-Initial Steam Deck compatibility (Steam Deck supose to run smoothly with 60 FPS on every scene. I just need now to make sure that everything works fine and ask steam for approval) -FPS leak fixed (In gameroom some people had half frames that usual. It was FPS leak that was 100% my mistek with previous commit) -Initial Steam Friends Leaderboard (Your friend has to enter the game to update his leaderboard. In near future i'll also add global leaderboard. Not only friends one)
It's not final layout but concept. However it works and gather your friends highscore.

[ 2025-01-31 13:02:39 CET ] [ Original post ]

- new map variant obstacle location fixed - Going off-track is slightly less punishing - Side car collision is much smoother Before:
Now:
- Teleport tutorial fix (wrong inputs were displayed). Also added Tutorial section in "How to play" window.
- Disconnecting controller when the game is finished, doesn't bug the game anymore.

[ 2025-01-28 11:55:52 CET ] [ Original post ]

- The Jump Perk now has a 7-second cooldown instead of 5 seconds. - A map variant with a black hole in one area previously caused the score lose. This issue has been fixed. - Missing colliders have been added to various environmental elements. - I modified one map variant by replacing a ramp with an angled version. Im currently testing new possibilities with this angled ramps.
- The collision colliders for the Car Miata have been fixed.

[ 2025-01-26 18:18:19 CET ] [ Original post ]

Hello Night Drivers!

Its been a week since the launch of Midnight Racer. I am incredibly grateful for every purchase, your trust, bug reports, and the positive reviews! Id like to summarize this first week so you can stay informed about the project whats happening, whats changed, and whats next.

What went well?

• The number of major bugs was small. Only one critical bug that blocked a track was reported, and it was patched within a few hours.
• The overall reception of the game has been positive! Thank you so much for this.
• Performance has remained at a very high level. The game runs smoothly even on lower-end hardware.
• Within the first four days, 11 positive reviews were posted, which is an absolute win!

What didnt go so well?

• Resolution issues. On launch day, the game only worked properly on 16:9 monitors. Other aspect ratios made the game unplayable. (This issue was resolved within two days of launch, and now the game works correctly on all resolutions.)
  
• No Steam Deck support. Midnight Racer is a perfect fit for Steam Deck, but I didnt consider this during development as I didnt own the steam deck. (Ive decided this support needs to happen. I borrowed a Steam Deck, and support for it will be added within two weeks.)
• Custom controllers issue. The game fully supports Xbox and PlayStation controllers, as well as most PC controllers. However, certain custom controllers confuse the game, leading to unusual input mappings. (Ill work on fixing this issue, though my top priority will remain Steam Deck support.)

Whats next?

Heres the roadmap Ill be following step by step: [olist]

Bug fixes and game balance will be my focus through the end of January.

Starting in February, Ill dedicate my efforts to optimizing the game for Steam Deck.

After that, Ill begin adding content to the game: new maps, QoL improvements, more music, and further game balancing.

Id like to add Steam friend leaderboards and a coach co-op mode for collaborative play. [/olist] Once these points are complete, Ill see whats next. If the game continues to develop as well as it has, Ill consider adding new game modes and potentially expanding the progression system. Stay awesome Night Drivers!

[ 2025-01-26 12:49:13 CET ] [ Original post ]

(Previous hotfixes can be read on steam page) -Minimal score no longer resets after entering game mode. (If you retry/restart a level, the minimal score stays saved.) - Fixed a bug with the Car Radiawave Z300 wheels. Also adjusted its center of gravity. - Changes made to one map variant. - Added an additional new map variant.

[ 2025-01-25 00:41:55 CET ] [ Original post ]

- Main game mode,Main Menu,Tutorial scene UI scales now properly for any resolutions. - Bright license plates now have dark Driver name (so it will be more visible) I borrowed steam deck from a friend to set up correct inputs. I'll get it next week and start working on steamdeck compatybility!

