Guards and Cameras, Tase Effects, Spectating - Devlog 21/03

With the game set to release in Early Access this Spring, I've been making a lot of bugfix and polish changes over the past couple months. When you're only playing the game for a weekend, it's easy to look past janky or unpolished mechanics, but for a released game these things become more important. I have been adding small new features here and there though, which this devlog will cover.

Guards and Cameras

The mall level has always been a little too easy compared to the other levels. There are a lot of very valuable items without much protection. To fix this, I've added both security cameras and guards, which can spawn in randomly. The cameras can also spawn occasionally in other levels.

If you're spotted by a camera, an alarm will sound, attracting any nearby residents, guards, or cops to the area. So getting spotted by a camera isn't an instant failure, but you'll probably need to go hide somewhere for a bit.

Guards act similarly to cops, but they're slower and not as accurate with their tasers. If you're spotted by one, they'll call the cops right away and try to catch and tase you. If you manage to escape, they'll return to their patrol and keep an eye out for you while they wait for the cops to arrive. If they tase you before the cops get there, you'll just be knocked out for a bit, and you'll have another chance to escape once you come around.

I think these additions will balance out the mall level a bit, and require players to plan more carefully if they want to target those high-value mall items.

New Tase Effects

Getting tased is never fun, but it can at least look cool. I also had to make it more obvious that you're getting tased, due to the guards being able to KO you with tasers. So I added these new electric zap effects, one on the camera, and one on your ragdolled body.

You'll leave your body temporarily while KOd, to prevent any horrendous camera jerking. During this time, you're essentially a spectator. you can run around as normal, but not interact with anything. There's a slight screen effect while spectating, but I might add more indicators later.

Spectating

Getting yourself knocked out by a guard isn't the only way to spectate! The police have been kind enough to provide bored captured burglars with some VR headsets to keep them entertained. By hitting the new "Spectate" button in the police van, you can run around the level freely and watch your friends get captured too.

I do still intend to give you the option to break your friends out of the van, but until then, this should alleviate some of the boredom from waiting around for your friends to finish the mission once you've been detained.

With these changes along with some other smaller fixes and polishes, I think the game is really shaping up ready for Early Access. I also recently made it necessary for you to actually get to your getaway vehicle when the mission ends, or you'll be left behind. You'll have to pay out a part of your cut in "legal fees" if this happens, so when the timer starts, remember to start running back!

Let me know in the comments if you think there's any other important features you'd like to be added in time for Early Access!