They're Gone is a story driven, first person adventure/mystery game with modest puzzle aspects. You play the part of Matt, a young man returning from overseas to visit family. When you arrive there's a strange storm raging, you make your way back to the house only to realize the power is out and everyone is missing. It's up to you to find out what happened and why they're gone...

The game is heavily influenced by The Vanishing of Ethan Carter and Gone Home and will focus on story telling through exploration. There will be multiple indoor and outdoor levels allowing you to play a more direct path or to look at everything. The more you explore the more you'll learn, some exploration will be necessary to advance the story.

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Devlog Update #7

News

So I've decided to start posting the Devlogs I put on the website on here as well. I'll start with the latest one which is Devlog #7 (if you would like to read the first 6 they're available on the website at: zkgamestudios.com/devlogs)




Well, it's been a while since I've posted an update, or a picture, or anything... which kind of makes it look like nothing is being done to the game. However, that is not the case, I have been working hard to add several small details and story into the levels that are already built as well as starting on the next levels of the game. But I do apologize for being silent for a while, it's just hard to find the time to write out a good update when there's so much going on. But tonight I decided I was going to sit down and write one, so that's what I've done! Rather than ramble on about what I've been working on, I've decided to just make a brief list of what's been added and/or changed since the last update.

  • Changed the font of the game's title in the Start and End menus to better match the game and removed the excessively loud lightning noises. Also added an effect to the door handles (you'll find out why in the game) and changed the menu hover and click sounds.


  • Optimized all textures to lower VRAM usuage. Set up occlusion to increase frame rate (in the future I'll be increasing frame rate and memory usage even more with a toolkit called SECTR, but not until all levels are complete).


  • Added visual effects to Level 1 to progress the story. Redesigned how the story flows and where the player needs to go in the level so it makes a little more sense and has a better linear flow to it (visual and audio cues have been added to achieve this).


  • Continued populating Level 2 with props and added some of the puzzles.


  • Introduced a new player feature to Level 2 (physical pick up and move, but only certain items will use this feature). Added outdoor scenery to Level 2.


  • Redesigned the Level 3 to Level 4 transition and puzzle to get there. Level 5 will essentially pickup where Level 3 left off so I'll be adding the continuation of it later on.


  • Redesigned the loading HUD and changed how the game loads from the Start menu.


  • Started making Level 5 (from Level 3 scene file).


  • Started building Level 6.




So a lot has been done over the last month or so. I hope you like the bullet list instead of paragraphs. Perhaps some of it will make sense while some of it won't, hopefully it all does :) I'm trying not to show too much of the game so as not to spoil it, but I know I need to give you something so you'll continue to be interested ;) So below is a pic of one of the visual effects in Level 1 and the new Start Menu font. The hallway effects look static in the picture but in the game it's animated. Thanks for reading, I'll try and post another update sooner than I did this one!


SS 8 9 16


New Start Menu

New devlog update

New devlog update

News

A new devlog update has been posted to the website

Short procedural lightning video uploaded

Short procedural lightning video uploaded

News

A short video showing the procedural lightning being used in the game has been uploaded.

They're Gone - New video and screenshots

They're Gone - New video and screenshots

News

New trailer video uploaded and new screenshots as well. Demo coming soon!

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