Hello one and all,
how have you all been doing? I'm here today, to give you some news about the Early Access version of Can't Drive This, and a rough timeline of what's going to happen next.
Warning: Lots of text incoming.
Working off Game-Jam Code
As I've mentioned before, we've been hard at work updating Can't Drive This. So why, you may wonder, are you not seeing any of the progress?
Well, let's go back a step: Can't Drive This was born during a game jam – we prototyped the initial version of the game within 72 hours (This way way before the Early Access version. You can still play that prototype online. Don't though, it's horrible.).
And clever as we are, we kept building on that code base. Now let me tell you, working on game-jam code is never a good idea. At some point, we realized this, as the whole thing became too unstable to support continued development. That, while not being the only reason, was the trigger for us to re-work the game from the ground up.
Re-Working the Complete Game
When we started development during the game jam, we didn't have a specific plan in mind, we just started developing, and went with the flow.
Continued development after the jam was a little more strategic – but whenever we had new ideas (remember, we didn't have a design document, or anything), we just built them on top of the existing game. Whenever we decided to remove something from the game, we removed it.
If you've ever played Jenga, you know where that tactic eventually leads.
So we decided to go back to the drawing board. We took everything we'd learned, and put the vision that was evolved during development, to paper.
From this point, we're able to produce a coherent game, with a clear plan.
As beneficial as this may be for the game, reworking from the ground up has a few drawbacks.
Drawbacks of Square One
The main issue of starting over is, of course, time. Whenever you begin anew, it costs time, especially when you're relatively far along in a project. But the main issue we're having, and the one that most affects you, is that it's a new project.
This unfortunately means we won't be able to publish regular updates, as we had originally planned. Right now it looks like the next update is going to be the full release, or at least somewhere very near it.
What this means for Early Access
If you're reading this, having bought the game in the past, expecting regular updates, this may hurt. In a perfect world, this wouldn't have happened. But game development is more art than science, and these things tend to happen, as games evolve. We know it sucks, and we're very, very sorry about it.
We're confident that it will allow us to make Can't Drive This the best game it can be, and we hope you understand. Every decision we make (and this was a tough one) is for the sake of the game.
To Buy, Or Not to Buy
If you haven't bought Can't Drive This, and you're wondering whether or not to do it, please keep this in mind. You won't be getting regular updates until the full launch.
But, you will be able to play a working prototype of the game.
You will get the game at a super-discounted price.
And you will support the game's development.
Which makes you absolutely awesome.
Plans for the Future
First off, if the above text worried you that Can't Drive This may not ever be finished, let me assure you: It will.
We've received funding form the FFF, a Bavarian fund for film, television and video games. This will allow us to complete the game, in any case. Plus, every penny from sales of the Early Access version are going directly into the development – allowing us to add even more features.
The way it looks right now, we'll be releasing the full version of Can't Drive This in Q4 2018. The base of the game is getting close to production-ready, and we're beginning to plug everything together.
Right now, we're re-working the vehicle system, including everything from customization to the physics. Then, we'll be adding game modes, menu-flow, UI, and all the little things.
We're going to be at GDC and PAX East soon. I'll be there personally, along with our Lead Artist Valerij (at GDC), and our Lead Programmer Andi (at PAX). If you're in San Francisco or Boston during those events, feel free to get in touch, or stop by! We'd love to chat!
That's it for now
If you have any questions, feedback, or just want to chat, feel free to hit us up on the forums, or via email.
Thanks for your time, you all!
Cheers,
Steve
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