[ 2025-01-23 23:15:56 CET ] [ Original post ]

- Bug with air teleportation in the wrong direction fixed. - Car plate name in the shop has been centered. - Bug with counting air points when car has 0 speed has been fixed - Tutorial Score panel location has been fixed

[ 2025-01-23 10:37:33 CET ] [ Original post ]

- Bug with teleportation in the wrong direction fixed. - Reversing a car has an increased angle. - From now on, when a player leaves a specific variant of the map, a barrier will appear to additionally remind the player that they should turn around and drive in the opposite direction.

[ 2025-01-22 22:51:52 CET ] [ Original post ]

UI Scaling is mostly finished. Couple buttons left in the shop but general functionality back for every resolution. Next step is steam deck support. - Some map variants had missplaced collectibles. This has been fixed - Color of Leaderboard score has been changed to more visible

[ 2025-01-22 08:33:59 CET ] [ Original post ]

- fixed spelling mistakes - 1 variant of the map was blocking the onward path, this has been fixed. - fixed ultrawide resolution (kind of) shop still doesn't look properly, however now it is functional for that resolution I'm currently working on shop so it will scale properly for every resolution. For now it's still the best at 16:9

[ 2025-01-21 11:25:15 CET ] [ Original post ]

-Fixed issue with different screen resolutuions than 16:9 (except shop, it need more work. Shop works properly only in 16:9 format)

[ 2025-01-20 20:15:55 CET ] [ Original post ]

Hello Night Drivers!

Today is the day! Launch of Midnight Racer 1.0.0! First, Id like to thank every single person who played the demo. For a long time, the demo was my main source of feedback on what worked well and what didnt in the game. Today, I invite you to the full release of the game!

What Does Midnight Racer Offer?

The game is a small project, mainly designed for chilling. However, for those seeking a challenge, Ive prepared some exciting features: 1. Ghost Riders: One of the main challenges of the game is defeating Ghost Riders and collecting their license plates. There are 10 such opponents waiting for you in the game. 2. Achievements: The game includes a total of 60 achievements. Nearly every achievement comes with a unique reward, such as customization options for your vehicles (license plates, tire smoke, car skins, and vehicle details). 3. Quests: Along with your achievement progression, youll unlock quests. Completing these quests allows you to earn additional money, which you can use to buy new cars, customize them, or take on long runs against the Ghost Riders. 4. Steam Achievements: Im a fan of Steam achievements, so naturally, theyre included in my game. Steam achievements act as milestones and challenges for you! 5. Secrets: The game doesnt just include your profile to choose from. Theres also mine and PrettyBoy6000s profiles. But how do you access them? And what do they hide? 6. Perks: Midnight Racer features 15 cars to choose from, each with a unique perk that slightly alters the gameplay. 7. Shop: Customize your synthwave machine however you like. Create your own combination of colors and accessories.

Whats Next After Release?

Of course, the release doesnt mark the end of my support for the game. With less pressure than before, I plan to continue adding mechanics and improving the existing ones. Here are a few things I plan to work on: 1. Additional Track Variants: There can never be enough tracks to race on. The game needs more and more variations. Alongside new tracks, I plan to introduce new gameplay mechanics, such as platforms that levitates the cars, elevators, and other mini-games. 2. Additional Skins and Details: Im no artist, but I wont stop adding new customization options for cars. Id like each car to have several unique skins and details. 3. New Quests: More quests will be introduced, connected to both new and existing game mechanics. 4. Steam Achievements: A few more achievements will certainly be added. I already know that three of them will be hidden. Why? Well, perhaps it has something to do with a few secrets in the game. 5. Co-op Mode: I plan to add a split-screen co-op mode so you and a friend can chill together in the glow of smoke when youre too tired to talk ;). 6. Bug Fixes: And, of course, bug fixes. I cant guarantee the game is bug-free. Despite my efforts to test it thoroughly, its very likely there are still some issues. With your help, Ill work to eliminate them. A Word from Me Midnight Racer is my first game, and Ive learned practically everything through making it. Its been an incredible adventure. I genuinely dont want anyone to buy this game by mistake, so I encourage everyone to try the demo and see if its the right game for you. The whole idea of Racer is to chill to synthwave or your own music. Thats what matters most to methat you can relax with this game. Sometimes we relax by yelling at our team, sometimes by playing cozy farming games. My goal is for this game to be another way for you to unwind. Though my work wont stop, for today, Im logging off, popping open a bottle of champagne, and wishing you a high score! Stay awesome, Night Drivers!

