Today is a massive milestone for The First Explorers and its development. I have decided to open up the development process even further and give my Patreon supporters Pre-Alpha access, starting TODAY.
Support the development at the Praefectus tier or higher on Patreon to get your hands on the game right now!
I'm very happy and proud to present the current state of the game, what's next, and what is planned as we approach the Early Access release together:
I will go deeper into this in the FAQ below, but here is the TL;DR:
Over the last two years, I have negotiated with several publishers and investors regarding a possible cooperation. For various reasons, it never turned into an actual deal where both sides were perfectly happy. I explored several other ways to fund the project, and I ultimately realized that Patreon is the best option for me to stay independent.
Bottom line: I need your support to continue developing the game at the pace and quality it deserves!
VAT: Patreon automatically adds local VAT percentages at checkout based on your country (e.g., in Germany, a €9 Praefectus monthly subscription becomes €9 + €1.71 = €10.71).
Steam Key: This specific Pre-Alpha Steam key is linked to your tier. It remains valid only for as long as your Patreon subscription is active, up until the Early Access Release.
To celebrate this big news I'm excited to announce a complete Patreon Relaunch.
I have redesigned the benefits and added a much-requested intermediate tier between Praefectus and Tribunus.
Centurio Tier: Upgraded! You now get access to the VIP Gameprogress channels (previously only available for Praefectus and higher).
Praefectus Tier: This tier now officially includes the Pre-Alpha Access!
[NEW] Senator Tier: This brand-new tier comes with amazing interactive benefits, such as voting rights on game design decisions and access to the internal building design forum.
Tribunus Tier: Upgraded! To make this tier truly shine, I’ve added an exclusive benefit: Every two months, I will host a 2-hour Discord voice call with all Tribunus supporters. We will talk about the game, answer your questions, and I will share my screen to give you live, behind-the-scenes insights directly from the Unreal Engine editor!
To reward long-term supporters, I am introducing a digital Stamp Card. Every month you stay subscribed, you will receive a digital stamp in my devlogs. Collect 12 stamps (months), and you will permanently unlock a catchy Discord role and a special mention in the game's credits. Specifics will be shared later next month.
Check out the brand new Trailer here:
To top it all off, I will be visiting two huge German strategy game streamers this week! We will be playing the current Pre-Alpha build live on Twitch, answering your questions, and talking about my solo-dev journey so far and what the future holds.
Tune in on Twitch:
Thursday, May 28th at 20:00 CEST: Live with Steinwallen here!
Friday, May 29th at 18:00 CEST: Live with Maurice Weber here!
How do I get access?
I will send you a short NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement) PDF file via a Patreon direct message. After you read and confirm it, I will send you a personal Steam key.
What to do in Steam then?
You simply redeem your Steam key in your Steam library, and you will instantly have access to download and play the Pre-Alpha build!
Can I stream the game, make YouTube videos, or share screenshots?
No. The Pre-Alpha build is strictly under NDA. The game is in an early state, and this build is meant exclusively for playing within our closed community. Any public sharing is prohibited.
What can I expect from the current Pre-Alpha build?
All features are listed in the Roadmap image above :)
Do you plan to update the Pre-Alpha build?
Absolutely yes! That's the entire idea behind it. You will always have the most up-to-date version featuring all new mechanics, fixes, and optimizations as long as your Patreon subscription is active.
Whats the planned update schedule?
I plan to update the build once a month. There might be rare cases where it could take a bit longer (e.g., due to sickness), but you can be assured that I will give everything to keep up with the schedule.
The next planned pre-alpha update is scheduled for Friday, June 26th.
How do I post feedback, report bugs, etc.?
There are dedicated channels and forums on our Discord server where all communication happens. Make sure to keep all feedback and discussions within these designated channels, as everything is under NDA and must not be shared publicly!
Can I get help if needed?
Sure! I'm always around via Patreon DMs and on Discord. On Discord, we also have an amazing group of people who are part of the Council. The Council is a closed group that has been testing the game for almost two years now. They are highly knowledgeable and always helpful. You can spot them by their nickname's color and the "[Council]" tag.
What happens to my Pre-Alpha access if I cancel my subscription?
The Pre-Alpha access is tied to an active subscription in the Praefectus tier (or higher). If you decide to cancel your subscription, your Steam key will be deactivated, and access to the build will be revoked until you subscribe again. The NDA stays valid though.
Is the Pre-Alpha available for Mac or Linux?
Currently, the Pre-Alpha build is only available for Windows PC on Steam.
Which payment methods are available?
PayPal
Visa & Mastercard
Apple Pay
Venmo
Can I pay in EURO?
Yes, EURO is the default currency
Can I cancel my subscription anytime?
Usually, you subscribe on a monthly basis, which means you can cancel your subscription at any time. If you opt for a discounted yearly billing plan, you can cancel your subscription at the end of that billing year.
Can I upgrade or downgrade my tier later?
Yes, absolutely! You can change your tier at any time through your Patreon settings. If you upgrade, you will immediately get access to the new benefits.
How much time and money have you spent so far?
I've been developing The First Explorers for about 3.5 years now. Over the last year, I reduced the hours at my main job to work 2 full days a week completely on the game. During this one year, I was able to get as much done as I did in the 2.5 years prior!
I have spent around €30,000 of my own savings to live my dream as a solo-dev. To be able to maintain this development speed, I need a decent monthly cash flow.
Why do you even need money?
I'm a solo developer, a dad to a little one, and I have a main job to pay the bills. The more support I receive through Patreon, the more time I can afford to spend working on the game instead of my day job.
Why going with Patreon instead of signing a deal with a publisher or investor?
The gaming industry is currently struggling, and investments are being made very carefully. Over the last two years, I have negotiated with several publishers and investors regarding a possible cooperation. For various reasons, it never turned into an actual deal where both sides were happy and could look each other in the eye.
What about Kickstarter?
Ah yes, Kickstarter. I thought heavily about that option. The reality is that you need a lot of skill and upfront money to run a successful Kickstarter campaign. You need to prepare an outstanding pitch, push hard with marketing during the campaign, and then, of course, deliver all the physical and digital rewards you promised. For now, I decided not to go with Kickstarter because I don't feel I have the resources to prepare and run it in a way that guarantees success.
Doesn't Germany offer federal funding for games?
Yes, but it comes with a major catch: You need to be able to put €150,000 on the table yourself just to be eligible for the federal funding program. There are other entry barriers as well, but the missing upfront cash is the biggest one.
And that's it for today. I'm incredibly excited for the future and can't wait for your feedback!
Best,
Sebastian