Under the Ocean future updates revealed

Under the Ocean is a survival platformer which sees the player washed up on the shore of an island. Their goal? Survive.

This is achieved through finding shelter, hunting for food and creating electricity. Recently released on Steam as part of the Early Access feature, the developer, Paul Greasley, is getting ready to release some big updates to the game and has outlined them in a new roadmap.

This 8,000 word, 33 page long document is a bit of a slog, however, so we’ve decided to squeeze that down into a bitesized form,

If we’re not giving you enough info, and you’re feeling brave enough to tackle it all, you can read it here.

4.04 Update

Fix game stopping bugs
Double left click to use and remove items
Right click to throw items
Equip with single left click in inventory
Attacking and dragging single left click
Throw and binding single right click

Construction

Restricted build zones
Current construction system can be abused e.g. blocking enemies
Replace current construction mode
Less changing between screens
Build system needs to cover more aspects instead of just placement of items
Current interface is too confusing
Adding in new build system will fix problems
Remove collision on objects that are currently selected to stop “plank surfing”
Construction box being added, double clicking it will activate/deactive build zone in which players can construct structures
Box, chests, shelves, hooks being added in for storage
Fireplaces can be made to provide warmth and decorative items can be placed around the house/raft

Core Game Changes

Hardcore mode – Death means death
Player being able to dig into the sand and dirt, these will be made up of “blobs”
Auto drinking when near a water source
Water technology to blend with the rafting sections, smaller water pools and water shading
Structural damage to rafting which will force the player to repair it
Illness has an effect on platforming e.g. cough increases alertness of wildlife
New GUI

Inventory

Appear as a collapsible sack
Clicking around the edges will collapse and enlarge it
Sack can be moved around the screen
Weight and bag size to be accounted for
Hotkeys to be added
Clearly label the inventory
Binding screen removed
Full item list can be viewed here

Crafting screen and journal

Collapsible like the inventory UI
Items can be dragged from environment in crafting area
Journal to include crafting recipes
Cookpot, woodmill and sparkies boxes can be crafted
Recipes can be discovered through experimentation and discovery in-game

Illness and character screen

Illness to be in one bar instead of several
All illness bars to be viewable by choice
Illness and death to displayed by player’s skin colour
Collapsible player stats screen
Illness, XP and perks to be visible in the UI
Text bubble icon to display illness

Island Tile and Random Generation

Improve random generation
Backstories to islands
Island map to visible in-game
Paths to be added in, multiple choice on where to go
Doors to branch sections; rock tunnels, tree thickens to be used
Bigger tiles
Bolder shapes, less rubble, more texture variation and blending in tiles

Platforming

Tree swinging
Swinging ropes
Hail, lava, wind and other weather effects
Bogs and swamps
Small streams – push a player in a direction
Rockfalls and old bridges that can collapse
Climbable walls
Weight to affect jump height, run speed and sinking speed
Clothes and trinkets to affect player stats
Co-op abilities such as fireman carry

Increasing Dangers

Terrirotrial enemies – Protect home locations in high numbers
Aggressive enemies – Chase the player across screens
Bears, Boars, Natives, Wolf packs, Sharks, Angry Birds and Dire beasts to be enemies
Death pits – Do what they suggest, cause death

Character Loadout

Inspired by Team Fortress 2
Players will enter a lobby to edit loadout
Choice of clothing and items will be based around the disaster scenario
Set of generic items available across all scenarios
Military plane crash -Firestarters, camouflage, high powered weapons and mines
Fishing ship – Nets, spears, cold weather gear and skinning knife
Civilian boat – Fancy outfits, junk food, large backpack and trinkets
Containers for each player that equip the special item
Special item to be a generic pool of items
Limit on items in the pool
Large range of items retrievable from chests
Special items earned from completing heroic events
First perk can be selected before game begins
Perks to exist over games and are gained every level
Perks to be broken down into three skill trees; strength, agility and intelligence.
Experience in each skill tree allows a perk upgrade in that area e.g. physical works gains strength experience

Multiplayer

Multiplayer games to be server based
No character crossover between servers
Server variables changeable

Rafting

Broken in several sections
Player must break through the surf, change in camera angle
Almost impossible to swim to another island
Waves will degrade raft
Raft controllable via sail in the open sea
Rudder can be added to assist in control
Camera can be rotated to view various distances
Other players can complete tasks while on raft e.g. fishing
Raft must be repaired after taking damage
Storm zones can occur while sailing
World map uncovered while travelling
Hazards to include sharks, sandbars, drifting items and fish

Scenarios and Game Types

Game to have mutators and game modes which affect gameplay and end goal
Game modes – Restless natives, super beast, native wars, long lost city, native combating dire beast, pirates treasure, lava island, fantastical disease, haunted, unexplored ordnance and treasure island
Mutators – Sabotage, lucky map, considerably drunk, disabled, my heart medicine!, tidal wave, captured by natives, army deserters, survival mode, seperated, seaplane landing, hunt for atlantis, passing ship and marooned

Hopefully that was easier to take in that the full roadmap post.

Under The Ocean has a long journey ahead of it. If you’re interested in buying the full release, its available on Steam for just £5.