BLOG ENTRY 30 - 05.27.2021

DEV STATUS

I have successfully migrated the game project to Unreal Engine 5 - Early Access, and Everything works! I’ve tested every character class and ability components and everything works as well as I had left it on Unreal Engine 4.26. The only odd thing I noticed was that the HUDs will need to be readjusted, but as far as mechanics, code, animation and particle effects. They’re all working! Yay! ^_^

Considering that the new engine version is in early access I had to make sure I was doing things the right way. One of the things they mention on the official page is to work with UE5 if the plan is to launch in 2022. I am still so far away from completing so many things that I honestly don’t think I’ll launch in 2021. The Kickstarter may be done later this year, but full on development of the game will probably end up in 2022 if all goes well.

So I’m committing to working with Ue5 through the bugs and growing pains, as every improvement they are doing will greatly benefit the development of the game. It’s a “Cry now, smile later” situation, and I’m all in.

PROTECTOR CLASS UPDATE

I have finished two of the base abilities for the protector, the HardLight Projector (Shieldy boiiiiii), and the Micro Salvo (Shoulder Launcher). Not only did I manage to get the particle effects working but most of the functionality and animations as well.

The shield works great and the animation is working pretty good. The shoulder launcher fires well, and I’m so happy that you can fire your gun, the shoulder cannon, all while holding the shield up. No disrespect to other designers but I really hate it when you have to block OR attack (I’m looking at you dark souls), I dare ask why not both?

I also updated the particle effects on the protectors class specific gun. and It looks great :D

NEXT STEPS

I will be working on updating the project as best as possible to Unreal Engine 5, Once I’m certain that nothing will break later in the pipeline I’ll continue working with the abilities. I’m still trying to make the protectors charge work properly, I’ve got a couple of tutorials to watch, hopefully I’ll be able to finish it.

I will be working on the abilities for the foreseeable future, trying to make sure I’ve got all my class design down. There’s 12 Abilities that I have not finalized across all classes, and that’s considering they are the Base variation of those abilities. I am still designing and tweaking what I want the different variations of those abilities to do.

I also have to implement the interface that will allow the player you swap between the variations, as well as a HUD in order to show it working. I’ve got a looooot of work to do. oh boy. Here I go coding again.

Updates completed. Tasks pending. Many Tasks

Daniel “Freaky” Aguilar

Game Designer

Plasmapunk Studio

Shields Holding, Fire at will!