Howdy folks,
I took 2 years to be able to filter, test, prototype and materialize the players' suggestions for a Trip to Vinelands sequel. The next day it was possible to find threads on the UBERMOSH hubs about the next title. Am I making the next UBERMOSH? Why?
Right now I am working on 3 game-related projects... (and 2 other tech-related projects). It is not news that my work is my hobby... and my work... and it is all about testing new stuff, updating it, checking how it works now, thinking about ways to improve the experience, testing again... sending it, checking how it worked, ...looking for the next step, executing it, testing again...
One of the projects is the "TTV3 after launch", changing stuff following players feedback to make the best balance... it is like the UBERMOSH Vol.7 Redux update, where I inserted and changed lots of stuff. The next two game-related projects are a "not-UBERMOSH" game and the constant test of hundreds of UBERMOSH threads/suggestions/impressions to see if a worthy sequel is possible... I can say that the answer is Yes, but after Vol.7 and the aim of each volume being wider than the previous, ...it is pretty hard to say when I will be able to release it (but I will).
The tech stuff not related to games wobble around audio effects circuits (that I also use on my games) and "hyper-fast ascending drones" ... that are very experimental and math-related.
This post is a THANK YOU for all the support during this development journey... and a letter for the community, saying that soon more stuff will be released.
Many thanks!
https://store.steampowered.com/developer/waltermachado
UBERMOSH Vol.7 REDUX + TTV3
Polishing with brute force.
The way to crack a password with Brute Force is testing all possible answers. Balancing a game is not that different. UBERMOSH is on the 7th volume and gone thru 2 early access (the first and the latest version) and, gained lots of new elements during this journey...
My main quest developing it is to find a way to give a kinda accessible challenge to some players and reward the outstanding skill of other players in the same game. The progression system started a new approach, giving an easy starting goal then moving to more complex goals while presenting improved powers for each character. It created a learning curve but reduced the gameplay momentum.
Then the REDUX version comes.
Now each character can evolve as much as you score and you will never have to strike the same score again. The improved progression system comes with 1.5 updates related to improved map hue variability, intensity, and saturation tweaks to keep your eyes fresh during the gameplay. Fine audio and performance improvements come followed by a very very fine challenge tune to make it the ultimate UBERMOSH experience.
I thank you for your feedback and invite for another time at the pit.
TTV3... I like the Trip to Vinelands series, and I wanted to play it faster... with new gears to force me to manage stress and beat the hundred again. If you can see you on the same boat, there is a new trip... the character will look too fast to control, the levels will look unbalanced and unfair, the game will look very similar but with weird new spinning stuff... that's all true, and I loved to beat it because the procedural variability made it as challenging for me as for the new players.
...I am still working on more things, hope to deliver it soon.
Many many thanks.
https://store.steampowered.com/developer/waltermachado
DEEPTRIPVINESEQUEL
How UBERMOSH would be if it was made today? That's a question I am always answering with each new volume, inserting new stuff, testing players ideas, checking for feedback...
The first "Trip to Vinelands" was one of my most experimental takes on game developing (...was it as experimental as Warpzone Drifter?), it was launched in 2016, having a sequel one year later, TTV2.
Today I am not working on TTV3, because my hands are on another project... and TTV3 development is complete.
2 years since the previous volume, TTV3 presents new pieces, faster pace, and new "Maze Seeds".
Every time you beat a level, one seed will generate a level... and two levels generated by the same seed can be similar, but with changed parts to create a weird Déjà vu, where you kinda know how to beat that maze, but something is a bit different now... and that memory can improve your chances to score further... if you keep focused.
Howdy folks, since update 1.4 (UBERMOSH Vol.7) that inserted a bit of "soil hue variability" to keep your eyes fresh and, for fresh ears, it allowed the tracks to play the Classic version and the Darkmix version (low tunned and with levels to match an old, mahogany oiled, speaker cabinet), some players asked for the Darkmix tracks to be released.
Please check your Music tab on Steam, it should appear 12 dark mixed versions of the Classic UBERMOSH tunes, and if for some reason Steam can't find it, it is near the Easter Eggs folder inside UBERMOSH installation folder (C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\UBERMOSH Vol.7). It should be inside the eggs, but it was moved to the side to make it easier to appear on the Music tab on Steam. I am pretty happy with the game balance, performance, gameplay, and cosmetic elements... My huge thanks for the community feedback that made it possible, detailed hub suggestions, impressions, and Steam Reviews (that are extremely important for the game visibility and Store relevance)!
More stuff soon
https://store.steampowered.com/developer/waltermachado
THE DARK MIX UPDATE
It is not just about development, I play UBERMOSH Vol.7, for fun, a lot. Shredded it during Closed Alpha, Early Access, 1.0, 1.1...1.2.....and finally I came with the Dark Mix Update. The game was made following players' feedback, and some elements still surprise me, like the thugs A.I. and how awesome is it to test new ways to use the powers.
One lesson I learned developing TTV and TTV2 and it was inserted on all previous UBERMOSH: Randomic changes on how the light is pre-rendered on the floor refresh players' perception. TTVs change level filters each maze and the UBERMOSH games change a bit "light projection/ground tonality" each match. Now, it works on Vol.7 too.
