infernal machine

infernal machine ≡

enter the

machine


An anomalous disaster has left the planet Stratos completely destroyed, reduced to nothing but rubble and the memory of what was once a great empire. As the pilot for a post-capitalist mining company, you must use outdated equipment to hop from asteroid to asteroid in search of what valuable materials remain; but be wary, there’s word of something sinister lurking below…

iNFERNAL mACHINE is the working title for a horror game in which the player controls a mining ship as it descends further and further into the remains of a destroyed planet. In the rusted carcass of what was once a top-of-the-line vessel, keeping the ship intact will be as much of a challenge as keeping yourself sane. Flying across various pieces of rubble and debris, the player will have to manage a complex power station while also navigating their ship in an effort to mine and store as many valuables as possible. With toxic gas surrounding you, and a faulty ventilation system to boot, are the rumors of deadly entities roaming this space to be believed? Or, is it merely a hallucination brought on by the shortcomings of this Infernal Machine?

THE PATCH BAY


Diverting power will be critical to the success of the player’s voyage into the depths below. Using instructions provided by an archaic manual, the player will have to learn the layout and usage of a patch bay in order to power on and off the necessary ship components and modules that will help them complete their mission and live to see another day. It will take careful consideration to utilize the patch bay appropriately, as any misuse could cause damage that will render units unusable until repaired.

THE manual


Understanding the ship’s intricacies will require knowledge of its various functions inside and out. A manual will provide all of the necessary details for keeping things working, and for troubleshooting the various quirks of running a century-old ship. Understanding how to utilize this manual in an efficient manner will make or break the pilot’s success, as some situations will demand the immediacy of somebody who doesn’t have time to check every page for the information they need.

NAVIGATION


Through the lens of an old-school CRT monitor, the player will need to control the ship’s movements in order to target various hunks of rock, as well as descend carefully in order to land on them in a safe manner for drilling. Juggling the management of the patch bay alongside the built-in timer of a descending ship will demand swift multitasking, as any false step could lead to your vessel taking damage. A damaged ship will require more power to operate, and more power will lead to your ventilation system faltering, potentially bringing the attention of unwanted guests.

a mystery

worth solving?


The same question continues to be asked across the galaxy: What happened to planet Stratos? Some claim its destruction to be the result of scientists working with black holes for interdimensional travel, while others think it has to do with a hypothesized weapon that was too powerful for its own good. Adding to the mystery are the rumors of bizarre creatures roaming the desolate wasteland that once was so full of life. As the first crew attempting to traverse the remnant asteroid field, is your journey for the altruistic purpose of scientific investigation? Are you just working to fill the pockets of your employers? Or, is there something insidious working from the shadows of this mysterious corporation?

Thanks for taking the time to look at my page! I’m very excited to be working on this game, it’s been a passion project of mine for quite some time. I’ve put a lot of work into planning this, and my expected timeline for release will be around Q1 2025. By May of this year, I’ll have a functional prototype and a teaser trailer to spark further interest, and shortly after that I’ll be opening up my work to the public for playtesting!

As this project is currently independently funded, I’m looking for support to help me get things moving. I’ve opened a Coffee page where you can donate to show your interest and help me with costs associated with development. All of the money generated will solely go into the game, and even the smallest contributions will at least prove to me that the project is worthwhile! If you’d like to help in a more substantial way, you can feel free to contact me at warrenfishermusic@gmail.com with any offers.

NOTES FROM

THE DEVELOPER


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