Don’t be deceived by the title this is more of me trying to get your opinion than an update. I was hoping to get this out yesterday but Colorado has had some pretty crazy winds the last couple days (100+mph) and the internet has been in and out. I’ll go over the update notes, Community, and then a little bit about development. I’d love to get your input on any of it.

Update Notes:

• Android 42’s textbox problem has been resolved using a priority type system. Thanks for all the community help on this. It’s also ready for voice acting to be added back in (see community section).
• Linux brightness bug has been fixed by adjusting the auto-exposure. If you still encounter problems try setting the post processing quality to 0 in the menu.
• Screen resolution can now be set above 100% to 120%.
• ‘E’ has been removed as a default menu button.
• Debug Viewmodes have be enabled in the dev tab. This will help troubleshoot frame drops.
• Fur material added to Cat character.
• Box mission on the surface only has 1 box. This was never meant to be a time sink. Finding one box gets the message across about what your sensor can do.
• Improved level transitions and adjusted DOG’s speed per level.
• Android 42’s dialog has been slightly extended.
• Signals is now available to play test. Mainly to test the optimization and control mechanics.
  
• Android 42 now has IK foot placement so we’re now officially competing with Uncharted 4 for game of the year.
  

Community - Voice Acting Anyone?

All the dialog has been written and I’m ready to start adding the voice acting back in. I originally planned to do all the Android voice acting but a few people have offered their voices to make the Androids a little more unique. If anyone else is interested in helping out I’ve created a document with all the different dialogs here. You can comment on the document with which Android you want to voice. You can also comment on changes to the dialog if you think something better would fit. It doesn’t matter as long as the core message doesn’t change. Also, feel free to add your own personality to them. The only rules: Allow a few seconds of silence before and after you talk so I can get a noise profile. DON’T do any editing yourself. Don’t normalize it, don’t add effects to it, and don’t try to take the background noise out of it. The only way this crazy experiment could possibly work is if I edit all the audio the same way. If you do want to help out please send your dialog in a .wav format to contact@ionizedgames.com It doesn’t matter if you send it all as one file or if it’s stereo/mono. I can handle all that on my end. You can also send me multiple versions of a dialog or do multiple Androids if you want. The only android you can’t do is 42. Sorry. The format of the google doc is: *Android’s #* *Statement 1* *Statement 1* *Statement 2* Any time there is a line it indicates a new dialog box. A good way to get an idea of the spacing is by watching the first two androids talk.

Payment:

I cannot pay you money. Sorry, this is about as “indie” an operation as it gets. What I can do is give you keys, give you credit, and promote whatever you want (as long as it isn’t offensive (whatever that means (now we’re real deep in parenthesis))). The “credits” in this game will be an interactive level you can walk around. The reason for this is 2D scrolling text sucks and a lot of the credit of this game goes towards assets that were purchased on the Unreal Marketplace and I want to give the creators proper credit for that (run on sentence). Here’s an example of what Luo’s cave section will look like. You obviously do not have to give me any information you don’t want to and I won’t post anything you don’t specifically give me permission to. If you don’t feel comfortable posting any information I could always just use a nickname a picture of one of your pets. It’s totally up to you.

Development

I can’t say whether I’m developing good or not but I hope that I’ve at least been honest and open about issues and progress. I’m trying to give you as much of an incomplete story as I can without ruining it at the end. It might seem weird now but I promise the Androids, the caves, the cat will all come together in the end. I know development is taking a lot longer than expected so thank you for sticking with me. Just to give you some idea of where we are: The layout of the cave is about 90% and you have access to the whole thing. All that remains as far as static environment is just touchups and detail meshes on the last cavern. The last major thing that’s needed is what I’ll call for now an “event”. The complexity of that event is about the same as the opening sequence but you can’t see it until it’s done. It’s taking longer than I thought because I’m trying to get some destructible meshes for Houdini (sigh...). You now have access to Signals to test to movement mechanics of the cat and how well the level is optimized and lit. Signals is about 60% complete. What’s remains to be done is audio dialog (you won't interact with the characters like you do as DOG). I’ll keep posting a major update ~once a month but I’ll post to the beta about everyweek. You can access the beta by right clicking CAT Interstellar in your steam library >> Properties >> BETAS tab >> Select beta1 in the drop down. I’ve removed the password so anyone can access it.

VR

I have mixed feeling about VR. Part of me wants to stick to the original plan of the VR origin being DOG (first person) and using a gamepad or mouse/keyboard for movement. The other part of me thinks we can do better. I’m not sure which will win out but I’d love to know what control types you like. One of the things I’m concerned about in VR is the time it takes to beat the game. Personally I usually get burned out and a little nauseous after ~30 minutes. I know this is just my own experience so I’m really curious what it is like for the rest of you. Have any of you played Allumette or Obduction? What did you think?

P.S.

