NightSpawn News

Welcome to the third of our weekly highlight posts. This week we turn our attention to The Mine - one of the new potential escape routes in our next upcoming map section.

The release of Section 3 is getting very close. If development continues as planned, we expect this to be our last Weekly Highlight before the release of Section 3 - so stay tuned for further news!

On to this week's highlight…


Before survivors can delve into the depths of the mine in search of escape, they must first find a way in. Unfortunately, the way is blocked and only by restoring power in the area outside the mine, can survivors hope to power the mine gate and slip inside.



The entrance to the mine is a significant landmark to look out for. The industrial equipment of the area can offer precious cover from the Noble, who prowls the area looking for his prey. Cable spools, old containers and trucks can all be used to stay out of sight.



Some additional safety can be found in upturned mining carts, which can be a useful hiding place in a moment of need. Additionally, office containers are found around the area, with several useful hiding places.



It will be up to survivors to figure out exactly what they need to do to break into the mine itself, but - as a word of advice - keep your eyes peeled for any useful equipment the miners left behind.


For those able to reach the mine itself, the next test begins. Tight, claustrophobic passageways weave through the mountainside. Unlike the more open entrance area, the inside of the mine has limited options when it comes to running away. Listen out for threats before they arrive and make use of the various hiding places to stay out of sight when you can.



Dead miners litter this area. Be sure to check for any useful supplies they might carry on their person.



After navigating the gloomy passageways, light is at the tunnel. Just remember to stay - on track - and you should be out in no time.




Our next update will likely be the focus of our next post, although we are keen to continue sharing updates on progress as we continue on. Please let us know any topics that you would be interested in us covering in future posts in the comments or on our Discord!

[h2]Cryptid Hunters Descend on Alaskan Town Amidst Murder Mystery[/h2]
Point Hope, Alaska - A shadow has been cast over the small town of Point Hope, Alaska, as reports of a series of chilling murders have emerged, leaving the community gripped by fear and uncertainty. In an unprecedented move, the renowned C.H.I.P.S team, known for their expertise in investigating the unexplained, has arrived in Point Hope to tackle the case head-on.

The Cryptids Hunters & Investigative Paranormal Surveillance (C.H.I.P.S) organization, led by the esteemed Dr. Rebecca Wells, has gained notoriety for their fearless approach to investigations that often tread where law enforcement and traditional investigative teams dare not go. With a legacy of uncovering the truth behind some of the most baffling paranormal cases, their presence in Point Hope has been met with a mix of hope and trepidation among the town's residents.

This investigation comes in the wake of alarming reports of victims found hanging from their feet, drained of blood in a manner that has left even the seasoned investigators of the local sheriff's department at a loss. The lack of information and the eerie similarity to the massacre in Barrow, Alaska, in 2007, which saw the town decimated by an unidentified assailant, has fueled fears of a recurring nightmare.

Jerry Sawyer, a reporter for The Cryptid Journal, met with Dr. Wells and her team upon their arrival. Dr. Wells shared their plan to blend cutting-edge paranormal surveillance with traditional detective work to shed light on the dark happenings in Point Hope. "We're here to uncover the truth, no matter how deep we have to dig," Dr. Wells stated, her determination palpable.

The team's investigation has already unearthed a web of eyewitness accounts ranging from sightings of shadowy figures to the chilling sound of whispers in the dead of night. As they delve into the town's storied past, uncovering tales of ancient curses and supernatural occurrences, the CHIPS team finds themselves navigating a labyrinth of mysteries and dangers.

The tension in Point Hope has escalated as the investigation has progressed, with the community divided and rumors running rampant. Accusations and fears of ancient evils have surfaced, putting an even greater strain on the already beleaguered townsfolk.

Despite the increasing peril, including mysterious accidents and ominous threats, the C.H.I.P.S team remains undeterred. Their commitment to unraveling the mystery of Point Hope and stopping the sinister force responsible for the murders underscores their reputation as one of the most fearless and determined investigative teams in the realm of the paranormal.

As the investigation continues, the eyes of the world are on Point Hope, waiting to see if the C.H.I.P.S team can once again uncover the truth behind the unexplainable.

Dev Bites - Issue Five

Welcome to our issue five of Dev Bites! This time, we discuss a number of major developments regarding our upcoming next zone, as well as our latest upgrades to the main menu and pre-game lobbies.

