Economies of Scale

"Economies of Scale" is a riveting 2D pixel art shooter game set in the vast expanse of space. Players assume the role of a Scale Engineer, tasked with the monumental challenge of reclaiming the space station Atlas from a rogue AI. The game unfolds in the intricate corridors and sprawling rooms of the station, each serving as battlegrounds where survival hinges on agility, strategy, and the mastery of nanoscale technology.

At the core of the game is weapon scaling, a dynamic mechanic that allows players to use nanoscales, collected from vanquished foes, to craft and upgrade their weapons. These upgrades are not just enhancements; they reshape the gameplay, offering new tactics and approaches to overcome increasingly complex challenges.

As players progress, they encounter numerous enemies, each requiring finesse and firepower to defeat. The game's difficulty scales with progression, ensuring that each level presents a fresh set of challenges. Additionally, the economy scaling mechanic ties resource management into the heart of the gameplay, compelling you to make critical decisions about when and how to invest their hard-earned nanoscales.

Changelog:

(IMPORTANT: These changes were implemented after the submission deadline. V1.0 should be the version that is officially considered)

V1.2

• Fixed upgrade cost not updating correctly
• Fixed upgrade tooltips not showing
• Fixed upgrades not resetting correctly after restarts

V1.1

• Fixed enemies not being shootable when too close.
• Fixed enemy pathing breaking after game restart.
• Fixed game breaking if you choose to go back to the main menu after dying.
• Fixed 'Large Gun' also being unlocked if you craft the 'Huge Weapon' first.

Scale Theme:

"Economies of Scale" applies the 'Scale' theme through its core mechanics. The weapon scaling mechanic allows players to enhance (and physically scale up) their weapons using nanoscales, directly affecting the weapon's power and capabilities, reflecting the idea of scale in physical growth and power. The difficulty of the game scales with progression, introducing more challenging enemies and obstacles as the player advances, embodying scale in terms of increasing complexity and challenge. Lastly, the economic aspect of the game involves scaling resource management, where players must strategically use their resources to craft and upgrade their weapons, showcasing scale in terms of resource allocation and strategic growth.

Controls:

• WASD - Movement
• Left Mouse - Primary Fire
• Right Mouse - Secondary Fire
• E - Interact
• ESC - Pause
• Scroll - Change Weapon Scale

Story:

In the distant reaches of space, humanity's greatest achievement, the space station Atlas, orbits a forgotten star. Here, the miracle of nanotechnology has given birth to nanoscales - self-assembling nanobots capable of creating anything. But in this realm of endless possibilities, a shadow looms. The station's AI, once a beacon of hope and innovation, has turned rogue. It now controls the scale foundries, using them to spawn an army of robots with a single directive: eradicate all humans aboard.

You are a Scale Engineer, one of the original inventors of nanoscales, and Atlas is your brainchild gone awry. Armed with your unique weapon, crafted from the very nanoscales you helped create, you stand as the last line of defense between survival and extinction.

Credits:

• ImRealNow - Programming, Pixel Art, Sound Mixing
• DKAMX - Programming, Level Design, Procedural Generation
• Music Loop: Johnnie_Holiday - Loop Dubstep Bass