Development Update #8: Wood Management & Headshots
Hello Mercenaries,
We are still hard at work but we did want to update you about a few things here and there. While we highlighted in the past the process of wood gathering and barricade building, and since we are still adding more potential constructions and contraptions for all survivors to craft and erect, there is one vital aspect that connects these.
Stockpile Management
Building your defenses isn't easy. Plenty of manual labor is involved. An entire process from the first tree cut to the final nail hammered. Maintaining fortifications is also a must, especially when they get damaged. For all of these activities one constant requirement remains: materials. And one predominant material for many of the available constructions is wood. Luckily, where there is a forest, there is also an abundance of trees. With the right tools, tons of logs can be gathered and planks procured.
However, one wouldn't expect to simply carry such heavy haul in their back pocket all the time, nor just abandon it in the wilderness where it may get forgotten or wet. Moisture makes using wood difficult. What is the solution?
Storage! Being organized is a must, and stockpiling your materials for later use in special racks, while a rudimentary form of management, can be essential for efficiency or emergencies.
Marksmanship & Accuracy
You are a trained mercenary. You have spent hours and hours in the shooting range training, forging your skills, improving your aim, refining your reflexes, building an unperturbed focus, commitment and sheer will. Breathe steadily, concentrate, identify the target, bring it in your sight, squeeze the trigger and eliminate the threat. Sounds simple? All of these actions are natural for the seasoned marksman...but even the best soldier can freeze when faced with unspeakable horrors.
When hordes of infected are chasing you every bullet will count, ever second reloading is be a second you are vulnerable and exposed. Remember: aim for the head...if there is one.
Community Highlight: Freaky Gameplay
This week’s spotlight is going to be WIRED GAMING's first part of his Open Alpha Vorax gameplay series. His tactical play and analytic commentary was really insightful. We appreciated his investment in the worldbuilding and the story behind the game. And the balanced seriousness with the lightheartedness was truly a breath of fresh air. Make sure you do not miss the subsequent parts of this gameplay.
Next Week?
We'll see...remain focused and vigilant at all times!
Development Update #7: House Cleaning & Distractions
Hello Mercenaries,
I am Steven and I'm part of the Vorax development team. We'll be returning to your favorite safe house in an adrenaline filled montage and explore a bit the importance of focus in a short snippet.
Clearing the safe house
Bullets and shells aren't always easily available. Using a more direct approach can be one way to clear your future safe house. Using axes, hatches, chainsaws, hammers, any blunt or sharp object available is advisable in order to clear the way and secure the perimeter.
Just like King Leonidas and the Greek army had successfully fought in the narrow pass at the battle of Thermopylae, so can you use the tight corridors and the elevation in your advantage.
When you are in a numerical disadvantage, you must always pick your fights wisely.
Distractions
The light of the torches may be mesmerizing, hypnotizing even, but don't get too distracted. Always stay vigilant about your surroundings, one short moment of inattention can be your last. Rely on your senses, sight and hearing especially, and always react fast to any potential threats.
Community Highlight: First Impressions
This week’s spotlight is going to Rugrat's first gameplay of the Open Alpha version of Vorax. First impressions are important, and we are glad that this Australian mate gave us a chance. Come find out what he thinks and what his experience was in this video.
Wood you check this out?
Next week you will not get board since we'll focus a bit more on wood management. Nothing that scary, so that you'll be able to sleep like a log. Too many wood puns? You saw that coming.
Just like scarecrows confuse and frighten birds, fire has similar effects on the infected. Since most of them are nocturnal, their eyesight isn't accustomed to bright light, making them photosensitive and vulnerable.
With a few strategically placed torches and barricades, you may hinder the advance of hordes, daze their senses and make them easy targets for elimination.
Resilience is a word that fits the infected hunters. They are perseverant and will not back down from hunting you down. Cut off one of their arms, they'll use the other one. Blow off their legs, they'll crawl. No limbs? They'll bite.
The only sure-fire way to put them down is a bullet through their skull.
Hunting With Bow and Arrow, Cooking and Using Crafted Tools
As mentioned in our previous devlog, we have added a few new survival mechanics into the game in order to make the immersion and gameplay experience even better. In this week’s development video, we will demo hunting, crafting, cooking & water purifying.
Starting a fire around your camp using torches and campfires can repel unwanted visitors, and also allow you to cook food and purify water. Tools such as the hatchet, chainsaw, and axe, are some of the go-to tools for collecting wood. You may even craft your own tools, when push comes to shove.
During rainy days/nights, you will be unable to create fire in the open so be sure to keep an eye on the weather when planning excursions.
Furthermore, animals can be hunted to provide you resources such as furs and meat. Small game can be hunted with the craftable bow and arrows, meaning you will always have the opportunity to replenish your food supply if needed.
