SPORTAL News

[p]In the beginning we were aiming for the release for the end of the year. However we decided to add more polish to the game![/p][p]In this update, we’d like to share what we’re currently working on.[/p][p]
[/p][h2]Gameplay Balance:[/h2][p]This is one of the most crucial aspects. We want the balance to feel just right — and trust us, it’s no easy task in a game like this. The biggest challenge lies in tuning the values of the global progression tree (the upgrades that don’t reset after death). Our goal is to ensure smooth pacing: no excessive grind, but also not too easy. In other words, we play relentlessly, adjusting upgrade costs until everything clicks. [/p][p]global progression tree[/p][p][/p][p]Another key challenge is balancing enemy strength against weapon damage, as well as player movement speed, jump height, enemy speed, weapon reload times, and more. Dozens of interconnected parameters must work together like a perfectly tuned orchestra to bring the game as close to ideal as possible.[/p][p]Combat balancing - enemies vs weapons[/p][h2]
Anomalies:[/h2][p]We want every run to feel unique, so we’re introducing a system of anomalies — gameplay modifiers that appear randomly. Here are some examples:[/p]

• [p]Darkness – the level is pitch black, and the player must rely on a flashlight.[/p]
• [p]Arachnophobia – only spiders spawn, and there are a lot of them.[/p]
• [p]Low Gravity – reduced gravity across the level (still in testing).[/p]
• [p]Iron Boot – wield a metal boot that defeats enemies with a single kick.[/p]
• [p]No Hazards – no spikes or environmental traps.[/p]
• [p]Cow Level – all enemies have cow heads, and headshots are impossible.[/p]
• [p]Cornfield – no enemies, only scarecrows that drop loot when destroyed.[/p]
• [p]Shroom Fest – explosive mushrooms scattered throughout the level.[/p]
• [p]Anomaly 9 & 10 – still to be designed… and we’d love to hear your ideas![/p]

[p]Enemy for the Cow Level anomaly (cow head still without final texture)[/p][p][/p][p]The leg in a normal sneaker and special “Iron boot”[/p][p][/p][p]Darkness annomally[/p][p][/p][p]Low gravity anomaly - I believe I can flyyyyyy[/p][p][/p][h2]Polishing & Tweaks:[/h2]

• [p]Beyond the big systems, we’ve already implemented dozens of smaller improvements, with many more on the way. Highlights include:[/p]
• [p]Four different corridor variants between levels (instead of just one).[/p]
• [p]A reroll button for local progression (upgrade card choices).[/p]
• [p]Stats displayed at the start of each level.[/p]
• [p]A mummy training in the main menu (originally meant to dance, but the somber music didn’t fit — so now it’s for training purposes instead).[/p]
• [p]Added FOV settings.[/p]
• [p]Refined particle effects (e.g., death curse, scare) and explosions.[/p]
• [p]Post-processing adjustments.[/p]
• [p]Optimization — aiming for 60 FPS on Steam Deck.[/p]

[p][/p][p][/p][carousel][/carousel][p]Different layouts of corridor[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3]That’s all for today![/h3][p]We’re pushing hard to add at least 100 more fixes and improvements before launch. Time is running short, as release is just around the corner. The official date will be announced soon - expect SPORTAL to arrive in early 2026.[/p][p]
[/p][p]Thank you for your support! – The Sleepwalking Potatoes Team [/p]

[p]Hello freaks![/p][p]Since the demo dropped two weeks ago, we've been working our butts off—tuning the balance, squashing bugs, polishing mechanics, and boosting the overall quality of the game. Most of this effort is aimed at the upcoming full release (yes, it's coming soon!), but the demo didn’t get left behind either. It’s been hit with dozens of juicy improvements to make your arena experience even more chaotic and satisfying![/p][p][/p][h3]Most important improvements:[/h3]

• [p]In-game Wiki – Press F1 to access detailed descriptions of hundreds of items available in the game. Finally, some clarity in the chaos![/p]
• [p]Health Upgrade Bug Fixed – There was a sneaky bug that gave players free health upgrades. It’s gone now—so expect a slightly tougher ride 😈.[/p]
• [p]Visual Polish – We’ve added dozens of graphical tweaks, including better-looking projectiles for weapons. Your carnage just got prettier.[/p]
• [p]Lacrosse Rework – The feel of lacrosse weapons has been improved for smoother, more satisfying gameplay.[/p]
• [p]Progress Tree Balance – We’ve adjusted the global progress tree for better balance and made its structure easier to understand.[/p]
• [p]Pink Barriers Added – No more falling off the edge of the level. Pink barriers now keep the action contained (and your rage focused).[/p][p][/p]

