Exophobia News

Now until the end of FPS Fest, you can watch some streamers going through the available demo.
I want to thank them all individually for playing the game and letting me use their recordings!
Here's a list of invited streamers:

• @exilecast
• @foamztv
• @emisaki
• @sproyler
  
• @samusin

If you like any of them, be sure to follow their work!
Have a great weekend
Zarc

Hey there!
As promised and part of FPS Fest, the demo has been sligthly improved to better reflect the quality of the final game. Testing has been crucial to find these small quirks and how to adjust them. You may not notice any differences, so let me present you the changes in this new version:

• Some language errors fixed.
  
• Disk image in the corner to indicate a loading time.
  
• "Sci-fi" font option is now a more readable font in the terminal.
  
• Map no longer starts to fade right away. Only when it reaches the last point in the battery.
  
• Clickable buttons and levers now blink to indicate you can use an action on them.
  
• You can now dash forward even if not holding a direction. Also, more i-frames!
  
• Difficulty curve in the first part of the game has been adjusted. Less enemies before you get the first upgrade (for me where the fun of the game comes).
  
• The boss now stays locked in the same vulnerable move until you hit. I made it that way so you can more easily guess what you have to do and so you don't have to wait until he cycles through all moves again to hit him.
  

Can't even tell how long I have been revising this first part of the game, but I know it's the most important part to get right, so I hope these changes please all of you and incentivize you to keep playing!
Let me know what you think.
More news coming soon!
Zarc

During next week, Steam will have a Steam sale and event celebrating all the first person shooter games!
Check out Steam's official video for FPS Fest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cd4ffQlZnnc

And of course, Exophobia couldn't miss be part of it, representing the boomer type of first person shooters... well, yeah.
So expect a demo update and an announcement to spice up this week!
More news soon, and happy shooting!!!
Zarc

Hey everyone!
Last week was a busy one! I know I should have warned beforehand, but got so busy with finishing the preparations for these events that I totally forgot to update the Steam news. (also bad internet at the hotel didn't help)
So, last week, Exophobia was at the Game Developers Conference Expo AND PAX East!

I couldn't be present at both expos, so I had my first experience at GDC (flew all the way from Portugal) while my publisher, PM Studios, managed their booth that included an Exophobia stand.
In these booths you could play Infinite Mode and Boss Rush mode, both unlockable at the end of the game (depending on the ending... wait, I never told there were two endings! That's right!)

GDC was really fun, it's a nice way to meet other devs and industry people and refresh your perspective. It was a needed boost in motivation to keep making games at this end stage of Exophobia development, specially in these times were things are rough for everyone, specially small indie devs.

One of my favorite parts was roasting marshmallows with other devs the day after the convention ended. It was my first time roasting marshmallows so it was a really cool experience!
Another favorite thing was meeting in person with Moski, a cool artist friend that gifted me a very cool Exophobia fan art. Check it out:
https://twitter.com/jcccastanheira/status/1772981189436997965/photo/1

Isn't it cool? Check out Moski's art and wishlist their game filled with his beautiful art, Townseek!

If you were at GDC or PAX, please wishlist the game, it helps a lot!
I'll be back with more news soon,
Zarc

From March 4th to 11th, Exophobia is joining more than 170 other games in a Steam event all about metroidvanias, hosted by Ravenage Games.

Here you will find discounts in the most iconic games of the genre, or play demos of upcoming gems!

Why is Exophobia considered a metroidvania?
Most metroidvania fans will argue that a metroidvania (metroid + castlevania for those who don't know) needs to be a sidescroller.
My idea with Exophobia was to mix metroidvania progression with a first person shooter and I think it fits pretty well! Let's see, for example, where a Metroid game and Wolfenstein 3d can meet in the middle:

• Labyrinthic non-linear levels with gates that can only be opened with upgrades? check
• Secrets around every corner or hidden wall that reward the player with powerups or easter eggs? check
• Different biomes with different enemies and boss fights? check

Exophobia features all of this and more elements from both genres, like metroidvania checkpoints and fast paced shooter combat from first person shooters.

Let me know what you think! Meanwhile, play the demo and enjoy all the other available games in the event :)
Happy exploration!
Zarc