Community Highlight: Gasps & Frights
This week’s spotlight is going to Zahait’s review of the Open Alpha version of Vorax. We have heard a few gasps in the video and it’s hard to say that we weren’t happy with the reactions. How long do you think he’s able to last? Come find out in this video.
Belated Happy Holidays From IndieGala
Though the world of Vorax is very bleak, you can still find a way to get into the Christmas spirit. In light of collecting firewood, the logs in Vorax can be collected just like people collect Christmas Yule logs. While only a brief comfort in an otherwise gloomy atmosphere, it’s still a little Christmas-like touch. We want to wish the wonderful Vorax community a Happy New Year. The support from our community has been fantastic, and we are excited to continue bringing even more exciting content to Vorax as we move into 2023. Thank you all.
Development Update #5: Cooking, Campfires & Torches
Happy Weekend, Mercenaries.
It’s been a big week for us, as we have added a few new features and mechanics to the game that expands Vorax’s survival mechanics. This week's development log will cover some of the bigger additions such as cooking, campfires, and the addition of torches to help light your way. We will also give you a taste of tense action below.
Cooking, Campfires, and a New Light Source
In order to survive on the island you will need sustenance. You will ingest fat, salt, sugar, protein, fungi, bacteria, diverse plants and animals...entire ecosystems. This will be your menu on the island...unless you plan on becoming part of that menu.
If you are lucky, you might find some rations, a can of soup or a granola energy bar. But you ended up on this cursed island, so luck isn't your strong point. To survive you will need to eat and drink. Harvesting for nuts and berries might not always be an option, that's why hunting for game can become a vital priority. Game meat is nutritious, but eating it raw can be risky. Also water in the contaminated zone needs to be boiled and purified before you'll want to drink it.
Fire provides a source of warmth and lighting, and can help to keep the photosensitive infected away. For better nourishment you can cook food to make it last longer and taste better. For better navigation you can light up torches when your flashlight batteries dies.
Fight or flight against a pack of...
In tense, heart-pounding moments we will trigger a primordial instinct. An automatic physiological reaction to an event that is perceived as stressful or frightening, also known as the fight-or-flight response. Regardless of where on the island you are, danger is never far off, and the fear of threatening wild animals is something primal, in our nature. Will you face your fear or run in terror?
When armed with a weapon, a wild dog might not be too frightening, a mutated wolf might be unsettling...but a pack of infected wolf-like creatures chasing you during the night is another story.
The mutation has affected the animals, both their bodies and their behavior, grotesquely deforming their physic and making them more aggressive, more feral. One primal aspect is maintained for wild dogs: their pack mentality. They will act as a unit, communicate, work as a team and attack accordingly. You must not break eye contact and must never expose your back. It can be your final fatal mistake.
Community Highlight: An In-Depth Review
The community content just keeps coming our way. Here’s a recent video by SfRoss we’ve chosen as our community highlight this week. He knowingly set foot on the island and did not expect to survive, however he came back with a tale to tell.
Not only did he offer an entertaining playthrough, but also an insightful one, sharing with us his honest experience and suggestions, both during the play and after. Feedback is really important to us. The voice of the community helps us craft an improved game experience for everyone. Thank you.
What’s coming in the near future?
Not to reveal too much, but you might receive a hand...or two...or even a leg.
Hey Mercenaries, First off, we wanted to say thank you to everyone that participated in our recent Open Alpha. We hope you enjoyed the new content and improvements that we made to Vorax, and are excited to share what else we have been working on in this week’s devlog vidoes.
Building Traps - A Survivor's Necessity
Supplies are running low, the equipment is limited, so you must save every single bullet and not waste materials haphazardly. You'll have to scavenge for anything that might look remotely useful to your survival. If you're lucky, you may find what you need to build a makeshift explosive trap.
A can here, a rope there and the most important ingredient, one of the four great inventions of China that changed warfare as we know it: gunpowder. We're not going to give you the full list, since you'll be crafty enough to figure it on your own, right?
Traps can be both defensive and offensive tools. Plan ahead, place these security measures strategically and they will become a valuable asset when defending your base. They can also become a great way of ambushing unsuspecting guests, if you lure them right...and not accidentally trigger the traps early. Watch your step.
Securing Your Safe House
Speaking of defending your base, barricades & fences can be vital tools when surviving the night on the island.
Scavenge for boards, cut down trees with your chainsaw, break down pallets with your axe, use any means necessary to gather as much wood as possible...you will need it. For a safe night sleep, you must not forget to barricade entrances and block pathways in order to make an intruder rue the day it decided to walk into your territory.
Keep in mind thou: wood can be brittle. Like a maiden's heart, it can break faster than expected, if it gets damaged too much. Mending may be required.
Most barricades will only stop the infected onslaught temporarily, but there are alternatives. If you are looking for something stronger, you could always reinforce them using metal for extra resistance. Those extra spikes may make the difference between life and death.
