Anyways based on playtesting it's clear a simple fixed camera platformer isn't exactly what anybody wants. The platforming will still be a major part of the gameplay, but the final version will focus just as much on horror. I'm hoping to double the map size, adding more desolate areas, back rooms, puzzles and secrets.
Also adding a chatroom where users of the BBS can pay to spawn the maniac. Really want to focus on music and sound this time as well as the snuff film / deepweb aspect.
I'm going add ragdoll colliders to the main character for way more accurate damage detection. The killer's AI will be improved and hopefully I can figure out a way to add some stealth sections. Something I was experimenting with that didn't make it to the alpha was a killer POV cam.
It's pretty hard to do stealth in a fixed camera game. So I was thinking a POV camera could show where the killer is on the map so you can hide and avoid him. It didn't work so well in testing, but I may be able to improve it with better level design and a slower killer.
Another way I could try stealth would be a fixed patrol path for the killer. I feel like this might cancel out some of the fear, but with the right sound design it could work.
There will be a Nightripper update this month. Blank screen bug seems to be fixed. I'll be adding in the alley chase scene and the fmv cutscene filmed by Zane Martin :)
but the final game is going to take some time because of the new gameplay and puzzle improvements (puzzles are being designed right now) I'm also going to need to add a save system because the game will be way longer and you may want to put it down at points and comeback later when you've figured out one of the puzzles. I'm thinking my future save systems will also work with your life count. Any deaths with automatically update the save file and depleting all of your lives will wipe it out completely so you start from the beginning.
I feel like a horror game works best when you have a lot at stake and every life counts. I remember one of the problems with Amnesia being you could be killed and when you respawned, the monsters were gone. Kind of killed the fear factor for me.