Hello there!
I'm back for a new devlog about the game. Little more than two weeks have passed since the last one and I have been working on a lot of things. Let's go!
Supercell formation
I think that this will be a sticky section because it will be evolving during the game development to get better results. I have changed the supercell appearance to make it more realistic and it is pretty impressive right now. This "picturesque" screenshot (to quote Black_Eagle99 ːsteamhappyː) captured during the sunset gives you an idea of the new supercell rendering.
Wind information
As TylerPlaysGTA5 suggests in another thread, the wind is very important in storm chasing and I have added more info inside the car about it to better predict movements of supercells. It becomes less accurate when approaching windy zones but it can be very useful when chasing a faraway tornado.
Trees damages
In the last version, trees can be damaged by tornadoes. Tree branches are thrown away, leaves are pulled out and even trunks can be torn off by strong tornadoes.
Car interactions
Your car is your best friend in this game. Without a car, you will have to run to chase (escape from?) tornadoes. To add more interest in driving mechanics, beside from fuel management, I have added some new interactions as repairing car damages or pushing the car when it is stuck in mud during high precipitations weather.
Main menu
It is a temporary UI but it will gives you a better idea of what to expect about the game.
The "Customize" option lets you update your character and car appearance depending on your XP level.
Right now, the free roaming option will not be available for E.A. launch because I use it for testing purposes and it needs to be upgraded.
Online
It has been the main focus of work since the last devlog. I have fixed a lot of things and it is now working as it should. You can't drive other player's cars, but you can sit in passenger seat in cars that belong to your team.
To make chatting easier with gamepad, I have also added a quick chat option as in a lot of other online games.
Launch date
There is a lot of work remaining before Early Access launch but I don't think that anything could be blocking the development. There isn't a fixed day, but it will be released during the first two weeks of june.
As I wrote in another thread's comment, the price will be lower than what I said before (it was setted about $15-$20) but I can't say anything more precise as the final price has not been fixed yet.
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That's all for now. Don't doubt to tell me what you think about this devlog and if you have any suggestion in comments. It is really great to read that you are waiting for the game to be launched. It is very motivating!
Thank you so much for all of your kind words.
Stay tuned for more info!
Devlog #1: The first one
Hi storm chasers!
This is the first devlog about the game after its announcement. I have been working hard for the last weeks and I would like to share with you what have been done. Let's begin.
Supercell formation and rain shafts
The first thing I have been working was to make supercells more realistic and impressive. In the trailer, there was only a tornado with a small cloud above it, but now there are supercell forming and moving on the map that can ending up creating tornadoes.
I have also added rain shafts below supercells when there is heavy rain or hail precipitations.
You can have a better look of those rain shafts in this screenshot of a tornado that touched the ground pretty far away from my position:
Better GPS radar
There are also a lot of changes in the GPS radar. The supercell's formation are now appearing more realistically and I have added more useful information about roads, buildings, points of interest... etc. Of course it is far to be perfect but I think that I will let it unchanged for the early access launch.
Rain on windows and winshield wipers
Another graphical point that I was wishing to modify was the rain visual effects inside the car. I think that it is very important that the player feels safe and protected inside his vehicle and, for me, the windshield wipers are one element that can gives you this feeling.
It is really great to watch heavy rain falling on the window and listen the wipers cleaning the windshield. Of course, you can't expect a realistic effect like in the Drive Club game but I think it is enough... for the moment ;-).
As you can see in the screenshot above, I have also changed the hands of the driver to match the skin tone that you have selected for your avatar and I have added more info icons (car lights, engine gears... etc.)
Fill up the gas tank
It was something that was already working in the past version of the game, but, to add more realistic interactions, I have added the need to exit your car to fill up the gas tank and not only to have to drive to the gas station and to wait inside the car.
Online
Those was the changes made on the visual part of the game but the main work I have done in the past weeks has been in the online mode. I have fixed a lot of gameplay mechanics and I need to also add more features as "Invite your friends" and "Inactivity disconnection" for example.
That's all for now. Thank you very much for your interest about the game. I will try to respond every question that you could have about it, as I have done for now.
Stay tuned!
Preparing Early Access
Here we are... The Steam page of the game is now live and I have to work even harder to get everything done before the Early Access launch.
I would like to share with you an early development roadmap in the short term:
Early Access launch features
8 Singleplayer missions
1 Online multiplayer game mode available in 1 vs 1, 2 vs 2 and 4 vs 4
Customizable character and car
Editable online FM radio stations
Early Access post-launch features
2 New online multiplayer game modes
New gameplay interactions
More character and car customization
Local MP3 as an FM radio station
Don't forget to share your suggestions and ideas in the Suggestions / Ideas board.
This roadmap could dramatically change in the next weeks/months but it will gives you and idea of what to expect from Storm Chasers.
