Lab Rats 2 Roadmap
Added 2018-02-08 08:03:42 +0000 UTCWork on v0.2 is chugging along, and I hope to have an official release date up for it in a couple of days. In the mean time I wanted to take a look at what the future of LR2 will look like in terms of development milestones.
v0.2.0 - This update will focus on UI improvements throughout the game, bringing a new main menu and interface to the game. A central goal of this update is to ensure the player has access to all of the information they need to make informed decisions in the game. This includes compiled stats about production points created each day, research created each day, supply consumed each day, and so forth.
Prototyping Week - The week after v0.2.0 is released will be spent fixing bugs as they are reported and prototyping new or interesting ideas to see if they would work well in game. Topics high on my list right now are sprite based animation techniques, streamlining my image workflow, and clothing modifications.
v0.2.1 - The general public version of v0.2 will contain all of the same content as the patron version, plus bug fixes to that same content.
v0.3 - The v0.3 update cycle will turns it's attention towards game balance, as well as adding more basic content wherever it is needed. This is the point where serum traits will have their values tweaked, sluttiness/obedience gain will be looked at in detail, and clothing progression will be introduced. Experience gain, both for sexual acts and work tasks, will be introduced as well.
v0.4 and beyond - There are several different major goals I want to tackle once we pass v0.3. The introduction of rival companies, with their own serum inventories and employees to poach, is one of the most interesting to me. I would also like to add an external threat to the company in the form of law enforcement who must be kept unaware, distracted, or bribed. Adding in the main five from the original game and sculpting an overarching story is also on my list of major tasks.
Let me know what you think about the plan in general, and if there's anything you'd like to see done differently or added to the list of things to tackle.
Comments
Any story that's introduced will build upon existing game mechanics, both as a way to introduce them to the player in a structured way and to motivate me to add new functionality to the game. Basically anything that I want to have happen for story reasons should be able to happen elsewhere in the game under the right circumstances. Male characters are something I've been thinking about how I want to deal with for a while. They'll be introduced at some point, but will probably won't be interactable in anywhere near the same way as the girls are. At some point in the distant future I want to add support for threesomes, walking in on other couples, and stealing girls away from other men, which will all require men in the picture somehow.
Vren
2018-02-10 07:59:13 +0000 UTCTrue. I'm busy having fun with a 'naughty' game. Now I have to sneak around and feel bad about it too? Also agree with JD, in that there can never be enough mind control and sex/conquest. Maybe this game takes place many years in the future - where the politically correct pendulum has now swung completely the other way. As bad as it is now is how laid back it is then. ie: no one cares anymore?
2018-02-09 12:03:04 +0000 UTCSo, I'm not sure I'm liking the law enforcement idea so much. I mean, there's no doubt that the stuff you do in the game would be unethical (at best) in the real world, but when you start making yourself an *actual* criminal in the game, it starts to have an extra sketchy feel to it. It goes from 'fun fantasy scenario' to 'actual bad person' in an instant. Those are my thoughts on it, anyway.
Kedokata
2018-02-09 03:41:02 +0000 UTCI don't know much about the mechanics behind building these things, but I would expect the more story you put in the greater the complexity and strain you will put on the mechanics. In my mind, that means longer development times. I'm personally fine with that, but I see a lot of impatience out here in Patreon land, so I'd offer caution on that score. I like the direction you're thinking of with LR2. I think you have great potential to make this a "series" of games, with LR1 being your "startup", LR2 being your "trial" and LR3 etc., being your "production", to use R&D terms. Currently, our main character does not have a family. This was a major plus in LR1 and so I think the introduction of some members (female, 'natch) would be a nice add for future iterations. Depending how much "game" you want to include versus just sex and mind control (of which I think there can never be enough), you could add depth to the company (budgeting, advanced marketing in TV/other, government regulators) to put strain on MC (possibly leading to visits to sexy psychiatrist?). I, personally, have no problem with all characters being female, with various attempts to corrupt them using unique serums (perhaps some with resistance requiring advanced research). But, if striving for "realism", sooner or later, some guys have to enter the fray.
Ignatz
2018-02-08 13:05:32 +0000 UTCLR1 was enough of a game to pull me in as a patron. There's far more to LR1 than just images and some story on rails. I had a great time playing it at least a few times. If you haven't tried it, it might be worth a look. It really gives you an understanding of Vren's talent!
2018-02-08 12:03:57 +0000 UTCHoly shit if you make an actual game instead of another bloody visual novel I'm definitely becoming a patron soon!! #Mechanics>'content', but content and polish is important too :)
waffel
2018-02-08 11:29:04 +0000 UTCWow! This is great news, I'm glad of your success, mate! Great work! I wish you creative success in your project! ;)
Terebonkoff Game Studio
2018-02-08 08:07:09 +0000 UTC
