JLS Softworks
  • Home
  • Edward's Journey
  • Trail Breaking
  • News
  • Contact
  • About

JLS Softworks News

Latest Game Update...

12/29/2020

0 Comments

 
Haven't posted anything in a while, so I thought I would share what I have been working on as of late.  

I have been spending a lot of time setting up all the creatures I have made to this point.  I currently have ~70 unique creatures in the game.  Many more to come.  This does not include variations of the same creatures.  Most creatures have a couple elite forms and a very rare gold form.  I have been working on setting up their patrol areas (if they patrol), their attacks, and how they take damage from the player.  Since Edward can attach magic runes to his weapons, each creature has to react to the type of magic you use on them.  For instance, freezing creatures with an Ice Rune or setting them on fire with a Fire Rune.  Some creatures are resistant to certain types of magic or all magic entirely.  Runes can also be placed in one of your quick slots and can then be used to do AoE damage.

I have also been spending a lot of time populating the large zones with tons of foliage and props and creating new and unique looking trees and plants for each zone.  The same goes for many of the dungeons and caves.  

I have created a portal system that allows you to warp around each map a lot quicker.  You must find a portal first in order to warp back to that portal.  

I have also been working on setting up music throughout each of the zones that will hopefully fit the atmosphere of those zones well.  

I now have a few pets that you can get along your journey.  Have more along the way.  Each pet will help you in some way.  Some will provide healing to your health or magic and others will provide stat boosts to the player.  One even finds jewels for you here and there.

Updated fishing a little bit also.  You've been able to craft a shovel for digging up treasure, but now you can dig up worms which you will need in order to cast your line.  Recipes can be found throughout the game, but you do not need them if you can figure out the recipe yourself.  

A lot more left to work on, but it is coming along great.  I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
0 Comments

State of the Game - Edward's Journey

1/10/2020

0 Comments

 
Thought I'd share the overall progress with Edward's Journey.  

As of today, I have 1 huge map complete and a 2nd map nearly complete.  The goal is to finish another large map and a final smaller area.  Off of the first large area there are 3 caves, 3 mystery areas, and 3 dungeons that are randomly generated and range in difficulty as you encounter each during your progression though that area.  Off of the 2nd large area, I have 2 caves so far with more to come, and I will also add random dungeons in that area as well.  

I have 25 or so unique monsters in the game thus far with most of their AI set up.  Most will drop crafting items or items that can be attached to your weapon or armor to varying effect.  

Crafting system is working good so far.  You can currently craft several potions, helmets, shields, and improve on existing equipment.  You can also break down runes and add their essences to other runes to increase their magic damage.  Collecting certain seeds and adding them to a potion can permanently increase one of your stats.  A cauldron must be nearby in order to create certain potions.  

Your weapon will have a certain number of slots available.  Runes and other items can be swapped in and out at any time.  Runes will do a ranged attack, when you have enough magic points available, and do damage over time.  You can still use the rune in your weapon without magic, but it will be melee only and still do damage over time.  Other non-rune items that are added to a slot simply add additional damage to your weapon, but other items can do damage over time.  For example; if you kill a bee, sometimes their stinger will drop.   If you attach the stinger, you will do damage over time due to the venom in the stinger.

Edward can wield shields.  If he times his block right, it will mitigate a portion of the damage received.  Shields can also be improved on by adding additional material to them while crafting or adding an item to a slot.  

You will also have quick-slots for potions, food etc.  If you add a rune to a quick-slot, as opposed to your weapon, it will do an area effect instead of a single ranged blast.  This also requires more magic points to do.  

The story is a work in progress, but several NPCs have been added so far and have quests for the player.  A journal also automatically updates during the journey.  

Edward can also visit a few vendors scattered throughout the world that will sell very useful items.  

There are also quite a few puzzle elements that need to be solved to progress passed certain areas of the game.  

