COLD AND AFRAID IS BEING REBUILT
For returning visitors, I know you're use to seeing all the images and GIFs of Cold and Afraid plastered all over the homepage, as well as details on the features and storyline. Here's what's going on:
Heading into the new year, I've decided to roll up my sleeves and do the hard work of reworking (i.e updating) Cold and Afraid. I began the project in late 2022, and have become a much more experienced developer since then. The game is getting a long-overdue code refactoring. Well, more precisely, I'm rewriting the code from the ground up. When I began in 2022, I was less experienced and I programmed Cold and Afraid very poorly, which gave me many problems later on. With this new build that I'm working on, the code will be much more efficient and reliable.
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To go with the rebuild, I've decided to update all of the models and textures. Naturally, you'd wonder if that means abandoning the PS1-Style aesthetic. Not necessarily. In fact, in a very important way, the game will more faithfully represent the PS1 games from the late 90s.
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While the models will pack on some additional polygons and generally look better than what the PlayStation could muster, I am making the creative decision to transition the game from a fully 3D world to pre-rendered backgrounds.
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I'm doing this for a couple reasons, but primarily because it will lighten the burden on me developmentally. Creating fully-realized 3D environments takes a very long time, and if I'd kept to that, this rebuild would stretch years instead of the new few months I hope to be finished with the update (and then continuing on a normal developmental schedule of the rest of the game.)
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More than that, though, I've just taken a step back and really thought about the direction the game was taking. Back in 2022, I wasn't really capable of realizing my vision of making a game inspired by Parasite Eve, so I settled for just making the game a narrative-driven, sort of visual novel experience. No combat, no supernatural powers or enemy... just dialogue choices and your run-of-the-mill cold case police procedural.
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With the drastic improvement of my skills and knowledge over the years, I finally feel confident that I can realize my original vision.
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I will have more to share as the rebuild progresses. Stay tuned and thanks to everyone following me on this journey.
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If you'd like to keep up with the rebuild, you can join the subreddit: