DOSE REDESIGN

Lawrence Appenzeller
Apr 22, 2016
2 min read

Over the course of this Post Production stage, we have begun implementing some redesigns the team has been discussing since our first sprint. Changes include the addition of stealth based AI, narrative updates to puzzles, additional world effects when using the pill mechanics, and level design updates to compliment the new puzzles and AI. The biggest change that Dose is currently undergoing is the addition of stealth as a gameplay element. We wanted to implement a sense of urgency and to bring back some of the horror elements from the initial idea while keeping the game's main focus on the narrative. In order to translate this gameplay mechanic into the level, we are updating the level design and terrain of the environment to better enhance the gaming experience.

Currently, the functionality of our pill mechanic has been reworked to fit this new gameplay experience as well. Currently in engine, the main idea of the pill is to assist the player in solving puzzles by highlighting key objects in the player's general vicinity. After the redesign is implemented into the engine, the pill will also allow the player to evade the capture of the villainous AI, by making him slower and easier to run away from.

The AI is simple, and ready for play testing. It uses pawn sensing to see the player, and then chases the player accordingly. The player is able to evade capture of the AI by using the densely populated forest to their advantage. Hiding behind objects will cause the AI to lose sight of them. Sprinting has the possibility to alert the AI to the player's position, so while it may help with navigating the forest it has negative drawbacks as well.