I think I've covered most of the progress to this point.  Please let me know if you have any additional questions.  I'd be happy to answer.   Thanks!

0 Comments

First announcement of my new game - Edward's Journey!

11/3/2018

0 Comments

 
After completing Trail Breaking I started work on my next project and have finally gotten to the point of uploading some very early screenshots of the game.  It is a top-down RPG.   Please let me know what you think of the screenshots so far.  Gameplay video to come soon.  Thanks!
0 Comments

Finally a release date!  June 25, 2018

6/13/2018

0 Comments

 
Well I thought it would never come, but I've finally finished my first solo project in Unreal.  Trail Breaking is releasing this June 25th on the Steam Store!  It's been fun and a great learning experience.  Thanks to everyone who helped out with the beta, gave suggestions and those who have been following the games progress.  
0 Comments

Working on Steam Items

4/11/2018

0 Comments

 
As you can see by the front page of the site, I have my store page up on Steam as "Coming Soon"!   So I'm very close to release.  No exact date yet, but should be spring sometime.  I've also been working on creating Steam cards, badges, backgrounds, emoticons, and achievements.   That has been a time consuming process, but fun.  When it becomes available for purchase from other sites I'll post that information.
​
0 Comments

Adding Gamepad Controls...

2/19/2018

0 Comments

 
The game works best using Keyboard and Mouse but for those who would like to use an Xbox-style controller, I've been working on implementing gamepad controls for the game.  Who would have thought that would be such a pain.  For some reason that isn't already something that Unreal has setup for navigating through the game menus.  It apparently isn't as simple as clicking a mouse button on a menu item and then running code.  So I've been working on getting the gamepad setup from scratch for days now.  That was not fun and I lost a lot of hair in the process.  It's is mostly all working good now.  Still need to fix up some rough edges but the framework is there.  
0 Comments

Just Adventure's Upcoming Release Article.

1/12/2018

0 Comments

 
I wanted to thank Just Adventure and Cindy Kyser for her awesome 'Upcoming Release' article for Trail Breaking.  It's very  much appreciated.  Please visit their site and give the article a hit.  Thanks!
​ 
​Just Adventure Link

​Article Link

0 Comments

New screenshots and video on the media page...

1/7/2018

1 Comment

 
Hello all,

​Just added some new screenshots and a new trailer video on the media page.  I could really use some feedback regarding any of the screenshots and videos.
​I got a lot done during the holiday break from my other job.  Just putting more shine and polish on each level and fixing any issues and bugs.  

​I'm hoping to possibly have it released by the end of the first quarter of 2018.  

​Fingers crossed.
1 Comment

Almost there...

11/5/2017

0 Comments

 
Starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  
​Levels are roughly 95% complete.  Gonna start closed beta testing very soon.  In the mean time... enjoy a few updated screenshots and a video will be coming shortly.

Thanks,

Jeremy Smith
0 Comments

Finally a game update...

6/17/2017

0 Comments

 
So if you hadn't noticed already... the name of the game has changed from "The Way Back" to "Trail Breaking".  Apparently, not enough research had been done back when that name was picked.  It appears that another game of the same name already exists.  So for now, "Trail Breaking" it is.

​I've been mostly buttoning up a few levels and upgrading the atmospheric visuals in some other levels.  I've also updated the cloud effects, water reflections, and added a new ocean shader for my island level.  Finally, I've done a lot of work on the menus systems and got most of the graphic options implemented. 

​I did upgrade to a newer version of Unreal Engine as well.  Unfortunately, that always causes a few issues in my levels.  So a lot of time was spent getting things back to where they were before the upgrade.  

​Things are coming along fine and I can see the end in sight.
0 Comments
<<Previous

    Author

    Jeremy Smith
    ​JLS Softworks Lead Designer

    Archives

    December 2020
    January 2020
    November 2018
    June 2018
    April 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    June 2017
    February 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • Edward's Journey
  • Trail Breaking
  • News
  • Contact
  • About