Hey Folks! I just wanted to give everyone a heads-up that I'm nearing the end of NEO Scavenger's beta/Early Access. Once NEO Scavenger switches to "released," the price will increase accordingly from $10(US) to $15(US). So if you were planning on purchasing NEO Scavenger, you may want to do so now.
Why the Price Increase?
The current beta/Early Access price of $10 was meant to reflect that the game was unfinished, and may have missing features or content. Because of this incomplete status, and the possibility of bugs, the price was discounted for folks who wanted to support the project and didn't mind the issues.
However, now that the content and features are complete, and the focus is on the last few bugs and balancing, the price will increase to $15 to reflect its finished nature. This price puts NEO Scavenger roughly in the middle range of indie titles, with several notable examples both higher and lower in price. I think that's a fair mark to aim for, given that NEO Scavenger has received much acclaim, but also has some flaws.
When Will the Price Increase?
The date will depend on how soon I can upload a stable build, but I'm expecting it to be within the next week. Strong possibilities are Friday, December 12th, or Monday December 15th.
Will the Price Ever Change Again?
It may, and I reserve the right to apply discounts or participate in bundles at any time, but that's likely a long way off.
Will Development Continue After Release?
I'll probably update NEO Scavenger after release with bug fixes and enhanced modding support. However, more content and features are unlikely. I want to make sure the released version is as stable as possible, and that modders can do cool things, but I'd also like to start exploring new projects. So basically, I won't be abandoning it completely, but I will be ramping-down effort as I start to move on to "the next thing."
I totally reserve the right to add a new feature if I can't resist, though :)
What Is "The Next Thing?"
It'll depend on many things, including how well NEO Scavenger does, how the market changes, and other factors. Probably the first order of business is to take a long vacation and recharge my batteries. However, I usually get anxious to make stuff before too long, so I'll probably start looking over my list of project ideas to see what makes the most sense.
Possibilities include a tablet version of NEO Scavenger, foreign language translations, a sequel, a different game in the NEO Scavenger universe, or maybe something completely different. Probably in that order of likelihood.
Thanks Beta Players!
I'd like to thank everyone sincerely for their support and feedback as I developed NEO Scavenger over the past 3+ years. It's been a long haul, with its share of highs and lows, but I'm really amazed at what NEO Scavenger has become. I truly couldn't have done it without you all, so thank you!