Overview

• The Town progress update
  
• Shards and unlocks
  
• Menu Updates
  
• New game mode
  

[h2]Section Three “The Town”[/h2]
As a quick recap, every map in Sanguivore will be broken down into four sections. Over the last couple of weeks, preparing the third section of our initial Alaskan map has been the primary focus. The third section, known as “The Town”, is the biggest section yet with various mini-areas filled with tasks and challenges.



The good news for this upcoming section is that we have reached an important milestone. We have now started running general tests of the whole area and have done several internal run throughs of the section. We are pleased to share that our results have been very positive so far. Evading enemies was fun, objectives and AI enemies were working as intended and performance was surprisingly reasonable for the current stage of development. Naturally, there are lots of adjustments we are working on based on the results - but initial testing has been successful.

Here’s a recap of the areas in the Town we’ve been working on over the last few days.

[h2]The Electrical Station[/h2]
This landmark is an important objective for some escape routes which require power. Restoring power to the town is a good place to start in order to open up all available options. Be careful as you navigate the maze of electrical equipment as you attempt to balance out the power output to the town.



[h2]The Supermarket[/h2]
Escaping through The Market might be a good option… if you can navigate to avoid that which stalks the aisles. Fixing the power will be your main obstacle as you clamber over strewn groceries and storage boxes to reach the other side.



[h2]The Mine (Entrance)[/h2]
Some say the mine shafts burrow deep into the mountain. Brave souls might be able to find refuge through the gloom. But accessing the mine is no easy feat. The mine entrance is locked and will require some cunning… and power… to open up. Maybe those generators will help?



[h2]The Mine[/h2]
Once inside the mine, survivors must stay on guard. Navigating through the darkness will be difficult - and the Sanguivore can see better in the dark than you can. However, those who can keep their cool and find a way though, might live long enough to find light at the end of the tunnel..



[h2]The Shops[/h2]
Greeting survivors as they enter the zone is a small collection of shops and services. Although the staff are currently not available due to unavoidable circumstances, it may still be worth taking a look around these locations for both loot and sanctuary.



Development on The Town is now nearing completion. There is still work to be done on one of the objectives and there are a number of improvements we would like to make following our tests. But this latest section of the map has very much come alive over the last couple of weeks. Following our positive testing results, we are more eager than ever to unveil it for everyone in the very near future.


Now is the time to start saving up and earning your shards. We have added two new playable characters to the game that you can now unlock using shards earned from playing Sanguivore. See images below.



We will also be adding two more unlockable characters with the next section release, which will be the final stage of the Twenty Below map.

Over time we will also add additional outfits for your characters for you to unlock and collect.



Shards also have another use in the latest update, you can now jump start games with your friends by spending shards to skip sections. If you have already completed a section successfully, you will be able to select that section from the Host “Game Setup” screen. Spending shards to skip sections costs 200 for Section 2, 300 for Section 3 and 400 shards to attempt the boss level (Section 4).



So if you make it to section three then all perish to the Sanguivore - don’t despair. If you have 300 shards spare you can jump back in where you left off with your team.

What are Shards? Shards are Sangivore’s in-game currency and are earned from every game played then added to a player's Sanguivore account that is automatically created the first time you open the game. This currency has no real world value and can NOT be purchased with real life money.

Shards are purely used as a way for the player to reward themselves by unlocking characters, skins and exclusive perks from the in-game store, known as the Shard Dealer.


As well as giving the main menu a complete overhaul, we have opened up the shard dealer menu, character selection and leaderboards.



[h2]The Shard Dealer[/h2]
At the moment the shard dealer menu is very basic, but will be fleshed out more over time.
This gives players the opportunity to spend Sanguivore’s in-game currency known as Shards, that are earned each game played.



[h2]Character selection[/h2]
As you enter a game, the system will automatically assign each player one of the four default player characters. Now you can click on the ‘Characters’ option and select a different character including characters you have unlocked.



[h2]Leaderboards[/h2]
Leaderboards have been gathering data since the game launched into early access, but now you can officially view top players from the leaderboard menu. Two leaderboards will be available. ‘Top Players’: players with the highest XP earned and ‘Fastest Time’: the fastest time all sections have been completed by players.




With the next upcoming update, you’ll be able to try out the very first of our alternative game modes: Time Trial! This new game mode will be the first of several new modes we intend to add, offering new ways to play the game.

