After quite a lot of feedback from players we're prototyping a shield in the game. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wP9q7huXdnc This is part of a bit of a reorganisation of the game. We're merging "story" and arcade mode in to one to make a better game. Originally story mode was essentially the same as arcade mode except when you ran out of lives you could continue from the beginning of the level you just died on and your score was reset. Even while typing this I can hear what a complete mess of an idea that sounds like steamfacepalm When you make a game you often get lost in ideas, pause, look at the idea and realise it's been through some sort of transporter accident and it needs to be humanely killed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIiNbDVQMRE So now we're planning

• one mode of play (and coop of course)
• a shield with three slots (so the fourth hit kills you).
• shield pickups that recharges one of the three slots
• less life pick ups (to give the shield pickup some value)

Finally I can get the spread pickup!
Let us know what you think. The artwork and sound effects are all prototypes. Do you like the idea, hate the idea, think we're idiots, wonder where all the potatoes hide at night?

[ 2019-02-27 15:15:31 CET ] [ Original post ]

Smith and Winston is a Metroidvania style exploration twin stick shooter.

Taking on the role of Smith or Winston, two hapless mercenaries, you explore a newly discovered shattered ring world and uncover the secrets of the natives and the impending doom of the star system. Only you can save the system from the evil that awaits... or not.

Hand built

The world needs more hand crafted games. We love procedurally generated games but there is nothing like a level designed by a human for a human.

Exploration

There are many strange places to explore in Smith and Winston along with secrets and puzzles to discover and items to collect. You'll need a sharp eye to spot some of them and a bit of dexterity to reach others. But there's plenty to discover.

Challenging twin stick combat

There's no health bars and with limited lives dodging is as important as shooting. Don't worry we've given you the tools to survive. From guns and power ups, grenades and missile launchers, to being able to sculpt the terrain to your advantage. How you defeat enemies is up to you.

Free Flowing Movement

Smith and Winston come with some cool toys, a jump pack boost for going up and a dash for going fast. Great for dodging bullets but even better for reaching new areas. Combine these for bigger and further jumps. Dash, boost, dash can get you a long way but a clever use of the terrain and our in game physics can get you higher and further.

Voxels

We love 'em. In a voxel world the player can destroy nearly everything and you have the equipment to do just that. From mining lasers to dig out secrets to grenades that blast holes in everything. Use these tactically or just to make a hole and laugh as you adversary falls helplessly to their doom.

Camera

Smith and Winston is a full 3D game and to take advantage of that we added in a few things. A rotatable 360° camera lets you see what you want and 3 angles of tilt, fancy a more cinematic perspective, just drop the camera angle.

Collectibles

Collect and swap your heads there a lot to find and finding them all won’t be easy and with our Steam release we'll be adding Steam achievements and cards too.