I’ve been reworking drop pod and device handling and making some new more recognizable low poly models for the devices. Here are a couple of examples:





I don't have a strict schedule for the next alpha update because I'm hoping to get more feedback on the current version first.

A new big alpha update 0.0.9 is out!





This one comes with a long change log:

• Made the "free" mouse aiming mode the default.


• Properly capture mouse cursor in photo mode when using "free" mouse aiming mode.


• Fixed small error in distance calculation when applying damage from explosions.


• Increased score item attract distance to cover whole mission site.


• Improved enemy shoot recoil handling.


• Adjusted enemy gib size and count to better scale with enemy size.


• Fixed explosions with origin inside an enemy body not causing damage.


• Added two variants of a new rare "tank" enemy type.


• Show total modifier effect on weapon properties in weapon UI.


• Force walkers to step their feet if they stretch too long.


• Fixed first walkers sometimes spawning without legs.


• Added a new evasive floater enemy variant.


• Removed score cost from all devices.


• Added separate sound effect for score penalty.


• Use the normal terminal sound when displaying score messages in-game.


• Updated models for drop pods and all devices.


• Refactored drop pod and device handling to make adding new devices easier in future.


• Fixed artifacts at edges of device and modifies icons.


• New much better device destruction sounds.


• Added data storage devices that can be destroyed for score bonus.


• Fixed screen edge indicators not getting drawn in priority order.


• Drop third medical station device if player's health falls below 25%.


• Show screen edge indicators for medical station devices already below 50% health.


• Fixed melee enemies not always getting close enough to player to attack.


• Emit smoke particles from damaged containers.


• Improved thruster plume shader.


• Fixed broken dust particle placement inside explosion volume.


• Fixed drop pods spawning in front of camera with low FOV setting.


• Made orbital strike device indicator show the time to missiles hitting the ground.


• Fade out world grid as the camera zooms in at mission start.


• Fixed camera FOV setting affecting sound volume level.


• Hide device icons and time indicators in photo mode.


• Replaced directional camera push from explosions with more traditional shake.


• Added a subtle camera push on player weapons firing.


• Added menu setting for strength of camera shake effects.


• Removed camera FOV setting from menu.


• Improved gamepad vibration effects.


• Play heartbeat sound when health is critically low.


• Fixed menu move sound playing everytime the game starts.


• Prevent undodgeable enemy ballistic attacks at very close range.


• Prevent enemies spawning directly under obstacles or characters.


• Delay failed mission info box a little after player's death.


• Lower the damage applied to the player when already badly hurt.


• Scale enemy projectile size based on the size of the shooting enemy.

Downloads have been updated on [itch.io](https://fractilegames.itch.io/phobos-down). Full release announcement is available on [my website](https://www.fractilegames.com/posts/20240731-phobos-down-0.0.9-alpha-released/).

Not really my type of game, but it's good to see it progress.

Here’s a little progress update. I haven’t been very productive since the last update but I have still made some progress.

Markers are now shown on ground for incoming drop pods. This was initially tested as a fix to players forgetting to wait for incoming drop pods before entering the extract zone at end of the mission but it proved to be a helpful addition in general:



As new players tend to ignore instructions and go shooting everything, I added a warning message when damaging the containers that the player is supposed to protect:



The rifle’s base fire rate has also been increased to make it a more useful weapon. I had to slightly reduce the fire rate increase by a fire rate modifier to keep the maximal fire rate in check. This in turn affects all weapons but the change is not that big.

It's time for another progress report.

This week I added a new weapon modifier: Explosive projectiles. This one lowers the fire rate significantly but makes projectiles deliver explosion damage to nearby objects on hit. It will probably be only available for the rifle because adding this to the shotgun results in a way too overpowered weapon.



Last week I worked on "minimal Steam integration". That included Steam Deck button icons in controller guides, virtual keyboard handling for text input and fetching Steam user name as default high score name. I also added custom button icons for PS and Xbox controllers while I was at it.



As far as I know this should be enough to pass the Steam Deck verification.

Lately I have been working on tools of destruction. My favorite new addition is this missile sentry device:



There is also a new weapon modifier called reflective projectiles:



Existing modifiers have been tweaked a bit. I have added secondary effects (mostly additional damage) to the less useful modifiers like the laser sight modifier. The launcher guidance modifier now gives extra explosion damage too, so you don't have to compromise damage by reserving one modifier slot for the guidance alone.

If you look at that latter gif really closely, you'll notice that the reflected projectiles now break in to dim fragments instead of just disappearing when they expire. It's a tiny detail but makes surprisingly big visual difference.

The planned content for the next alpha version update is almost done, so you can expect a new update soon(ish).

A new alpha update 0.0.10 is now available with all the new weapon modifiers and devices that I have showed here and many more improvements!



Here's a new gameplay video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsi4dYQToVI

Full list of changes since alpha 0.0.9:

• Made some projectile damage and sniper modifiers increase shoot sound pitch.
• Fixed random shadow flickering while player moves around.
• Show "continue game" menu after successful mission completion.
• Added drop markers on ground to indicate incoming drop pods.
• Increased initial fire rate for the rifle.
• Show warning message when damaging containers.
• Added device/controller specific button icons.
• Trigger Steam gamepad text entry for menu text items on Steam Deck.
• Use Steam persona name as default high score name when available.
• Made large walker enemies keep more distance to each other.
• Fixed some particles not properly facing camera.
• Added explosive projectiles modifier for the rifle.
• Added reflective projectiles modifier.
• Made time-limited projectiles break into dim fragments on expiration.
• Added secondary effects to some of the less useful modifiers.
• Added a missile launcher sentry gun variant.
• Added explosion stun modifier for the launcher.
• Prevent diggers from burrowing while stunned.
• Lowered ballistic fire rates for the eight-legged walkers.

Downloads are available on Itch.io as usual: [https://fractilegames.itch.io/phobos-down](https://fractilegames.itch.io/phobos-down)

I will soon have to decide what to do about early access on Steam but until then you can wishlist the game [there](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2754880/Phobos_Down/).

A new Phobos Down alpha update 0.0.11 is now out with added visual variation between mission sites and many other improvements!



Full change log:

• Added a bit more details to walker leg models.
• Enabled debanding post processing filter.
• Show a warning pop-up when the game can’t fetch challenges from the server.
• Fixed showing high scores for challenges incompatible with current game version.
• Added all-time high score challenge game type.
• Improved site obstacle placement logic.
• Added tentacle plant variant.
• Increased explosive plant damage range.
• Prevented explosive plants from damaging the player.
• Fixed connected gamepad causing jerky movement in keyboard controls.
• Improved right stick deadzone handling for smoother aiming.
• Added three types of clustered plants as terrain decorations.
• Made sure that every mission site has some obstacles with dynamic lights.
• Made total number enemy waves independent of the mission count.
• Shortened average game run a little.
• Fixed hidden mouse cursor in high score name entry.
• Made fast crawling enemies only a little bit faster than the player.
• Allow menu navigation using gamepad left trigger too.
• Only deliver GodotSteam libraries with the Steam version of the game.
• Show blinking health bar already at 50% health.

New gameplay video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDDPyI1vdTo

Downloads have been updated on [Itch.io](https://fractilegames.itch.io/phobos-down)

And you can wishlist the game on [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2754880/Phobos_Down/) (planned Early Access early next year)

Last edited by fractilegames on 16 Dec 2024 at 5:55 pm UTC