1/19/18 - Onto the first build
Afternoon, everybody! It's Parker, here with another development log for fireBreak. We hit the ground running this week with production, and we've started to progress on our first build.
Much of the last week was dedicated to project organization. Ian, our project lead, spent a good deal of time getting our organizational software set up and communicating with our leads to get tasks assigned to our interns and employees.
Design
One of the biggest tasks that our designers tackled today was UI design and menu flow. These two are critical in establishing the player's experience
Wyatt and Ian start to lay out navigation from the start menu
The most important thing here is the ease of the user experience-- making sure that it's easy to get into a game from the menu. Wyatt also spent time planning the User Interface, giving the player information on the player character, their inventory, and their squadmates' health and critical information.
During this time, I also wrote out the plot for more of the story levels. While this information isn't going to be used for awhile yet, the plot is going to be used to inform the level designs that are going to be created.
Art
Trent pitches a ship design to Ian
This week, Trent spent some time designing layouts for the ship that the player is going to spend their time on between missions. Between the layout and the interior aesthetic, he's currently building what the player is going to see in this crucial gameplay hub.
In the meantime, Tuesday has been working on models for melee weapons and energy weapons, as well as other props.
Lore Corner: The Hoelian Syndicate
The Hoelian Syndicate is the primary force that exercises the Stratum Mining Corporation's control over the planet of Hoelia.
A decade prior to current events, the Stratum Mining Corporation suffered a series of unfortunate financial calamities. Between a series of risky colonization attempts and failed investments, a number of concerns faced them. Faced with financial ruin, the Stratum corporation was forced to cut the pay of their mining workers.
There was, predictably, outrage. On Hoelia, a number of riots broke out. In response, the Stratum Corporation formed the Hoelian Syndicate. The Syndicate was originally a small force of well-armed riot control troopers, with a small squad stationed in each city. Their intended purpose was to deter rebellious action by their mere presence, but it soon became necessary for them to act.
As protests became riots, peacekeeping became crackdowns. As open revolt started to break out over the surface of the planet, the Syndicate was forced to escalate, requisitioning heavier equipment and recruiting more officers. Before long, martial law had been declared, and the Syndicate had taken over the governance of Hoelia.