DevNotes #4 | The Smartphone Update & Demo Overhaul

Hope you're all doing great since the last update! Today, I’m thrilled to walk you through a major evolution of the Physio demo based on your incredible feedback.

📈 Feedback After the First Release

Releasing the demo to the public was a massive milestone for me. It validated two big things:

1. The Concept Works: People get the vibe! It’s clear the game uses discrimination as a mechanic for dark humor without intending harm, and most importantly, you guys found it funny!

2. Gameplay Needed Depth: While the core was fun, the ID interaction was a bit too simple and got repetitive quickly. You wanted more variety and a clearer picture of what the full game will offer. I heard you loud and clear

📱 Your New Best Friend: The Smartphone

To add depth without cluttering the screen with a heavy HUD, I’ve introduced a smartphone. Since we all know how to navigate apps and menus in real life, it makes the UI feel natural and intuitive (which is a relief for me, as UI/UX isn’t my strongest suit!)

VerifID App

The manual ID check has been completely overhauled. In the world of Physio, bouncers use the VerifID app to access the government database via biometrics.

• Snap a Photo: You’ll need to take a picture of the NPC to pull their official data

• RemovedDo the MathI’ve removed the automatic age helper! You’ll now need to compare the ID's birthdate against the current date displayed on your phone to see if they’re legal

Side Note: Strangely enough, right after I started working on this, a news article popped up in France about the police using a very similar biometric app. Talk about odd timing! It’s a bit unsettling in reality, but it fits our game world perfectly

Club DB

This app is your connection to the venue. It tracks:

• Reservations & Blacklists: Know exactly who is welcome and who is banned

• VIP Tracking: Get the heads-up on high-profile guests or politicians to avoid any "diplomatic incidents" at the door

Party Rules

Forget memorizing everything! This app lists every rule for your shift. If you’re ever in doubt, just tap a rule to see exactly how to apply it during your checks

🪪 Redesigned Identity Cards

The ID cards have been graphically and functionally reworked!

• Visual Polish: The design is now inspired by the French national ID with a generic European Union twist

• Manual Comparison: Fields are no longer interactive. You won’t just click on text; you’ll have to manually compare the physical card against the data on your smartphone screen

🎓 Tutorial Rework: Freedom to Fail

I’ve redesigned the tutorial to give you more agency. Instead of forcing you down a narrow path, I’m now letting you make mistakes and notifying you afterward. During internal playtests, players loved the "freedom to mess up" much more than being handheld

And for those of you frustrated that you can’t beat everyone up yet, hang tight! It’s just the tutorial. You’ll have plenty of chances for chaos in the full game.

🛠️ Small Tweaks, Big Impact

The Stamina Bar

To give you more control during combat, I’ve added a dedicated Stamina Bar! This provides much-needed clarity on how to manage your energy and pace yourself during fights

Kaso vs. The CCTV

I’ve made the tough decision to scale back Kaso’s role. Even though he’s honestly quite funny, he was becoming a bit too invasive and taking up too much space.

The security cameras are now taking the lead for intel! Kaso will still help you out in the early stages, but moving toward a CCTV-focused system feels more grounded and closer to the actual bouncer experience you'll have in the full game.

👤 Personal Feeling

I haven't had much of a chance to share this yet, but that first demo release was a life-changing milestone for me. For the first time, total strangers were playing my game, complimenting it, criticizing it, and genuinely having fun. As a solo dev, balancing a full-time job, my physical training, and a social life while rushing toward this release has been an uphill battle. I’ve had to make many sacrifices and spend months explaining to friends and family why I’ve been "off the grid" to make this happen.

Seeing the wishlist grow and watching streamers laugh along with their chats makes every late night worth it. Thank you so much for playing, for the feedback, and for adding Physio to your wishlist. It truly means the world to me and every other indie dev out there grinding to bring their ideas to life.

☝️ One More Thing...

I’m excited to tell you that multiplayer is officially on the horizon!

I can’t wait to see how you and your friends handle things together (or just get into double the trouble).

See you soon! T hanks for all the support and keep that feedback coming!