VIRAL DOMINION >> the game >> Info Dump 2021

Welcome all .  I hope you have survived the deadly corona virus pandemic. As for me.. I've been busting my Ass in quarantine, and I've decided it is now time to provide this long overdue write-up detailing everything you need to know about the game you've been funding throughout these past months. Bear in mind, we're still in a very early stage of development here, and everything you see here may be subject to change. So dont flip your wig or Bitch me out for any reason please.

OVERVIEW

You wake up in a hospital.  Some time during your rehabilitation, a group of hardened thugs bum-rush the lobby and begin taking hostages.  It becomes apparent that you are being HUNTED ...

Thinking quickly, you grab the only clothes available, a complete set of COP GEAR. When things take a particularly dire turn, you take the coward's way out by leaping out of a window.  After the fall, you die upon impact.  Or do you?  You are brought back to life thanks to the divine intervention of your BADGE.  It seems as long as you hold onto this miraculous object, your broken body will completely regenerate upon death.

Having no memories of your previous life, you have no choice but to press forward, searching for answers. All you know is that you are "The Police", and it is your duty to use your newfound power of immortality to restore order across these sullied lands...

SETTING

Sometime in the distant future, all of humanity is forced to live within a single landmass named Hollytopia, after much of the planet is rendered uninhabitable due to centuries of disaster. In this era, technology is able to provide all basic needs and labor is obsolete, and so, society is forced to measure the worth of each human life by the Entertainment Value that they provide within the purview of thousands of camera-faced cyborgs prowling around the lands, searching for Content.  In this ruthless culture, celebs reign supreme, while the least entertaining citizens are punished and sent to Hell by the all-seeing algorithm.

Hollytopia is divided into sectors which simulate the biomes that once existed on earth.  An artificial desert that is constantly being nuked by it's own malfunctioning sun.  A massive, labyrinthine bathroom infested with sea creatures.  A flashy neon city in a constant state of 9/11.  These are just a few of the places you'll visit, each of which offer their own unique challenges and twists upon the core game mechanics.  Each of these worlds are further divided into around 150 stages, including secret paths, boss encounters and areas populated with vile townspeople who will either assist you or berate you with award winninng Triple-A dialogue.

GAMEPLAY

Use your GRAPPLING CUFFS to climb walls and vines, throw your enemies around like sacks of potatoes, and interact with the environment.  Employ insane acrobatic techniques to traverse exotic lands teeming with fiends and deadly traps.  Just keep in mind that you are incredibly weak, and one hit is all it takes to pretty much obliterate you.  Luckily, thanks to the power of your BADGE, you can try over and over again, no matter how many times you blow it.

You will find a number of items on your journey that are vital towards progression.  These include:

COINS - these can be collected around each stage and used to buy Treasures from various merchants.  No shit, right?? Only a finite number of these can be obtained in the overworld, so spend them WISELY...

SOULS - You will generate 1 of these every time you perish.  Gather enough and you can bring them to "The Satan Man" to buy temporary power boosts and shields that'll hopefully help you complete a stage that's giving you trouble.  In short, if you fuck up often, your persistence will be recognized and rewarded.

GEMS - Each of these marks the end of a stage, and can also be used as a fast travel point.  Dying will cause you to respawn at the last gem you activated.

TREASURES - Valuable artifacts which can be equipped from the SELECT menu.  Each treasure will have various effects on the player and game environment while equipped.  For instance, Keys will obviously open shit, and Bug Spray will repel insects.  Many treasures, however, have more subtle effects that aren't apparent at first glance.  Solving the mysteries of these items is essential to your Ascension.

CHALLENGES / GOALS

What are you trying to do. What is this shit

In short, my goal is to create the game I want to exist in the world., one that I believe will be appreciated by the significant overlap of people who enjoy "my posts" as well as the broader "World of Games". A game that operates much like a standard 2d platformer, but one that will frequently subvert your expectations and make you shit your self.  A game that contains significant challenge for those who seek it, while also not being a miserable, unrewarding slog for the unseasoned, "CASUAL" gamer. I aim to capture the joy of discovery, the feeling of being constantly rewarded for doing stuff you're seemingly not supposed to do, and running and jumping around like a freak.  Just a nice way to kill a dozen hours or so.

WHEN'S IT OUT?

Absolutely no idea. Couldnt tell you. Development will keep plodding forward as long as I'm raising money, and while the funding I'm receiving now is greatly appreciated, at its current rate the game will admittedly take a very long time to finish.  ideally, I'd be making enough to be able to pay additional artists/developers a respectable wage and cut down the development time significantly.  But unless I make a wild deal with some sort of publishing bigshot, or significantly increase my patreon funding somehow, that's simply not an option right now.  either way, the game will get completed eventually as long as I'm able to work on it. I've come too far to quit now, a half-developed game is worth dog shit to me

What If You Finish The Game And It Sucks?

Then I will go fuck my self

Well what's next Bitch?

Right now I'm working on implementing the map menu which will enable players to travel freely between levels, as well as some other minor stage elements.  Once I get those sorted out I can start putting together a playable demo so I can get some feedback from my PATRONS.  So look forward to that in the coming months.

In the meantime, I'll be providing backers with occasional updates regarding the game, while also trying not to spoil too much. I would like to be able to provide additional Patreon™ benefits, but bear in mind that as of right now, this is a low budget, one man operation, and time spent promoting the game on here takes precious hours away from actually developing it.  Aside from the game, I've also got several other projects "in the pipeline" that're keeping me busy, and I look forward to filling you all in on those as well, once I'm able to.  Alright Ive typed enough shit on here for now. Enjoy your 4th of july barbecue shit and Thank You.