Title: Animations, Old Memories, and What’s Brewing in the Hive
Hey friends,
Pull up a chair (or a battered underhive stool) because this update turned out a little wordier than I first planned. We’ve had a stretch of late-night dev sessions, plenty of coffee, and a few “why won’t this code behave?” moments, and I thought you might enjoy a deeper peek behind the curtain of Hive City HEAT.
The Walk (and Wait) of a Heroine
The biggest visible change this month is our protagonist’s new walk cycle and idle animation.
Walk cycle: nothing much to say here, just wanted to try something that I think look better
Idle pose: Here’s a fun nod for the long-time supporters—this pose borrows some DNA from an old project of mine called Dungeon Ravager. If you played that little experiment years back, you might spot the similarity: the way she shifts her weight, the subtle hand motion that makes it feel like she’s ready to strike at any second. It’s a small homage and a quiet thank-you to the folks who’ve been around since those early days.
Animations like these are deceptively time-consuming. Every frame matters, and I must have redrawn her left boot at least a dozen times to get the rhythm right. But the payoff is huge: when you see her pause between fights, she looks alive, not like a static sprite waiting for you to press a button.
A New Level… or Maybe a Sub-Level
While the art team (a.k.a. me and a very patient Alaskan Malamute) was polishing animations, level design kept moving forward. We’re building what I’m calling a new sub-level, though honestly it’s starting to feel big enough to count as a full stage.
Picture narrow metal walkways that suddenly open into giant cavernous chambers, sparks of neon lighting flickering off rusted pipes, and a few hidden nooks for secrets. The goal is to create pacing that lets you catch your breath in one moment and then throws you into chaos the next.
This sub-level is essentially the runway to a major boss encounter. I’m still sketching concepts for the boss (and fighting the urge to reveal too much), but think of something that plays with verticality and forces you to rethink the usual combo spam. I’ll share concept art once it stops looking like a doodle drawn at 2 a.m.
Meet the New Trouble-Maker
Because no level is complete without something new to punch, there’s also a brand-new enemy type on the way. I can’t spill all the beans yet, but the design is built around disrupting your comfort zone.
Instead of just running at you, this enemy changes how you move around the arena. During early tests, even I started planning combos differently—always a good sign that it will keep players on their toes. Balance is the tricky part: I want it to feel clever and dangerous, not cheap.
Behind the Scenes
A few extra notes for those who like the nitty-gritty:
Engine tweaks: I updated the collision system so attacks connect more consistently, which also helped clean up a few weird camera jitters.
Sound pass: Our sound designer has been experimenting with a heavier bass line for melee hits. Early tests already make every punch feel more satisfying.
Tools: I’m using a slightly modified sprite editor pipeline to streamline exporting frames; it shaved off hours when working on that coat sway I mentioned earlier.Looking Ahead
The rough roadmap for the next few weeks:
Final polish on the sub-level environment props.
Implement and test the new enemy’s full move set.
Lock in the boss design so we can start animations next month.
Once those pieces come together, I’ll cut a short gameplay clip exclusively for you patrons before sharing anything publicly.
Thank You All
Every time I sit down to write one of these updates, I’m reminded how much your support matters. It lets me focus on the details that make Hive City HEAT feel alive—whether that’s the curve of a coat hem or the thump of a bass hit—without rushing.
So thank you for hanging out in this corner of the underhive with me. Your comments, feedback, and even lurks keep this project’s neon lights glowing. I can’t wait to show you more as we move closer to that boss fight and the chaos it promises.
See you soon,
Adeptus Celeng
P.S. I might share a looping GIF of the new idle animation later this week if the final polish holds up—watch this space!