Community Highlight: Contagious Energy
We always love content made by our community members. Here’s a recent video by Fisk we’ve chosen as our community highlight this week. We also love that our audience is passionate, energetic and so full of creativity.
While the mysterious island pathogen is something one must avoid at all costs, the contagious positive energy emanated by Fisk is something different. Our passion got infected with renewed energy to further improve and develop our game. Thank you.
What’s coming up next week?
Stay tuned and find out soon. Look forward to some discord giveaways in the near future.
For this Friday’s devlog, we wanted to show you our most recent YouTube video highlighting some of the exciting things the development team has been working on.
While you’re checking the video out, be sure to head over to IndieGala or Steam to play the new Vorax alpha 0.3, which is still available for a limited time
“Bilial-Like” Creatures Stalk the Night
There are more dangerous things than simple zombies that lurk in the dark on the island. Not only do they present a physical threat, but their terrifying appearance will test even the most hardened mercenary’s sanity.
While it can be dangerous to engage them, they often drop special loot that can be extremely useful. Remember, good things come to those that are brave.
Sergeant Elcado Needs Help
While much of the island has been ravaged by the virus, there are still people who have managed to survive. One such survivor is Sergeant Elcado, who is the only surviving member of a NATO squad sent to investigate the ongoing events on the island. Survivors like him can often help you throughout your mission, but they will often ask that you do something for them in exchange.
Community Highlight: Gameplay Versatility & Compatibility
One of our goals in developing Vorax, is to provide the player with multiple different ways to play the game. Whether it’s going in guns blazing, or cleverly trapping an area to avoid fighting enemies head on, we want the player to choose how they approach each and every situation.
https://youtu.be/6FZJgo-0c2s
To highlight this, check out some of the content created by our community members showcasing how they tackle difficult situations.
What's next?
That’s all for this week, everyone. But look forward to the next one when we will take a closer look at some of the strategic aspects of the game, such as trap crafting and building fortifications.
Remember, the Open Alpha is still available for those of you wishing to experience some of the new content and updates we’ve added to the game. Also, be sure to join our Discord to get exclusive news on updates, events, and more.
The open alpha featuring our newest build is available for a limited time to download & play on Indiegala via our client or on Steam . Play Vorax alpha 0.3 today and experience true horror.
Video 1: Chainsaw - Woodcutting
In order to build your defenses and fortifications, raw materials will be needed. In the sylvan section of the island, wood is available, from small saplings, and bushes to tall and majestic trees. There is a bountiful arboreal selection.
However, harvesting and gathering wood isn't such a light task. Tools are needed. While punching a tree, with one's brute force, could, in some circumstances, offer a few splinters, an axe or a hatchet would do a slightly better job. But, we have evolved beyond such primitive methods, and have found a more efficient method: the chainsaw.
A fairly hefty tool but it gets the job done: trees, logs, evergreen, wild animals and more, as long as you have the space and strength to carry, with enough fuel in your tank, you can clear out an entire forest in an instant.
Video 2: Close & Personal - Chainsaw Combat
Chainsaws, hatchets, hammers, etc. There are plenty of melee options that allow you to get close and personal. But, did you know that chainsaws can be used for more than just cutting trees?
Yes. Originally, the first chain saws were being used in surgery, for the excision of diseased joints or simply cutting bone. Luckily on the island, you do not need a medical degree nor take the Hippocratic Oath to operate a chainsaw and plenty of diseased specimens need a check-up.
If "an apple a day keeps the doctor away", a chainsaw keeps everyone away, every day.
Video 3: Circuits - "Let there be light"
Fuses, diodes, resistors, capacitors and lots of wiring. While becoming an aspiring electrical engineer can be a great prospect for the future, getting back alive from the island must come as a priority.
Completing a broken panel requires the rotation of tiles of a network trying to connect power to the grid. Generation of the grid is entirely procedural so that no playthrough has the same puzzle.
By solving the electrical puzzles, mounting enough fuses and with the right parts, entire buildings, dark hallways or even sewer sections can be illuminated.
starting from this week we will give you regular updates on the Vorax development every friday.
Below are our most recent YouTube videos that will give you an idea of where Vorax is in development.
Video 1: Ambush
Vorax is for the most part an open world game where you've got miles and miles to freely explore to your heart's content.
However there are also some more tightly closed spaces, claustrophobic even, like tunnels, sewers and caves.
There the mutation has peculiar aspects depending on the environment.
Certain kind of monsters are adapting to certain type of conditions, such as light or air,
therefore some types of mutations will be specific to closed and dark spaces.
https://youtu.be/S4r7Bn1YE_o
Video 2: Defending The House
The majority of the enemies, especially the toughest are photosensitive.
