u/JBitPro

I’ve been diving into my telemetry data to figure out why 70% of permadeath runs end in the first hour. It turns out my implementation of GameplayKit’s GKAgent for "The Swarm" was too efficient. I used a cohesive flocking algorithm to simulate insect behavior, but I didn't account for how well these entities "kite" in a top-down 2D grid.

The "cohesion" and "separation" weights were tuned so tightly that the swarm would perfectly surround the player, leaving zero escape routes. I’m currently experimenting with a "threat ramp" that adjusts these weights based on the player's proximity to the "Dense Forest" starting zone. It’s a fine line between "challenging AI" and "mathematically impossible."

It’s been an incredible few months since I launched "Norman Lives" on iOS and macOS 26+. Seeing thousands of you navigate the infinite procedural wasteland from a top-down perspective has been a dream come true.

One of the biggest surprises? How players are using the 2D layout of the Ruined City to ambush enemies around corners. We’ve pushed a few patches to fix SpriteKit layering issues where the character would occasionally clip behind "Forest Ruins" assets, but the core 2D engine is holding up beautifully.

To everyone who’s been surviving since day one: thank you for making this world a reality.