Honeycomb Dev update #3 – Welcome to the LAB! It’s experimentation time!
Hey there, Explorers 🤠
How are y’all doing? It's been a great time of creative experimentation for our team lately, and today we'd like to show you the fruit of our efforts. Last devlog was full of building-themed stuff, and now I’ll take you on a journey to the world of bioengineering.
Before we start, I’m curious how you liked our new trailer. If you haven’t seen it yet, you can watch it HERE⬅️
Without further ado, let’s get to the lab!
MECHANICS
We’ve already introduced you to crossbreeding plants and animals. Today, I’d like to bring you even more details and show unique experiments for Honeycomb. First of all, I’d like to show you three growing stages of plants and trees.
As a bioengineer, we’ll use three mechanics: Allogamy for flowering plants, Grafting for trees, and Environmental Changes for fungi. We must focus on the right conditions. Without them, the process won’t go well. Prepare your seeds, samples, and keep the water supply close at hand. We want our little ones irrigated, don’t we?
Allogamy
Now let’s focus on Allogamy – the most basic form of experiment in Honeycomb. It’s almost impossible to mess it up. Why is that so? You could ask. Have you heard of bees and the amazing work they do! They fly from flower to flower, carrying heavy stuff on their little legs - they're the key agent in this process! Pollen, transferred between plants, can make new variations or species. In our game, it will look a little similar, but it'll need your assistance.
What you see in the picture below is a hybrid called the former. Formers change not only their shape but their pigment, parameters, and even their behavior as well. On the other hand, you have fillers - hybrids that only change pigment or parameters.
Here’s an example of the animation – work in progress! — and how the experiment will look. Let us know what you think of it.
But even here there are some restrictions. Allogamy only occurs in plants that produce flowers and are currently in bloom. That's your task to find the right one.
Grafting
Okay, guys, we've made it this far. With the basics out of the way, I can show you the next challenge. The following experiment won’t be that simple, though. This time, we’ll have to observe the results on our own. Your job is to place a branch on a tree grown in the lab and make a compatibility check. If it’s the right branch it will grow mutated fruit, but if it’s incompatible, the fruit will stay the same, and you’ll have to start all over again. Let’s assume everything went fine and jump to the final step. It’s time to break the mutated product into seeds from which new species can develop.
Also, enjoy our work-in-progress animation of the grafting process:
ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE
Okay, now that the verdant world of plants is behind us, we can focus on fungi. Now it's time for and adventure. Gather some environmental samples, you’ll need them to make changes to the fungi’s growing process. That's the most challenging type of experiment you’ll do in Honeycomb. It depends on a few conditions, and you’ll have to focus on completing it correctly. Before you start, you need to change the parameters of experimental chambers for your sample to mutate. Otherwise, the mutation won’t begin – risk is an inherent part of change, after all. Let’s see how far your imagination can take you.
EXPLORE OUR MEDIA
Aaand that would be it for today's development update, Explorers! I hope you felt the vibe of what being a true bioengineer entails and liked our experimental showcase. Last but not least, we’d love to invite you to our discord server, which gives access to exclusive content we don’t publish anywhere else. Just click HERE or on the banner below to join! ⬇️
We’re very excited to hear how you feel about our work, so share your thoughts in the comments and let us know if you enjoyed the devlog! Remember to follow us on our social media and wishlist us on Steam for upcoming updates.
Honeycomb Dev Update #2 - Gather, Build, Survive with release on Q4, 2023!
Hello, fellow Explorers!
It’s been over a month since our last update, and we’re back with unexpected NEWS! We’d like to announce that The Honeycomb will release in Q4 of 2023! If that isn't enough, we also want to share a fresh and new trailer that is all yours!
However, before we go any further, it’s time for the second announcement of a crucial matter. Honeycomb Official Discord Server is NOW LIVE! If you've ever felt like joining the community, we think this is the time. We always wanted to connect people and create a place where they could discuss our game and become closer to us. We’ve thought sharing our concepts and development stage through the Discord server is a first-class idea. Furthermore, we wanted to invite you to take part in making the game. We want to hear your voice quicker than before.
So, what’s left is to click the banner below and say hello, because you're all welcome!
Moving ahead, we have another BIG NEWS. As you may know, we’re constantly in the development phase, and it’s consuming most of our time. During last month, we challenged ourselves to redesign our entire steam page: starting from a capsule through descriptions to the screenshots. So, take a look at the new capsule, and feel free to join us by clicking HERE or on the graphics below, and share your opinion of how you find the changes in the comments.
Without further ado, let’s get to the building, shall we? In this devlog, we’d like to introduce you to our base mechanics. That also includes our inspiration for its style, some aspects you can use during the planning mode, and much more. Are you ready? Then let’s go!
INSPIRATIONS
As we’ve mentioned in the last development update, our game is set in the distant future, and the Earth is going through an Eco–Apocalypse. That’s why we’ve wanted to create a unique style for our buildings. We’ve decided to mix classic sci-fi and the early XX century french design, Art Noveau. We’ve thought that those two opposites will create the perfectly combined style, where high-tech and domination of floristic details will show humanity yearning for nature.
PLANNING MODE
The planning mode is something fresh and new. As you can see, it allows you to customize your base and and see how many resouces are required to build it. The hologram shows you what it’ll look like when it's ready so that you can design your dream base.
THE CREATION
Ready with your resources? Now you can sit, watch, and trust the process. That’s the power of automated building.
The base is not the only thing you can plan and have built automatically. We still work on different parts of the design, such as doors, stairs, windows, or furniture.
You can click the video below if you'd like to dive into a more detailed analysis of our inspirations for the style, planning mode, and automated building. Our devs, Bartek and Marko, will be pleased to know that you’ve checked it out.
