Hi Governors,
It’s hard to believe, but a whole year has gone by since the day our Kickstarter began.
We're truly thankful for the passion, patience, and feedback you've given us over the past 12 months. Your support has allowed us to fine-tune Evershine's core gameplay, bringing it closer to the vision many of you have been looking forward to. With the Alpha version of Evershine drawing ever closer, we're working to deliver an experience that feels worth the wait.
We also received an unforgettable surprise this Kickstarter-versary! A touching gift arrived from one of our backers. We're deeply thankful to bluelimpet for this wonderful present and we're incredibly grateful to receive such kindness from the community.
We've also put answers together to some of the questions you've asked about how Building and NPCs fit into the new gameplay loop:
1. Is building still a part of the game? If so, what does it look like?
The answer to this question is a big yes!
Building is a core feature of Evershine, with the heart of the building experience remaining similar to previous titles. You'll receive a blueprint, gather the materials required to build it, and finally put everything together to create a new object or improve an old one.
The difference in Evershine is your role. In previous games, the player acted as a Builder, with most of the action confined to their yard.
In Evershine, you're a fully-fledged Governor. Arriving in a newly forming settlement, with no existing community, you're the one making your new home thrive. It's building on a bigger scale - one that we hope delivers a greater sense of impact and satisfaction.
For example, if you want a blacksmith to open up shop in your town - and gain access to their forge - you'll need to build a smithy. Once their building is constructed, your prospective new blacksmith will become a steadfast addition to your community. From then on, you'll have a helpful new neighbor and a new source of useful items.
Instead of watching your backyard fill up with machines, you'll be watching an entire community take shape.
We want the things you construct to feel meaningful, with the buildings you create having a real impact on the world around you. That familiar satisfaction of gathering, upgrading, and crafting is still there, but it now comes with the added reward of seeing residents use what you've made and watching a town grow around you.
2. How will NPCs feature in the new gameplay loop?
In Evershine, NPCs are meant to feel like real, genuine companions. You can form parties with them, go on adventures together, and fight side-by-side. Unlike earlier games where players often had to face challenges alone, this time you'll have company.
From gathering resources to mining, to chopping down trees, you'll have a helping hand waiting for you if you need one - they'll even assist in combat outside your settlement.
How you meet new companions has also evolved since previous games. Instead of you being the new arrival, now it's the other way around. You'll meet intriguing characters along your travels, bring them back to your growing settlement, and invite them to join. As they settle into their new home, they'll be lending you advice, offering you assistance, and gradually bringing you into their worlds.
Our goal is for NPCs to feel more alive and connected to your journey than in any of our previous games. They're not just background characters, but trusty allies playing an important part in how your adventure unfolds. They'll be there growing alongside you, playing a bigger role in the story than ever before.
After a year of testing, reworking, and refining, we're getting closer to the version of Evershine we want you to play. The Alpha build is coming together, and though we're not quite ready to share a date just yet, it's safe to say it's not far off. We can't wait for you to get your hands on it and tell us what you think.
Thank you again for being with us throughout this first year. The world we're building together is taking shape and we're thrilled you're here to be a part of it.
There's plenty more to come and we're eager to share it with you.