What's upcoming?
2025 has arrived, time flies by and it's time to lay out some battle plans for the upcoming time. Thinking about something like following and will move things as needed - given that it is for now a "1 man wolf pack" project, since it's start in June 2024.
- (End of 01-2025) Steam's Real-Time Strategy Fest is coming. For that, might update some of the marketing contents like images and videos, but this has a lower priority
- (End of 01-2025) Taipei Game Show - will be there only as visitor, unfortunately, game won't be presented there
- (Q1-2025) More dev focus on out-of-combat elements, as combat is already pretty fleshed out, except for some bugs.
- (Q1-2025) Including plans to get up a Steam Demo in Q1-2025 - originally idea was to do web-based demos and testing for easy accessibility, but the technical limitations regarding performance and quality are just (too) big. So instead, a regular tech demo on Steam + updates may be the way to go prior the EA release.
- (Q2 2025) During next months will evaluate, if may need to move the EA release to Q2 2025, which will give more time for content additions, polish and bugfixing - as releasing a half-baked product is just lame.
- (After EA Release) Typical after-release care package: bugfixing, taking care of player feedback and topics, first... and second: addition of more content, preferably based on player feedback
What are the devs expectations/plans for the demo and EA release?
- If it's not good, it won't be released, but postponed, period
- If there is not enough content to experience and play, release will be postponed
- Major bugs are a no-go and will get max priority, minor ones will be scheduled for fixing them
- Placeholder GFX, VFX and SFX should be the exception, and not a common thing
- The demo should give a short, representative impression of the game's direction / game-play and be a test for the player, if he wants more of that product
- The EA version shall have all key mechanics to fully play the game, while the content variety and stories will be continuously extended - but adequate at all times to enjoy all mechanics... think of the development history of Rimworld, Minecraft and alike
Any xmas / new year gifts?
Well, the time after xmas was meant to be relaxing to recharge energy and motivation - so not much has happened regarding game dev. Nevertheless, still made a quick, small update - new weapon packs!
More from Gate Project
Other announcements
Detecting LifesignsNew Momentum Building Up It's been silent for a while around the Gate Project, but that wasn't a bad thing. It was a time of a lot of testing, reflection and rethinking how to proceed with this project. Always keeping in mind the end goal: a full game release. There was a lot going on regarding reworks and new directions, but these steps are seen as necessary for this game to eventually see the…Demo out now!Demo Released, Feedback Welcomed! Announced and delivered, a key milestone for my very first game dev project. Even if it's no Balatro or R.E.P.O., still proud that I made it that far. Now it's time to see, how the overall feedback and response will be. Thing will move forward based on the responses... Glimpse Back in Time, and a Shoulder Pat Looking back, it has been so far a hell of a journey…What's up? Where is the Demo? (2nd half of March)Main Goal: Demo The demo release remains the main goal #1. At the moment, QA is undergoing in full speed. After a dozen demo builds or so, less and less bugs are found - which hopefully means, that indeed there are not that many left. Basic balancing is done for combat to make sure things work reasonably well. That leaves full confidence, that in 2-3 weeks, it can be released. Prior to that wil…