This post is here to tell you a little bit more about the development, the story mode and answer the most common questions we've received.
At its core, the Retro Gadgets Story Mode is a new game mode that will complement the current Sandbox Mode. It will be released to close the Early Access cycle for the game, forming part of the official 1.0 release. It will be included in the standard game—no DLC, no extra packages. Everyone who already owns the game or buys it in the future will also get Story Mode.
Inside Story Mode, players will be taken on a journey to meet characters, uncover stories, and... learn to build gadgets from scratch. Another way to look at this new part of the game is as an interactive tutorial.
We decided to build it after a few months of Early Access. The game reviews were amazing, but we had (and still have) a lot of refunds. That's okay; it's totally fine if someone thinks the game is not for them.
The big issue was the most common reason given: "I love the game, but I'm not smart enough for it."
We made Retro Gadgets because we wanted to build a game about creativity. We wanted our players to feel empowered by it, not to feel "not smart enough." So, we decided we had to deliver something more to help those gamers get into the game, learn the basics of creating a working gadget, and feel creative.
We know. It took a lot of time, and we still have a few months before delivering it. We are a small team; only two people worked on the game full-time. We also self-finance Retro Gadgets (and all our other games). This makes us totally independent, but slow. We are committed to seeing the game through to the end, and we will.
We're starting to actively show the progress we've made. We are beginning the process of rolling out version 1.0 with Story Mode and leaving Early Access. It will take another few months, but the end is now in sight.
If you have bought the game, hold on just a little bit longer. Story Mode is nearly here.
If you haven't bought it but you like the game, please wishlist it. It is a huge help to us, and you'll be notified when the story is ready.
If you want to ask questions about the game, join our Discord community!