DoN's Planetary Ecology, Biomes & Plant Life focus!
New Roadmap!
An exciting revision to Drunk On Nectar's roadmap is now underway!
Planetary Ecology, Biomes and Plant Life are the game's new focus; these exciting additions will provide a larger context for the game's existing attractions while greatly enriching the surrounding flora, landscapes and the Nature Sandbox mode's untapped potential as well.
Your enthusiasm and ideas are greatly encouraged for this exciting new direction :)
A picture from DoN's original Dev Prototype, depicting the game's early vision :)
Background
Thusfar Drunk On Nectar "The Nature Simulator" has provided a detailed treatment of invertebrate life, but with only minimal depiction of the larger macro level habitats which its creatures inhabit, such as landscapes, biomes or even planetary ecology.
To bridge this obvious gap between the game's larger vision (and subtitle!) and its current focus, the time was now deemed ripe to shift gears, zoom out and add broader perspectives as part of the game's already unique offering.
This will provide a larger context for the game's existing attractions while allowing a more free and relaxed growth of the game's overall natural world depiction.
Time to zoom out a bit, as our little Grasshopper (see left) clearly inferred! :)
Ideas Invited
This initiative is still in very early stages, so there is enormous scope and interest in your own ideas, creativity and contributions. Please use this Inspirations Thread for sharing your inspirations.
Any pictures and inspirations of the Natural World/Landscapes/etc, personally taken by you are particularly welcome in this thread along with your thoughts, commentaries and suggestions :)
For those wondering what this means for the eagerly awaited Praying Mantis update, that update has currently been indefinitely postponed. The current plan is to pick up that thread again at an opportune time; I appreciate both your enthusiasm and understanding in this regard :)
Thank You!
As always, a heartfelt thanks to everyone for your patience, kindness and support in helping the game grow and thrive all these years. Please join me on this exciting new adventure by posting your inspirations in the official Inspirations Thread :)
That's it for now, but stay tuned for more Nature Goodness!
With ❤, Venugopalan Sreedharan Developer Of Drunk On Nectar
Praying Mantis Lifecycle Announced :)
Praying Mantis Lifecycle Announced!
Finally!
It's time to flex those raptorial limbs, groom those sharp mandibles and strike from the shadows!
The most iconic predator of the invertebrate world finally makes its way to Drunk On Nectar's colorful glades!
Stealth, Camouflage and Ambush find their supreme exponent in the very beautiful and accomplished Praying Mantis as players will experience the complete lifecycle of this very unique creature.
Release Plan
Development for the Praying Mantis lifecycle begins next week!
The Pink Praying Mantis is currently the most favored candidate for its striking good looks, though other suggestions of your favorite Mantis species are very welcome in this early stage.
The gameplay prototype is expected to revolve around stealth, camouflage and ambush while visual depiction will revolve around the lifecycle itself and the various life stages. The overall presentation format is expected to be similar to other lifecycles currently depicted in the game.
Thank You
Thanks to everyone for your enthusiastic mails and votes for the Praying Mantis which has finally won this unique creature a place in the game.
It's time to strike a pose!
Recent DoN Videos!
Here's a round-up of recent Drunk On Nectar videos by various Youtubers!
First up, Draegast covers the Ladybug's Lifecycle in this entertaining overview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=933Q-OcRDRs
For other videos of Drunk On Nectar from Draegast check out his very memorable Monarch Butterfly lifecycle which has crossed over 1 million views on Youtube while opening up a new audience for the game, and also his recent Grasshopper Lifecycle video.
And for DoN's French audience, Youtuber Dan Field covers the Jumping Spider lifecycle in French! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJTgttx7tJs
Praying Mantis Beckons!
That's it for now, but the beautiful Praying Mantis is poised to strike and will quietly, but very strikingly, arrive on your screens, soon!
With ❤, Venugopalan Sreedharan (Developer of Drunk On Nectar)
Ladybug Visuals Update, Developer Walkthrough Series
New Pupation Visuals!
New visuals have been added for key moments in the Ladybug Lifecycle's including Pupation, Moulting and Metamorphosis Emergence, greatly enriching the overall experience.
Here's quick trailer focusing on the new visuals!
