This week, I want to shine a spotlight on the music and sound design of Wave Defense: Trappist, an area that is absolutely crucial to the atmosphere and overall experience of the game. To help tell this story, I’m thrilled to share insights from none other than Joel Mull, the world-renowned electronic musician who has written and produced the majority of the game’s music and sound.

In spring 2023, a creative partnership began between two friends and Sci-Fi enthusiasts—myself and Joel Mull. At the time, Wave Defense: Trappist was about six months into development. While the game already had a visual identity and some placeholder sound design, Joel saw an opportunity to elevate the project with a truly unique and personal soundscape.

The collaboration quickly grew from an idea into a shared vision. Inspired by our mutual love for Sci-Fi classics like Alien, Dune, and Blade Runner, we began to shape the narrative and atmosphere of the game together.

One of our earliest discussions revolved around the idea of why the Mech—a central figure in the game—was on this alien planet. This brainstorming led to an intriguing concept: a mysterious monk order from the 1100s, sent to exploit the planet’s resources and ship them back to Earth’s factories.

But the story didn’t stop there. The planet itself fights back, as its local creatures see the Mech as a threat to their environment and survival. This layered narrative creates a sense of conflict and introspection, blending action with deeper themes of exploitation and resistance.

The shared vision for the game’s visual style and narrative became the foundation for its sound and music. Joel began experimenting with an incredible mix of sacred choirs, ambient textures, synths, and electronic elements to capture the game’s tone.

The goal was clear: to create a soundscape that balances mystique with a futuristic feel, immersing players in the Sci-Fi world of Wave Defense: Trappist. Every piece of music was crafted to complement the otherworldly environments, the tension of defending against alien waves, and the deeper narrative themes woven into the game.

The collaboration between Joel and myself grew organically, through conversations and brainstorming sessions that flowed naturally. This dynamic exchange of ideas allowed us to create a cohesive vision for the game—a blend of striking visuals, Sci-Fi-inspired themes, and thought-provoking music.

The result is a soundscape that not only enhances the gameplay but also helps tell the story of the world you’re exploring. Whether you’re defending your base, upgrading your Mech, or exploring alien terrains, the music and sound design aim to keep you immersed and engaged at every step.

I’m so excited to have Joel Mull’s incredible talent and creativity shaping the sound of Wave Defense: Trappist. The music and sound design are an integral part of the game, and I can’t wait to share more about it in future updates.

Thank you for being part of this journey, and stay tuned for more updates!

Join the Discord![discord.com]

https://store.steampowered.com/app/3014930/Wave_Defense_Trappist/

This week has been all about introducing some of the big systems I’ve been planning for Wave Defense: Trappist. From music and mech improvements to a full weapon overhaul, there’s a lot to share! Let’s dive in.


As a music producer myself, sound design and music are a huge part of the world I want to create in Wave Defense: Trappist. That’s why I’m so thrilled to announce that Joel Mull, the world-renowned electronic music producer, has written and produced brand-new tracks specifically for the game.

The addition of Mull’s music is a game-changer, bringing a deeper atmosphere and energy to every battle, exploration, and build session. I’ll be dedicating a future update entirely to this topic, and hopefully, I can get Mull to share some of his thoughts directly with you all. Stay tuned—this is just the beginning of a much bigger story around the game’s music!


One of the biggest changes this week is a full rework of the Mech’s movement and animations. I’ve implemented Inverse Kinematics (IK), which, without getting too technical, means the Mech’s movements are now far more realistic and dynamic.

Previously, the Mech’s weapon would simply spin in its hand when aiming, but now, the Mech’s entire body and arms move naturally as it adjusts to aim at different targets. This makes controlling the Mech feel much better, whether you’re walking, running, jetpacking, or shooting at enemies.

This system has been a lot of work to get in place, but I’m confident it makes a noticeable difference to the feel of the game. I’ll continue to refine and improve this system with each iteration, and I can’t wait to hear your feedback on how it feels.


The game’s weapons and weapon systems have received a major overhaul this week. Each weapon now has a distinct feel thanks to the introduction of a Weapon Handling stat.

Some weapons, like the Radioactive SMG, are fast and nimble, while others, like the Gatling Gun, are harder to handle but deal massive damage. To give players an easier overview of weapon differences, each weapon now displays three core stats:

• Damage – How much raw damage the weapon deals.
  