While experimenting variations on the OST I brought back the Dark Mix, a "tweak" that I liked to make on the tracks to "listen while driving". Low tunning plus some degrees of a special reverb setup that can morph surf music thru the darkest metal. Now, on Vol.7, the dark-mixed can randomly play with the classic tracks, and I hope you have as much fun as I am having.
Many many thanks for the support and hub interactions, it is guiding the development and performance updates. If you like what you are seeing, please, please, make a review on Steam, it helps a lot to spread the seed.
Play it loud!
https://store.steampowered.com/developer/waltermachado
1.0
Four thousand hours of GMS, eight hundred of Black Ink, two thousand hours of Fl Studio and, a few hundred hours of other software since the first volume.
I like to see Vol.7 as my best effort to translate years of players' feedback about what they want in a top-down shooter. This volume brings more characters to cover more gameplay styles, some characters will have more progression (to meet the desire of some players to feel the character learning and upgrading skills) and, some will start hardboiled since the first match. The game balance came with awesome community support during Steam Early Access, sharing impressions and ideas for the next steps... and I tried to find a common ground for different expectations.
The game is complete, and I keep resetting and playing it again, something is really really right with this title... and I thank you a lot, for it!
Version 1.0 is online, enjoy.
https://store.steampowered.com/developer/waltermachado
6/6
Early this year, the ASCENSION concept was inserted on the UBERMOSH series. The main quest was to create the experience of the character getting stronger, ascending thru enlightenment.
It started Steam Early Access with 3 characters, aiming to get the next 3 before May/2019 and check for the final balance before release.
How hard is, to make in a few months, the game this amazing community deserves?
Santicide. I can say that it would not be possible without your fantastic feedback, shared impressions and on-point suggestions. Not all ideas can enter on the release version, but lots of it were tested. Colorblind mode works, Square maps don't (inconsistent difficulty for randomly shaped arenas). Autofire Class works, Miniboss class don't (impossible to dodge). A Kensai class works, ...Gunner class too...
Version 0.6 is very very close to how the final version will look like.
It is time to get your achievements!
Many many thanks, it is hard to describe how proud I am for this community support during the development journey.
Reviews, hub threads, videos, score screenshots... it helps a lot!
https://store.steampowered.com/developer/waltermachado
FEEDBACK
Howdy folks, Early Access Updated, version 0.5, and 5 of 6 characters are playable right now.
How did they come? Due to the Beauty and Toughness of Steam Early Access, "Blademaster Q" came from the "give us a Kensai" feedback. The gameplay is a mix of defensive-double-sword-bullet-cutting, double-melter-spinning and the Pink Brainclap (Aia has the classic "KO triggered" Red Brainclap that goes denser thru Ascension, Wanderer has the Green Brainclap, that triggers a bit faster and like Red, goes denser thru Ascension. The Pink Brainclap is always very dense, but the KOs needed to trigger it is related to how ascended the character is).
"Gunner Kore" was deeply inspired by flying drones FPV (one of my non-game related activities and, I tried to transfer that feeling to this character). When flying acro, sometimes you have to split your attention, Kore has autofire and extra guns that can increase wideness of gun spread or fire 180 degrees of your aiming direction... plus the Pink Brainclap. Making a six characters UBERMOSH is very complex and a true development challenge because of the balancing of the ASCENSION steps.
Wook was nerfed a bit, the game got some performance and AI tweaks, and with this amazing community support, the development can go in the direction players deserve. Many many thanks!
If you like the game progress, please review it. I am all ears to hear your suggestions via Steam Hub and there are lots of threads for you to express your impressions, ideas and, suggestions.
More stuff soon!
https://store.steampowered.com/developer/waltermachado
FUEL
What fuels a game developer? In my case, I can say that a mix of motivation, resources, and feedback... and it is working pretty nice on UBERMOSH Vol.7 Early Access.
Today I uploaded version 0.4, a structural update, more focused on performance and compatibility than gameplay and cosmetics. Update 0.3 was the first balance tweak, this one will solve memory issues on some machines and runs lighter on older computers without sacrificing audio and visual elements. Now I am working on 0.5... the next characters will come on 0.6.
Why is it flowing faster than I expected? The awesome community provides fast and accurate feedback, creating in a few hours enough feedback for me to plan and execute the next update, motivated by their kindness, enthusiasm, and reviews... that also brings new players for the community.
This journey would not be possible without you. Many many thanks. More content soon (music stuff too, I designed a new FUZZ guitar pedal for the next track).
https://store.steampowered.com/developer/waltermachado
TWEAK
24 hours ago, Vol.7 launched, and for my luck, the beauty of Early Access with the Awesome UBERMOSH Community support started. Veterans of the mosh start sending priceless feedback about combat, balance, expectations, and a ton of insights for the next updates.
Now, on version 0.3, Aia will have a bit more chances during the first steps of ASCENSION, Wook will find that some enemies upgraded their shields and Wanderer... oh, that fine fine tune and the perfect challenge curve got a tiny tweak with the SWARM starting a bit later (and it also affects Aia, that combo this tweak with the stronger Manastrike (that green ray)).
My job continues working on the next steps, listening to you, nice folks, translating gameplay feedback to numbers, sounds, and images (yep, that will come soon).
Many many thanks for the kindness and support. I am making my best to give you a worthy UUUUUUUUBEEEEEERRRMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSHH.