[ 2025-01-20 16:00:40 CET ] [ Original post ]

Hello, night drivers!

The release is getting closer, and Im here to share some updates with you.

Release Date

January 20th, at 16:00 / 4:00 PM GMT

Demo Update

The demo has been updated to the final version. Unfortunately, progress had to be reset to ensure full compatibility with the full version of the game. From now on, progress made in the demo will carry over to the full version of the game.

Price

The game will cost 4.20$. For the first week, it will launch with a 20% discount.

Message from the Developer

Midnight Racer is my first game. For this reason, I strongly encourage you to try the demo version first, as it will give you a clear idea of whether you enjoy the game. I dont want anyone to regret their purchasegames are here for us to have fun! At this moment, Im not entirely sure whether Ill release the game as a full release or as Early Access. However, I assure you this decision will not affect the content of the game.

Plans After Release

Of course, Ill continue to support the game after its release. Ill be very grateful for any feedbacklets keep building this game together! A detailed roadmap of what Ill be working on next will be made public on the release day. Stay awesome champs! See you soon Night Drivers!

[ 2025-01-12 18:25:46 CET ] [ Original post ]

Hello Night Drivers!

December has arrived, outside the window, you can start to hear the roar of Santa's sleigh engine. It also means we're getting closer to the game's release. Work is picking up pace. This month, there will be no Demo update because Ive fully focused on completing/adding content. Although theres no Demo update, I have a ton of information along with screenshots about whats new.

Major updates:

1. Achievements Update

The game will feature a total of 60 in-game achievements. Until now, the achievement values were set as placeholders. These have now been recalculated, and the final values have been established. Additionally, Ive finally addressed the topic of rewards. In my view, awarding currency as a reward for the games main progression was a mistake. This has been updated to include: 20 smoke skins, 12 car plates, 6 car skins, 6 car textures Side quests will now also be part of the progression that can be unlocked. As a result, I've added 9 additional rewards in the form of bonus quests. In total, this gives us 53 rewards other than MB.

2. Cars Update

All the cars that will be available in the game have finally been added, bringing the total to 15.
The previous approach, where each car had completely different stats, led to many of them being unplayable in certain aspects. Ive addressed this by categorizing the cars into slow, medium, and fast groups (5-5-5). Cars within the same category now have similar stats, with the primary differences being speed and nitro.

3. Perks Update

All 15 cars now come with unique perks. Ive tried to avoid monotony and introduce a variety of perks to keep the gameplay fresh and engaging. Here are some examples:

4. Plates Update

With the Achievements now set, the game allows players to earn additional license plates that are not tied to the Ghost Riders.
(colors and textures can still change)

5. Smokes Update

Ive also added smoke customization for tire effects. Unlocking new variants is now possible by completing achievements.

(colors and textures can still change)

6. Leaderboard Update

Ive dedicated a lot of time to testing the leaderboard. This is intended to be the main challenge of the game. I wanted it to be very difficult but still achievable. After hours of testing, I decided to implement an assist feature in the form of a "minimum score value". This means that after defeating specific Ghost Riders, players will unlock the ability to start the game with a base score higher than 0 (1000,2000,3000).
For players who manage to reach the #1 spot on the leaderboard without the help of the minimum score, a special Steam achievement will be awarded!

Minor Updates:

1. Login Screen

Added two new options: the ability to rename and change the player icon, and an option to delete the account.

