Volcanoids News

[p]Don't have one cool thing to show this time, so this post will be a mix and match of everything that's been going on for the past few weeks! [/p][p][/p][h3]STEAMROLLER TURRET UPGRADE[/h3][p][/p][p]You've seen the turret in a lot of the steamroller content but never active. It is now fully implemented so it finally shreds COGs for you! [/p][p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p][/p][h3]STEAMROLLER SIDECAR UPGRADE[/h3][p][/p][p]Even more exciting then the turret is imo the sidecar upgrade, where you can ride along one of your buddies, AND USE YOUR WEAPONS while they drive! No doubt this will create some funny moments.

Just gotta fix the back breaking haha.[/p][p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p][/p][h3]NATURE TAKING OVER[/h3][p][/p][p]Now that we have a bunch of locations set up, we are experimenting with different tools to generate terrain. We really want to sell the idea that the island has been abandoned and reclaimed by nature. [/p][p]
[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3]STEAMROLLER DOCKING[/h3][p][/p][p]The docking animations are now finished, with the Steamroller packing nicely inside so you can still access the inventory box, upgrades, etc.
[/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p]
And the module now not only stores Steamrollers but also repairs them! [/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p][/p][h3]TECH TREE [/h3][p][/p][p]Last but not least, here's a prototype of a tech tree we're working on. We believe this could really help with confusion around crafting. [/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3]BOSS BATTLE AND MORE[/h3][p][/p][p]Aside from that we've been working on the Area 1 boss location but I don't want to spoil that to you. But it's getting harder and harder not to haha.

And then a lot of technical stuff around the island which is not visual enough for this.

However it's coming along nicely, here's one corner of area 1 with white box versions of the locations I already showed you in previous posts placed together.

This corner has more environment variation then the entire island that's currently in the game.



Appreciate you all and let us know what you think![/p]

[p]Appreciate all the support on the previous location preview!

Got another one this week for y'all and I think it might be my favorite one yet.

Check it out:
[/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p]
Before the catastrophe, Wrenchlow was a humble working-class town named after miner James Wrenchlow, whose statue stood at its center above a secret rebel base, the Lead Lanterns. The group operated under the nose of their overseer, Doc. Victor Rawensdale, gathering evidence of strange shipments, restricted mine areas, and underground structures, aided by an insider known as “Captain.” Weeks before devastating earthquakes struck, families evacuated, leaving mostly men to work. When the quakes hit, the reinforced bunker beneath the statue spared the remaining townsmen. Afterward, the Lead Lanterns revealed their findings, but Ironwealth’s power silenced any change. The town was abandoned, overgrown by nature, while the ruined bunker still lies hidden beneath the statue, guarding relics of a past few survived to remember.[/p][p][/p][p][/p]

[p]Got a look at another location for you this week.

But first off, thank you for all the love on the Steamroller post, really glad you like it!

As far as some of the suggested features go:

Upgrades are already in process.[/p][p]

So are hands on the wheel in FP mode as far as I know.

And will make sure to include the motion blur disable option in settings.

So thanks again for all the feedback and enjoy the location preview! [/p][h2]
Darksaddle [/h2][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p]
Once a quiet, ash-covered landmark known as Darksaddle, the area gained strategic importance when Ironwealth uncovered a seemingly endless supply of coal during railroad expansion. This discovery led to the rapid construction of a massive mining rig, turning the hill into a noisy industrial hub powered by steampunk engines. Despite its location in a tourist region, Ironwealth pressed on, installing sound barriers to contain the disruption. When the catastrophic earthquakes struck, chaos erupted—surface workers fled toward Rosegate Port, but many miners below were trapped as an underground lake flooded the shafts. In the aftermath, erosion and landslides steadily dismantle the once-imposing facility. Nature has begun reclaiming the site: machines rust, vines overgrow the rig, and a pond now rests beneath the structure—a quiet monument to the cost of progress.[/p]

[p]First off, thank you all so much for all the kind words under the last post, means the world![/p][p][/p][p]Second, the Steamroller got a bunch of cool updates so let's take a look: [/p][p][/p][h2]Motion Blurrrrrr[/h2][p]Gave the speed boost a bit more oomph with some motion blur and zoom out effect. Here's a comparison: [/p][p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p][/p][h2]Roadkills[/h2][p]Bullying COGs has never been easier with roadkills now working. Depending on your speed, you will either stun them, or trash them into pieces hehe. [/p][p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p][/p][h2]Drillship Docking[/h2][p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p][/p][h2]First Person?[/h2][p]Kinda chaotic, kinda like it.[/p][p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p][/p][p]Twitter and Discord saw these first![/p][p][/p][p][/p]

[h2]Ravensdale Mansion[/h2][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p][/p][p]Once a remote cliffside retreat for Doc. Victor Ravensdale—founder of Ironwealth Industries and overseer of operations on Adranos Island—Ravensdale Mansion served both as a residence and a secure hub for sensitive research tied to nearby facilities like Darksaddle, Rosegate Port, and the Imperial Rose. Aware of the island’s volcanic instability and covert underground activities, Ravensdale had a hidden bunker built beneath the mansion, where he moved his office to protect vital information. During the catastrophic event, he and his family took refuge there, believing it would withstand the disaster. However, the cliff itself fractured, splitting the mansion and bunker as the land crumbled into the ocean. Now lost beneath the rubble, the shattered bunker holds crucial secrets and advanced technologies—making its recovery a key goal for any future expedition. [/p][h2]
QnA

[/h2][p]Saw a bunch of questions under the last post so going to try and address them here. [/p][p][/p][p]ETA on the update?

TLDR:

We hope to make it happen this year.

Longer version:

It's been a while and the truth is, we underestimated how much work this update would take.

Changing the island from ground up touches so many systems that the work kept piling up. However, we promised you guys, who have invested into us, to deliver the new island. And we want to keep that promise no matter how long it takes. We've never done an update of this scale and it feels like making a whole new game at times.

Another reason for the delay is that releasing this update is going to be a big opportunity for the game to catch a second wind so we don't want to half ass it. As mentioned in previous Steam posts, the plan is to release the first area in the upcoming update, and then the next areas in quick succession. Those updates won't have such big gaps in between them since the foundation will already be laid.

We completely understand that having such a long gap between updates is frustrating and we hope it's going to be worth it in the end. If you’ve stuck around this long, thank you, it means a lot.

Why do the graphics look like this?

Everything you see is either a placeholder or unfinished, lighting and textures will become a priority once the level design is set for each destination because that's the easiest part.

Are you just making a prettier island and that's it?

The island will indeed look much better, but aside from that each location will be unique and have something to offer. Be it interactable elements (such being able to repair the cannon inside the bunker), lore elements to uncover that backstory of the island (something that is completely missing right now), boss fights, or unique items.

Leaving EA?

As much as we would like to, until the island is released, we won't consider the game worthy of the 1.0 label.


If you got any more questions, let us know below! [/p]