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February 2021 Progress Update!
🕑 Added 2021-02-27 15:24:43 +0000 UTCHey everyone!
We have quite a bit to talk about this month, and as usual I'll be discussing progress not shown in the latest test releases! Don't be afraid of all the text -- it's fun stuff :D.
Overall I'm really pleased with our progress, though we had some hurdles to overcome along with it being a short month. Both Mr. Kittyhawk and Penapsquat were hit by the blizzard in the southern US and were out of commission for a while. This changed our schedule a bit, but it will mean beefier March releases.
Topics for this Update!
- FemCop H Scenes Coming!
- Coming Soon: H Scene Gallery
- Cinematic Mode
- Dominatrix Enemy Update
- Sewers Boss - Spawn Concept
- Sewers Boss Fight Concept
- Chain Splicer Animation Progress
- Mecha-9 Model WIP
FemCop H Scenes Coming!
I developed a process for retargeting H scene animations to other characters this month! This means that (theoretically) any H scene we create for Onyx will also work with our other female characters. Therefore, I've begun transitioning Street Lord Wraxe's H scenes over to our FemCop enemy!
The process is fairly simple, but it still requires significant work to add animation to any parts of the character that are unique (FemCop has a ponytail and wears high heels for instance, which results in some differences from Onyx). This has also given TK and I the opportunity to make a lot of improvements to FemCop rig, including adding stomach bulge functionality, armor damage, and joint improvements -- especially with her feet.
Expect to see these scenes next month!
Coming Soon: H Scene Gallery!
H scene animation retargeting experiments went well with FemCop, but of course we needed a way to show them off in-game. I landed on introducing the first iteration of the H scene gallery! You'll soon be able to unlock and view H scenes you've collected.
The next question was how to game-ify gallery completion when PO's gameplay is still limited to the wave based combat testing system. I poked AltairPL about it, and our solution is for enemies to drop video disk items that Onyx uses to unlock scenes in the H gallery. I don't plan on this being the actual system used to unlock the gallery once development progresses further, but it may be a component of it if people like it.
This has also provided a good excuse for something APL had wanted to start working on: game data saving and loading. If Onyx finds a video disk for a specific scene, that scene will remain unlocked even after you quit/restart the game. APL's progress here is the groundwork for a save/load system, which we will certainly want once PO's real gameplay loop gets implemented.
Cinematic Mode
We've also begun laying out requirements and the groundwork for what I'm calling the H system's Cinematic Mode. This feature adds additional cameras to H scenes, allowing you to see the action in 3D simply by selecting cameras via either the controller shoulder buttons or triggers (not sure yet) -- both as it takes place in-game and within the H gallery!
Dominatrix Enemy Update
We've hired a new sculptor that will likely be helping us with the remainder of our female enemies! He's tackling the Dominatrix enemy first. This is still a very early WIP (the hat is placeholder), as he's mostly been focused on working on the face and hair models. Check above for some additional images!
Sewers Boss - Spawn Concept
Limbo started concepts for the Sewers boss this month, and the fight mechanics and designs have evolved really well! He had originally designed this concept as the boss itself, but things started falling into place once I started designing the map. Turns out these guys' papa is the real deal >__>.
Sewers Boss Fight Concept
The battle begins with Onyx being caught between two spawns. They will occasionally perform large attacks that require Onyx to move to the opposite side of the map -- with cues given from the eyes in the background.
Tentacle monsters will surface out of the water for Onyx to fight. A different type however will chase Onyx and attempt to use grab attacks, holding her in place and preventing her from evading the spawns' larger attacks. Killing these smaller tentacles will damage the boss.
Occasionally, the boss will perform an ultimate attack in the form of a tidal wave. After a cue from the eyes, you'll see the wave on the horizon, approaching and growing bigger over a long period (15-30 seconds), eventually crashing into the foreground. Onyx will need to perform a special jump maneuver to leap over it at just the right time.
The kicker is that this is a timed fight. The two spawns will gradually inch closer to the center, narrowing the battlefield and thus Onyx's mobility. Directly damaging the spawns intermittently can slow their advance however.
Chain Splicer Progress
TMX has nearly completed the Chain Splicer's combat animations! He's certainly been the most complex enemy to animate to date due to his chain weapon.
Mr Kittyhawk is currently in the process of adding him to the game, at which point I can start working on FX and SFX for him. We're hoping to have him ready for combat in the Inner Circle release next month.
We're also working on his first H scene, which we hope will be ready by the $5 tier release toward the end of March!
Mecha-9 Model WIP
TK, Limbo, and Ubercharge have nearly completed the Mecha-9 enemy model! This is our third hard surface enemy (the mechanical forms and complex surfaces require different modeling techniques than organic characters), and I think our team finally has a good workflow down for them.
Limbo does the initial concept art. TK poly-models the general blockout and basic model. Ubercharge is an expert at designing mechanical parts, and adds in the complex surfaces and curves to give it a finished look. Uber's work goes back to TK, who sculpts in details and then makes it game-ready by optimizing topology (polygon reduction). At any stage where Limbo's concept art leaves design questions unanswered, Limbo creates supplementary sketches of different angles, or break-out designs of individual parts, and the process starts over on that section of the body.
Remember, since these characters have to animate, their mechanical designs have to actually move convincingly :D. It takes a different skillset than modeling a human or animal, which deform a lot more like clay when joints bent.
