Happy Halloween folks! May your times be fun and only slightly haunted. Here's another update! [previewyoutube=rRDPNP5nklw;leftthumb][/previewyoutube]

Aliens incoming to the RoadHouse

I've added aliens to the roadhouse. Drunk aliens, that cause a real ruckus. Before the aliens, customers would get angry. And if many customers get really angry, a bar fight breaks out, and that's something to be avoided. But I needed another something to keep players on their toes. It was too easy to serve beers well, and if careful, avoiding unhappy customers causing troubles for you, the roadhouse manager. So -- enter aliens! This is a new mechanic that adds some more pressure and chaos to your roadhouse experience. Each night they'll be a portal time countdown, and when it hits 0, an alien will pop in. These aliens are so drunk they run around and completely smash your furniture to bits, break your upgrades, and bash your customers in, generally causing a bad time for all involved. But you aren't powerless: that's why I also added the Alien Drunk Tank Containment. You'll be able to upgrade this, to help with the alien menace. It's a limited time shield that will keep the alien contained around the portal. But watch out -- when the Alien Power Booze tanks run out, the shield will fail, the alien will be free, and your bar trashed!

Live AI Features Going to be DLC

AI. Some people love it, some people hate. Most gamers... just aren't a fan. For a couple of reasons, I've decided to move two major live-service AI features to be optional DLC: the Tall-Tales and AI-powered Cocktail Creator. Instead of integrating these in the main game as I planned originally, they'll now becoming down the road, as optional DLC. This way, those who are interested in these features can get'em, and those that aren't, will enjoy a lower price for RoadHouse Manager. Running live AIs is costly, with ongoing fees, so it makes more sense for me to have these as add-ons. Don't worry though: the non-AI powered Cocktail Creator is still gonna be pretty amazing. And now you won't need a network connection to play the game, so that's a plus, or worry about how long this poor indie solo game dev will be afford to keep the live service AIs serving up drinks.

General Update

The game is coming along great! But wow, being a solo dev sure is tough. I had to push the release date back. Over the last few months, I shifted the design from more of a simulator to now more of an action game. Because that's just more fun, I've found in all the testing. Unfortunately, my development funds are running down, so I'll likely have to go back to work for someone else and finish RoadHouse Manager part time. But the good news is I'm not doing this for money, I'm doing this to make a great game, and whenever release day comes, you can be assured it'll be a fun game worth your time, and cost you less than two happy hour drinks and your local. Thanks for all your support! Look forward to seeing you all the roadhouse one day.

[ 2024-10-27 02:01:49 CET ] [ Original post ]

1st Trailer Released!

Trailer #1: Polar Bear, Customer Service

As promised, serving up a first trailer to give ya'all a sense of what transpires in a place like The Fogs End, the multiversal roadhouse on the edge of the worlds. It's a gameplay trailer, 95% exclusively gameplay footage, as I know most of you are most concerned with how this game will play, and not what the main character is eating for breakfast, or the orcs invading or wizards whatevers. This 1st trailer focuses on what's it like to be a Cooler (class): and how you keep control over those unruly ! guests. This trailer also features the Polar Bear (mechanic), which can be activated when things get out of hand, when there's a bar brawl, or just for fun when you want a polar bear to rip through your customer-base and you want to end the night prematurely. Keep in mind: There's no half-measures of polar bear in the roadhouse. And hey if you really want to fully appreciate this first trailer, by all means, follow this youtube link, and watch the 4k version with some decent volume to hear our hit title tune, 'A Polar Bear Fell On Me.' Inspired by a real fictional story, by the way. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_cRus3pU6E

Development Update

My goodness. RoadHouse Manager is shaping up to be a very fun, entertaining, silly and innovative game that really pushes the multiversal bartender RPG beat'em up genre forward into ... well an entirely new genre mix of this sole amazing game. The other news: it's taking longer than expected. I'm just a solo dev dude, so 'bear' with me -- I'm not rushing to pad the quarterly earnings to keep my shareholders happy, I'm just endeavoring to make the best unique, fun and interesting game I can make for you all to enjoy. Now with the trailer ready to go, finally gonna start doing some marketing as well. I'm currently not very visible at all so, lots of work to do on that front before I can release this game into our world. Cheers and beers, gameboardgames

[ 2024-09-08 19:00:53 CET ] [ Original post ]

Country Hood: Country Hip-Hop Covers

Country Hood

Hip hop classics done country style!

