1. Within the Cosmos
  2. News

Within the Cosmos News

July 2024: Development Update

Hi everyone! I hope you've all had the chance to check out the gameplay video I uploaded a few weeks ago. Your feedback has been invaluable in shaping the direction of the game, and I truly appreciate all of your insights and suggestions.

Here's the video, if you haven't seen it:
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

Development has been very productive lately. The game is in the best state it has ever been in, with a significant number of bugs resolved and the mechanics are significantly polished. I've been focusing heavily on polishing the writing, refining the UX, and fine-tuning various gameplay mechanics, as well as doing extensive playtesting. I've also been incorporating the feedback I received after posting the gameplay video a few weeks ago.

Looking ahead, I'm excited to announce that I'll be releasing another trailer towards the end of this month. In the previous gameplay video, I introduced you to the planet Berith II, a western-inspired world where the rebellious faction, the Enlightened, have established their stronghold in the city of Chronos.



In the upcoming trailer, I will showcase a glimpse of the planet Alios and its capital city, Pearl City. This region is mostly under the control of the authoritarian faction, UESA, known for their advanced technology and strict governance. This trailer will be shorter than the previous one (more like a proper trailer as opposed to a gameplay walkthrough-styled video), and will focus more on showcasing different aspects of the game and various locations.



Thank you all so much for all of your warm hearted messages and continuous support. Words can't express how much they mean to me, I feel like I keep saying that but it's completely true. I'm so happy to be back communicating with all of you, and I can't wait to unveil more of the game's world and gameplay features. Also, please don't hesitate to make suggestions or give feedback about the game. Your input is immensely valuable to me and really helps me make this game the best it can be.

I hope you'll look forward to the trailer!

- debdev

Within the Cosmos - Berith II Gameplay Video

Hi everyone! Here is some new gameplay of Within the Cosmos. To go along with this, I have updated (and will continue to update) the Steam page with some new information and artwork. In the meantime, please check out the gameplay video.

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

In addition, I was able to regain access to my contact email, as well as the website for the game. The games website is now withinthecosmos.com. I updated the UI for the page, I think it looks better than the previous one. Please check it out if you're interested!

I'm excited (and anxious) to hear what you all have to say regarding the video, and I hope you all like what you see!

June 2024: Development Update

Hello everyone,

I hope this message finds you well. It's been quite some time since our last communication, and I want to start by expressing my sincerest apologies for the lack of updates on the progress of Within the Cosmos. Your support and enthusiasm for the game mean everything to me, and I understand the concerns that have arisen during this period of silence.

Since my last communication on September 2021, I had every intention of releasing a trailer and keeping you updated on the progress of the game. Unfortunately, unforeseen challenges arose, and I found myself in a position where I had to prioritise my financial stability. Like many indie developers, I poured my heart, soul, and savings into this project. I had quit my job and was focusing on the development of the game full time. However, I reached a point where I had to pause development to secure a stable income to support myself, and to support the games development. As a result of that, a couple of things had to go offline, like the games website, my contact email, etc. as I simply couldn't afford to keep them. It was a difficult decision, one that weighed extremely heavily on me, but it was necessary for my own stability, well-being, and for the well-being of the game itself.

Since then, I've been working diligently to strike a balance between my passion for this dream of mine and the necessity of financial stability. While it hasn't been easy, I've made significant progress and am now in a better position to continue the development of Within the Cosmos and share it with you.

Despite the setbacks, my passion for Within the Cosmos has never wavered. I've continued to work on it whenever I found the time, I've added, altered, and polished mechanics whenever I could. I am more determined than ever to see this project through to completion.

With all of this in mind, I am committed to keeping you all updated on the development of Within the Cosmos. While I cannot provide an exact timeline for release at this moment, please know that I am working diligently to finish the game that has been by my side throughout a significant portion of my life, I've planned my life around this game, this game is my life, and I will not stop working on it until it's completed.

In the meantime, I'm happy to announce that I'll be releasing a gameplay video on 20 June, showcasing the current state of the game. This video will offer a glimpse of the progress I've made and the direction the game is heading. It will showcase Berith II, and the city of Chronos, and a couple of new features that I've added to the game. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on it, as I feel like the game has changed quite a bit since the previous gameplay video a couple of years ago.

Your concern for my well-being is extremely touching, I thank all of you deeply for that. Your support has been the driving force behind this project, and I'm endlessly grateful for each and every one of you. Your interest in this project is genuinely what has kept me going during a difficult period. Once again, I offer my deepest apologies for the lack of communication, and thank you all for keeping my project wishlisted, for your understanding, patience, and unwavering belief in Within the Cosmos.

- debdev

Release Window Announcement



In plain text:


Hello again everyone!

Unfortunately, Within the Cosmos won't be released in 2021, the release window has now been set to Q1 2022.

I initially wanted to reveal the new release window during the upcoming gameplay video, but I felt like letting the release date be known as early as possible is for the best. Also, I wanted to avoid setting another release window that ends up getting pushed back. Within the Cosmos continues to be developed, of course. As many of you know by now, I don't intend to release the game until I'm completely satisfied with every aspect of it. It is almost there. I simply need more time to finish incorporating some new aspects of the game that I've added over the last few months. More testing is required, and more polish. These next couple of months will allow me to fully accomplish the goals I've set for this game. Ultimately, this will lead to a much better experience for you when you finally get to play the game.