• Handling – How easy and smooth the weapon is to use.
  
• Efficiency – How resource-efficient the weapon is in battle.

All weapons in the game have been rebalanced to reflect these changes, making them feel more unique and satisfying to use.


I’m also excited to introduce a brand-new weapon: the Staff Cannon. This will be an endgame weapon, designed to be both incredibly powerful and very fun to use. It’s perfect for players who want to bring some serious firepower to the battlefield!

At the same time, I’ve decided to remove the Fire Bow, as it no longer felt like it fit with the game’s overall design. And as a final touch, the Flamethrower now has its proper weapon model, adding a polished look to one of the most satisfying weapons in the game.


Finally, here are some additional updates and fixes that went into the latest build:

• Feedback Form Fixes: Resolved issues with the feedback form to ensure smoother player input.
  
• Audio Mixer: Fixed a bug that caused the audio mixer to not work correctly when players were in the world.

It’s been a busy but exciting week of development, and I feel like the game is moving closer to the vision I’ve always had for it. With new music, improved Mech animations, and a refined weapon system, Wave Defense: Trappist is shaping up to be more dynamic, immersive, and fun than ever.

As always, your feedback is invaluable, so please let me know what you think of the new changes. Join our Discord[discord.gg] to share your thoughts, report bugs, or suggest features you’d like to see in the game.

Thank you so much for your support—see you next Week!


Join the Discord![discord.com]

Rolling out a new update based on the feedback we’ve received from you. Your input has been instrumental in improving the game, so please keep it coming—either through the in-game feedback tool or by joining our Discord community! Here's what’s new in this update:

Improvements & New Features

• The player icon on the map now pulsates, making it easier to locate.
  
• Added a new skybox for the map selection page, enhancing the visual atmosphere.
  
• Introduced a new "galactic" skin for the companion drone.
  
• Added a new exit game message, reminding players that their progress is automatically saved.

Bug Fixes

• Fixed an issue where players could walk through Power Plants, Watch Towers, and the Trading Post.
  
• Resolved a bug where the game could freeze if the HUD was disabled and the map was opened.
  
• Fixed a problem where Trader Ships could get stuck in the world under certain circumstances.
  
• The tutorial confirmation sound is now correctly routed to the UI mixer for better audio management.

Quality of Life Updates

• You can now close the map with the ESC key.
  
• Demo version now locks the game after 5 worlds.

Gameplay Balancing

• Rebalanced blueprint drops from artifacts to improve progression.

I hope these changes make your gameplay experience even better! As always, your feedback is invaluable—don’t hesitate to share your thoughts through in-game feedback or join our Discord community.

Thanks for playing, and see you in Wave Defense: Trappist!

What a week it’s been! The demo for Wave Defense: Trappist went live yesterday, and I couldn’t be happier with how things have turned out so far. This past week has been all about testing, stabilizing, and fixing bugs to ensure that the demo is the most feature-rich and stable version of the game yet.


It’s been a tough but rewarding week with plenty of late nights, but seeing the demo launch successfully has made it all worth it. So far, there haven’t been any reports of major bugs, which is a huge relief!

Even more exciting is the feedback and feature suggestions pouring in from players who are testing the demo. Some of the ideas coming in are fantastic, and it’s so exciting to see how engaged the community is becoming. Keep those suggestions coming!

The Discord channel is also growing steadily, which is wonderful to see. If you haven’t joined yet, this is the perfect time to do so. Share your thoughts, suggestions, and feedback—it’s the best way to help shape the game as it evolves toward its final release.


Alongside stabilizing the game, I’ve also added two new turrets and one new weapon to give players even more strategic options during battles. Here’s what’s new:

• Ionstrike Turret: A powerful long-range turret with a slow fire rate. It’s perfect for dealing massive damage from a distance, making it a great addition to your defense strategy.
  
• Tesla Coil Turret: The ultimate short-range turret with the highest rate of fire. It can’t reach far, but it’s amazing for taking out enemies that get too close to your base.

With these two new turrets, players can mix and match with the existing turret to create much more dynamic and personalized defenses.

• Lazer Shotgun: A brand-new weapon for your mech, the Lazer Shotgun is an incredibly satisfying close-range powerhouse. It delivers a punch at short distances and is as fun to use as it is effective. I’m really looking forward to hearing what players think about it!

