Multiplayer Dev Diary #7 - Power Ups

Hello raiders!

Today, we’re going to share the process behind developing one of the gameplay elements we’re introducing in our project: power-ups. As always, please note that the information and material we discuss are works in progress and may change in the final product.

To talk about power-ups, we need to start with the game’s design. We are experimenting with different solutions, trying to find a balance between realistic and arcade-style combat. In our quest for that balance, we decided to include power-ups to add variety to the game and allow players to change their strategy based on the power-ups they find. The power-ups are identified by icons that are easily distinguishable from the rest of the map, so they stand out even at medium and long distances.

Discovering a power-up hidden in some crevice of the map as the battle rages on is incredibly fun, and it’s something we wanted to include in our game. Our map designs facilitate this kind of tension, where a player might be seeking a hiding spot in a quarry and stumble upon a power-up. We think this is one of the most exciting aspects to design.

The power-ups will either boost the player’s ship stats for a short period or provide instant benefits, such as restoring a portion of the ship’s shield or hull integrity. The most powerful power-ups will be placed at strategically important or hard-to-reach points on the map. This creates a rewarding effect: a player who commits to reaching a certain hidden spot, dodging obstacles, performing tricky maneuvers, and running while being chased by enemies, may find a power-up that offers crucial support during a difficult phase of the battle or allows them to recover just enough to turn their ship around and counterattack.

Since we are designing ships of different types with varying weapons, we want to ensure that the effectiveness of the power-ups is not entirely disconnected from the choice of ship you bring into battle. Therefore, we design the power-ups so their usefulness is also influenced by the type of ship you are using and the specific weapon configuration you have.

This approach adds strategic variety, requiring players to choose their ships carefully, considering the variability of weapon and power-up effectiveness on each map. In this way, we aim to stimulate players with different approaches to battles and entertain them with diverse gameplay options.

And that’s it for today’s diary. Thank you for your support, and we look forward to seeing you in the next entry!

Farewell, raiders!