Good day managers! In another dimension's Earth, hip hop never happened. Instead, a lot more country music came from the streets and urban centers. In another dimension's Earth, there's a band called Country Hood that lights up the charts. The vast majority of music appearing in RoadHouse Manager is all original stuff. All of the music's original except for today's feature band, Country Hood, which covers hip hop classics. Country Hood will provide much of the music in our free demo exclusively, and not feature in the main game, because parody song copyrights are bit murky. Damn we got some good tunes here! Enjoy! Full Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQZe9PvlNoPSDhKm_NUErdbKzk0IQQO_w [previewyoutube=QT5HF5xSbbk;leftthumb][/previewyoutube] [previewyoutube=gjZ7mDoqS3Q;leftthumb][/previewyoutube] [previewyoutube=LYMode6VgFc;leftthumb][/previewyoutube] [previewyoutube=GoER8YwW0_U;leftthumb][/previewyoutube] [previewyoutube=UUCpR0HZWzQ;leftthumb][/previewyoutube] [previewyoutube=SXzW4Pv7Xsg;leftthumb][/previewyoutube] [previewyoutube=N-Yup-U0Jag;leftthumb][/previewyoutube] [previewyoutube=fg4HD5Dg-f8;leftthumb][/previewyoutube]

[ 2024-08-06 00:15:52 CET ] [ Original post ]

Release dates and beers deep-drink

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.

[ 2024-07-19 20:30:41 CET ] [ Original post ]

RoadHouse Manager: The Soundtrack (Free Album!)

RoadHouse Manager the game, the soundtrack

free promo album released!

Lend me your ears! To get us all into the spirit of the RoadHouse, a soundtrack was made! And damn, is this special. Seriously. This turned out really well, you gotta give it a listen right now! 7 tracks of different genre musical minor masterpieces! I wrote all the lyrics and selected the genres and keeping with the design of the game, got a friendly AI to help out! the game, the soundtrack Playlist https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQZe9PvlNoPQVvVbQo2YwwAnKXh4GCEyg [previewyoutube=jpB70z3Ar58;leftthumb][/previewyoutube]

Track 01. roadhouse manager

Dreamy, haunting, simple! [previewyoutube=fEHOv2ZLCBg;leftthumb][/previewyoutube]

Track 02. the 3 rules of being a bouncer

Folk ballad with a steel guitar finish, the three rules to being a legendary bouncer! [previewyoutube=7jYnYO6-i5g;leftthumb][/previewyoutube]

Track 03. bar fight!

Punk energy! Bar Fight! Bar Fight Bar Fight Bar Fight! In the game: if you can't contain your bad vibes, everyone fights and the furniture starts flying! [previewyoutube=LRGwXz8wC9w;leftthumb][/previewyoutube]

Track 04. Pain Don't Hurt

Early 90's action movie soundtrack energy in these power cords! Never surrender! [previewyoutube=9PK4pUYMV3s;leftthumb][/previewyoutube]

Track 05. how to make the punch that saved the world

It's not only a song, it's a recipe! Reggae style Barbados punch, give it a listen and a drink! [previewyoutube=_rO9YnPZnxY;leftthumb][/previewyoutube]

Track 06. a polar bear fell on me

A country ballad about that time a stuffed polar bear fell on me! [previewyoutube=-JncW_4Z89Y;leftthumb][/previewyoutube]

Track 07. Welcome To The RoadHouse (extended mix)

Ending with the welcome, about getting lost in the fog and finding yourself no longer lost, at the Fog's End! What a soundtrack! Give it a listen! And if you enjoy it, share it with a friend. I'm just a solo indie dev guy without much of a marketing budget, and sharing this would really help, so thanks!

