The latest Squadron 42 monthly report showcases the ongoing efforts of various teams to improve gameplay experiences, including enhancing AI interactions, refining NPC animations and behaviors, and optimizing AI features for specific level scenarios. Progress has been made on Chapter 1 and Chapter 4, with updates to mocap scenes, MobiGlass text, and visual enhancements, while teams continue to work on improving NPCs’ driving abilities, gameplay immersion, and overall visual effects for a more engaging player experience.
The latest Squadron 42 monthly report highlights the continuous efforts of various teams to enhance the gameplay experience. The AI content team focused on improving interactions aboard the javelin ship, introducing dynamic conversations and reducing cargo trolley length for smoother gameplay. Additionally, they enhanced NPC animations on bunk beds and interactions with wall-based buttons, aiming to make the game feel more immersive and realistic. The team also worked on refining scripted walking behaviors within the ship’s corridors to ensure convincing NPC movements.
The AI features team concentrated on iterating and polishing features for specific level scenarios, including refactoring the AI weapon system to simplify code and remove bugs. This effort is crucial for developing realistic NPC behaviors and abilities, especially for NPC crews when hiring them. The AI Tech Team fixed bugs and made improvements for NPCs using elevators and trolleys, enhancing the gameplay experience at landing zones. They also made progress on improving NPCs’ driving abilities for ground vehicles, focusing on collision avoidance and controller systems for smoother vehicle movements.
The gameplay story team made substantial progress on Chapter 1, shooting new mocap scenes and implementing text on characters’ MobiGlasses for added immersion. They also updated a complex twers scene in Chapter 4 by holstering data pads, improving the visual experience. The narrative team added additional touches throughout the campaign, including text for terminals and screens, enhancing world-building elements. They also worked on fleshing out discoverable items in missions for a more engaging gameplay experience.
Tech design provided interactable support across chapters and optimized the AI usable coordinator for flight, making enemies more difficult and responsive. Flight-related bugs were fixed, including issues with Quantum travel target selection and AI not using gimbals. The UI team focused on player-facing interfaces for key plot points and optimized the game’s opening level for a better storytelling experience. The visual effects team continued supporting other teams with optimizations, particularly for intensive scenarios in the game, aiming to enhance the overall visual experience.