[previewyoutube="pfdJ7CmleW8;full"]
Developer Walkthrough!
Celebrating the new Ladybug visuals, join Drunk On Nectar's Developer Venu in this special gameplay series, as we "Enter the world of the Ladybug" with gusto across its 4 instars, all the way up to pupation, adulthood and even beyond!
Here's the walkthrough!
Part 1 - Birth, Early Instars [previewyoutube="tXtdHnSJuGY;full"]
Part 2 - Metamorphosis, Mating & Reproduction [previewyoutube="ilGjHlyFKzc;full"]
Part 3 - Generation 2 is planned too :)
-
New Educational Content!
An educational snippet has been added for the main Metamorphosis segment, further enriching the Ladybug's lifecycle offering. Wing development and Colorations of the Ladybug are briefly discussed.
Here's an excerpt, do check out this update or the videos above for more :)
Here's a quick overview of this update:
New Metamorphosis Visuals
New Educational Content
Grooming animation
Birth scene population increased to ensure player doesn't run out of prey
Intro Cinematics bugfix (these no longer stop abruptly at the end).
With the release of this update, the Ladybug Lifecycle comes closer to attaining its full potential, though there is always room for further improvement. Apart from a few outstanding player reports (which are currently being investigated), additional feedback from you is always welcome and will greatly help in realizing the sublime potential that is innate in every creature's lifecycle, whether for their unique gameplay or for visual depiction and most certainly so, for the inimitable Ladybug!
Enter the World of the Ladybug! New visual content awaits you! :)
Thank you!
With ❤, Venugopalan Sreedharan (Developer of Drunk On Nectar - The Nature Simulator)
☀ Anniversary Update ☀ The Ladybug's Lifecycle, Released!
Celebrating Drunk On Nectar's 3rd Anniversary on Steam! :)
Rip-roaring Carnivorous Beetle larva action is here!
Charming as an adult, terrifying as a larva, the most voracious insect carnivore in popular lore is here for your play!
Action-packed gameplay meets beautiful vistas and Educational narratives, making the Ladybug's lifecycle release the game's most significant update yet, by far!
Survive the most densely populated vistas ever seen in the game. Thrust amidst hoards of prey (New Species - Aphids are here!) and wily Ants, you and your siblings must journey across a blistering life experience as a tiny carnivorous larva with an enormous appetite.
The Metamorphosis of the Ladybug
From Egg to Larva to Pupa to Winged adult, the Ladybug exhibits a "complete metamorphosis", much like the fabled Monarch Butterfly.
That's not all though, Mating & Reproduction is included too! As a female or male Ladybug find a partner, engage in courtship, lay eggs and thus complete your Gen 1 life story.
Generation 1 is a carefully guided experience for new players and veterans alike, while Generation 2 (and beyond!) offer pure Sandbox gameplay with unlimited potential for exploration and emergent interactions.
Additional Features Coming Soon:
Certain visual features are still pending, these will be added in due course: 1) Ladybug Pupa transition visuals 2) Various Colorations - before pupation, after emergence, egg shells, etc 3) Grooming & Grappling Animations etc
Gameplay wise there is also further room for expansion, however it was deemed essential to get this initial version out for your enjoyment and valuable feedback.
Please provide feedback on the things that you enjoyed or would like improved, as this update will continue to be polished over the coming days and your input is absolutely essential in realizing the full potential of this update.
Thank You!
I would like to take this opportunity to say Thank You! to all for your great enthusiasm, lively support and boundless patience in witnessing the unfoldment of Drunk On Nectar's joyous dream to depict Nature in a format that we love and enjoy so much.
2019 has seen several milestone releases for the game so far including the Monarch Butterfly and Jumping Spider's Mating & Reproduction, Grasshopper's Complete Lifecycle and now the Ladybug's Lifecycle too.
The obvious desire among all of us to see more new content arrive rapidly into the game is clear. That goal is now finally attainable as the game's development effort has been greatly empowered through various lessons learned in this year of 2019 and through many challenges that have been successfully overcome in developing and growing the game over the years.
So truly, a powerful creative momentum to propel the game's further growth and expansion is now strongly in place, so rest assured for Drunk On Nectar the show has only just begun! :)
With ❤, Venugopalan Sreedharan (Developer of Drunk On Nectar - The Nature Simulator)
Ladybug Lifecycle Announced!