2.Game Performance

I continue make better performance. The game itself is very lightweight, and my goal is for it to run on any device. As such, Im constantly optimizing. This time, I managed to improve the game's performance by 60% compared to the last update and the current Demo version. One of the key improvements involved optimizing assets. Previously, there were 1.4 million vertices active simultaneously, which has now been reduced to around 580,000.

3. Shop Update

Ive finally fine-tuned the controller navigation in the shop, addressing all inconveniences to ensure its fully intuitive for controller users. Additionally, I added particles and sound effects during car customization to provide players with clear feedback that their choice has been confirmed.

Next Steps:

Now it's a straightforward path to the game's release. I plan to launch the game on January 20th. Until then, I will focus on creating a tutorial for quests and leaderboard, refining whats already in place, and adding new car skins. When Racer is released, it wont have a massive number of skins. Ill ensure that each car has at least 10, but as for unique skins, their quantity at launch will be limited. However, over time, more skins will be added. Besides that, I should be able to get everything done. At the moment, my work pace is very good, and I dont need to extend the development time. Midnight Racer will continue to be improved after its release. Im confident that new tracks, quests, and maybe even cars and perks will be added. However, I wont feel the same pressure to do it all immediately! To wrap things up, I want to wish you all a peaceful and merry Christmas. Remember, youre awesome Night Drivers!

[ 2024-12-20 14:57:30 CET ] [ Original post ]

Hello Night Drivers!

Another month, another update! Today, I bring you the LAST DEMO UPDATE in this form. Im gradually approaching the release of the game. I initially planned to release it in December, but due to the launch of another game Im working on at my company, the release will likely be delayed until January 2025. This months update mainly focuses on the Main Menu, Tutorial, and game performance.

Changelog

• Improved tutorial: From now on, players are encouraged to start the game with the tutorial. The tutorial itself has also been updated and adjusted depending on whether the player is using a controller or keyboard. It has also been enhanced with a short cutscene.
• Added Ghost Rider car plates for every Ghost Rider.
  
• A new option to display your profile with stats and title has been added to the Main Menu.
  
• FPS and VSync settings can now be adjusted in the options menu.
• Quests have been improved, including their rewards and the values associated with them.
• Full Steam integration has been implemented (Steam Cloud, controller integration). However, this will not be available in the demo version of the game.
• Added 13 new achievements, which will also not be available in the demo version. (However, if you purchase the game, achievements that should have been unlocked will automatically unlock.)
• A significant amount of time was spent improving the games visuals at full HD and lower resolutions. This also improved game performance, which now uses approximately 30% fewer resources.

Future changes

• The next major planned update will involve optimizing maps so that a single map variant will use about 50% fewer resources than it currently does. However, this is a time-intensive process, so it may not be ready next month.
• Another iteration of the vehicle mechanics rework. After many months of gameplay and feedback, Ive finally decided on the final approach for vehicles.
• Vehicles will be divided into three categories: Slow, Medium, and Fast. Each category will have fixed stats and will differ in perks. Slow vehicles will focus more on earning MB. Fast vehicles will focus on increasing score gains. Unique perks will still be available in each category, but their specifics will remain a mystery for now.
• The addition of more vehicles and missing skins for existing ones (these will no longer be available in the demo).

These changes will essentially finalize the base version of the game. Once the above changes are complete, Ill release the game. While Im aiming for December, due to my work and the upcoming launch of our game, its unlikely Ill be able to manage both. As mentioned above, this will likely result in the release being postponed to January 2025. As always, thank you so much for your support and interest in the title. Stay awesome, Night Drivers!

[ 2024-11-20 17:51:51 CET ] [ Original post ]

Another month, another update! Today, Im excited to present a patch focused on enhancing the gameplay experience. Alongside changes to the car handling, I've added a variety of new level variants, changes to the tutorial display, and a brand-new version of the dashboard. For the first time, we're also introducing the initial iteration of Chill Mode! Check out the full list of changes below.