[p]And if you're curious, here's a little devlog I recorded a few days ago—a behind-the-scenes peek at what’s cooking![/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p][/p][p]We’re absolutely blown away by how much you’re enjoying our little demo! The response has been incredible—dozens of comments here on Steam, on our Discord, and across social media. Honestly, we didn’t expect this kind of love, and it means the world to us.[/p][p][/p][p]If you haven’t played the SPORTAL Demo yet, now’s the perfect time to jump in! And if you like what you see, please consider wishlisting the game and sharing your thoughts in a review or comment. Your feedback is incredibly valuable and helps us shape SPORTAL into something truly special before launch.[/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p]

[p]Hey everyone! [/p][p]The SPORTAL Demo is now available on Steam, and it's your chance to step into the arena to experience the mayhem of weaponized sports equipment firsthand. This is where chaos takes the field. Every level is a fight for survival and an opportunity to upgrade your arsenal to crank up the destruction.[/p][p]This is your front-row seat to a blood-soaked slugfest where footballs explode on impact, hockey pucks ricochet between enemies, and monsters never play by the rules. Choose your gear and fight your way through a gauntlet of grotesque creatures in a demo packed with carnage. [/p][h3]What’s Inside the Demo[/h3][p]The SPORTAL Demo gives you a taste of the upcoming mayhem:[/p]

• [p]9 levels with 2 distinct environment types to battle through[/p]
• [p]9 monster types[/p]
• [p]1 boss to test your skills and give you a taste of what's to come[/p]
• [p]Around 60 minutes of gameplay from start to boss fight[/p]
• [p]4 sports-inspired weapon classes: Footballs, Hockeys, Lacrosses, and Slingshoots - each with 53 unique variants[/p]
• [p]20 backpacks, 12 shoulder pads, and 25 upgrades to choose from[/p]

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p]The demo is just an appetizer. The full game cranks everything to eleven: more weapons, more upgrades, more arenas, and a whole roster of monsters straight out of 1950s horror B-movies.

Wishlist SPORTAL now and get ready for the opening whistle.

[dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p]

[p]Hey folks! We’re in the final sprint on Sportal, which means less time for regular Steam devlogs lately. But today’s topic is just too good to skip—it’s been giving me the boost I need to share it with you. I’m putting this together after a full day of game‑building, so show some love with a comment or a like down below

On that note, we’re down to just two milestones before launch! The game’s in an advanced stage now, and we’re deep into internal playtesting. From almost the very start, testers have been saying they expected a bit more of a sporty vibe. At first, we weren’t convinced—after all, we already had monsters and sports‑themed weapons. We didn’t think the action needed to take place in stadiums, or that the monsters had to run around in jerseys. That just wasn’t the core of the game. Or so we thought.[/p][p][/p][p]But after hearing the same feedback 5 or 6 times, we realized there was something to it—so now we’re slipping sporty elements in wherever we can. We’ve honestly fallen in love with the results. Sometimes it really does pay to listen to your players…[/p][p]
[/p][h2]The monsters:[/h2][p]the mummy before we added the sporty elements:
[/p][p]mummy after they joined the party:[/p][p][/p][p]The new mummy now features: [/p]

• [p]A new texture that’s less realistic and more reminiscent of a sporty jumpsuit (the color also makes it pop against the grey‑brown backgrounds) [/p]
• [p]A baseball cap [/p]
• [p]A smartphone strapped to its arm [/p]
• [p]Knee pads [/p]
• [p]Elbow pads [/p]
• [p]A wristwatch [/p]
• [p]A sports number[/p]