The next step is to keep gathering feedback and addressing any issues or suggestions as they come in. If you haven’t already, please consider leaving your thoughts in the Discord or through Steam. Your input during this demo phase is critical and will help shape the game for the better.

If you’re enjoying the demo, it would mean the world to me if you left a review on Steam and added the game to your wishlist. As a small indie developer, every bit of support makes a huge difference and helps the game reach more players.

Thank you so much for playing and being part of this journey—I can’t wait to see what you think of the new turrets, the shotgun, and the rest of the demo. See you in the Discord, and see you next week!

Join the Discord![discord.com]

We’re thrilled to announce that the demo for Wave Defense: Trappist is now available on Steam! This is your chance to dive into the action, explore alien worlds, build your base, and defend it against waves of relentless enemies.

The demo includes several new features and updates, giving you an even better look at what’s in store for the full game. Here’s what’s new:

• The Lazer Shotgun: A brand-new weapon for your mech that delivers devastating power at close range. This is a must-have if you like to get up close and personal with alien swarms!
  
• The Ionstrike Turret: A long-range turret designed to take down powerful enemies from a distance. It packs a serious punch but comes with a slower rate of fire, making it perfect for high-impact, targeted damage.
  
• The Tesla Coil Turret: The ultimate turret for close-range defense. Its electrifying attacks can devastate enemies that get too close to your base.

This is the most polished and feature-packed version of the game to date, and we can’t wait to hear your feedback! Your insights and suggestions will play a huge role in shaping the final experience.
We’d also love for you to join our growing community in Discord[discord.com], where you can share your experiences, meet other players, and stay up to date with all things Wave Defense: Trappist.

If you enjoy the demo, please consider leaving a review and wishlisting the game on Steam. For a small indie project like this, your support makes a massive difference.

Play the Demo Now!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/3322880/

This week, I’ve been continuing the work from last week with rapid iterations and addressing issues highlighted during our recent playtesting sessions. It’s been incredibly rewarding to see both minor and major improvements coming into the game, each one helping Wave Defense: Trappist feel more polished and enjoyable.

Some of these changes are features I’ve wanted to add for a while but hadn’t quite figured out how to implement until now. A great example of this is the ability to build walls around your base. With the latest build, I’ve finally introduced this feature, and I’m thrilled with how it’s turned out. Not only does it make your base feel more like a true stronghold, but it also adds a deeper sense of control by letting you fortify your defenses and protect certain angles more effectively.

That’s just one of the improvements from this week—there’s a lot more to share!


Here’s a full list of what’s been added and improved in the latest build:

New Features:

• New Building – Walls: Players can now build walls around their base or wherever they want. Protect key structures and channel alien waves with strategic wall placement!
  
• New Building – Watchtowers: Watchtowers extend the range of nearby turrets by 20%. Turrets near a Watchtower now display an indicator showing the boost.
  
• Turrets Holo Shields:A new Facility Upgrade available in the Mech Hangar, adding an extra layer of protection for your turrets.
  
• Building Level Indicators: Buildings now show a yellow star when they reach Max Level, with visual indicators added for Level 2 as well.

Quality-of-Life Improvements:

• Quick Tips on Loading Pages: Useful gameplay tips now appear during loading screens. You can also find a full list of tips on the Start Page.
  
• Camera Stability in Building Mode: The camera now remains fixed while in Building Mode, making it easier to place buildings precisely.
  
• Multi-Build Functionality: Players can now build multiple copies of a structure without returning to the build menu. Use the right mouse button to exit Building Mode.
  
• Artifact Collection: Artifacts now disappear after they’ve been collected, keeping the environment tidy and reducing confusion.

Bug Fixes:

• Facility Upgrade Station Bug: Fixed a bug where pressing ESC in the Facility Upgrade Station caused issues.
  
• Turret Lighting Bug: Fixed an issue with turret lighting on certain maps.
  
• Weather Volume Adjustment: Weather effects are now balanced to match other sound effects for a more cohesive audio experience.

As the demo release in early December approaches, it feels great to see so many of these features and fixes implemented. Features like walls, watchtowers, and improved building systems are just a few of the updates that make the game feel more polished and aligned with the vision I’ve had for it.