The Ladybug's Lifecycle is all set to become Drunk On Nectar's next major lifecycles update!
Hatch as an egg, survive and grow as tiny larvae feeding on even tinier scale insects and enter your pupal stage to undergo an epic metamorphosis from a hardish yellow blob into a beautiful winged Ladybug!
But do watch out for Ants along the way!
Mating and Reproduction will also be featured, so much like the Grasshopper, Monarch Butterfly and of course the Jumping Spider, the Ladybug too will go on to find a mate, reproduce and experience multiple generations!
The Ladybug Plan
Generation 1: New players entering Gen 1 will receive quest based gameplay and educational narratives similar to the Jumping Spider's Gen 1.
Generation 2: After completing Generation 1, players will enjoy a Pure Sandbox and non-linear experience with emergent gameplay for advanced Ladybug enthusiasts to enjoy at their own pace!
Any feedback on this proposed format is welcome :) This is set to become the game's future lifecycles presentation mould, so your feedback on this subject is greatly valued!
Release ETA: This will be a quick release arriving in 2-3 weeks from now, so do post your feedback early! :)
The Ladybug - An iconic, widely loved and beautiful species is all set to hop, fly and land on Drunk On Nectar's green glades soon, so the Lifecycles scene just got a lot more prettier and exciting!
I greatly value your patronage, feedback and interest in Drunk On Nectar.
Thank you for being an essential part of Drunk On Nectar's journey!
Let us soar through the air as the inimitable Ladybugs, soon! :)
With ❤,
Venugopalan Sreedharan
(Developer of Drunk On Nectar)
New Content: Educational Tidbits, Major Improvements to Jumping Spider Lifecycle
A major patch was released yesterday for the Jumping Spider lifecycle bringing new content in the form of educational narratives for mating along with Major bugfixes, Performance boost for "Gen 2" and Gameplay rebalancing that makes it significantly easier to complete the Jumping Spider lifecycle.
Educational Narratives
Educational tidbits about Jumping Spider mating and anatomy have been added with this update.
Here's a quick look!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h81cclctUU4
Watch the video above for more!
Rebalancing: Completing Spider Lifecycle Made Easier
If you had any issues completing the Jumping Spider lifecycle (and reaching Mating!) at all, do try again!
A large number of rebalancing changes aimed at making the Jumping Spider lifecycle much easier to complete were added with this update. More additions are planned too, and will be based on your valuable feedback.
Notable mentions:
Food Intake bonus of 25% for Players.
Major bugfixes to scripted "Quest predators" to ensure they do not return to harass players.
Player walk speed automatically reduced if a leaf has silk tent on it.
Major bugfixes
Several important fixes were released spanning Gen 1, Gen 2 (and Gen 3!)
Various performance issues addressed across the board relating to AI population and their CPU usage. Benefits are mostly clearly perceived in Gen 2 but applies to the entire game and all other species too!
"Gen 3" Pollen Grains and Beltian Bodies now correctly spawn upon birth.
Chem trails of Gen 2 sandbox fauna no longer show up during Gen 1 gameplay.
Camera Improvements for interaction with larger predators; more to come along these lines soon.
"Gen 2" Gameplay Series
A new gameplay video series featuring Generation 2's "Free Roaming" - i.e. Sandbox Survival and Emergent gameplay, has been released!
Do take a look!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjMXWKrdcyg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oljv_49eltA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAWGkwPx7m0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_5kbrfCZeQ
An unscripted encounter from Gen 2's "Sandbox Survival"
Gen 2 Sandbox Survival - The Model For The Future
Inspired by the Jumping Spider's Generation 2 gameplay, the current plan is to adopt this model for all species in the roster as the new Lifecycles format.
In this new format, "Generation 1" will feature Quests, Educational narration and Linear paths to help new players and establish a baseline, while "Generation 2" will feature a pure Sandbox Survival experience with emergent gameplay and completely unscripted, non-linear experiences.
The Grasshopper's Lifecycle will adopt this model at some point; quests and narration suitable for this species will be added to Gen 1 while Gen 2 will continue to offer pure unscripted sandbox action.
