most important thing for a solo-dev. Love you all

[ 2024-04-28 14:49:16 CET ] [ Original post ]

It's my pleasure to let you know that Paper Sky Kickstarter campaign is now live, you can start making your pledge and be part of the project! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/bruteforce/paper-sky

That's not all, you can also play the Paper Sky early demo on Steam:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1617230/Paper_Sky/ Please let me know what you thought about the demo experience, your hopes and dreams for the game.

[ 2024-04-24 15:08:06 CET ] [ Original post ]

I am thrilled to announce the launch of Paper Sky Kickstarter campaign!

As I'm gearing up to launch the Kickstarter project you can follow the page and get notified when the campaign is live here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/bruteforce/paper-sky

Embarking on this crucial step of Paper Sky's journey is not just a pivotal moment for the gameit's a defining chapter for me. With my experience making my first game Crumble and 8 years of thinking about how to bring this ambitious game to life I am confident that with your help I can bring my dream to life. The development so far has been self-funded with the Crumble money and the assets sales and now is the time to bring Paper Sky to full development and get it launched! To do this I need the additional resources that crowdfunding is made for, but more importantly I want to build a community full of people who love what I'm doing and want to support me! Let's fold this paper plane together!

[ 2024-01-23 16:49:44 CET ] [ Original post ]