Lazr, A Cyberpunk Platformer

Backerkit Preparing to Launch
about 6 years ago – Fri, Jul 17, 2020 at 02:49:33 AM

Hey Everyone,

I've finally got the Backerkit store ready to launch. Today, a 'smoke test' was sent out to check and make sure everything's working right. This means a few randomly selected backers will get an email about the store's launch, and may ask you to fill out a few details, like shirt size. Once this 'smoke test' check passes, then every backer will be contacted and have access to the backerkit store. This store allows you to confirm your shipping details for your pledges, which is important. You can also add additional cool Lazr merch, which helps me to produce the game. Here's what that store looks like, right now:

Finally, I'm also happy to say that my gf and I got our results back, and we're negative for covid, which is really hitting where I live very hard. I feel very lucky to be able to work and focus my efforts and attention on Lazr. I've been working on fluids this week, check it out:

Lazr Dev Vlog #15
about 6 years ago – Sun, Jul 05, 2020 at 07:31:04 AM

Hey Everyone!

Lots of good news - my parents have tested negative for covid, and my gf and I are waiting on our results, which we think will be negative as well. I'm in the Houston, Texas area and we've been hit really hard, so I feel very fortunate to be able to work right now. Speaking of which, here is the latest dev vlog:

The intro levels (1-6) are in a good spot, and I've got the Downtown biome done. The Voth biome looks good, but needs work. And the Syntel biome doesn't look good and needs a new direction, which I'm thinking will be laboratory based, with specimens in tanks. I've got a ton of levels designed as well, and once the biomes are themed properly, then there will be a long stretch of just levels being designed and drawn - which I'm really looking forward to. More enemies and bosses are coming up soon too. I keep figuring out ways to write code that runs faster, which then in turn gives me new creative opportunities. For example, this week I designed a particle system that was very fast, then a friend improved it even further, making it possible to simulate 100,000 particles with physics in about 4 milliseconds per frame:

So, being able to move this many particles, I can explore more elaborate ideas for level designs, such as destroying a level with a tornado while the player navigates a puzzle to escape. And these optimizations can be applied to the enemies and projectiles as well, which means there can be much more on screen. However, this requires me to rewrite core systems a little bit, which takes time. I think this is very good time invested however, because I plan on using this 2d engine for future pc/console games, and even mobile platforms as well. In other news, I'm still trying to launch the backerkit, the issue is now that I don't know how much it costs to ship every product. So, I need to figure that out, and it's on my todo list. I hope to have the store launched/completed this week. I would really like to launch it and focus on the game. I want to thank all of you for supporting Lazr and this cloth platforming idea I had. 

//Garrick

Another Update
about 6 years ago – Mon, Jun 29, 2020 at 06:53:56 PM

Hey Everyone,

First, here's really good news - here's a video covering the first 6 levels of Lazr and how they're shaping up so far. Each room/level is designed to introduce concepts one at a time, from climbing, to dashing, to melee. Check it out:

I'm really happy with where the intro's skeleton is at. The intro levels need more/better art, and dialogs need to be improved, but the foundation is solid, in my opinion. 

Now, other news: my dad has been tested and we're waiting on his results. My gf and I are still trying to get tested, but we're in an area that is currently experiencing a flood of people also trying to get tested. Every place we've called is booked, and we don't want to stand around in a line with people who may or may not be sick. Many places are simply not answering phone calls right now. I have also read that there are a number of false positives for Covid testing, as it is a type of coronavirus, and there are many different kinds of coronaviruses, some of which can cause those false positives - which means we'll likely have to be tested more than once in order to 'confirm' a positive or negative status. Testing patients multiple times puts additional pressure on the medical system, which has partially led to the state I'm currently experiencing right now, where we can't get tested due to overwhelming demand. So, we're trying, but it's not easy. We'll know more soon. I really just wanted to give everyone an update, share some content, and tell all of you thank you for the well wishes and for supporting me and my game through all of this. I'm working on Lazr everyday, as it's something that I can focus on while we wait. Ya'll are awesome! Lazr wouldn't exist without your support. It's going to be awesome.

//MrGrak

A quick personal update
about 6 years ago – Mon, Jun 29, 2020 at 12:37:58 AM

Hey Everyone,

Normally on Saturday and Sunday I make a weekend update dev vlog. I've done 14 so far, and I really enjoy making them. However, I can't make one this weekend. This weekend, and next week, my focus is on getting tested for Covid19, because someone that I had direct contact with (shook his hand) tested positive. My entire family is actually getting tested, because we ate together before I found out. So, it's a stressful time, and I ask for your patience. I hoped that Covid wouldn't affect my development timelines for Lazr, but the reality is that my health comes first. So, I need to handle that before I can clearly focus on Lazr and make meaningful progress. It's very hard to be creative when you're scared, in other words.

Despite this news, a ton of progress happened this week, and while it's not in a video, I can share that progress with you here:

And here's a war factory biome too:

There was a ton of level design done as well, for example here's a double sided level ready to be added to the game:

I also worked on the idle animations for the hero:

There's even more that was done this week, too, that was posted in the discord here: https://discord.com/invite/mTsHasX

So, let me get this Covid related stuff handled and then we'll be back on schedule with regular weekly updates. I'm also in the final stages of launching the backerkit -  I'm emailing back and forth with a backerkit inspector who approves the page and launches it. We've just got to resolve the shipping for digital products, and the backerkit is ready to launch (finally). And the delay of this backerkit store launching is entirely my fault. I completely take responsibility for it, nobody else is to blame. I had no idea what setting up a storefront involved and I wasn't ready. In addition to that, I put off the backerkit for weeks, while I focused on rewriting the core systems of the game so they were faster and ran on the PsVita. But, now the backerkit is (almost) done, and backers will be able to pre-order awesome Lazr products online over the next few months. Here is a reminder of what the store will look like:

Thanks, see you next week.

//MrGrak

Lazr Dev Vlog #14
about 6 years ago – Sat, Jun 20, 2020 at 10:17:11 PM

Hey Everyone,

Here's this week's development log:

I'm going to try and launch the Backerkit this next week. I'm just waiting on their approval of the site, then I'll post an update here to all backers with a link. The big art push has started as well, with tons of characters finished this week, along with designs for the game case cover, the game disc cover, and the ost album and disc, along with a movie style poster. I'm really happy with how it all turned out, as there is cohesive art direction between all the pieces. Here is a mockup of the 2021 line of products for Lazr:

And here is the current state of the backerkit store:

I'm excited about moving forward with development and really focusing for the next few months. Alpha will be here soon, and then Beta right around the corner. There's so much to be done! It's exciting.

See you next week - //Grak