Your thoughts / feedback on this subject are very greatly welcomed! :)
~~~
That's it for now, for but more information about the next major update will be shared in due course! :)
With ❤,
Venugopalan Sreedharan
(Developer of Drunk On Nectar)
Jumping Spider Mating Released - Play It Now!
Lifecycle Complete!
Concluding the Jumping Spider's epic life story, Mating & Reproduction is now here!
Find a mate, experience Courtship, Mating, Egg-Laying and much more in this milestone update to Drunk On Nectar - The Nature Simulator!
Experience "Free Roaming" - New Gen 2 Gameplay!
Complete Gen 1 spider lifecycle to unlock Generation 2!
Do not miss out on the new Generation 2 Jumping Spider gameplay, it is a completely new experience!
Gen2 Free Roaming is a pure Sandbox experience without any formal quests like Gen1. You must survive a densely populated map with prey and predators while growing and moulting. Player specific bonuses present in G1 to make life easier are not present in G2 making it a different experience from the get go.
So be sure to try Gen 2 Free Roaming as a Jumping Spider! :)
G2 spider family with two egg clusters! Population keeps increasing with each generation playthrough.
Looking Ahead
There's a lot of exciting directions for the game to explore from here. With another member of the roster completing its life story, the game comes closer to its goal of depicting lifecycles for the entire existing roster.
Proceeding in that direction the next logical choice would be "Ladybug Lifecycle", offering great visual interest and predator gameplay on multiple levels. However other options are also open, including lifecycles for a new species or exploration of other topics in the vast domain of nature.
We'll see! :)
For now though, please enjoy Jumping Spider Mating and do report any issues you run into, they will be swiftly looked into.
Thank you!
With ❤,
Venugopalan Sreedharan
(Developer of Drunk On Nectar)
Jumping Spider Mating & Reproduction Announced!
The next major update for Drunk On Nectar is underway!
"Jumping Spider Mating" will wrap up the lifecycle of this iconic species and allow players to experience mating, egg laying and possibly some form of multi-generation gameplay similar to the Monarchs and Grasshoppers.
Polish, Cleanup & Bugfixes
A major part of this update will be a large cleanup-and-polish operation for the entire game. Player feedback on various levels has been addressed across the board with much more to come as this update heads towards release.
A large number of bugfixes and overall beautification is also expected to come with this release, celebrating the Jumping Spider's long awaited mating release :)
I greatly appreciate your support for Drunk On Nectar.
Thank you for following the game!
With ❤,
Venugopalan Sreedharan
(Developer of Drunk On Nectar)
Drunk On Nectar's 2019 Trailer Released!
Experience a musical journey through Drunk On Nectar's latest and greatest updates!
Please watch this freshly released 2019 trailer for the game below, your feedback is very welcome :)
Drunk On Nectar 2019 Trailer - "The Nature Simulator"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qa09PJQ1-lI
Feel free to share this video around to help spread the word about the game!
Next Milestone
The game's next milestone hasn't yet been finalized although bugfixing and polishing the current product will probably take priority for a sizable period of time.
Thanks to everyone for your interest in this game and for your patronage through all these years!
♫
Thank you! :)
With ❤,
Venugopalan Sreedharan
(Developer of Drunk On Nectar)
Life As Prey Update, Developer Gameplay Walkthrough!
Several improvements including rebalancing of predator interaction, visual and gameplay bugfixes and more come with this update. Watch the videos below for more!
Developer Walkthrough
Celebrating the release of Grasshopper Lifecycle, join DoN's Developer Venugopalan Sreedharan in an action-packed 4 part video walkthrough below!
Gameplay Part 1(Female Grasshopper Growth)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2gc9Oun0e0
Gameplay Part 2(Female Mating & Reproduction)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_ZHh6Oj01g
Gameplay Part 3(Male Grasshopper G2 Gameplay)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFwZCSzueRo
Gameplay Part 4(Male Mating & Reproduction)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_Iree2vrcI
The Ladybug's lifecycle is planned to be taken up next. Further improvements to the Grasshopper are also being made along with a general round of bugfixing and other improvements for the larger game.
Hope you enjoy this update :)
With ❤,
Venugopalan Sreedharan
Developer of Drunk On Nectar
