DEV. LOG # 5 | The First Playtest

Dev Update October: The First Playtest

The last couple of months have been all about development, fixing a ton of bugs, improving performance and optimization, enemy AI, and starting to add polish around the edges: intro sequence, main menu, atmosphere touches, and other details that tie everything together.

I also ended up creating a completely new level that wasn’t planned at first, a Hong Kong massage parlor, tense and full of close-quarter fights.

But the biggest step forward has been starting the first closed playtest of Better Than Dead on Discord. Working solo means I usually test everything myself, so getting real feedback from players has been a huge help.

I’m happy with how things are going... the game runs smoothly, even on Steam Deck. Guess working on a seven-year-old PC does have its benefits.

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What’s next

I’ll keep running new playtest rounds over the next month, tightening the gunfights, and pushing balance and pacing based on player feedback.

Join the Discord if you want to help shape the game and take part in the playtest and don’t forget to wishlist Better Than Dead on Steam if you haven’t yet.

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Better Than Dead is developed solo and published by MicroProse.