LAUNCH FEEDBACK | NEW ROADMAP

ESSENCE has relatively successful launched on Steam early access. Although the launch itself was very rough for us. We did our best to create a relatively bug-free build in a very short time to keep up with our schedule as well as handling the first wave of new players and making the game more visible to the public through the press and social media. We see now that this was still a good decision. It's really hard to cope with launching such a large project for a duo like us. Also, it is our first game too. So bare with us we are not yet doing everything perfectly. We can say there have been plenty of time-consuming complications to go through before such a game could come to such a storefront. We are happy to launch this now (in early access) instead of an even riskier hard launch with higher expectations. We have made a good step forward which gives us more space for better iterations with your help. You can now play and experience the iterations more directly and give proper feedback to the changes we make. We have also seen a lot of feedback from players who expected the complete VR experience at the first launch. We apologize that we have not stated this clear enough, so this will not happen again. But to clarify again, for all who are still wondering, the VR mode will come later trough a free update, that means this game will be playable with and without VR. Also to clarify for all Kickstarter backers, we have not yet sent the surveys but these will come soon and we will make a proper notification - so that you can't miss it, no worries. To show you how we are planning to continue with the progress of ESSENCE we have created a new Roadmap as we promised. It shows you all major updates we will reveal with the next releases.
Here some additional explanation:

• As said we will release the Linux version of ESSENCE as the next step. Also, to a recently Unity engine update we can now enable the anticipated Vulkan Graphics API. That means all Linux players will get a huge performance boost that should match up with Windows users. We will also try to give Windows users as well the option to use Vulkan since its available for both OS.
• The Revision of ACT I will be a major overhaul of the current version. We will enhance everything we can and push the general quality and content of the game and give our best to translate the feedback from all players into this update.
• Also, we will release the Soundtrack from the first Act. All selected backer will receive it via mail. It will also be available on the Steam store.
• Important: The soundtrack will be updated with new tracks when ACT II and ACT III will be released and will remain as a single package. Of course, all the backers who pledged for the soundtrack will be notified once the soundtrack is updated.
• Soon after we will be sending out all Kickstarter surveys before we continue with finishing ACT II.
• In the release of ACT II, we will also include the game related Spirit Rewards and the Kickstarter world.
• With the release of the last Act, we will also begin to send out all other digital and physical Rewards to all Backer.
• Also, we will Release the VR Mode for ESSENCE, before we will leave early Access and round up the game with a final release.
• After the release, we probably want to make some additional community updates for you, but there are no concrete plans now.

We really hope you like the current plan and its priorities. Otherwise, please tell us what do you think about it, if we have forgotten something or if we should change something. We are very excited how the next months will turn out to be. As always thank you for your patience brave travelers. See you next week, ONEVISION

[ 2017-04-27 00:34:01 CET ] [ Original post ]

LAUNCH FEEDBACK | NEW ROADMAP

ESSENCE has relatively successful launched on Steam early access. Although the launch itself was very rough for us. We did our best to create a relatively bug-free build in a very short time to keep up with our schedule as well as handling the first wave of new players and making the game more visible to the public through the press and social media. We see now that this was still a good decision. It's really hard to cope with launching such a large project for a duo like us. Also, it is our first game too. So bare with us we are not yet doing everything perfectly. We can say there have been plenty of time-consuming complications to go through before such a game could come to such a storefront. We are happy to launch this now (in early access) instead of an even riskier hard launch with higher expectations. We have made a good step forward which gives us more space for better iterations with your help. You can now play and experience the iterations more directly and give proper feedback to the changes we make. We have also seen a lot of feedback from players who expected the complete VR experience at the first launch. We apologize that we have not stated this clear enough, so this will not happen again. But to clarify again, for all who are still wondering, the VR mode will come later trough a free update, that means this game will be playable with and without VR. Also to clarify for all Kickstarter backers, we have not yet sent the surveys but these will come soon and we will make a proper notification - so that you can't miss it, no worries. To show you how we are planning to continue with the progress of ESSENCE we have created a new Roadmap as we promised. It shows you all major updates we will reveal with the next releases.
Here some additional explanation:

• As said we will release the Linux version of ESSENCE as the next step. Also, to a recently Unity engine update we can now enable the anticipated Vulkan Graphics API. That means all Linux players will get a huge performance boost that should match up with Windows users. We will also try to give Windows users as well the option to use Vulkan since its available for both OS.
• The Revision of ACT I will be a major overhaul of the current version. We will enhance everything we can and push the general quality and content of the game and give our best to translate the feedback from all players into this update.
• Also, we will release the Soundtrack from the first Act. All selected backer will receive it via mail. It will also be available on the Steam store.
• Important: The soundtrack will be updated with new tracks when ACT II and ACT III will be released and will remain as a single package. Of course, all the backers who pledged for the soundtrack will be notified once the soundtrack is updated.
• Soon after we will be sending out all Kickstarter surveys before we continue with finishing ACT II.
• In the release of ACT II, we will also include the game related Spirit Rewards and the Kickstarter world.
• With the release of the last Act, we will also begin to send out all other digital and physical Rewards to all Backer.
• Also, we will Release the VR Mode for ESSENCE, before we will leave early Access and round up the game with a final release.
• After the release, we probably want to make some additional community updates for you, but there are no concrete plans now.

We really hope you like the current plan and its priorities. Otherwise, please tell us what do you think about it, if we have forgotten something or if we should change something. We are very excited how the next months will turn out to be. As always thank you for your patience brave travelers. See you next week, ONEVISION

[ 2017-04-27 00:34:01 CET ] [ Original post ]