DEVELOPMENT BLOG

Collectables

Short Story Isolation was missing one of the key game elements – collectibles. So I thought to my self, what would be interesting to collect and search for. I came up with the idea of collectibles, that not only increase collected items counter but can add something to the story. I added to the game 15 text scroll, which will be hidden all over the game world. Each text scroll contains a message or letter to someone about the current situation. That way more of the game story can be revealed.

Text scrolls can be read from inventory. Each scroll has a unique number, so you will know which scroll it is and how many in total are available.

Have fun exploring the world and collecting all scrolls!

Tex scroll can be read from inventory. (opened text scroll not displayed)
Text scrolls can lay anywhere. Behind building or in the treasure chest.
By Arunas Pangonis, ago

Party people

Sometimes it is very lonely to go alone and sometimes it is really dangerous to not have a support behind your back. I’ve implemented party system! Not that one, where everyone gets drunk and piss in the sink. The one, that is common in RPG games. Where all party members are care about each other on try to reach for common goal!

I’ve implemented system, where you can ask other fighters to join your party. They will follow you and when they see enemy nearby, will attack it. No questions asked. They are not very smart, but they will fight till death, no matter what. There is no way to directly control them, just like with your real friends.

By Arunas Pangonis, ago

Dungeon mechanics

Is there any RPG game without dungeons? Short Story: Isolation is no exception. Main dungeon mechanics already implemented, now I need to apply a ton of polish to make it shine or more like, make it dark and cold…

These underground chambers will have everything, that you expect in proper dungeon. Ground spikes – will tear your flesh, they are not hard to spot, but they are placed in such a way, that they will make your looting hard. Rotating spikes – they will come out of nowhere and disappear in darkness, be careful. Of course many gates will be locked, and the key is lost somewhere. Maybe one of the monsters took it. Every dungeon should have proper loot at the end, these dungeon are no different.

Checkout the devlog video to have a sneak peak to mechanics. This is early version. Everything will improve.

By Arunas Pangonis, ago

Weapons!

For whole week I was designing and drawing weapons. Some are reused from previous game John and the Goat, but most of them are new. Not sure about the names. Its really hard to think of original and interesting names. For now these name will do. Maybe when game completion will be nearing, I will change them.

Daggers have fastest attack rate. Very good to push back enemy with rapid attack. Swords attack slower, but they can reach further and attacks are wider. Several enemies can be attacked at once. Hammers are slowest, but they have chance to stun enemy. Maybe I will add ground smash chance to stun multiple enemies. I still need to do a lot of testing and playthroughs to balance them out.

By Arunas Pangonis, ago

Isolation game map

So most of the mechanics are in place. I started working on world map. I’ve decided to make world out of 9 main chunks. In the middle will be Tower of Isolation, where Evil Wizard Maggart will be located. I’ve made video of me walking though empty map. This is just first draft. All map may change on demand if I will decide that, I need something else.

By Arunas Pangonis, ago

Dungeon mechanics

Upcoming new game Short Story: Isolation finally will have dungeons. I’ve been working on them for the last couple of weeks. I present you the main mechanics. Moving ground spikes. Rotating spikes on rails. Locked gates and treasure chests. Pardon for choppy video, my old Mac didn’t wanted to cooperate and perform.

Still need many improvements, but I’m happy with first results.

By Arunas Pangonis, ago