List of changes:

• Chillmode (additional game mode)
• Around 20 new level variants
• Around 15 new map assets
• New dashboard variants (color customization available in settings)
• Improved car control during landing (the car now has a larger margin for error, allowing for smoother landings)
• Improved car collision with environment objects (collisions no longer register as quickly as before, and players dont bounce off walls as much)
• At the end of each round, a summary panel appears showing informations such as (traveled distance, played time, highest highscore for that specific round, amount of collected MB)
• Improved distance tracker, now accurately measuring the distance the player has traveled.

Performance fixes

Additionally, I noticed a significant issue with anti-aliasing when running in 1920x1080 resolution or lower, along with frequent FPS drops at lower resolutions. This problem has been completely fixed!

Before

After

Next update

Last month, we had a store update. This month, its all about gameplay. So, next month, were diving into a Main Menu update.

Heres what to expect:

• New quests
• Balanced rewards and MB for achievements and quests
• Increased number of achievements
• Profile customization options
• New license plates as rewards for defeating Ghost Riders
• The option to switch monitors in settings and a visual update to the settings menu

Additionally, Ive got prepared five more new cars. These will be the final 5 additional vehicles before the games release. Now, I just need to find the time to implement them! Stay awesome!

[ 2024-10-20 20:44:48 CET ] [ Original post ]

Hello Night Drivers!

I'm coming to you with the monthly game update. The previous month was mainly focused on marketing the game, updating the Steam page, creating the game trailer, and generally everything around the game itself. This month, I fully dedicated my time to cars and improving the shop.

Major changes list:

• Added 4 new cars
• Added over 20 car skins
• Increased the number of visible stats in the shop
• Added settings in the shop
• First attempt at setting up the game economy (MB has been reduced from 5-10-25-50 to 5-7-10-15. Skin and car prices are more adequate to the progression. I probably went too far in the other direction, and now everything might take too long to achieve, but more insights will come during testing)
• Balanced stats between cars
• All cars now have perks

Minor changes list:

• Button sounds in the shop
• When confirming skins and details, the button will inform about the selection being confirmed
• Fixed visual glitches in cars in the shop
• New perk icons
• Added sound when the car flies in the air and lands
• Usernames can now have just 1 letter (previously, it was a minimum of 3)
• License plate selection got a new background and a subtle animation
• New vending machine look
• New can design
• 3 new music tracks
• Adjustments to the center of gravity for some cars

I encourage you to download the Demo and check out the changes! Next month will be entirely dedicated to the main game mode. I will address issues such as:

• New map variants
• New assets on the maps
• Improved car smoothness when landing
• General bug fixes and collider improvements in the main game mode.

More changes will likely be added. Thank you for reading this monthly summary. Remember, you're awesome, so stay that way! Ill keep you updated on all the changes.

[ 2024-09-20 17:24:49 CET ] [ Original post ]

Hello Night Drivers!

This month has been fully dedicated to marketing and visual updates for the game!

What happened:

• Added a new car to the game, along with some of its textures.
• Added 6 new skins and details for the cars.
• Added new assets to the maps and upgraded placeholder assets (such as the vending machine and soda can).
• Created a trailer for the game.
• Updated the Steam page.
• Learned the basics of marketing.

Next month

Moving forward with the event calendar, the next steps will be adding even more skins, another car, and a visual update for the shop (car statistics were placeholders at the moment and did not reflect the actual power of each car). Next, new map variants with new assets will be added. Thank you very much for reading this update! Stay awesome, more updates are coming soon!

[ 2024-08-20 19:10:04 CET ] [ Original post ]

Hello Night Drivers!

Today I present to you the FINAL alpha update. The next one you see will be the first Beta update! This update is particularly important. With it, I have implemented all the systems the game will have. From now on, I will focus on polishing, bug fixing, and upgrades. No completely new mechanics will be added. However, this does not mean there will be no changes to the current systems. Quite the opposite. Now, I will mainly focus on improving everything that currently exists! Thank you very much for testing the game and your involvement in the project! Let's move on to the full list of changes in update 0.6.9!

