Decoding the DNA: An In-Depth Look at the Game Design
Welcome one and all to BioGun!
With the launch of our demo for Steam Next Fest, and the final launch date of the full game quickly approaching, we wanted to dive into all the things that make BioGun stand out and feel oh-so unique!
BioGun has a long and rich history, giving us a lot to look back at (and forward to), so the best place for us to start is by looking at the pillars of the game, giving you a brief but in-depth understanding of the game’s roots, the game’s lore, and the reasoning behind some of our core features and mechanics.
So, without further ado, let's get started!
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Did you know that BioGun has had two iterations? The first version was launched in 2016 and was a never-ending wave-based shoot ’em-up game. Though it was fun, it was not the game that we really wanted to make, so we redesigned the game as a Metroidvania.
The original wave-based BioGun.
How, when (and why) did we pick the unique theme that BioGun has now? The journey began in 2019 with the vision of exploring the inner workings of the human body.
What the first Metroidvania version of BioGun looked like.
However, as the world grappled with the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, we felt that developing a game that focuses on the human body from a cellular level would have been in bad taste; combining this with the fact that we are big fans of dogs, we decided that focusing on the interior (within the body) of a dog as it fights off a deadly virus, would be the perfect setting for our game.
The many versions of BioGun - with the centre 3 tiles being the current game!
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Enough background chatter, it's time to get into the heart of the game, and the best way to start is by looking at the game's antagonist, the Dooper Virus!
The Dooper Virus is a lethal virus that threatens dogs everywhere. Its origins can be found in pigs within meat processing facilities, and thanks to the rampant overuse of antibiotics in livestock, the Dooper Virus evolved and mutated to be surprisingly powerful in many ways.
No Spoilers here, these are just silhouettes of three notable Dooper Viruses!
One of the Dooper Virus’s strongest powers is that it can infect, corrupt, and even manipulate various single-celled organisms, ranging from bacteria to viruses and normal cells. Unlike other viruses that threaten dogs day to day, the Dooper Virus is particularly adaptable and can mimic and propagate in the same way that any other virus or bacteria that has ever entered the host can do, even the good bacteria that live in the dog's gut.
An infected Bacteriophage
The result of this threat? An almost 100% mortality rate for infected dogs and extinction a real threat.
[hr][/hr]
Luckily, hope is not lost! DocX has spent countless sleepless nights working on a vaccine for the Dooper Virus. Enter Bek, the beacon of hope in the battle against the Dooper Virus. As a vaccine, Bek mirrors real-life counterparts as his genetic makeup is based on the Dooper Virus, with the added component of pig DNA (this is vital as we’ll discover in a bit).
In the fight against the Dooper Virus, Bek’s unique genetic makeup allows him to harness the very powers and abilities that the Dooper Virus so destructively uses, but this time to help the dog survive.
[hr][/hr]
When the Dooper Virus first infects a dog, the first line of defense activates releasing the antibodies. Though antibodies are immensely powerful in what they do, their major weakness is that they can only effectively fight what they were designed to fight, any changes can be devastating. The Dooper Virus knew of this weakness and exploited it to terrible effect. It corrupted known viral strains and then lured the antibodies into a trap. When faced with the mutated versions of the viruses they were utterly wiped out, leaving behind their essence, encapsulated within an Enzyme.
RIP: Antibody, defeated by the cunning Dooper Virus.
Their defeat may not have been in vain. Remember, Bek has many similar traits to the Dooper Virus, and so if Bek comes across an Enzyme, he can temporarily gain the power of the fallen antibody.
[hr][/hr]
Within the microscopic ecosystem of BioGun, it should not be surprising to learn that Bek was not the first attempt to fight the Dooper Virus, in-fact he is the fourth dedicated vaccine. However, Bek's predecessors were not created with the vital pig DNA and so utterly failed in their mission to defeat the Dooper Virus.
In fact, not only did they fail, all but one betrayed their cause and now fight against the very dog that they were created to save. This has caused the dog's natural defense force (W.B.C, the Wound and Bacteria Control) and the residence (normal cells), to view Bek with suspicion.