This might be a little cheesy but would you have a problem with cursing in this game? This isn’t supposed to be a kids game but it also isn’t some gory mess. Maybe it’s because I just discovered Rick and Morty but if a cave is literally collapsing around you it’s likely you would at least mumble “damnit” to yourself. This is just something I came across while writing the dialog and I’m interested in what you think. Thanks again for everything, ːionizedgamesː

Dont be deceived by the title this is more of me trying to get your opinion than an update. I was hoping to get this out yesterday but Colorado has had some pretty crazy winds the last couple days (100+mph) and the internet has been in and out. Ill go over the update notes, Community, and then a little bit about development. Id love to get your input on any of it.

Update Notes:

• Android 42s textbox problem has been resolved using a priority type system. Thanks for all the community help on this. Its also ready for voice acting to be added back in (see community section).
• Linux brightness bug has been fixed by adjusting the auto-exposure. If you still encounter problems try setting the post processing quality to 0 in the menu.
• Screen resolution can now be set above 100% to 120%.
• E has been removed as a default menu button.
• Debug Viewmodes have be enabled in the dev tab. This will help troubleshoot frame drops.
• Fur material added to Cat character.
• Box mission on the surface only has 1 box. This was never meant to be a time sink. Finding one box gets the message across about what your sensor can do.
• Improved level transitions and adjusted DOGs speed per level.
• Android 42s dialog has been slightly extended.
• Signals is now available to play test. Mainly to test the optimization and control mechanics.
  
• Android 42 now has IK foot placement so were now officially competing with Uncharted 4 for game of the year.
  

Community - Voice Acting Anyone?

All the dialog has been written and Im ready to start adding the voice acting back in. I originally planned to do all the Android voice acting but a few people have offered their voices to make the Androids a little more unique. If anyone else is interested in helping out Ive created a document with all the different dialogs here. You can comment on the document with which Android you want to voice. You can also comment on changes to the dialog if you think something better would fit. It doesnt matter as long as the core message doesnt change. Also, feel free to add your own personality to them. The only rules: Allow a few seconds of silence before and after you talk so I can get a noise profile. DONT do any editing yourself. Dont normalize it, dont add effects to it, and dont try to take the background noise out of it. The only way this crazy experiment could possibly work is if I edit all the audio the same way. If you do want to help out please send your dialog in a .wav format to contact@ionizedgames.com It doesnt matter if you send it all as one file or if its stereo/mono. I can handle all that on my end. You can also send me multiple versions of a dialog or do multiple Androids if you want. The only android you cant do is 42. Sorry. The format of the google doc is: *Androids #* *Statement 1* *Statement 1* *Statement 2* Any time there is a line it indicates a new dialog box. A good way to get an idea of the spacing is by watching the first two androids talk.

Payment:

I cannot pay you money. Sorry, this is about as indie an operation as it gets. What I can do is give you keys, give you credit, and promote whatever you want (as long as it isnt offensive (whatever that means (now were real deep in parenthesis))). The credits in this game will be an interactive level you can walk around. The reason for this is 2D scrolling text sucks and a lot of the credit of this game goes towards assets that were purchased on the Unreal Marketplace and I want to give the creators proper credit for that (run on sentence). Heres an example of what Luos cave section will look like. You obviously do not have to give me any information you dont want to and I wont post anything you dont specifically give me permission to. If you dont feel comfortable posting any information I could always just use a nickname a picture of one of your pets. Its totally up to you.

Development

I cant say whether Im developing good or not but I hope that Ive at least been honest and open about issues and progress. Im trying to give you as much of an incomplete story as I can without ruining it at the end. It might seem weird now but I promise the Androids, the caves, the cat will all come together in the end. I know development is taking a lot longer than expected so thank you for sticking with me. Just to give you some idea of where we are: The layout of the cave is about 90% and you have access to the whole thing. All that remains as far as static environment is just touchups and detail meshes on the last cavern. The last major thing thats needed is what Ill call for now an event. The complexity of that event is about the same as the opening sequence but you cant see it until its done. Its taking longer than I thought because Im trying to get some destructible meshes for Houdini (sigh...). You now have access to Signals to test to movement mechanics of the cat and how well the level is optimized and lit. Signals is about 60% complete. Whats remains to be done is audio dialog (you won't interact with the characters like you do as DOG). Ill keep posting a major update ~once a month but Ill post to the beta about everyweek. You can access the beta by right clicking CAT Interstellar in your steam library >> Properties >> BETAS tab >> Select beta1 in the drop down. Ive removed the password so anyone can access it.

VR

I have mixed feeling about VR. Part of me wants to stick to the original plan of the VR origin being DOG (first person) and using a gamepad or mouse/keyboard for movement. The other part of me thinks we can do better. Im not sure which will win out but Id love to know what control types you like. One of the things Im concerned about in VR is the time it takes to beat the game. Personally I usually get burned out and a little nauseous after ~30 minutes. I know this is just my own experience so Im really curious what it is like for the rest of you. Have any of you played Allumette or Obduction? What did you think?

P.S.

This might be a little cheesy but would you have a problem with cursing in this game? This isnt supposed to be a kids game but it also isnt some gory mess. Maybe its because I just discovered Rick and Morty but if a cave is literally collapsing around you its likely you would at least mumble damnit to yourself. This is just something I came across while writing the dialog and Im interested in what you think. Thanks again for everything, :ionizedgames: