Devlog #8: Between Silence and Responsibility ⚖️

Hello travellers!🗺️🚙

Welcome to the eighth devlog! Today, we don't want to talk only about numbers and scripts. We want to talk about the feelings that accompany our journey. LifeIsAJourney is not just a game about driving a van – it's a story about finding a balance between freedom and being needed.

🌊 Coastal Psychology: Escape and Purpose

Many of us play games to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. In Episode 4, our hero arrives at the beach – a place that symbolises peace, but also unpredictability in psychology.

Seasonal work as a lifeguard ⛑️: It's not just a way to earn money for fuel. It's a moment when the game changes pace. From a lone traveller, you become a guardian. The feeling that others (NPCs) rely on your eyesight and quick reactions builds a unique bond with the game world. Will you make it in time? This responsibility gives your journey a deeper meaning.

🚣 Loneliness on the waves: The rhythm of rowing

The introduction of a rowing boat is our nod to ‘slow gaming’. The physics of rowing have been designed so that the player has to get into a certain rhythm.

Psychological aspect 🧠: Rhythmic activities have a calming effect on our brain (similar to ASMR). Rowing out to the middle of a lake or bay allows you to feel isolated from the world, giving you a moment to reflect before returning to the bustling rescue base.

🌓 Light that soothes: The new Day and Night cycle

The psychology of colours plays a key role in how we feel. That's why we've completely redesigned the visuals of the game's day cycle:

🌅 Golden hour: The warm colours of the sunset are meant to evoke a sense of nostalgia and fulfilment in the player after a hard day's work on the beach.

🌃 Deep night: The new night lighting is now softer. We want you to feel a sense of secure intimacy when you step outside your motorhome and sit by the campfire, which is the only bright spot in the darkness.

🛠️ House on wheels: A safe haven

Thanks to improvements such as battery-powered radio and a quick-build system, your camper becomes more than just a vehicle – it's your safe haven.

Psychologically, people need a place over which they have complete control. The ability to repair the radio or quickly light a fire creates a sense of home, no matter where you park.

👥 NPC with a soul

Our new random NPC system ensures that the world is no longer empty. Seeing people sunbathing, chatting or wandering around the beach, you no longer feel like the only actor on stage. Interacting with them, having simple conversations and ensuring their safety satisfies your instinctive need to belong to a community.

Adding us to your Wishlist has real power! Click on the link below https://store.steampowered.com/app/3618320/Life_is_a_Journey/ And then:

➡️ “Follow” and “Add to your wishlist” ⬅️ Now we are in touch!