- Update on Next Game - 18 July 2025
So we’re still plugging away at the prototype for our next game, and I guess this will be a kind of developer update/blog/thing to let you know where we currently stand! The past few months I’ve been getting the basics of the engine set-up: all of the typical platformer abilities like running, jumping, dashing, shooting, etc., as well as other systems like teleporters, gates and switches, journals, and a save system. None of it is particularly glamorous, but I think it already has some better (and smoother) functions than Ex Vitro! At the moment, I’m working on enemy AI, which is going to be a little more complex than Ex Vitro’s, with stuff like herbivores and carnivores and much more reactive ecosystems. As you can imagine, it’s a bit of a step up from enemies that just walk back and forth along platforms! One of the current main goals is to have the environment change in different way…
- The Future - 10 May 2025
I have some amazing news! I was recently awarded a grant to begin development on my next game! It funds the creation of a prototype, which is currently underway! Unlike the development of Ex Vitro and Mycocosm, I want the development of this next game to be far more open and transparent, and I want to get as much feedback as early as I can. So over the next few months, I’ll be dropping concept art, blog posts, and other tidbits about the game as it takes shape. And once the prototype is in a playable state, I’ll start inviting players to try it out! My plan for the new game is to double down on the parts of Ex Vitro that people seemed to like, and fix/improve the stuff that people didn’t. Also, I have a few gameplay hooks in mind that I hope will make the game stand out in the Metroidvania crowd... I’m positive that one of the main reasons I even got the grant was because of the positiv…
- Patch 1.03 Now Available - 17 February 2025
Added Features: An XMP generator machine has been added in the room before the final portal In areas of high XMP radiation, the map screen is distorted in addition to the mini-map Added global volume control in the Main Menu options screen Added a magnifier option to the map screen Added an Easter Egg to celebrate the launch of my new game, Mycocosm! (with a new, hidden achievement) Hint: To unlock it, after reaching 100% item collection, find a room with a large fungal overgrowth… Bug Fixes: Fixed issue with antlion/barnacle claws trapping player if the enemy is killed while closed Fixed level geometry in upper part of vertical jungle room with melon spitters Small bouncing slimes should no longer be destroyed if hitting player
- Update on Version 1.03 - 6 December 2024
Sorry for the lack of news on the next patch! As you can imagine, getting the new studio up and running is keeping me very, very busy! Anyway, I’m aiming to get 1.03 finished early in the new year, and there should be fixes to a few of the bigger issues still outstanding from the last version. I’m also cooking up plans for a fun little easter egg as well, related to a smaller side project I just uploaded to Steam over here. END CROSS PROMOTIONAL SEGMENT NOW But more related to Ex Vitro and its future, I’ve been busy with applying for grants and looking into funding to help get a certain unannounced project up and running. I’m not going to make any promises right now about the status of that particular project, but anyone who liked Ex Vitro might be curious about it… Alex
- Future of Ex Vitro Developer - 25 July 2024
Hey Everyone, It’s long been a dream of mine to start a game studio, and thanks to the positivity, kindness, and encouragement I received since the release of Ex Vitro, I decided to go ahead and do it! The company is called Evolver Dynamics, and I hope it lets me bring better games to you faster. I set up a company page on Steam right here. I thought I would use this update to explain what my philosophy is behind the new company and what I hope to achieve with it. Ever since I was a kid, dating all the way back to the NES era, I’ve been dreaming of making games. I’ve always played lots of different genres, but obviously the Metroidvania genre - and Super Metroid in particular - was the genre that really stuck with me. To this day, I'm still not sure if there's game quite like Super Metroid: the atmosphere, the mystery, the freedom, and the fact that the world felt alive. I truly felt li…
- 1.02 Hotfix 1 - 19 May 2024
Added option for keyboard movement with the arrow keys and jump with the right control key Replaced boss music Adjusted walls in top of the Jungle Melon Rise room to prevent players getting stuck Added new graphics for ghost-type enemies