[ 2024-04-11 17:05:30 CET ] [ Original post ]

Welcome To The RoadHouse .... Manager!

Hello world! Today, with great pride, I'd like to introduce RoadHouse Manager to the world. What a momentous occasion! First, a tiny bit about me. My name is Kevin. About two years ago or so, I quit my day job with Activision Blizzard to make my own games -- a lifelong dream. This was a big leap of faith, as I didn't really know how to make games at the time, but hey, we only live once in this game, so I hopped. Gameboardgames studio came into being. I got into the groove making some blockchain games associated with my crypto-company, Steak4All, on the Sandbox platform. But I wanted more. So here is more:

RoadHouse Manager

Welcome to the RoadHouse! Thanks for being here, you reading this. Whats-your-face, I really appreciate it. Here are the three pillar prerogatives slash design goals for this amazing first game from gameboardgames, a game-making gamey game company.

1] Create a truly innovative, never-before-seen game design in an entirely new genre-combination.

RoadHouse Manager is a completely new idea in gaming. If you combined Dave The Diver's gameplay loop, with a sorta Overcookedish control & camera, with the roguelite mechanics and crew of F.T.L, and set it in a [strike]bar[/strike] RoadHouse, and added circa 2024 LLM AI powered NPCs that you send on quests sort of how you do in Palword then you'll have a rough idea of what this newfangled debut Steam game of ours is all about.

2] Utilize the latest AI tooling to have infinite-possibilities NPCs

Lot of game devs these days are like 'Oh noes, AI's be bad, they took our jebs!' and so on. Not gameboardgames. If we were making games when the Adlib and SoundBlaster came out (the first sound cards), we'd put voices in our games. If we were around when 3dfx released the Voodoo (the 1st generation of video cards) we'd make a 3d game. If we were around when network-enabled multi-player became a thing, we'd make a MP game. In short: we're going to push the envelop of gaming tech with AI in 2024, having our custom AI's give personalities to our game characters. Big thank you to Steam for allowing AI content (just a few months ago). It's time for a new era of gaming.

3] 300x - 500x more fun that Starfield!

Well this is sorta of more a goal than a pillar of design. We are using Starfield as fun-benchmark because I was personally mega-disappointed by it. (What a bad design though, really.) If RoadHouse Manager isn't more fun than Starfield then I think we'll close the studio and call it a day. Fortunately this a low bar though, because Starfield was about as much fun as a soggy banana. So that's post number 1. Stay tuned, we're going to make a dev-log here, giving updates on the roadhouse's development. If any of this sounds interesting, we'd love it if you wishlisted our game and followed along on journey. Hasta la vista!

[ 2024-03-25 00:23:17 CET ] [ Original post ]

RoadHouse Manager
gameboardgames

Developer

gameboardgames

Publisher

2025-04-29

Release

Action Indie Strategy Casual RPG Adventure Simulation F2P Sports MMO Racing Singleplayer Multiplayer Coop EA

Stock the Bar, Save the World

Most folks in this world are friendly, but not all of them. You have thirty days to prepare for the end of the world. It will take all your skills and a hell of a perfect signature cocktail to appease the OMEGA CRITIC, the weird being who owns this dimension. If you don’t make the cut, you get cut; your reality phased-out into the fog and mistified.

No two games play the same way, as different travelers find you in the fog every night. Over 50,000 possible looks to these random NPCs. Each night's travelers include one VIP guest. VIPs are vital for your roadhouse. Send them on quests, or gamble-dice to win cocktail infusions for your custom cocktail, or hire them to staff.

Advanced LLM AI-powered Patrons

Your drinks are famous. Sometimes they are so good, they'll shock the guests into remembering that they were once famous.

Socrates. Maurice Rocket Richarde. Cleopatra. You can infuse guests with over 100 possible historical personalities if you have can craft the correct cocktail!

