Blind Descent

NOTE: Using a display that does not have a 16:9 aspect ratio or multiple displays may cause issues with UI element positions.

Andrew Higgins - Programming & Design

Thomas Colovos - Art

Ryan Daly - Art & Sound

Matthew D Stone - Art

Summary

Blind Descent is an atmospheric exploration game that launches the player into underwater trench. You control a small submersible pod with access to various scanning equipment and sensors. Your goal is to locate the objective and return to the submarine.

Gameplay Features

General

• Random Map Generation* - Trenches can spawn in different formations at different places, and so can objective points.
• Power Management - Using instruments uses power. Use the right instrument for the right situation.
  

* It's totally not just moving preset objects around and maybe making the x scale negative.

Instruments

• Sonar - Your sonar system has a variety of settings, including multiple ranges, a high detail mode, and the ability to scan in a selected direction over a small area. Every setting has its use.
• Sonic Echo-Sounder - Send out a downwards pulse to check and display depth of the terrain under you. Rest assured that if you only move down from where you fired it, you'll be safe during your descent.
• Light - Activate a bright light on your pod that illuminates where you look.

Hazards

• Heat Vents - Deep sea heat vents raise your pods temperature, causing your power consumption to be increased. Heat vents give off the most heat at their base, and the temperature is based both off your distance from the heat vent and your angle to the direction its spewing hot water. If you're really skilled, you can determine the terrain in your head based off temperature changes alone!
• Mines - Floating mines scatter the trench. Avoid them by using your sonar, or look carefully for their occasionally blinking light.
• Brine Pools - Dense pools of brine change your pods buoyancy.  Make sure you don't float up into a mine because you left your pod at neutral buoyancy... there's totally not a part of the trench designed with this specifically in mind.