It’s been a busy couple of months here at Roni Games! We’re hard at work on Dog Walking Simulator – our realistic dog walking game, in which you manage your own dog walking business, uncover a sprawling city’s mysteries and, most importantly, interact with cute dogs! The game can already be wishlisted on Steam (we appreciate it a lot!), though do keep in mind that a lot of things may change throughout the early development process, including the game’s art style and mechanics.
Creating a game as ambitious as Dog Walking Simulator is no easy task for a small indie development studio such as ours. Despite the long hours, funny bugs and programming dead ends (Who would’ve thought that getting a dog to walk in the right direction can be so tough?) we’re really proud of what we’ve accomplished so far. Every new feature brings us one step closer to seeing our dream dog walking game realized. Here’s a short update on what we’ve been working on.
Main Gameplay Loop
Dog Walking Simulator’s gameplay loop revolves around taking different dog walking jobs, that can vary in difficulty tremendously, depending on a number of factors, such as number of dogs and their breeds and temperaments. Of course, tougher tasks bring in more money, which can be used to take care of the player character’s everyday needs, upgrade the dog walking business, buy various cosmetics and even for adopting and taking care of your own dogs!
Walking Dogs
In this very early stage of development we’ve decided to focus on the main gameplay mechanic – dog walking. After getting taking on a job through the Dog Walker app on the player character’s phone or computer, the player is then tasked with picking up the dogs from their owner’s house and, well, walking them. The dogs are attached to the player character’ arms with leashes and walking multiple dogs on each hand is entirely possible, if the player is up to the challenge, that is! This is where our planned stamina management feature comes in, as letting go of the dogs’ leashes can only spell trouble.
Dogs’ Needs
Just like real dogs, the pups in our game have various needs that need to be fulfilled during a walk. Giving them enough time to answer nature’s call while on the walk can prevent bladder incidents inside their owner’s house. It is important to keep the player’s canine wards healthy, well-fed, entertained and loved, but also to deplete their energy through walking long enough walks and playing games. Just like in real life, it is important to stay vigilant – while eating mysterious snacks from the ground may raise the dog’s food meter, it also often lowers the health meter. Who knows what that was, yuck! The dogs’ owners appreciate it when their beloved pets are happy, so paying close attention to their needs is essential to quickly developing the player character’s dog walking business and getting access to higher-paying jobs.
The Neighborhood
In order to build a playable prototype we also needed to create a suitable dog walking environment – our colorful urban neighborhood, full of NPCs going about their day, fun encounters and secrets. Our goal is to have a truly living neighborhood, where no street is empty or boring, keeping players immersed and entertained. Of course, the currently available encounters, such as the wandering robot dog or the secret cat mafia hideout, offer just a taste of what the complete game will bring, but they accurately show the vibe we’re going for. Our most recent addition to the neighborhood has definitely been a fun one – cars, both parked and moving. The player has to keep an eye out for these vehicles, lest the curious canine friends get too close and take damage.
Story
A game like this needs a story that ties it all together. We haven’t ignored that, either! We’re already working on the beginning of the overarching plot and it all starts with a mysterious phone call in the very first minutes of the game. Players will be able to explore a branching storyline, meet colorful characters, each with their unique personalities and connections to the main plot.
Help Shape Dog Walking Simulator
If you follow us on social media, then you’d know that we haven’t been exactly silent on the development process! Early development is a time of endless possibilities, which is where a lot of indie video game developers get stumped. we were definitely haunted by questions, such as: What mechanics do we prioritize? What do the players want to see in a dog walking game? How do we make every step of the way fun? This is why we’re quite active on social media – we’ve been looking for gamers’ opinions on how to turn Dog Walking Simulator into its most enjoyable and fun self. We note down and consider our followers’ feedback and ideas from channels such as our Twitter, Instagram and TikTok, but our Community Discord server is where all the best discussions happen. Hopping on there is the best way to get actively involved in the making of our game, so what are you waiting for?
We’re getting closer and closer to a playable demo of the player’s first dog walking job. If you’re as excited as we are, then wishlist Dog Walking Simulator on Steam and follow us on social media for more quick updates!
Roni Games