Once a wanderer enjoys one of your fine beverages, they’ll decide to stay, and become a permanent fixture in your bar. You can even hire them as staff. Maybe Seneca could work coat check, and Nikola Tesla be your handy-man, the choice is yours.

Dialogue for these famous guests are generated by a live AI using a simulated personality matrix, enabling near limitless possibilities! But please note: a network connection is needed for this feature -- you can still play offline though, without the dialogue, if you aren't much of a reader.

Advanced Bartending Fun

No one ever bartended like this before, in gaming.

Each drink is a performance in The Fog’s End. You’ll need some good flair to impress your VIPs. Toss the glass, spin it, balance it on your arm. Pour it perfectly. And your ingredients have to be up to snuff to, as only the highest quality cocktails can trigger an Infusion, where your VIP remembers he or she is a famous figure from history!

24 kinds of beer. 24 kinds of wine. 100 different spirits. 99 different beverages and juices. 85 kinds of sweeteners, mixes and syrups. No game has ever had any bar anywhere near as stocked as yours, with 333 possible ingredients in the roadhouse. Ralph, our in-house AI, calculates upwards of 2,364,896 possible unique drink recipes are possible with this many ingredients... and that's a lot!

Days Are For Building, Exploring and Prep -- Nights You Are Open For Business

As the days go on, you’ll need an increasingly better ambiance to entice fog-wanderers to stop by. Through your staff, you can spend money on upgrading your roadhouse: show lights, plants, seating, appliances, and enhance your VIP room for your most famous guests. The day time is for casual prepping for the night time.

Reminiscent of old-school design, when the night starts, you'll have to run around to pour drinks, keep your customers in line, and collect tips and glassware, some of it flying through the air! To keep operating costs low, catch those flying glasses and try not to break furniture if you got to bust heads and do some coolin'. During the day, you can rebuild, upgrade and explore the open world.

Infinite Cocktail Design

Utilizing an AI-powered Signature Cocktail designer, the amount of drinks you can create is almost endless. Only have some lime juice, maple syrup and gin? Don’t worry about it! Our AI will come up with something!

Our cocktail creator offers near infinite possibilities. You may be able to generate your very own original and delicious legendary drink that you could make in the real world if you have the same ingredients. Millions of possible cocktail inventions are possible in your roadhouse!

But only the Best Cocktail can save the world! If the OMEGA CRITIC isn't impressed, your roadhouse will get knocked down to make way for a new trans-dimensional highway bypass. It's all up to you!

Improve Your RoadHouse, & Collect 120+ Songs From Around the Multiverse

You have a magic interdimensional jukebox that can bring in over 120 songs from alternate dimensions, unlocked via impressing traveling VIP musicians.

You are limited in how many VIPs you can keep as regulars though. Each one has different stats and bonuses. Choose wisely, and swap out when needed. Upgrade the VIP room for a bigger squad of patrons.

With each new run, you can carry over a few of your prized bottles of booze. Choose wisely to make the next run count!

Cool It!

Rule number one for your roadhouse: always try to be rice.

Rice is flexible. Rice is easy-going. Rice is nice. You always try to be rice. But sometimes, being rice just won’t cut it.

If push comes to shove, you’ll have to deliver an occasional beat-down to keep the unruly guests chilled and reasonable. Punch, kick, and throw unruly guests down the stairs to prevent a giant bar fight from breaking out, wrecking your roadhouse!

MINIMAL SETUPOS: Linux
Processor: Quad core 2 GHzMemory: 8 GB RAM
Memory: 8 GB RAM
Graphics: (testing upcoming)Additional Notes: (testing upcoming)
RECOMMENDED SETUPOS: Linux
Processor: Quad core 3 GHz+Memory: 16 GB RAM
Memory: 16 GB RAM
Graphics: (testing upcoming)Additional Notes: (testing upcoming)

💰 Games on Sale 💰

GAMEBILLET

[ 5949 ]