Zeepkist ONLINE?? 😳
Hello everyone!!
It's been a while since the last update, so I thought I'd give ya'll an update on exactly what I've been doing. Because fear not, I've not been twiddling my thumbs waiting for the dollars to roll in. Oh no, instead, I've been very hard at work at the next Zeepkist update.
And ZEEPKISTERS, this one's EXCITING 😳😳🥵
So without further ado, I'd like to announce the plans of the next update!!
ZEEPKIST: ONLINE MULTIPLAYER
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
For the longest time I've said that Zeepkist will most likely never get online multiplayer. I said that online multiplayer is extremely not easy to program, and because I am just one guy doing all of it. Online multiplayer (in my mind) seemed like a pretty impossible mountain to climb. So I shelved it and said "I'm not doing that, maybe it'll be fun for the sequel."
And yet here we are, announcing that Zeepkist is getting online multiplayer in the next update! So what changed?
A couple of things happened:
For one, implementing Steam Workshop support meant taking my programming "expertise" to a new level. I learned tons of new tricks and in general it boosted my confidence in my own abilities. Slowly but surely I started to think that, if I'd managed to implement Steam Workshop support, that online multiplayer might also lie within the realm of possibilities.
Secondly, I saw how Zeepkist was being played. I've gotten tons of very good feedback from the Zeepkist Discord and it made me realize that online multiplayer could be an extremely fun addition.
And those thought twirled around in my head for a while, until one day I figured that if I was going to do online multiplayer, I'd better do it sooner rather than later. And here we are!
How will it work?
So! Zeepkist is getting online multiplayer! But how will it work and what will it look like and when is it coming??
All of these are very good questions. I'll be going over them now!
[h2]How will Zeepkist online work?[/h2]
Zeepkist online will be integrated into the base game, and will be an entirely new way to play Zeepkist.
The plan is to have you first go into a lobby selection screen where you can pick a lobby/create one. From there you'll be dropped into online proper.
Once online, the gameplay itself will be very similar to what you're used to. You race down hills and try to set the best time possible!
However this time, there's also other players racing on the same track as you! You can't collide with each other or anything, so nobody will be able to get into your way. (also it's hell to code)
While you're racing and setting new times and all that, there's also a timer counting down to zero. The player that has the best time when the timer reaches zero wins!
A podium with the winners gets displayed, championship points are awarded, and the next level gets loaded.
Beside that there's also a spectator mode, for Twitch casters and people who just like to look at everything that's happening. Spectators will appear online as little Zeepkist people with jetpacks and a camera:
The current max amount of players per lobby is 16, but I might be able to increase that in the future.
[h2]How far along is development? When is the update coming??[/h2]
Online multiplayer has been in development for about a month and a half now. You can view some early test footage here.
And currently I've got most gameplay logic and code working. That means levels are being synced, loaded, times are being kept, points are being scored, and at the end of each round there's a cute little podium to show who's won the race!
What still needs to be done is the entire chat system, a lobby system, lobby host controls such as setting up playlists, time per level, kicking players, that sort of thing. Then I also need to integrate Steam Workshop so that everyone automatically downloads all the levels that are being played. And then I still need to polish everything up, add some more animations, and finally localize all of it!
So there's still a ton of work to be done! I expect all of it take about another month or two. This is still pretty long time to wait, yes, I know! 😢
But please do remember that I'm just one developer doing all of everything! ðŸ¤
That's all, folks!!
And that's about what I've been working on the past month or two! :D
Along with online multiplayer, the next update will also see a bunch more Zeepkists, and one or two or three new blocks, and maybe some more stuff! We'll see!
Have a good one, keep Zeepkisting, join the Discord, and tell your friends!! 🥰
Much love,
The developer,
- Yannic
