That is... when it's cooperating!

So it's been a long time since our last build update we released publicly. We didn't just refactor our game engine code. We rewrote it. Because, you know, that's fun to do! Not.

But the outcome was worth it. The terrain can now be x10 larger than it was before. And the way we procedurally generate it is now much more fun to navigate. Cpaz will be making a vid soon to show you how the terrain has evolved over the last 3 months, as we tried different methods to see what was interesting.

Where we settled... we likey. Very geometric, a good half way point between a simple voxel environment, and one that is polygon driven.

Honestly, we never realized how important it was to spend the time to make terrain interesting. It tends to be something you just don't think much about, as you are focused on the characters, mechanics, and the visuals.

Even something as simple as slopes can pose a fascinating programming and game design challenge. For instance, in our game, you move fast enough that you can run off a slope faster than you fall, thus creating a skimming effect where you don't touch the ground all the time. From a first person perspective you don't really notice it... until you try to jump. Or rather... when you can't... because you are technically floating off the ground.

What's the solution? Sooooo many! And when you think about all the interesting challenges that rise from making custom terrain, this issue is just one of many that could be tackled.

Anyways, just shedding light on what's coming soon. Conquest mode will be playable on a new type of terrain and you'll see how it all comes together.

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Oh, and how did we solve the slope issue? The long answer is: We wanted to create some more interesting limitations on where you can navigate, thus encouraging you to try new paths and explore. So the solution was one that addressed another outstanding design quirk I wanted to tackle: If you fall from a great height, there's no penalty. Basically, what we did was allow you to jump when in midair. It's not a double jump, but rather something that feels like a boost. So if you fall off a cliff, you can do a boost at anytime. Or if you run down a slope, you can boost at anytime. This gives you more control of the timing of your jump. Which translates into a more skill based approach to how you deal with falling. If you fall from a great height, you can now jump in mid air at the last minute and avoid getting hurt from that fall.

Right solution? We'll have to playtest and see!