There’s still a list of improvements and fixes I’m working on, but seeing my to-do list shrink bit by bit is incredibly satisfying. I’m excited to continue fine-tuning the game in these final weeks before the public demo!


I’d love to hear your thoughts on the new additions, especially the walls and watchtowers. Do you see yourself using these features to create strongholds or experiment with new strategies? Join the conversation in the Discord and let me know what you think!

As always, thank you for following along, and I’ll see you next Wednesday!

Join the Discord![discord.com]

This week has been all about focused playtesting! Every morning, my friends at Caketown and I have been jumping into Discord to play Wave Defense: Trappist for an hour, diving deep into the gameplay, identifying bugs, and brainstorming quality-of-life improvements. These sessions have been incredibly productive, and I’m thrilled with the progress we’ve made. Let me share what’s been happening!


The daily playtesting sessions have been such a refreshing change of pace for me as a solo developer. After spending so much time working alone, it’s been amazing to have a cozy morning routine where we play the game together, take notes, and discuss ideas in real time. It’s also been a great opportunity to get fresh perspectives—there were so many things that felt "obvious" to me but turned out to be unclear for others because I’ve been working on the game for so long that I’ve gone a bit "blind" to certain details.

After each session, I’ve been organizing the feedback into my Trello boards, tackling issues one by one, and pushing out an updated build for us to test the next day. This rapid iteration has been so satisfying, and the amount of improvement we’ve made this week alone is incredible.


The focused playtesting has led to improvements in every part of the game, from gameplay mechanics to the UI and even sound design. Here are just a few of the highlights:

• Dash Improvements: The feel of the dash has been refined to make it smoother and more responsive during combat.
  
• Clearer UI: Multiple adjustments have been made to make the UI more intuitive and easier to understand, especially for new players.
  
• Sound Cues for Power Plants: Added sound notifications for when your power plants are running low on energy, giving players a heads-up before things go south.
  
• Balancing Changes: Small but impactful tweaks to gameplay balance based on feedback, making the experience more polished and engaging.

And these are just a few examples—there have been so many smaller changes that all contribute to making the game feel more polished and closer to the vision I’ve had for it.


With all the progress we’ve made this week, I’m feeling more confident as we approach the public demo on Steam in early December. My focus now is shifting toward ensuring that the demo version of the game is as polished and ready as possible. There’s still plenty to do, but I’m excited about the direction the game is heading and can’t wait to see how players respond to it.


I’m looking forward to hearing from even more playtesters as we continue refining the game. Every piece of feedback helps make Wave Defense: Trappist better, and I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who has already shared their thoughts and suggestions.

If you haven’t yet, make sure to wishlist the game on Steam and join our Discord to stay updated and participate in the conversation. The public demo is just around the corner, and I can’t wait for more of you to jump in and experience the game for yourselves.
Thank you for following along, and see you next week!

Join the Discord![discord.com]

This week has been all about taking in the feedback from the ongoing playtests and making improvements to polish and refine Wave Defense: Trappist. While I haven’t received as much feedback as I was hoping for, the feedback I’ve gotten so far has been incredibly valuable. It’s already helping me fix some bugs and improve the overall quality of the game, and I’m excited to share what’s been worked on!


One key issue reported by testers was the game’s pause and unpause behavior, which was acting strangely in certain scenarios. During my own testing, I tended to stick to the "Happy Path" (doing things as intended), so I never triggered these bugs myself. Thanks to the feedback, I was able to identify and rebuild the logic for how and when the game pauses.

The new system ensures the game will pause correctly when players:

• Open the map
  
• Receive an upgrade
  
• Send feedback or report a bug
  
• Interact with other menus or systems mid-game

This rebuild has made the pause system much more robust and should feel much smoother and more intuitive for players. It’s a small but important improvement that enhances the polish and makes a better first impression for new players.


Another area I’ve worked on this week is ensuring the game settings work as intended at all stages of the game. Players can now adjust audio and visual settings seamlessly, whether they’re in:

• The Start Menu
  
• The Mech Construction Hub
  
• Mid-game while deployed on a new world

This change makes it easier for players to customize their experience without interruptions, no matter where they are in the game.


