What can you expect from Early Access?
So, either you already bought the game or you are thinking of doing so right now. Whatever may be the case for you, we would like to give you some guidance what to expect from the Early Access phase of Blackguards.
What is this 'Early Access' anyway?
Early Access on Steam enables enthusiastic players to play a game early and participate in the creation process. At the same time we are using your feedback to make the game even better. You can help us to finish Blackguards!
So, the game isn't done yet?
That's true. Blackguards is a quite complex game which has been in development for over two years by now. At this moment the game is pretty much complete. At least featurewise. Which means that you are able to play a finished version of the game containing all the major gameplay features of the final version.
Why should I buy the game now?
There are three main reasons why you should buy the game right now:
1. Start playing today! No more waiting for the release date!
2. It’s all about the money! The game is a lot cheaper right now then it'll be when it's finally out.
3. Get involved! Participate in the game's production process by playing the game and giving feedback here in the Steam forum. Help the game become even better!
Cards on the table! What's in the game right now?
Starting with the early access on November 6th the game will contain the first of five chapters. We will add the following chapters with periodical updates as more and more content gets integrated. Our goal is to release a new chapter roughly around this times:
1. First chapter at start
2. Second chapter end of November
3. Third chapter mid of December
4. Fourth chapter end of December
5. Final chapter end of January
The first chapter of the game contains:
• more than 50 battle maps
• 11 quest chains
• 3 playable character classes (Warrior, Mage, Hunter)
• lots of items
• 10 to 12 hours of gameplay
What are you still working on?
As the game is still in development, not everything in the game is highly polished or implemented yet. Here is a list on what is subject to change during the Early Access phase:
• Content: New game chapters will be added
• Balancing: Difficulty, ability values and effects, map layouts etc. will vary
• Overall polishing: We're enhancing the overall feeling of the game
• Technical issues: There may occur minor bugs, we're improving stability with each update
How can I participate in the development process?
That's simple. Just play and (hopefully) enjoy the game. Then give us feedback on what you liked and what you disliked so far. You may also make suggestions on what you would change or like to see in the game - just remember that the game already is feature complete. That means that we simply cannot add major features or turn the game 180 degrees around. We would also like if you report bugs as they turn up, so that our development team can fix them in the next regular update.
Thank you very much for your support with Blackguards!
Have fun!