Hey friends! We got a big post today. There's a lot to talk about! There's so many exciting things happening with Lost Nova that it's hard to keep up with. But let's try!
A Concerning Need for Speed
Sometimes you gotta go fast. In the Coral Ocean, you'll be able to do just that. If you do it well enough, you'll earn a prize. It's that simple! Just make sure you watch out for all the obstacles.
Clothes for your Head
Introducing the latest fashion craze: Head Clothes! In Lost Nova you'll be able to collect and wear an assortment of various head adornments. For fashion! Want to look like royalty? Want to look like you're taking a casual Springtime stroll through the fields? Want a suspicious leaf sprouting from your head? We got the fashion you need to make all these dreams come true.
One such source for this fashion is unlocked later in the game. It's a bit isolated, but if you can find it, you'll discover more than just fashion dwelling within...
I Put a Dog in the Game
It's true! In fact, there's a few different ghostly animals all ready and waiting for you to befriend them. It takes a bit of work for the pet shop to become available, but once it is? Oh man, that means it's time for FRIENDSHIP.
I won't say much more, but I will say that your pets, once befriended, perform a function beyond lifelong companionship. I hope you'll be pleasantly surprised!
Until Next Time
That's all for now! Until next time, please take a second to wishlist the game, if you haven't already. It really helps me out and the Steam algorithm really likes it!
<3 Jon
Delivering Packages and Shooting Rocks - February 2022 Devlog
Hey friends! I continue to be absolutely, completely buried beneath a mountain of never-ending work. While I'm still here, my head poking out for a momentary breath of life-giving air, let me tell you about what's going on with Lost Nova lately!
He Has a Job for You
At some point along your journey, this little apple dude will show up. No one knows how, but we do know why! They'll charge you with the task of delivering packages to the peoples of this world.
Once you find the correct recipient in one of the local towns and deliver them their package, you may find a new friend in need of delivering a new package, thus continuing the cycle. In exchange for this service, you'll receive currency. Which is how jobs work.
Breaking Rocks: More Fun Than Ever
I figured that since shooting stuff with your laser is pretty much the main mechanic of the game, it'd be a good idea to go back and add some more feel and polish to it. Stuff you shoot now periodically pop out resources as you shoot it! They also do a little wiggle and puff out smoke. Like a little dance! Before being destroyed forever!
Until Next Time
That's all for now, I have to get back to work! Until next time, please take a second to wishlist the game, if you haven't already. It really helps me out and the Steam algorithm really likes it!
<3 Jon
No-Stress Fishing and Crashing Your Spaceship - January 2022 Devlog
Hey friends! Hope the new year is treating you well so far. I have a lot of projects going now, so I've been very busy! Branching out into working on other games is really exciting and allows me to explore different aspects of game development. Not to mention the added benefit of bringing in multiple revenue streams so I can stay afloat. But let's talk about Lost Nova!
☁️ The Sky Plains
After the unfortunate and entirely unavoidable crashing of your spaceship, you'll find yourself in the Sky Plains. As the first area of the game, you'll be introduced to the mechanics of the game, chief among them being The Mechanic.
The Mechanic runs the store where you can purchase new equipment. They'll also play a critical role in repairing your ship. I recommend making friends with them as soon as you can!
🎣 No-Stress Fishing
Can't have a chill exploration/resource gathering game without fishing! But, like, is it just me, or can fishing be a bit stressful in a lot of games? Especially the ones where losing a fish breaks some sort of combo or streak. I didn't want Lost Nova to have anything like that so what we get is a simple, no-stress fishing system. Find a fishing spot, catch a fish shaped like an apple, profit. It's never been easier!
But What Do I Do With These Fish?
After a relaxing day of catching fish out of lava pools and clouds, you can take your haul to the fisherman. The fisherman is beyond excited to pay you for any fish your bring them. Their motives remain a mystery, but personally I have no reason to believe that they're using these fish for evil in any capacity. Just a good, wholesome fisherman with no secrets. That's what I say.
Until Next Time
That's all for now, I have to get back to work! Until next time, please take a second to wishlist the game, if you haven't already. It really helps me out and the Steam algorithm really likes it!
<3 Jon
Solving the In-Game Map Problem - November 2021 Devlog
There's a lot of different ways to do an in-game map. There's a lot of ways to get it right and a lot of ways to get it wrong. As the world of Lost Nova got bigger, I needed to start thinking about how to do my own in-game map. Here's the results!
Can you Read It?
Map readability was a top priority for me. As a rule, I used high-contrast colors and borders to really emphasize where you can and can't travel. I then immediately proceeded to break that rule for Secret Reasons.
Where's the SECRETS
There's a lot of secrets in Lost Nova! Would putting them all on the map ruin the fun of exploration? I'm not sure. Instead, I decided to go with a sprinkling of little hints. Certain parts of each map are left open, alluding at hidden pathways. There are tiny pictograms to mark important locations and landmarks. Each map also displays which resources you can find in that area. I'm trying to help the player as much as I can without fully tipping my hand. A tricky thing to do when you're making a game primarily about exploration.
How Do I, Jon, Even Make a Map?
I took screenshots of each area within the editor and traced them. It works!
Other Neat Things
I did a lot more than just think a whole lot about maps since my previous devlog. In Lost Nova you can now:
mow the lawn
talk to a rock
have multiple saves
play with a controller!
shoot a rock
It's all really coming together!
Until Next Time
That's all for now! I believe there's still one major zone in the game that I haven't talked about yet, but I'll save that for next time. Until then, don't forget to wishlist the game. It really helps me out and the Steam algorithm really likes it!
<3 Jon
September 2021 Devlog!
Hello friends! Jon here, back again from deep within the game dev mines. I've made the long journey here, to you, with news of Lost Nova's progress.
It's going good!
Here's some of what I've recently finished getting into the game.
🍄 Roomwoods
The Roomwoods are home to many things. Most of them are mushrooms. But others are bears! The forest is one of the first areas I started working on, but I think the last to be completely finished. It has a really cool atmosphere and Topher's track for it is definitely one of my favorites.
🐤 Bucky
Bucky's work often takes them to distant lands. If you ever find them while on your travels, I'm sure they'd appreciate a ride back to their home in the Roomwoods.
(Bucky is the bird, to be clear.)
🔩 Bolt Bot
Inbetween the birds and mushrooms you come across, you might also find some bolts. These bolts aren't great bolts. They're not even good bolts. I don't remember why I put them in the game. But I do remember why I put the bolt bot. To eat bolts.
They love it, I promise. They'll even pay you for ever bolt you "feed" them! It's a win for everyone.
🐇 Bunny
Yes, there's a bunny. Yes, the bunny has a bowtie. Yes, you can pet the bunny. These are true facts that might come up when discussing the video game Lost Nova, and I hope they entice you.
That's all for now! I gotta get back to the game dev mines. Wouldn't want my overlords to realise that the empty Dr Pepper cans I've left in my place are, in fact, not me.
