Good day all future roadhouse managers out there. Thanks for reading. Get comfortable and we recommend pairing this update news with a fresh beer.
Today we'll look at two things: a general update on how the game is coming along, and a look at the possible beers on tap in your roadhouse.
Release Date Pushed
Whew, making games is tough. And whew, making games as a solo dev is even tougher. And double whew, making a solo indie dev game in a never-before-seen genre mix with never-before-seen game mechanics and never-before-done cutting edge AI tech is even tougher.
And estimating how long it'll all take? That's even harder.
We pushed our release date, to tentatively Feb 12th 2025. We are trying as hard as humanely possible to get our demo out for October's Next Fest.
We may have to push it further -- we aren't going to be releasing this game until it is fully baked and awesome. And we have a ways to go.
Currently, this solo dev is working FT, about 40-60 hours a week on this game. However the savings are dryin' up. I may be forced to go back to work FT somewhere and shift game production to PT for the final stages. However rest assured: the game will definitely come out, its just a matter of when.
Need To Get More Known!
Another reason why we are pushing the release date is a lack of visibility and wishlists. Sure is tough to get noticed on Steam these days, with so many great games coming out everyday! Heck, there are even a lot of just tavern related-games coming this year.
We have to seriously crank the marketing and wishlists and such to make this game a hit that can sustain gameboardgames and this solo dev to make future games. Towards this end we are putting together a great first trailer and upgrading our store page this month, do more often updates, and then we'll work on marketing more to get us where we want to be.
If RoadHouse Manager looks like something someone you know may like, do us a huge solid and tell them about this obscure indie game being made. The more wishlists we get, the sooner the game will be released. It makes a big difference!
If you have already wishlisted us, a big thank you, consider yourself a RoadHouse Manager OF (original fan.)
Beers on Tap in the RoadHouse
The roadhouse will feature one beer on tap. This will be the primary pour for the majority of your customers. The VIP's will get something special made for them (from our 350 ingredient cocktail creation system), for everyone else walking in through the fog, its tap beers.
You'll be able to feature one beer on tap and it'll confer a unique bonus, so choose well. The featured beer will also have it's logo prominently on display above the main floor bar.
Here's the beers! Brands are unlocked through meeting with special VIP Rep's who sometimes walk into the roadhouse, and confer special bonuses. The beer selection carries over to additional play-throughs.
Klump
Beer Type: Stout
Bonus: Takes longer for customers to drink (before needing another round)
Klump is a delicious stout from an alternate dimension Ireland that is popular in over half of the known universe a billion years from now. Goes down smooth, full flavor, and best when poured from a keg.
Chilin
Beer Type: Belgian White
Bonus: More mellow customers (less chance of customer getting angry)
You are sitting on a patio on a hot summer day, in the shade, overlooking a beach. At this moment in time you want a wheat beer with a touch of orange flavor. In most dimensions of Earth, you'd order a Chilin.
Horn
Beer Type: Irish Lager
Bonus: Extends time before angry customer looses his cool
Sometimes you want the easy-drinking of a clean lager but you don't want the local tasteless stuff, you wanna go fancy, you want some real-deal beeriness to your beer. For these occasions, get a Horn.
Zip Zap
Beer Type: Coffee-Infused Stout
Bonus: Faster pour
The beers making you sluggish? What if you caffeinated that? Put a little zip in your step and zap in your pouring times with the ever-popular Zip Zap stout.
Spririli
Beer Type: Golden Lager
Bonus: Extra $ tips
Drinking a Spririli is like inviting a miniature German brewmaster into your mouth to orchestrate your taste buds to produce the most balanced and crisp lager featuring traditional malts and hops. The sort of easy-drinking, "all-day, all-night" beer.
Queen
Beer Type: American-style Lager
Bonus: Easier to pour (larger green zone when pouring)
Here we have the true Queen of beers, in most of the known multiverse. Medium-bodied, flavorful, crisp lager that has little head, making it easier to get that perfect pour that keeps your customers happy. Barley, malt, hops and a touch of rice in this classic and perennially popular brew.
Sharky
Beer Type: Pale Ale
Bonus: Can't over-pour (no auto-fail if over-poured)
Light, floral and a touch fruity, Sharky is a new easy-drinker out of universe 324251. Brewed in Washington state, this is the sort of summer beer that offers enough different flavors of the discerning palettes of those who want to try something a bit different, featuring grapefruit, lemon and lime notes.