Fun Fact: Within our game, the term for all single-celled organisms is 'Nisms' and they will refer to each other as such.
[hr][/hr]
Within a dog's body, what better way to travel than by using the cardiovascular system? The mass-transit system in BioGun is known as the Vascular system and allows the cells (Bek included) to quickly travel between organs. Make sure to acquire a V-Pass, then hop on the Artery Express to move back and forth between organs.
All aboard the Artery Express!
For shorter distances, Bek can call upon DocX to inject him between special safe locations.
Shopping on the other hand is an interesting one. Otterman is the proprietor of the in-game store. Remember when we said that all but one of the vaccines that came before Bek turned against the dog? Otterman is that one. Being intelligent enough to learn that he could not take on the Dooper Virus directly, he set up shop and began selling his inventions that are aimed at fortifying the dog's immune system.
[hr][/hr]
When you get your hands on BioGun (as in play it), you'll notice that even though it is a 2D platformer, the game may feel a bit more fast-paced, even FPS game-like. This is simply because the game was designed with an FPS controller in mind!
While BioGun is a 2D platformer, a lot of the design was inspired by mechanics more commonly found in a first-person shooter (FPS) game. We even designed the game with an FPS controller in mind. For those of you who dislike controllers, don't worry, this choice ended up greatly benefiting how the game plays on a keyboard and mouse.
[hr][/hr]
Well then, that’s it for this write-up, we hope that you’ve enjoyed reading it, we sure enjoyed looking back at our history and writing about it. There will be more to come, so make sure to stay tuned for more.
In the meantime, make sure to follow us on our social media channels:
🦠 Get in touch with devs on Twitter: https://twitter.com/biogungame
💉 Inject yourself into our Discord: http://discord.gg/CWkAJBbqun
🧪 Check out amazing gameplay reels on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/biogungame
🩺 Follow us on Facebook to get only the main news: https://www.facebook.com/BioGunGame
With the launch of our demo for Steam Next Fest, and the final launch date of the full game quickly approaching, we wanted to dive into all the things that make BioGun stand out and feel oh-so unique!
BioGun has a long and rich history, giving us a lot to look back at (and forward to), so the best place for us to start is by looking at the pillars of the game, giving you a brief but in-depth understanding of the game’s roots, the game’s lore, and the reasoning behind some of our core features and mechanics.
So, without further ado, let's get started!
[hr][/hr]
The Evolution of BioGun
Did you know that BioGun has had two iterations? The first version was launched in 2016 and was a never-ending wave-based shoot ’em-up game. Though it was fun, it was not the game that we really wanted to make, so we redesigned the game as a Metroidvania.
The original wave-based BioGun.How, when (and why) did we pick the unique theme that BioGun has now? The journey began in 2019 with the vision of exploring the inner workings of the human body.
What the first Metroidvania version of BioGun looked like.However, as the world grappled with the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, we felt that developing a game that focuses on the human body from a cellular level would have been in bad taste; combining this with the fact that we are big fans of dogs, we decided that focusing on the interior (within the body) of a dog as it fights off a deadly virus, would be the perfect setting for our game.
The many versions of BioGun - with the centre 3 tiles being the current game![hr][/hr]
Presenting the Antagonist: The Dooper Virus
Enough background chatter, it's time to get into the heart of the game, and the best way to start is by looking at the game's antagonist, the Dooper Virus!
The Dooper Virus is a lethal virus that threatens dogs everywhere. Its origins can be found in pigs within meat processing facilities, and thanks to the rampant overuse of antibiotics in livestock, the Dooper Virus evolved and mutated to be surprisingly powerful in many ways.
No Spoilers here, these are just silhouettes of three notable Dooper Viruses!One of the Dooper Virus’s strongest powers is that it can infect, corrupt, and even manipulate various single-celled organisms, ranging from bacteria to viruses and normal cells. Unlike other viruses that threaten dogs day to day, the Dooper Virus is particularly adaptable and can mimic and propagate in the same way that any other virus or bacteria that has ever entered the host can do, even the good bacteria that live in the dog's gut.
