Holiday Update

Been traveling around recently and haven't worked much on Pressure. Put in a few new classes, one new disaster, and added the spawning system (So now you spawn as a random class). Unfortunately, the current AI system isn't very robust, and so the player is kind of a self-propelled robot at the moment. I've been meaning to add on to the system, but this is another reason. I'll remove the spawning system for the next demo, just for simplicity's sake.
Hope everyone had a happy holiday.

NPC Names

Finally figured out how to randomly name NPCs. Extracting information from tables is incredibly counter-intuitive, but I got around it. So, now all NPCs are defined by their class, but called a random first name (I have a table of 50 names that it selects from). I'll still need to write a rule so their name isn't printed as "An Alexander," but that's the easy part.

Currently, there are 4 NPCs and 3 random disasters implemented. I'll release another demo when I hit 8 NPCs or 8 disasters, whichever comes first.

Next up, I'll be working on filling in the NPCs and disasters, as well as making the escape pods usable (Which is a helpful thing when everything goes to hell!)

Quick Update on Fighting

So as I've been adding NPCs, it has also become necessary to enable betrayal. However, the standard engine only allows for friendly/not friendly interactions. That meant that if, say, giant crabs were attacking the station, and you decided to attack the engineer who was carrying the welding torch you needed, either the engineer and the crabs would suddenly become bestest buds, or you would find yourself with crab allies as the entire station turned against you.
So, I added a new faction to the system. Globally, there are now friendly/hostile/creature factions. Friendly will always hate hostile and creature, hostile will hate friendly and creature, and creature will hate friendly and hostile. This enables a more realistic display of in-fighting. The side effect of this is that now, attacking the engineer will only turn the engineer against you, and if a security guard happens by and sees the engineer retaliating, he'll attack the engineer. Should be fun.
Also, in line with the security guard, I'm tagging certain activities as "suspicious." Forcing a door, for example, will not be looked upon lightly by the rest of the crew, nor will romping about in the captain's cabin (Unless, of course, you're the captain; in which case you are free to romp to your heart's content).

Welding

Good afternoon. Surprised to see an update?
Yes, I stopped working for a while. Space Station 13 was discovered, I got burnt out on the project, etc, etc. Lots of excuses, but whatever.
Then I decided hey, you know what? I really want to play Pressure.
So I'm starting to work on it again. I added a welding torch, which can be used to weld doors shut. Which, in an underwater station filled with things trying to hunt you down and kill you, is kind of handy.
I also realized that my previous idea for NPCs (Randomly assign jobs and whatnot at the beginning) was dumb and wouldn't work. Instead, NPC jobs will be fixed at the start, but names are randomly assigned. Much easier to add! Still working out how to implement routines, but I think I have a plan.

Freezing to Death

Didn't add any items to the station today. Instead, my main accomplishment was the addition of the ability to force doors open, even if they're locked. Until I add the keycards forcing a door will always result in success (So I'm able to make my way around the station) but for release forcing a door will only work some of the time. I'm also considering requiring a crowbar to force open doors.
I also added an event that has to do with the freezer. If you spend five consecutive turns inside it, you'll freeze to death. After three turns, you'll be unable to open the door, and be trapped.
Finally, I began adding a sewer system underneath and a jellyfish that swims around inside of it. If the bathroom starts flooding, the jellyfish can swim up through the toilet.

Done With the Map

Finished the map today. The station is named and every room is described, and there are security doors in place (Of course, I haven't added the clearance cards, so actually opening them is a bit tricky). For the initial build I'll be using a static version of the station, rather than a procedurally generated one. However, it is organized into regions (The different pods) so a procedurally generated map shouldn't be hard to implement.
I'll be working on stocking the station with beds and tables and whatnot in the next few days.

Working on the Map

Worked on coding the map into the game today. I have all of the outer pods done, with the exception of the main command module. I'll start on the inner pod tomorrow.
Also poked around the combat system, added some new rules, and intertwined the sanity system to it. Concentration will only work for a sane person now.
Should have the map done by tomorrow, and I'll then begin to stock the rooms with the static stuff (Like tables in the cafeteria).

Alpha Release

Rapidshare Link
You'll need an interpreter to play it.
Some notes:
-THIS IS BY NO MEANS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE FINAL PRODUCT. This is a demonstration of systems, displaying how electricity, time, floods, sanity, security clearance and combat will work.
-To power the flashlight, first open the flashlight, then put the battery in the flashlight, then close the flashlight. You can then switch the flashlight on and off (But the power will run out after an hour).
-In combat, you can attack, or concentrate. Your reactions are limited to dodging and parrying. To parry effectively, you have to have a weapon readied.
-Try pulling or pushing any loose pipes.

Update to first release (And a list of goals)

Worked on implementing the water system today. Currently, the water level values are in the game, but have no bearing on gameplay. My goal is to create some sort of rising water system which will gradually flood adjacent rooms. If an airlock door is next to a flooded room, it should (With power) automatically shut and lock. I also put in some tangible effect of the sanity system. Standing in the airlock will cause claustrophobia, and gradually decrease your sanity. During normal play, the player will hear and see things like the station creaking, or a rivulet of water. While insane, the player will hear screams and monster noises, and see things that aren't there (Or vice versa-they can miss objects). I also finished mapping out the station, but am no further in coding it in.

My goals for the Pressure Text Adventure:
-Random disasters. This is the most important part of Pressure.
-A decent AI system, with monsters and humans to take advantage of it.
-A system for handling water
-A sanity system

This Thursday I will release a small set of rooms showcasing the systems.

Saving the Dominium

This is where you can check for updates on the Pressure Text Adventure.