The biggest and most exciting addition this week is the new Companion Drone that will join your Mech on every planet. This little helper brings a host of improvements to the game’s mechanics and emotional experience. Here’s what the drone does:

• Automatic Combat Support: The drone replaces the Mech’s old "passive auto weapon" system. It will now automatically target and shoot at aliens within its range, adding a more dynamic and engaging feel to combat.
  
• Artifact Scanning: Instead of the Mech’s backpack holding scanning tools, the drone will now be responsible for scanning and detecting Artifacts as you explore new worlds. This makes much more sense visually and thematically.
  
• Building and Upgrading Structures: When constructing or upgrading buildings, the drone will handle the physical construction instead of structures simply appearing. This small change adds a lot of immersion and polish to the base-building process.

Not Just a Helper, but a Friend

One of the things I love most about the drone is the emotional element it adds. Landing on a new planet used to feel a little lonely, especially before your base was set up. Now, with the drone by your side, you’ve got a companion to share the adventure with from the start.

But there’s one thing still missing: a name! I’d love to hear your ideas for what to call the drone. Join our Discord and share your suggestions—I’m excited to see what you all come up with!


This week has been all about improving polish, fixing bugs, and adding new features based on feedback. In the coming weeks, I’ll be continuing to refine the gameplay experience, gather more feedback from playtesters, and prepare for the open demo in December.

As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts and suggestions! If you’re playing the beta, please share your feedback in the Discord. And don’t forget to send in your name ideas for the drone—I can’t wait to see what you come up with!

Thanks for reading, and see you next week!

Join the Discord![discord.com]

Exciting news this week as Wave Defense: Trappist has officially entered beta testing! We’ve opened up the playtest for new players to join through our Discord, and it’s been fantastic to see the first players jump in, explore the game, and start sharing feedback. Over the coming weeks, we’ll progressively add more players until the open demo launches in December, when anyone will be able to try out the game on Steam.

In the meantime, here’s a look at what I’ve been working on this week based on early feedback, plus a few new features to make the experience even better!


A balanced economy is key to making the gameplay experience both challenging and satisfying, so I’ve been focusing on fine-tuning the in-game economy to ensure players have a smooth start when they begin building their first base. This work involves adjusting resource generation, costs, and availability to create a fair balance between challenge and opportunity.

As the playtesting continues, I’ll be monitoring player feedback and data to make sure the economy feels right, both in the early game and as players progress. I’m looking forward to refining this even further with the insights we get from testers.


The Tutorial is essential for introducing new players to the game’s mechanics, and based on initial feedback, I’ve reworked several of its systems to make it more robust and user-friendly. A few players ran into bugs during the tutorial that disrupted their experience, so I’ve implemented a new system that should address these issues.

The updated tutorial should now give players a smoother, more stable introduction to the game’s core mechanics. I’m eager to see how the changes work out with new players and will keep iterating based on feedback to make sure everyone has a positive first experience.


Perks are a great way for players to enhance their mech builds and customize their playstyle, so I’ve added some new perks that players can earn as they level up during a run. Additionally, I’ve rebalanced some of the existing perks to make them more impactful and, hopefully, more enjoyable to use!

The goal is to create a variety of perk options that encourage different strategies and playstyles, adding depth to each run. I’m looking forward to hearing what players think of the new and improved perks, and I’ll continue adjusting them based on feedback.


A big new feature added this week is the leaderboard system! Thanks to a Steam integration, players can now track their scores and see how they rank against others in a global leaderboard. You’ll also have a separate Friends leaderboard, so you can see how you stack up against your Steam friends.

The leaderboards add a new layer of friendly competition, and I’m excited to see players strive for the top spots. Whether you’re competing globally or just trying to beat your friends, I hope this feature adds an extra incentive to keep pushing for high scores and creative strategies.


As always, there’s been plenty of bug fixing and minor improvements to enhance the game’s stability and polish. With more players joining the beta each week, I’m working hard to keep everything running smoothly and address any issues that pop up along the way.


I’m excited to keep expanding the beta testing group and gathering feedback to make Wave Defense: Trappist the best experience it can be. If you’re interested in joining the playtest, hop into the Discord to request access, and be sure to wishlist the game on Steam to stay up to date with the upcoming open demo in December.

As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts and suggestions! The best place to share feedback is in our Discord, where you’ll find a fantastic community of fellow players and testers.
Thank you for following along, and see you next Wednesday!

Join my Discord![discord.com]