I know it's been a while but I wanted to post a little *teaser* and provide updates on the 2.0 version of THE_ABYSS_HAS_WALLS.
General Status:
U98X II: feature complete, and the content (there is a lot of it) is on the way. I plan to make a short demo video of U98X II (including its command terminal!!!) in the near future. It's got a new CRT feel thanks to some shader wizardy and plenty of features and fixes that will surely delight.
Gameplay / story: Implementation is in process. I personally think it's a significant upgrade both in the amount of sense it makes as well as the "feel". Forcing myself to make the original version in 6 weeks meant more time was spent implementing than designing, and well...check the reviews.
Because it has been rebuilt from scratch + I've been taking formal programming courses, bugs and the like should be very few in quantity, while frames-per-second will surely be much higher in quantity.
Timeline:
As I'm currently beginning the process of looking for a proper games industry job, time dedicated to THE_ABYSS (and its respective walls) may be sparser than originally planned. I don't want to make and break another deadline promise, but things look good and I'm working on it as much as I can alongside other commitments.
Thank you all, and I hope to see you in THE_ABYSS.
-James Madsen Digital Enterprises
Images:
Hope you brought popcorn.
1998 called, it wants its user experience back.
U98X II + THE_ABYSS_CANT_MAKE_UP_ITS_MIND
Hi everyone! Just wanted to provide a quick update on how development is going. After getting the base framework of the updated project built, I realized that undertaking the original update, as planned, would be a massive commitment that I was unlikely to complete on time. As such I wanted to inform you all of the new plan: Instead of 5 lower-quality levels, I have gone back to the drawing board to create one highly polished level with a whole new suite of mechanics. It's no longer backrooms-themed, however is still similar in principle. The actual gameplay stuff isn't too far along, since I just completed the redesign of the update, however U98X || (the sequel to U98X, the "operating system" in the game) is nearly complete and has some slick new features like:
Resizable Windows
A whole new suite of applications pertaining to the story and mechanics of the game
Rebind-able controls and enhanced settings
A terminal-style command console for both dev stuff + player tomfoolery (THE_ABYSS_HAS_GUNS?)
Terrible 90s web design >:)
I'm going to make people who buy the U98X license DLC actually type in a 20-character "license key" because I'm a jerk (but I'll make sure it's worth your while)
Even though it's less content than originally planned, I really think this will be better for the game as well as your experience as a player. Sometimes we game developers get ambitious in our plans; rather than scramble to get a bunch of "just okay" content out the door, I want to use the same timeframe to make a little 99 cent slice of excellence for you to experience. The original timeframe is still in place (6 months to 1 year at time of announcement, so about 8 months at the longest at this point), however with a scaled-back update it *may* be possible that it'll drop before that. I'd like to keep everything a surprise, so it might be quiet around here leading up to the release of the update.
Thank you
-JAMES_MADSEN_DIGITAL_ENTERPRISES
P.S. I love all of the drawings you guys are doing with the markers. They aren't a central mechanic in the new version, but because you guys clearly enjoy them, they'll be staying in the game and might get some upgrades if time permits.
THE_ABYSS_HAS_A_BRAND_NEW_BAG
Hi everyone! James Madsen (main/solo developer) of THE_ABYSS_HAS_WALLS here! We’ve read player feedback, and after a development break and some behind-the-scenes work, I’m happy to announce that the final update for the game has passed the design phase, and we’ve broken ground on the implementation of the new features/content. This includes:
-5 levels with unique challenges and obstacles -Cross-dimensional puzzle solving (if that doesn’t make sense, you’ll get it when you play.) -Performance enhancements -A major overhaul related to story/lore content -Deeper and enhanced UI features/options -More!
As far as a timeline, this is multiplying the size of the game by about 5 times over (from a developer standpoint), so development could take 6 months to a year. Thanks for sticking with us and we’ll see you in the halls of THE_ABYSS.
Cheers,
-James M.
THE_ABYSS_IS_BEING_IMPROVED
Hey everyone! We've been poring over player feedback, and have seen a lot of room for improvement with the game. It was a little bit rushed, and we understand frustrations being expressed. That being said, we are pleased to announce that we are not abandoning this title, and have returned to the drawing board to deliver a better experience for everyone.
For the time being, I would recommend wishlisting the game instead of buying it. I say this not as a developer but as a fellow player. We'll leave the price where it's at briefly after the update, then return it to 4.99 or so once we feel we've reached a content threshold that justifies that price.