An infected BacteriophageThe result of this threat? An almost 100% mortality rate for infected dogs and extinction a real threat.
[hr][/hr]
Enter Bek: The Vaccine Protagonist
Luckily, hope is not lost! DocX has spent countless sleepless nights working on a vaccine for the Dooper Virus. Enter Bek, the beacon of hope in the battle against the Dooper Virus. As a vaccine, Bek mirrors real-life counterparts as his genetic makeup is based on the Dooper Virus, with the added component of pig DNA (this is vital as we’ll discover in a bit).
In the fight against the Dooper Virus, Bek’s unique genetic makeup allows him to harness the very powers and abilities that the Dooper Virus so destructively uses, but this time to help the dog survive.
[hr][/hr]
What Happened to the Antibodies?
When the Dooper Virus first infects a dog, the first line of defense activates releasing the antibodies. Though antibodies are immensely powerful in what they do, their major weakness is that they can only effectively fight what they were designed to fight, any changes can be devastating. The Dooper Virus knew of this weakness and exploited it to terrible effect. It corrupted known viral strains and then lured the antibodies into a trap. When faced with the mutated versions of the viruses they were utterly wiped out, leaving behind their essence, encapsulated within an Enzyme.
RIP: Antibody, defeated by the cunning Dooper Virus.Their defeat may not have been in vain. Remember, Bek has many similar traits to the Dooper Virus, and so if Bek comes across an Enzyme, he can temporarily gain the power of the fallen antibody.
[hr][/hr]
Bek is not the First
Within the microscopic ecosystem of BioGun, it should not be surprising to learn that Bek was not the first attempt to fight the Dooper Virus, in-fact he is the fourth dedicated vaccine. However, Bek's predecessors were not created with the vital pig DNA and so utterly failed in their mission to defeat the Dooper Virus.
In fact, not only did they fail, all but one betrayed their cause and now fight against the very dog that they were created to save. This has caused the dog's natural defense force (W.B.C, the Wound and Bacteria Control) and the residence (normal cells), to view Bek with suspicion.
Fun Fact: Within our game, the term for all single-celled organisms is 'Nisms' and they will refer to each other as such.[hr][/hr]
Travelling and Shopping
Within a dog's body, what better way to travel than by using the cardiovascular system? The mass-transit system in BioGun is known as the Vascular system and allows the cells (Bek included) to quickly travel between organs. Make sure to acquire a V-Pass, then hop on the Artery Express to move back and forth between organs.
All aboard the Artery Express!For shorter distances, Bek can call upon DocX to inject him between special safe locations.
Shopping on the other hand is an interesting one. Otterman is the proprietor of the in-game store. Remember when we said that all but one of the vaccines that came before Bek turned against the dog? Otterman is that one. Being intelligent enough to learn that he could not take on the Dooper Virus directly, he set up shop and began selling his inventions that are aimed at fortifying the dog's immune system.
[hr][/hr]
A bit about the Controls
When you get your hands on BioGun (as in play it), you'll notice that even though it is a 2D platformer, the game may feel a bit more fast-paced, even FPS game-like. This is simply because the game was designed with an FPS controller in mind!
While BioGun is a 2D platformer, a lot of the design was inspired by mechanics more commonly found in a first-person shooter (FPS) game. We even designed the game with an FPS controller in mind. For those of you who dislike controllers, don't worry, this choice ended up greatly benefiting how the game plays on a keyboard and mouse.
[hr][/hr]
Well then, that’s it for this write-up, we hope that you’ve enjoyed reading it, we sure enjoyed looking back at our history and writing about it. There will be more to come, so make sure to stay tuned for more.
In the meantime, make sure to follow us on our social media channels:
🦠 Get in touch with devs on Twitter: https://twitter.com/biogungame
💉 Inject yourself into our Discord: http://discord.gg/CWkAJBbqun
🧪 Check out amazing gameplay reels on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/biogungame
🩺 Follow us on Facebook to get only the main news: https://www.facebook.com/BioGunGame
