Main games priority
Added 2024-12-19 17:49:34 +0000 UTCSorry for the long time with no update.
I was working on a new management game (PoP prequel) and wanted to reach a point it's more presentable before posting a version. I ran into some design issues as it's more complex than expected and it was harder to simplify.
After too much time, I just continued with PoP as I hadn't updated it in a while.
Infos on the management game so far (PoP spoilers):
You'll play as the two creators.
With access to portals/stasis pods and genetic tools, you'll try to create new civilisations.
Manage ecosystems/religion/knowledge/trade routes/mana of different worlds to create conditions for specific adaptations and create new species/traits. Learn to unlock new plants and creatures to create conditions for different worlds. For example if the only food source is a water fruit, humans may develop webbed hands. With dormant fish genes, gill traits may also stabilize. Those characters may have good survival chances in new hostile worlds completely covered in water and adapt further etc.
Visit those worlds to learn about their problems, recruit staff members, have fun or collect samples.
Specialize your two characters to your needs.
Generally there are 3 goals: (need to reach one to win)
1. Create a highly advanced civilisation to help you.
2. Gain full understanding of genetics (effectively unlocking all PoP base species and more, starting with humans as base)
3. Remove radiation and repopulate earth with high stability and biodiversity
For difficulty, you basically have a checklist of self imposed ethical requirement. You want to break as few as possible, though that makes things a lot harder.
Gameplay specifics:
You have a few actions for your two characters before you need to "sleep", skipping many years in the future.
You'll get some infos on what happened based on your staff jobs. (You start with a few robot assistants)
Actions include research, introducing new creatures/plants, discovering new planets, bond with your staff, visiting regions to gain influence, suggest paths, recruit characters, collect samples to create new species.
Staff can be set to teach certain knowledge traits to newy created species, keep logs for certain regions, research etc.
Worlds are split into regions with certain traits.
Regions start with different soil slots, you can use to start terraforming. Used plants generally create slots for creatures. Creatures may create slots for other creatures (effectively just equipping plants/animals as "items" to regions)
The combination of plants/animals/natural traits create the basic conditions/material access for human populations.
Species have multiple stats with different caps. They generally increase as long as there is demand for it and decay if there isn't. Design new core species to get different min/max caps.
Regions and species will randomly develop cultural traits over time based on their conditions. (For example with an ecosystem of just grass, rodents and snakes, there is no incentive to scale strength, but a lot to scale perception and dexterity. With access to poison they may develop cultural traits related to it or build resistances. You could foster a combative culture to stop strength from decaying. Or introduce a single large immortal boss monster. It won't reproduce and only destroys a percentage of the civilisation each cycle, but there is always and incentive for defeating it.)
Species may migrate to other regions or even worlds if you keep open portals, spreading knowledge/rumors etc. Mana density will equalize between open portals, letting you control access to special traits/abilities.
When visiting a region, you'll get a few random locations with characters based on their progress/population.
You can build interest and trust with those characters in various ways based on their culture. You can be joined by one of your staff members to get access to new tools. Your maincharacters may appeal to different regions.
Spend your time to gather intel, grant knowledge, collect samples, build influence, grant gifts, recruit etc.
Species art will likely work like a more expansive/better version of Evo's chimera form with a ton of variety in each part and clothing based on their progress stage/culture.
The cast of "unique" characters will be pretty limited, mostly being a few old robots you can repair.
So now I have 3 games I'm pretty sure I will want to finish eventually.
Poll: What is the general interest in continuing each one?
(I'll probably just focus on the highest voted one for 1-2 months until next update)
What I'd do next for each game:
PoP:
Update placeholders (sprites, descriptions, missing event pics etc.)
Add more events/species etc.
Expand date events. Options and descriptions
DemonDome/Succubus game:
Focus on cleaning up UI and existing systems.
Make goals/endings.
Basic balancing
Management game:
Finish a playable prototype including all game systems.
Comments
I think you should just do what is best for keeping yourself motivated as a creator! That way in the long run, more stuff for me overall ehe >u<
Strings Girl!
2025-02-02 07:09:08 +0000 UTCFollowing whatever creative impulse takes you is generally preferable, but if overindulged can lead to leaving big projects unfinished. On the other side, forcing yourself to work on something creative when you are feeling it in another project can lead to missed opportunities and burnout. I vote for "focus on PoP" with these thoughts in mind.
Quartz Chrysalis
2025-01-19 22:29:01 +0000 UTCIt's all interesting, but I'd like to see Pop completed out first :D
monster encyclophedia
2025-01-12 20:20:55 +0000 UTCDo what's fun for you 1st
tabu
2025-01-03 01:37:03 +0000 UTCDude same, I love PoP but I want them to do what they wanna do 1st
ColisonCallmeSion
2024-12-20 01:11:18 +0000 UTCThanks for your continued polish on PoP! I love management games and your new one sounds like a lot of fun! I personally think it's great if you just bounce between whatever makes you happiest / most satisfied in the moment, too.
Steady Strikes
2024-12-19 21:12:01 +0000 UTCI voted for PoP, but honestly, I would rather you work on what you're passionate about.
Tama
2024-12-19 20:33:59 +0000 UTCYou really like super-complicated things, don't you? :)
BadPossum
2024-12-19 20:12:15 +0000 UTCI love the world of Pop, i love strategy games, i love management, good job 🫂.
Hahfle
2024-12-19 17:57:56 +0000 UTCManagement game sounds interesting! Would love to try it out when its ready to show off.
RavingMado
2024-12-19 17:54:25 +0000 UTC