A vertical slice is a playable part of a game that demonstrates the core features of the final product. It serves as a proof of concept and is typically used to secure funding from investors and publishers.

For simplicity of the vertical slice, we decided to create a linear series of structured events the player must go through until they have to make the decision of the ultimate goal (offworld, purge or adapt).

This structure encapsulates the most important gameplay elements and key narrative themes while being manageable in scope for development. The slice includes:

• Base Management & Resource Gathering – Players assign survivors to different tasks by dragging them onto buildings, producing food, scraps, and other essentials.
• Moral & Survival Decisions – Multiple pivotal choices arise: should the player invest in the individual needs of the camp?
• Environmental Storytelling – Players explore remnants of a collapsed world through beautiful dialogue sceneries, camp buildings and mutated flora, hinting at the past and potential future.
• UI & Presentation – The interface will mimic a retro-futuristic survival device, reinforcing the game’s aesthetic and emphasising data-driven decision-making.

Gameplay Breakdown

The vertical slice opens in a survivor settlement at the ruins of the Merritt Island launch complex. The player, acting as a leader, must assign survivors to gather resources by assigning them too designated camps. A series of narrative decisions soon arise as survivors begin approaching the leader with their desires. Choices affect how the game progresses and showcase the branching narrative that defines the experience.

Conclusion

This veritcal slice provides a small but complete look into the game’s world, ensuring that every system – management and decision-making – works cohesively.

The idea is that this slice is more than a demo – it’s a glimpse into the ruins of tomorrow, where survival is not just about endurance but about the choices that define humanity’s future.