I have been making some changes and additions to the Exham Priory castle, to improve the architecture and navigation.
If you have played the first "comeback" release either because you purchased the game or you already had it, you surely noticed the stairs didn't have railings. That's the first thing I've added. I will use the railings for platforming stuff too, like making you use the railings to drop into areas or reach other side of an area.
I have also been improving hallways, adding arches and thigs, and also changing the windows for some that look better.
And I have also been moving around some walls to make the architecture fit better, or improve navigation.
More to come soon.
June 2023 update
“Information about the current Early Access build (updated June 2023):
The current build includes an introduction level where you can learn Lavinia's move set. In this version you are taken through Lavinia's move set and other mechanics in a non-lethal environment, so you can learn the moves and fail without any punishment. In the final game, this section will be used as part of the story. Version 1 of the Exham Priory castle. The castle is currently empty because my main goal right now is go define the size and scale of the castle, as well as the atmosphere. You can't platform in the castle yet either. Version 1 of underground tunnels under the castle. This section is the same as the demo, and includes a lot of platforming and puzzles.
Purchase button is back, Exham Priory v1 available in first release
Hello all. I just wanted to let you know that the purchase button for this game is now available again, so you should be able to purchase the game now. As a note before you decide to purchase, remember this game is still in Early Access so you won't get a finished game yet, but if you still decide to purchase it and support its development, I'm very thankful.
While the game is still in EA, it won't suffer drastic changes. The rest of the game will be built on what you see here, and any change (besides adding more content, monsters, etc,. obviously) will be to add more features. Visual changes will only happen to improve the visual quality of the game, and I am not making changes to Lavinia either.
In the "version 1" of the Exham Priory castle, you can't perform platforming yet, because I first want to get an idea of the scale of the castle, how big it should be, and also the atmosphere. Comments about that are welcome. That's also the reason why the castle is empty.
Thanks to those that have played the demo and given input. And thanks also if you decide to support the game in its current state.
Building Exham Priory
Hello all.
Well, for the last few days I've been slowly building the Exham Priory castle. In previous updates I said I would make this game roughly following "The Rats in The Walls" but with some changes, the biggest one being that the protagonist is Lavinia de la Poer instead of the tale's Delapore/de la Poer. The other changes mostly consist on making the story more "gamey" (like adding puzzles, platforming, chases, etc.).
Anyway, following the idea of the story, Lavinia (and her family) move to the castle, still being rebuilt. I need to look for references to make the castle have more "modern appliances" (like a refrigerator) and not feeling completely disjointed. I mean, a gothic castle with a modern kitchen will look weird, so I am trying to make the whole thing make sense because the original story has a gothic castle so I am going to make a gothic castle!
Right now I have the layout and walls/floors setup, and I am working on the lighting. I want to get the lighting and the mood right before I move on to adding more stuff. I wanted to make the game available before finishing the entire castle, though, so I can easily change things based on any input I get.
I'll keep you posted
New demo update, includes "intro section" to teach the moves
Hello all.
I have uploaded an updated demo. This demo fixes a couple of more issues, and I also added a new section so you can learn the moves in an environment that doesn't kill you. This section also has some instructions so you learn how to do stuff.
I also am working on a "first release" so I can ask Steam to re-enable the Purchase button. This first version will include what you have in the demo (with some changes) and also a first version of the entire castle. The castle will be some sort of "sandbox" first, where you'll be able to play around but without any "locked areas" with puzzles and such. My plan is to build the game in a "layered" way, building the entire thing and adding puzzles and such after the basic environments are done.
All that should be ready next month.
Quick demo fix
Hello! I uploaded a quick fix for the demo to address a couple of issues. Now it should be easier to do the wallrun, and also there are clearer instructions in the pause menu. I will work on a short intro sequence where you can practice the movements without dying, and it will be part of the next demo. In the meantime, I decided to do this quick fixes.
Quick demo update
Hello! I uploaded a quick fix for the demo to address a couple of issues. Now it should be easier to do the wallrun, and also there are clearer instructions in the pause menu. I will work on a short intro sequence where you can practice the movements without dying, and it will be part of the next demo. In the meantime, I decided to do this quick fixes.
Updated demo
Hello.
I just uploaded a new demo. This one is running in Unreal Engine 5, does some fixes for lighting and I also added a settings menu. In the meantime I am working on more game content, and I hope I can have the purchase button back soon.
As mentioned in previous posts, when the purchase button come back, the game will still be in Early Access, so not all content will be included. I think I said this before but I am not sure. I am releasing this again as early access for various reasons. First, to have some "accountability" and make myself finish the game. To gradually add and improve content based on your input. And lastly to get some much-needed funds while I am making the game. The obvious question is "how do I know you're going to finish the game?" and my answer is "if I didn't plan to finish this game I would have just remained silent when you asked about updates and the purchase button". As you see I have been sharing updates and plans to bring the game back for some time, and now I am actually moving forward with my plans.
If you have any input on the demo, let me know!
Updated demo available soon
Hello all.
I've been working on an updated demo, fixing issues some of you have pointed out, and improving some stuff here and there. I also moved the game to Unreal Engine 5, so I am reworking the lights and fixing some stuff that the switch broke (for example, the hair is moving weird).
Some of the areas are starting to look better.
And I am also adding some extra lights to make some parts easier to see, so you know where you're supposed to go.
But lights in other parts still need a lot of work.
I also added an options menu where you can change sound volume, brightness and also remap the controls.
My goal is to have this new demo ready at some point this week or next week!
And then I will continue working on more game, so when I ask the purchase button to be re-enabled, you will have more content to play, while I continue working on more.
Sorry for the lack of updates
Hello everyone and sorry for the lack of updates. A few things happened that slowed down the development, but it's not stopping.
I switched the game to Unreal Engine 5, and that will improve the lighting a lot, among other things. I've also been working on increasing the brightness of the environment and overall lighting, to make it easier to see. I am also adding a settings menu, so you can change some game options including the brightness.
And I also am making a couple of changes to one of the puzzles in the demo.