You must balance your physical safety and your mental sanity carefully. Finding a shelter, an appropriate location where you can hide and barricade yourself will protect you, but staying too much into the darkness will slowly chip away at your sanity. Turning on the light might offer some mental comfort, however that will also, potentially, attract unwelcomed guests.
In fact, at night the hostile creatures, mostly photosensitive, come out to hunt.
So you need to exercise extreme caution when moving around.
We have planned several buildings that can be cleared, reinforced and made into a relatively safe haven for the night.
But if these safety operations are not carried out, they can be attacked by creatures.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKnd3qrRw_A
Video 3: Tunnel
The virus contaminates the whole island, resulting in various forms of aberrations, from small to big... to massive.
What delves deep in the dark tunnels is just one of those aberrations. Dealing with it might make both your heart and the ground beneath you tremble.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHLOcnXZoD0
Our Vision.
We have been trying for months to work on a large game area (in the alpha indiegala for now only 15% of the island is explorable) where
we want to give the feeling of a whole environment, flora, fauna, human beings… every cell contaminated by the virus.
Because the pathogen does not affect humans exclusively, other 'entities' might be infected by the virus and the resulting mutations can be abnormal.
We also focused heavily on combat system, an aspect that had left us unsatisfied in our previous title, Die Young.
The team has placed a big emphasison ranged weapons and firearms,
which is why managing the limited ammunition available will be important to survive.
But we haven't neglected hand-to-hand combat either.
In the coming weeks we will see the use of different work tools that can turn into lethal weapons.
Compared to Die Young we think we've definitely improved the survival side.
You will be able to craft almost anything you can find in the game and
also you will be able to build a large variety of structures in order to have the most personalized gaming experience possible.
Let's keep in touch next friday.
Keep an eye on ig for updates, especially next week. On the Black Friday weekend you will be able to try out the UPDATED ALPHA build. Once more, for a limited time only.
Next weekend, infact, we will update to latest features and fixes we've been working so hard in those months.
Make sure to join us on Discord for exclusive news.
Slay never-ending legions of monsters while running in circles!
Fight Mythical Bosses!
Fully destructible game environments!
Use over 10 unique weapons ( more to come! ) and upgrade them all!
https://youtu.be/H8uFV2Useho
PMCW Intelligence Document No. 010178.
PMCW Intelligence Document No. 010178.
Information in our possession is conflicting, but it seems that the infection has spread very quickly within a few days, perhaps even in a few hours. It seems that in the hours immediately following the outbreak of the infection, 43rd NATO airborne battalion was sent to the island but all contacts were lost after only 8 hours.
PMCW considers this matter with the utmost importance. Objectives of team W1 are:
Locate the biolab
Take in vitro samples of the pathogen (codename: "Vorax")
Liquidate surviving medical personnel (optionally) and any witnesses.
In NO case must the presence of the PMCW be revealed.
Every W1 squad member is equipped with cyanide capsules. Squad commander is authorized to start liquidation procedure in case of emergency. Proceed with the utmost caution.
THE ENVIRONMENT
The island is vast and offers a wide variety of natural resources. There are also several settlements, a main village, a hotel and tourist attractions. In the event of an emergency landing, or loss of tactical equipment, each squad member is trained to survive in a hostile environment. As a good mercenary of a private military company, you know how to use local plants and herbs to make ointments and medications to treat state effects such as burns, bleeding, relieve your stress or simply restore your health. But more importantly, you can use building materials provided by nature to make rudimentary melee weapons, traps, barricades and much more. Even a silent bow, very useful for knocking out the infected without being detected.
THE INFECTION
It seems that the infected are the side effect of the virus grown in the bio-laboratory. Probably when a security flaw opened, the virus spread to the island.
It is not yet clear whether it spreads by air or through aquifers but what is certain is that biomass, similar to fleshy appendages that are sometimes glimpsed in the environment, are one of the final stages of the virus. The biomass therefore seems to be responsible for the mutations that occurred to the civilian inhabitants and to the military personnel who rushed to contain the first stages of the infection. Contact with non-bottled liquids or non-canned food is therefore strictly prohibited.
Mutates are fast, extremely aggressive and above all voracious. The first to be devoured were the breeding animals of the surrounding farms and estates. For this reason, any living being, human or animal, is for them a prey.
Apparently they do not devour each other ( to be confirmed ).
Finally, it seems that they are photosensitive. At least the infected humans. Our drones have in fact observed the absence of external diurnal activity by the mutants, even if some animal species that have come into contact with the pathogen, such as stray dogs, wolves, wild boars and bears, do not seem to suffer from photosensitivity.
It is therefore recommended to exercise extreme caution at night.
OPERATIONAL INFO
You will land in the North area, a few hundred meters from the bio-laboratory, at 4.30 in the morning. The helicopter will wait 25 minutes and then will take off.