Changelog

- From now on, upon entering the game, you will be greeted by a profile creation window, and upon subsequent entries, a login window. There are also some secret hints ;) - The leaderboard now works properly. By defeating other Ghost Riders, the player earns license plates. Currently, they are placeholders. - If the player is on a track they have already completed, just before it disappears, they will be moved to the start of the next track. - If the player falls off the map anywhere, there is a collider under the car that will take them back to the start of the track. - Holding the button to reset the car rotation and location is now possibleto press even if the car is not on its back. - Rework of barricades - The higher the speed, the smaller the speed reduction. At high speed with nitro enabled, speed reduction = 0. - If the player collects multiple boosters at once, they do not overlap, and the displayed time of a given booster is always the one collected last. - Improved off-track detection system. The previous system detected that the car was partially off and on the road in certain situations, causing color issues. Now, the off-road color has priority. - From now on, points reset when at least two wheels of the car are off the track.

Minor fixes and additional features

- New popup informing about task completion. - Minimizing the window and returning to the game, the last highlighted button remains highlighted. - Music does not skip to the next track when minimized. - Although the barrier sound is a placeholder and needs reworking, it has been muted by 70%. - Music added to the shop + some new track in gameroom. - Additional sounds: - Speed boost - Score loss - Flip boost - Ending time (slow beeping at 30 seconds, fast beeping at 10 seconds) There are no visible changes regarding map variants or cars. I added some values to the car that I can manipulate to make them more unique.

The plans for the near future are:

1. Improve the Steam page, logo, and ensure the trailer is in place. 2. Enhance the shop, adding more car customizations. 3. Ensure balance and diversity of cars. 4. More map vairants along with their completion. I will continue to update the game demo, so if you want to test the changes, feel free to download the update! Thank you very much for reading these logs. Thank you for your support and kind words! Remember, you are awesome and stay safe, night driver!

[ 2024-07-20 17:56:33 CET ] [ Original post ]

Hello Night Drivers! steambored I have decided that I want to build this game together with you. I am a solo developer with a full-time job as a Game Designer. Midnight Racer is my side project through which I want to learn every aspect of game development. The game will not be a scam or a cash grab. This is a production that brings me immense joy to create and, most importantly, gives me valuable experience. I want to look back at this game in 10 years and say, "Wow, this is my very first published game." Due to the very positive reception of the demo, I have decided to develop it further. Until the game's release, every update will also be released as a demo update. So today, I present to you the first update after Steam Next Fest! Alpha_0.6.8 Major changes: - Adjusted keyboard support to provide a similar experience to playing with a controller. - Attempted to resolve issues with some controllers (It turned out that the Steam Input system overrides the controller support configured in the game. This sometimes causes problems for some users. I have undertaken to solve this problem. Since this is the first issue of this type, and I don't have much experience with Steam support, it may not be completely resolved. I tested it with PlayStation and Xbox controllers. For now, both controllers seem to work perfectly. If you have problems with controller support, disable Steam support for controllers. This will most likely solve the problem. However, if the problem persists, I will continue to work on changes). - You can control cars in the main menu. - Changed UI navigation to DPad from the left stick. - Removing quests costs MB. Minor changes: - Removed bug with cars flying off the map when in the air, the car is aligned with the track tip. - Removed bug where the speed booster sometimes stacks multiple times (1 booster - 1 boost). - When you buy a car, the button no longer bugs. - When you minimize the game and then restore it, the previously selected button remains selected (unless you click with the mouse. This will also be fixed soon). Additionally, I will soon create a Discord server where I will ask for your advice, and we can discuss changes in the game together. Thank you very much for your interest in the game, remember, you are awesome!

[ 2024-06-20 14:59:30 CET ] [ Original post ]