What it is
Project C.A.R.L is a physics-based injury and blood simulation sandbox about testing the reactions of a detailed ragdoll character named Carl. It includes a set of weapons, a physics gun, and a zombie wave survival mode showcased in a demo that is still in development.
From the developer
In the developer’s own words, from carlragdoll.itch.io.
Everything you see in this demo is a WIP and subject to change. This does not represent the final product, I am always tweaking things and adding new systems to the game, but I believe the demo to be in a good enough spot to show it to the public.
Follow along on the Discord for new updates and previews!
C.A.R.L stands for Clinical Assistant for Research and Learning. He was put here specifically for the purpose of helping us research what happens when you shoot him in the head, or throw him off a tall ledge.
Read more
Project C.A.R.L has one of the most in depth injury and blood simulations out there, fully simulated blood spray, splatters, pools, you name it. He comes complete with a fully detailed skeletal and organ/vascular system that allows his reactions to be totally dynamic, the goal of this project is to have a fully dynamic injury and reaction system to build the real game around. Right now this is just a sandbox, I wanted to showcase what the systems are like and give people a chance to get their hands on it. The future of this game will always involve the sandbox, I'm not getting rid of it. The full release will have more levels, more toys, more things to do, but above all it will have actual gameplay loops. Things like CQB, Carl Fights, or just random fun minigames with Carl, I have a lot of ideas for where I want to take this project, and I'll be posting about it and updating all of you on the progress towards Early Access on the Discord.
Currently there are 6 weapons and a physics gun in the game. All the weapons have their own systems and ways of interacting with Carl, the 308 will behave differently than the AK, and the AK will behave differently than the pistol. Everything you see here is a WIP and subject to change, but the demo is shipping as feature complete. That means if you want to see new additions to the game, and follow along with where it's heading after the demo, you should join the Discord. The demo will receive minimal updates, probably small things like a bug fix for a particularly annoying bug, but all the new features and mechanics will be on the private tester branch as we get ready for full release.
The demo comes complete with two maps, and one game mode besides sandbox. One map is "The Lab" which is a small, single level testing area. The second map is "Vertical Impact Test Site" which has a drop going up to 16m, along with a cool ramp and a bunch of stuff to mess around with. The full release will have a lot more maps and contraptions, but the demo will have these two. The game mode that ships with Project C.A.R.L is a Zombie wave survival shooter, it is very simplistic right now, but I wanted to include it with the demo to show this game is not going to stay strictly a sandbox. Like I said before, I have big plans for this game. Above all, I want to make a game that I really enjoy playing, and it seems like a lot of people love the vision I have.
Modding will be fully supported when the game releases on Steam, but for now it is restricted in the demo.
Please join the Discord and let me know any suggestions you have, or about any bugs you find. I am always listening and watching responses to the game, and I have a good track record at implementing suggestions and fixing reported bugs. We'd love to have you!
AI DISCLAIMER: I don't want to deceive anybody. I have been very open about my use of AI for this project, I use Opus for the code in the game. I have 8 years of experience working with code for a living, but the code I work with is fundamentally different than the code I would be working with if I wrote all this by hand. I understand the systems in place in the code, and I have extensive knowledge of programming logic, and how to make things fit together in the best way they can. I am using humans for the s
Editor takes
“The demo's systems are deep, but with one simplistic wave mode and no progression, there's no loop to hook a numbers brain like mine.”
“For a WIP sandbox it's surprisingly feature-complete, but it's still a sandbox; the two maps and one mode just show off the blood tech.”
“C.A.R.L's clinical setup is a deliciously grim punchline, but right now there's worldbuilding, not a story to sink into.”
“Shooting, throwing and splattering Carl is a great physics toybox for an afternoon, yet the sparse wave mode won't pull me back for runs.”
How to play
In the sandbox, use the available weapons and the physics gun to interact with Carl and observe how his simulated skeletal, organ, and vascular systems react to damage or impacts. The demo also includes a zombie wave survival shooter mode, where you fight off waves of zombies using the same weapon systems.
Tips
- Try all six weapons, since each one behaves differently and creates different injury effects.
- Use the physics gun to set up creative scenarios, such as throwing Carl off ledges or arranging objects.
- Visit the Vertical Impact Test Site to experiment with drops up to 16 meters and see varied impact reactions.
- In zombie wave mode, keep your distance and use the environment to avoid getting surrounded.
- Remember this is a WIP demo, so some systems and balancing may change in the full release.
Questions
Is Project C.A.R.L free?
The demo is available on itch.io as a name-your-own-price download for Windows.
What platforms can I play it on?
The demo is currently available for Windows only.
What content is in the demo?
The demo includes two maps (The Lab and Vertical Impact Test Site), six weapons, a physics gun, and a zombie wave survival mode.
Will the demo receive updates?
The developer says the demo will only get minimal updates, mostly bug fixes, while new features are developed on a private tester branch for the full release.
Is there a full release planned?
Yes, the developer plans a full release with more maps, toys, minigames, and actual gameplay loops, with the sandbox remaining a core part of it.
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