FEEDBACK NEEDED
Because our creations are significant to us, and we believe you deserve a part in their development, we need your opinions and feedback, Explorers.
We'd like you to share your thoughts about our planning mode and automated building process. Have you ever seen something like this before? We'd also want to know what possibilities, as a player, you can see while looking at these mechanics. Your ideas are much anticipated, the comment section is yours!
KEEP UP TO DATE
As additional info, we’d like to announce that we’ll participate in PGA – Poznań Game Arena. If some of you don't know, that’s a polish gaming event in Poznań between the 7th-10th of October. You can visit us there, say hello and play our first ever build for players. We’re also wondering how many of you we’ll meet, so let us know.
So, that would be it for today, guys. We hope that you liked our base-themed devlog so as the big announcements. We'd like to remind you, that Honeycomb will release in Q4 2023, so stay tuned. We also want to invite you to join our Discord Server once again to stay with us closer than before. You can also check our social media to keep up with the date.
Last but not least, you can add Honeycomb to your wishlist as well as follow the game if you want to get notifications about future updates.
PS: Explorers, here’s a little sneak peek for you! Your opinion about the cooperation mode in Honeycomb would be an asset, so let us know, what you think.
~Team Honey
Development update #1 - First look at the world of Honeycomb
The Earth as you know it has ceased to exist. The Eco-Apocalypse is here and now. The once vibrant animal kingdom, lush forests, vast seas and oceans have been lost in the abyss of nothingness. The natural resources from which we drew so much are gone irreversibly. Forced by unfavorable conditions on the surface, people moved to underground cities, leaving behind the splendor of the sun and the beauty of the blue sky. Now, only a sizable ozone hole yawns above their heads, showing the scale of the changes that have taken place on our planet.
Years have passed and science has reached the edge of its capabilities. After many attempts, the mighty heads have mobilized the nobles of this world to undertake a risky experiment. This project is the last salvation for the planet, as well as for human development itself.
Out of many, the daredevils were chosen. Training in preparation for the expedition was exhausting and stressful, but it was successful. Finally, we can say it: it's time to explore the unknown world!
The long flight was not one of the most pleasant, but Hennessy arrived at her destination. Here is where the adventure begins, explorer. Dive into the new world and rush towards the unknown.
Sup, Explorers!
Welcome to the first ever development update of Honeycomb!
In this development update, we'd like to show you some cool concept arts that we've already prepared. Additionally, we'll explain a little bit why the development is taking so long. Last but not least, we'll showcase you some really great animations and a little sneak peek of what you can expect from the upcoming update. This time has been busy for us, but now we want to share a little piece of our creation. Adventure into the unknown begins now, explorer. Don't hesitate and dive into the marvelous world of Honeycomb.
What’s taking so long
We know it's been a long time since we announced Honeycomb, so it's time to bring you some answers. As a bioengineer, you get to experience a vibrant and colorful world. It's all about feeling free and being able to uncover this untouched land as you wish. There are a lot of things to pay attention to, so keep your eyes open if you don't want to miss the clues! We also want to share that special feeling of what it's like to be a real scientist. That's why we’re composing such a complex ecosystem to evoke a sense of authenticity in you.
To better introduce you to the theme of our game, we'd like to mention the term – crossbreeding. It works on the principle of a Taxonomic tree, so it is important to remember that it is impossible to combine incompatible species from different families. You will study how and which elements of flora and fauna will give the expected combinations. Furthermore, we’ll give you many opportunities to genetically crossbreed those plants.
In addition, here you have some ideas of underground fruits. You can expect different textures, which we’re working on.
When it comes to crossbreeding of animals, the case is a little different from plants. We won't play with their genes, because we're concerned about ensuring that they're not harmed. That's why crossbreeding occurs naturally, by animals pairing up with each other in the wild. However, there is also your role in the whole process.
What is more, we’ve been working on the tail physics. Check it out below and let us know what you think of it?
As you can see, we've prepared some ideas for creatures and plants already, and many more are yet to come. But we don’t stop here – it’s time to present to you another stuff we’re constantly working on. Say hello to the amphibian animal.
We think it looks cool and majestic, but a little clumsy. Just look at this cute tongue sticking outside its mouth. So adorable!
If you have dulled your eyes with the appearance of our creature, you may also like the animation of its movement, which we’re constantly improving.
What’s next
We don't want to keep you in suspense, so we’d like to add a heartening piece of news at the end. The next devlog is already in the making, and you can expect it soon.
We also have a little surprise for you. Try to guess what it is and let us know in the comments section below.
Thank you again
We hope that you liked our little concept showcase. As we've mentioned earlier in this development update, from now on you can expect regular updates from our side. Once again, thank you for your patience. Share your opinions in the comments, and see you next time!
And last but not least, you can add Honeycomb to your wishlist, as well as follow the game, if you want to stay up-to-date with any news:
Honeycomb - open-world survival where you become a bioengineer.
Day by day the ecological situation of the Earth is getting worse. The government makes a difficult decision and devotes all resources to finding and training young and talented scientists. They have to go on an expedition to unknown planets in search of salvation for their home - Earth.
In the short time after arriving the character figures out that the planet is not that gentle as it was estimated before the mission launch. Ferocious creatures, dangerous vegetation and climate, so similar to earthen on paper, add a lot of new variables to the equation of mission success.
Hundreds of years of technological progress made surviving in extreme conditions as easy as never before, so you can easily avoid overthinking about basic needs and concentrate on your Work. As a bioengineer you will need to study plants and their environment, collect and conserve samples, experiment with environmental factors. Don't forget about animals, they are an important part of gameplay as well.