Time Trial mode is aimed at solo players, looking to compete for the fastest escape times possible. The top times will be available on the leaderboards for all to see.

Each section of every map can be run in time trial mode. The difference is that only one objective is available. This chosen objective is always the same, so players can focus on that single objective in order to improve their run with every playthrough.

There will be an individual leaderboard for every map section to conquer, as well as a record of your personal best time to beat. Leaderboards will likely be categorized by the patch version in the future, if and when updates are released that can affect Time Trial times.

To unlock the next map section in time trial mode, players need to complete the previous section at least once.

We have a lot of ideas to bring to the table for future game modes, so keep an eye out for future news on what’s in the pipeline.


Following on from our current objectives, after the release of the next update, we will be spending some time working with the community to test and iron out any issues in the latest section.

Beyond the next update, we will begin to implement our plans for the fourth and final map section for the Twenty Below map.


Progress continues towards our next major update, which will see Section 3 released, the new game menus and a new game mode. We are pushing full steam ahead with these elements of the game and look forward to the upcoming update.

Welcome to the second of our weekly highlight posts. Following on from last week’s look at the new Electrical Substation, this week we’re going to cover the very latest at the nearby supermarket.

On to this week's highlight…


The supermarket, known simply as ‘The Market’ locally, is a key location and potential escape avenue. If survivors can brave the Electrical Substation and restore power to the automatic doors to gain entry, a maze of shopping displays and back rooms awaits. Of course… the sanguivore prowls the aisles.



In and amongst the strewn groceries and goods, loot can be found. Keep a keen eye out for loot boxes and bodies to loot. Some locations may be tucked away so always worth searching every dark corner.

Towards the back of The Market are the store offices and breakroom. As well as being a useful place to hide and loot, navigating these backrooms is the key to escaping.



The other, much larger backroom, is the stock room. This section of the store houses endless shelves of stored goods. Tread carefully around this area. Although there are a multitude of hiding places, the wider spaces of this warehouse can make staying hidden difficult.



Accessing the various areas of the supermarket may be a challenge without lockpicks or other tools. If in doubt, there are many bodies scattered around which may contain helpful items.

In a future Weekly Highlight, we’ll discuss the supermarket roof, which is also an important potential escape route connected to the wider town.




In addition to the selection of new hiding places featured in our last Weekly Highlight, a new cardboard box hiding place has been added, often found around The Market.




We will be continuing to discuss various Sanguivore related topics in the coming weeks. We would especially like to talk over some community suggestions. If you have an idea for a topic to be discussed, please let us know in the comments below!

Welcome to the first of our weekly highlight posts. Our plan is to release a new highlight each week covering areas of maps, mechanics and even the Sanguivores themselves.

Let's get to this week's highlight…


For our first post, we have decided to cover the new electrical substation, available in the upcoming Section 3, known as: “The Town”.

The town covers a large area for players to navigate. Importantly, most areas require players to re-enable the power in order to progress. This is where the substation comes in.



With multiple ways to get to the substation, finding quick passageways to the heart of the landmark is key.

But be aware that the Sanguivore has left the comfort of indoor environments and ventured outside into the cold to search for the sweet notes of human blood.



Players will have to navigate around a small maze of metal and wire, to locate switches, slowly bringing the power back up to the correct outage value.

Getting The Town’s power back online will open up various escape plans to execute. One example is the Market, which will only open when the power has been restored.

Head to the main hub at the substation to check that all switches are in the correct position and you have not underpowered or overpowered the system.




Tucked in to Electrical Station and the wider map are some handy new hiding places. It is always worth keeping tabs on the nearest place to hide in case it’s needed in a hurry.

The portaloo will be found across various industrial locations, of which there are plenty to be found in Section 3 - The Town. Worth checking if it is vacant ahead of time, of course.



Additionally, two new crate hiding places have been added. You can either crawl inside boxes on their side, or vault into bigger crates with the lids on top.



Incidentally, just a friendly tip to all survivors - the Sanguivore may check hiding places if they think you’ve snuck inside. The chances of having your hiding place searched is much lower if there are lots of hiding places nearby to choose from - so pick wisely. If there is only one place to hide, it might be better to keep running lest the Sanguivore finds you.


We will be continuing to discuss various Sanguivore related topics in the coming weeks. We would especially like to talk over some community suggestions. If you have an idea for a topic to be discussed, please let us know in the comments below!