Comments
Her gear visuals will change as she gets upgrades, but even at max tier she'll still be identifiable as Onyx. As for different themed costumes, we have a couple of ideas and have outlined how that system might work, but can't confirm anything yet.
Thanks for pointing this out!
RT Solvalou
10K a month is cheap for a team of 2 professional bricklayers working 40 hour weeks to build a landscaping terrace. You're talking about a team of >2 doing professional level programming. You think you can do this faster, cheaper, do it.
Theoretical Jack
Question: I've been testing the game out, but have yet to see a way to get the splicer+runt scene to happen. Are there specific criteria for this? EDIT: Never mind, friends, got it. It just wouldn't trigger since the runts or splicers were on the ground and not simultaneously up when I tried.
Lmao I been supporting for 5 years now and been waiting for a game that update at snails speed, and since when I disrespect your team? I just stated it seem to be "milk your supporters" that's all
Feel free to criticize my direction, but don't disrespect my team.
Why are you still here then?
10k per mth and progress is still so slow ? seem like to me you guys are trying to milk us asap...
Exactly! The flesh pod things and their "submerge" abilities were my favorite parts of that game. Really hoping something similar will show up in Pure Onyx!
John Doe
Looking forward to the next updates, great work on the game so far but I am curious when some voice acting for Onyx and enemies will be integrated into combat and H scenes? Anyway keep up the good work.
Mistah Eff
The Dom is sexy, but I think she's in a different style than the rest of the game. Maybe the cop was like that too to a lesser extent, and your general style is creeping away from the initial design. In any case, please don't turn this into anime.
Yes, good point, focus on the current game and don't let feature creep postpone it even more!
There are ideas ^-^. We really need to get the main gameplay loop going however to be able to experiment.
That's something I'm considering! It's interesting because some beat 'em ups slow characters down vertically, and some speed them up.
It's about time to see some "non-human action"! (made the MATM preview releases special, IMO)
I am very excited to see this plan for the sewer boss! Will the boss or his minions be able to do any H attacks on Onyx? If yes, these will be some of my favorite enemies! Keep up the great work. Everything looks really good so far.
Ian Wilson
I would just like to see if possible and if the team was willing a little bit more from both sides, my opinion comes from the fact that most of the scenes are scenes you want to see but only happen after negative situations from the character. so its like if you want to do well in the game you will never see an h scene. i would also like some onyx dominated scenes as well just to have a bit of balance. but all of this is just a wish list. i like the game and the production value it has. i mean the mechanics and art style/animations are so on point.
Brian Kennedy
I'd also be curious if in some way, there could be Onyx-dominated h-scenes. Maybe after she knocked out an enemy, their mostly-unconscious body could stick around a bit longer to give Onyx an opportunity to start an h-scene with them to recover some health or whatever resource. This could also have a chance to drop more loot from that same enemy maybe.
Brian Kennedy
I'm curious as with whom you'd be playing this game with ;P
Zebra27
I wonder about this as well. Seems as though the "loose to lewd" concpet is the only way these games can illustrate sexy time. While it isn't bad, the overall concept is getting a bit stale. There was a game in development that did the opposite pretty well. Unfortunately the development team has ceased development but it was centered around a succubus. Funny thing is that even the succubus trope is being overdone in the adult themed gaming space... if only I could fine some collaborators, I have some decent concepts. Either way, I love this game and the potential it has to be an all time,, adult gaming classic.
Ian Wilson
Are there any plans or ideas in the works for onyx to initiate an h scene instead of an enemy by like a special move or completing a stage?
Zebra27
I am really loving the idea of Onyx finding data disk through the game world which unlock lewd contents. I envision this as cassettes or disk that contain story lore or lewd content which are appropriately named. Onyx can watch these files in her in between time to either view the porn she made (unknowingly) or view some history about the world she lives, fights, and fucks in. I envision onyx being a bit shocked but not too upset that someone was actually filling her encounters, a shadowy figure who’s ultimate pastime is being a voyeur. This shadowy figure also sells his recording to the highest bidders, porn collectors... sorry, my imagination got away from me. Love the game...
BSD
Do you guys think, that you'll give Onyx the ability to unlock different themed outfits for her to wear? I know it's a lot of work, but i think it'll be neat to see the different variety!
ACEye2
I pray, that the good gods keep your team focused, and in good health to finish this. It's glorious!
Whitesnake
This game is getting better and better every month! Love the Lovecraftian sewer boss, keep up the awesome work!
Hentai Nerd!!!
Will this bring the possibilities of playing other girls besides Onyx? Maybe adding 2 player co op too? Looking great so far though!
Netharius
Lovecraftian tentacle monsters, i like where this is going
Mochi
Great update! Are there H scenes planned for the sewer boss?
It'll still be a captain-style hat, but more ornamental and with a bigger brim like in the concepts ^-^
misux
I know you said the hat is a placeholder but the dominatrix looks hot as hell with it right now
eyeteeth
i wonder how enemy H scenes will work in game? will you be able to knock down female enemies to "distract" male enemies into doing an H scene with them, or something like that?
Neil
This what a great progress update sorry to here about Mr. Kittyhawk and Penapsquat being caught up in that blizzard, finally I was wondering is improving the speed of Onyx moving up and down in the works I notice its hard to hit enemies because there slightly lower or higher I feel increasing her natural walking speed might help position her better with this