[p][/p][p]Adding all those elements was a pretty complex and time‑consuming process. But we built a clever system that randomizes them—keeping things fresh every time you see the character.[/p][p][/p][p]We’ve got three cap colors, plus the option to wear them backwards. Same goes for the knee pads, elbow pads, watches, and smartphones—each comes in three variations. On top of that, the mummy can appear without a number and without certain accessories. Our system randomly mixes all these possibilities, so enemies never look like clones. The result? A game world that feels richer, more alive, and more authentic. Eventually, all enemies will sport these caps and accessories.
[/p][p][/p][h2]The Environment:[/h2][p]Just as important was creating the feeling that you’re playing inside a stadium or arena—taking part in a horror‑sports spectacle. Here’s one of the key elements:  [/p][p]
[/p][p]The exit gate features sports‑style display screens that also double as progress indicators for your run.[/p][p]
[/p][p]The jumbotrons add to the eerie atmosphere, flickering ominously during gameplay.[/p][p]The green ramps are designed to look like a modern addition from the mysterious organizers of the Sportal tournament.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]The lights and railings help set the sporty vibe—while the spikes are environmental hazards you can also skewer enemies on![/p][p]
[/p][p]The game features four fictional brands of sports weapons and apparel—so we created banners showcasing their names.[/p][p]
[/p][p]The ruined sports stands and scattered seats are the final accent.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]One of the ‘Ruins’ environment levels seen from above in the Unity editor — placing all these elements was quite a painstaking process, but the result is worth it.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]And here are some textures featuring jerseys and sports numbers. We think they turned out with a great vibe.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]The Demo:[/h2][p]In just a few weeks we’ll be releasing a demo on Steam, so soon you’ll be able to experience our game for yourself. Testers say it’s very enjoyable and addictive — we hope you’ll feel the same way![/p][p][/p][h2]That's it for today[/h2][p]Thanks for reading! I’m heading back to work now. Today’s goal is to create a brand‑new level, as it turns out our plan for 5 different levels per environment wasn’t enough. They were repeating between tiers in the game, so we need 6 additional levels — and the release date is getting close!




[/p]

We’ve been keeping ourselves super busy lately - no surprise there! Right now, we’re at the thrilling stage of finalizing the content for our game. All the systems are up and running, and now it’s time to fill them with awesome stuff.
And when we say “content,” we mean it: 120 unique weapons and 100 diverse passive clothing items (backpacks, shoes, masks, protective gear - you name it!). Excitement is through the roof as we bring everything to life!

Recently, we finalized the functionality of the 6th type of weapon that will be in the game - hockey sticks!
You might be wondering, “Wait, I don't get it - 120 weapons, and you're only just working on the 6th type?” Let me explain. In our game, there will be 8 different types of weapons, each operating in unique ways. Here they are:

1. Slingshot
   
2. Lacrosse
   
3. Baseball
   
4. Golf
   
5. Frisbee
   
6. Hockey
   
7. Football
   
8. Bowling Ball
   
9. Kick (Okay, not exactly a weapon, but it looks super cool and works awesomely - and yes, you can take down opponents with it when you're out of balls!)
   

The number 120 comes from the fact that each of these weapon types will have many different configurations, featuring various appearances and magical effects. This diversity will make the gameplay even more dynamic and engaging. We hope.

[h2]In the game, configurations are presented as cards:[/h2]



[h2]Ah, hockey - it’s already shaping up to be a standout addition.[/h2]
One of our core design principles is to ensure that every weapon in the game feels truly unique in its functionality. For instance, baseball bats resemble assault rifles in their mechanics, while lacrosse works somewhat like a shotgun. And so on.
Hockey, however, stands apart - it operates unlike any firearm. Upon hitting an enemy, the puck ricochets and flies toward another enemy, and then another one, and so on. Depending on the level of hockey gear you have equipped, it can target anywhere from 2 to 6 additional enemies! This gives hockey a dynamic, almost chain-reaction-like quality that adds an exciting strategic element to the gameplay. 🏒✨



Hockey from the top shelf, you say?



Of course, balancing this weapon required a different approach, as it cannot deal excessively high damage. Compared to baseball, it falls short in terms of the strength of a single hit. However, the cumulative damage output is substantial.
We are very pleased with the result. Using hockey is highly satisfying and proves particularly useful when facing large clusters of enemies - and there is no shortage of those in SPORTAL

[h2]Sportacular Festival[/h2]

What else has been happening lately? If I were to be meticulous, I wouldn't have enough time to cover it all because there's been so much going on. However, I’ll mention one important event. The publisher No More Robots organized the Sportacular Festival on the Steam platform. We submitted SPORTAL for it, and it got accepted! We're thrilled because No More Robots is a highly respected indie game publisher—a company we truly admire.

The Sportacular Festival is live starting today! Be sure to check it out, as there’s a ton of fantastic sports and sports-adjacent games, many of them on sale, along with plenty of exciting upcoming gems.

Here is a direct link to the festival page - enjoy:
https://store.steampowered.com/sale/NoMoreRobotsSport-acularFestival

[h2]That's it for today - we're getting back to work![/h2]

And what do you think of this new weapon? Let us know in the comments.
Best regards from the Sleepwalking Potatoes duo!