Regarding the upcoming gameplay video, I intend to publish it in September. In the video, you'll see one of the early missions in the game, along with some dialogue, RPG aspects, hacking, and some combat. I can't wait for all of you to see how much the game has changed and improved since the last video. Once the gameplay video has been published, I will continue doing the monthly/bi-monthly blog style development updates. As Within the Cosmos gets closer to its targeted release window, I'll get a better idea of when the exact release date will be. I will share that with you as soon as I am able.

I appreciate all of you for being so understanding throughout the development process, and I cannot thank you enough for all of your support!


- debdev

June 2021: Development Update

Hi everyone! For this development update I'll be talking about Weapons & Ammo Types. This isn't a complete list of every weapon that's in the game, but it's more of an overview of how the weapons and ammo types work together and how they tie into the RPG aspects of the game.

Initially, I had intended on going with a Mk. I, Mk. II path of progression for weapons (finding better versions of the same weapon as the game goes along), but eventually, after playing through the game a few times, it didn't feel right. I ended up with weapons that no longer served a purpose, as I was able to find better, upgraded versions of them. After this experience, I wanted to make every weapon viable from the beginning to the end of the game. I wanted to ensure that if the first weapon you find in the game is your favourite weapon throughout the journey, then you should be able to use that until the very end. As a result, there are no longer any Mk. I's and Mk. II's in the game. With the extra time I allotted for the games development, I was able to add new weapons to the game. I set out to make sure every weapon can stand on its own. However, there still needs to be some form of progression for weapons, and that progression comes in the way of Skills, and Weapon Attachments.

[h3]Weapon Skills[/h3]
Since this is an RPG, how effective your weapons are in your hands will be largely influenced by your Skill in that particular weapons field. These are the major skills that will govern how your character handles each weapon. This also gives you an idea of the type of weapons in the game.

Automatic Weapons: Determines your proficiency at using Assault Rifles & Sub-machine Guns
Explosives: Determines your proficiency at using Explosive Weapons, like, Grenades, and Traps
Melee Weapons: Determines your proficiency at using Melee Weapons
Ranged Weapons: Determines your proficiency at using Sniper Rifles & DMRs
Small Arms: Determines your proficiency at using Pistols & Shotguns

Improving the skill that you desire will reduce the recoil while firing the weapon, and increase the damage, as well as unlock some perks. Don't forget to add Skill points to them when you level up!



[h3]Weapon Attachments:[/h3]
Weapon Attachments can be found while exploring, and they can be purchased from shops. There are 4 slots available for most weapons where you can equip different types of attachments. These are:

Optics Slot:
Optics slot will dictate what kind of Optics/Scope you will use on your gun.

In this GIF, I'm using the Recon Scope, which highlights enemies. This is especially useful when exploring at night. I also used the Time Dilation software so that I can line up the perfect headshot!


Muzzle Slot:
If you want to go with a sneaky route, make sure you equip a Silencer on your Muzzle slot. This will largely reduce the amount of sound that the weapon produces when fired.





Magazine Slot:
You can equip Extended Magazines on most weapons to increase its magazine size. This will allow you to fire off more shots before having to reload. Each ammo type has its own Extended Magazine. Example: If you find an Extended Magazine for Light Ammo, that Extended Magazine can be used on every weapon that uses Light Ammo.



[h3]Ammo Slot:[/h3]
This is where you'll select what type of Ammo you want your weapon to use. This slot is more complex than the others, so I'll go more into how it works.



When modifying your weapon, you can select the type of ammo the weapon will use. The type of ammo that you equip on your weapon plays an important role when encountering enemies. If you want to be efficient, you need to equip the correct ammo type for the situation that you're in.

There are 5 categories that ammo falls into, and they are intended for different groups of weapons. They are:

Light Ammo - Pistols & Sub-machine Guns
Heavy Ammo - Assault Rifles & DMRs
Sniper Ammo - Sniper Rifles
Shotgun Ammo - Shotguns
Tranquiliser Ammo - Tranquiliser Pistol & Tranquiliser Rifle

Regular Rounds:
Regular rounds are the standard variant that weapons use. These are mostly effective against organic enemies, and less so against armoured targets & artificial enemies.

Amour-Piercing Rounds:
Each ammo type also has an Armour-Piercing alternative. These are highly effective against artificial enemies, and less effective against organics.



[h3]Cosmetics:[/h3]
You can also edit your weapons to alter their appearance, purely for cosmetic purposes. These allow you to personalise your weapon.

Charms:
Charms add a little bit of life to your weapon! These can be purchased from shops and also found throughout the world.



Weapon Skins:
If you want to represent your factions colours, or any other colour you want, you can recolour your weapon and select one that suits you!



[h3]Closing Statements[/h3]
I wanted to post this development update about two weeks ago, I apologise for the delay. This is the final major development update post for now, as I'm going to shift my focus to finalising some aspects of the game and then creating a new gameplay video. The game has changed so much since the last video was posted (almost 2 years ago now! Wow). I'm so excited to show all of you the improvements and changes, and get your feedback!

As always, I want to sincerely thank all of you for your patience while I'm creating this game. All of your comments are uplifting and motivating, and they mean more to me than you can imagine. I'll never tire of thanking all of you for spending your time checking out my game.

Thank you!!!


If you'd like to follow the game on any social network, here are the links:

Twitter Facebook Instagram Official Website


The game is in active development and things can and will change until the game is released!

Thanks again!!