It's been a while since we've given you a proper devlog update ([url=https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1496260/view/3142948216824425621]2021 Recap Video[/url]), so let's take a look at what we've been up to this first part of 2022! [h2]Enemy Concepts[/h2] When trying to transform the world into a Pigeon Paradise, you’ll naturally make some enemies along the way. Chief among these is a large organization known simply as the “Pigeon Patrol”. [img]https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56bb6890e32140b75de0e6ca/7db41ee4-97e0-481e-afee-a1599ae1b359/PP_faction_half_shadow+%28lowres%29.jpg?format=1000w[/img] This Human Faction is well-funded, with representation around the globe. Their primary objective is to control the pigeon population and clean the streets of "pigeon graffiti”. [img]https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56bb6890e32140b75de0e6ca/f231db05-d1f9-4801-9373-7ba9a0588cc1/PP+Cleaning+Supervisor.jpg?format=1000w[/img] As you play through your unique storyline in Pigeon Simulator, you’ll meet other Factions along the way—some friendly, and some not. Many dark forces are at work, behind the scenes, hell-bent on stopping you from living your best pigeon life. How you handle these interactions is up to you! [img]https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56bb6890e32140b75de0e6ca/c7da0fe4-82d0-4033-87fd-be72051c1875/cultists.jpg?format=1000w[/img] [h2]AI and Emergent Gameplay[/h2] We’ve been working hard to make the AI in Pigeon sim very dynamic and interesting when interacting with the player, other factions, and the environment. Although the AI is currently undergoing a major update, and much of the art you see here is placeholder/prototype stuff, we thought we’d give you a quick sneak peak now. [b]In this video you can see NPCs reacting to new obstacles, threats, and items in the environment.[/b] Some of these behaviors, such as running and hiding behind the vending machines or grabbing a gun mid-air, were unexpected—”emergent gameplay” as they say. [previewyoutube=h8LGMtywV4U;full][/previewyoutube] [h2]Sandbox Toys[/h2] Given our goal of making Pigeon Simulator feel like a mash-up of Goat Sim, GTA, and our favorite Roguelikes, we’ve spent a great deal of time ensuring that the general “sandbox gameplay” is very fun and rewarding in itself. In other words, we want players to be able to have a lot of fun just mucking around and ignoring their quests! To this end, we’ve started building out a bunch of fun “DNA”. These power-ups alter your pigeon’s genetic composition, giving you access to all kinds of weird/powerful/fun abilities. A few prototypes are shown in the video here. [previewyoutube=JONs3AVLvcs;full][/previewyoutube] [h2]Environment[/h2] We’ve made more progress on the natural environment too! Terrain is now randomly generated from a set of tiles with various attributes. Then we paint the ground with a texture that blends everything together nicely. For example, we can make the space around roads worn with dirt and fade into grassy areas for a more natural, handmade look. Finally, we use this info to place lush grasses, shrubs and trees. Oh, and we even made the trees [i]destructible[/i] too! Knock ‘em down, watch’em roll, or even get stronk and use them as a weapon?! [previewyoutube=zqpmLvese4U;full][/previewyoutube] [h2]Building Interiors[/h2] [previewyoutube=AAoTfFw0mWI;full][/previewyoutube] What’s that? You want to go inside [b][i]ANY[/i][/b] room in [b][i]ANY[/i][/b] building? Well now you can! [img]https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56bb6890e32140b75de0e6ca/8398732a-37ac-49d7-b4ba-656476817284/unknown+%287%29.png?format=1000w[/img] Here’s a super early preview of this tech in action. You can now enter any space of a building and explore its interior. It’s all fully destructible as well Everything you see here is placeholder graphics, obviously, but you get the point. Pretty cool, right? [img]https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56bb6890e32140b75de0e6ca/648a2253-1678-449a-a78d-5fb06b1e7725/Unity_E7VFmGz6x8.png?format=750w[/img] Too handle all this madness we’ve updated our shaders and destruction systems to be both extremely efficient and more detailed! Including a fancy window shader that really makes interiors feel more believable.. [img]https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56bb6890e32140b75de0e6ca/aa6f66f0-9568-4566-ad19-bd92a0ac41d6/optimized_debris.gif?format=750w[/img] Our fine artists have just begun putting this new tech to good use, building out tile sets and textures to give each building a unique look! [img]https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56bb6890e32140b75de0e6ca/c617ff7c-95e9-4fbc-b4e6-670dcdf72c6f/Unity_RjBpIqqAQo.png?format=1000w[/img] [h2]Tell Me Morrre![/h2] There’s so much more to tell you, but it’s just too much for one blog post! For now, here’s a teaser list of stuff we’ve begun working on this year…. [list] [*] [b]StoryMods 2.0:[/b] a powerful dialogue and quest creation system! [*] [b]TileSets: [/b]a system for creating handmade scenes you can discover and experience. [*] [b]Core Lore: [/b]we worked with a professional Narrative Designer to weave a tale so epic it will blow your mind! [*] [b]Glorious Animations:[/b] we hired an outstanding Animator who is bringing all these fine characters and worlds to life with superb motion. [*] [b]Super Prop Redux:[/b] a fantastic Hard Surface Modeler has also joined the team and is turning our props and environment models from “okay” to “amaze-balls!” [*] [b]Core Game Loop:[/b] we’ve prototyped, we’ve tested, and we’ve come up with a sweet game progression and RPG-like leveling system so you can be [i]the best pigeon you can be![/i] [/list]