- Patch 1.02 Now Available - 23 March 2024
New Features: Added distinct particle effects to any obstacle or enemy that requires a specific color beam to open or damage Crouch toggle button added to control scheme now (Press ‘C’ if using keyboard and mouse, or click the left joystick if using a gamepad) Sprinting toggle button added to control scheme now (Press ‘R’ if using keyboard and mouse, or click the right joystick if using a gamepad) Added three save slots Added legend for map screen Hard mode now increases all bosses’ health by 20-25% Bug Fixes: Fixed floating block in Bunker gate puzzle room Fixed bug where pressing jump will glitch character animation during arrival at ending sequences Fixed bug where pressing up and down at the same time with auto-crouch toggled causes the character’s upper body to get displaced from lower body Reduced volume of certain sound effects
- Plans for Patch 1.02 - 10 March 2024
Hey everyone! I'm currently plugging away at Patch 1.02, which will contain some quality of life improvements that people have requested, as well as some graphical tweaks and bug fixes! The main features I'm working on include: Distinct particle effects for color-based barriers and enemies to improve accessibility for colorblind players In-game toggles for switching between crouching modes and auto-sprinting Multiple save slots Map legend And of course, fixing a bunch of bugs. I'm hoping to get this out within a week or two!
- 1.01 Hotfix 3 - 3 March 2024
1.01 Hotfix 3 Bug Fixes: Fixed issue with checkpoint resetting back to starting room after collecting Pulse Beam but before reaching first save station Fixed beam charging sounds not resetting on player leaving room Fixed sound glitch with space jump on entering portal Features: Increased range that charging attracts shield and XMP pick-ups by 40%
- Version 1.01 Hotfix 2 - 17 February 2024
Bug Fixes: Moved Hardened Shields item higher above floor Fixed crash due to bouncing fireballs from Orbital Drone Boss phase 2 Fixed respawning XMP Replicator due to misnamed variable Tweaked the appearance of some of the sprites in the Final Boss intro sequence Miscellaneous Changes: Added stronger damage flash effects to most major bosses when they get hit Increased health of the Tesla Drone Boss by 20% Increased health of the Plant Melon Boss and his Melon Minions by 40% Decreased damage caused by Charged XMP against Grass Shark Mother Boss by 22%
- 1.01 Hotfix 1 - 13 February 2024
Quick update to fix a bug with Datalogs. - Fixed bug related to Datalogs causing crash due to missing variable name
- Version 1.01 Now Live - 13 February 2024
Welcome to the first update to Ex Vitro on Steam! There is a significant change related to saving/loading that may affect saves from v1.0 being used in v1.01, with more details at the bottom of this update list. New Features: Crouching Control Update - there is now an option to switch between the 'classic' crouch toggle control and a new, 'hold button' crouching mode Hard Mode - added a new difficulty mode that doubles the damage from enemies and obstacles and halves the amount of shields restored from pick-ups (includes a new achievement when you complete the game on this mode!) Bug Fixes: Fixed crash caused by Super Turret enemies if they are killed during charging of attack Replaced sound effect on Super Turret during charging Fixed sound-duplicating bug on robot enemies that shoot multiple lightning attacks Main menu and teleporter crosshairs can now be moved with the D-pad on a gam…
- First Update Plans - 6 February 2024
Thanks to everyone who's played Ex Vitro and given me feedback about what they liked and disliked! I'm blown away by the positivity from everyone, and I'm amazed that I've had so many downloads for my little Metroidvania! I'm currently getting ready for the first update, and here's what I've got planned for new features and bug fixes: New Features: Crouching Control Update - there will be an option to switch between the 'classic' crouch toggle control and a new, 'hold button' crouching mode Hard Mode - adding a new difficulty mode that doubles the damage from enemies and obstacles and reduces the amount of shields restored from pick-ups (includes a new achievement when you complete the game on this mode!) Bug Fixes: Fixed crash caused by Super Turret enemies if killed during charging of attack Replaced sound effect on Super Turret during charging Fixed sound-duplicating bug on enemies t…
