Hello everyone! As many of you are aware, we are around the 24 hour mark before the game goes live on Early Access. Below I want to provide as much information about the release and early access content as possible before you make your purchase. I want to share information about what you can expect from the early release content that will be available on the 18th. This can also be viewed on our website here: https://techexecutivetycoon.com/release-date-road-map
Information to know before purchasing the game
Below we want to highlight what you can expect with the current version of the game that will be released on the 18th and then what to expect in the way of updates over time as we head into 2019. We want to do this so that there is clarity regarding what is currently playable (i.e. gameplay loop) vs what the final game will have in content. FYI, the list below is not a complete comprehensive list, but rather a list of the more notable features present and missing for the initial early release build.
The game will cost $20 USD to begin and increase as more features are unlocked and content is added. The reason for this decision is because our original crowdfunding backers displayed their confidence and trust in us by donating a base pledge of $15 for a game that was at the time--only a concept. As a result, the current price of the game is positioned to ensure that those backer's inherited discounted pledges remain intact.
The final game will be valued at a higher price point due to the amount, quality of features and content that have always been planned and will be released with the final game.
What content is available for Early Access?
When the game releases on the 18th, you will be able to do the following:
Create an office in the first iteration of our build mode system
- More options will come online as we test and iron out potential game breaking bugs.
- NOTE: for those who prefer not to build, we will add in some pre-built offices very soon. Our goal is early January - please keep an eye on our roadmap as we will being in January with our Early access update schedule.
Furnish your office with different desks and items
- We will be adding many more items over time as well. The goal is to add hundred's of items, desks and other decorative options. In addition to this, there are other item types planned. Every item should has some function or effect on gameplay.
- Down the road we will look at ways to open this up to the modding community.
Hiring employees
- Although all employees types are in the game, we are still testing and fine tuning some specific functionality for some positions and roles. Much of the more granular and detailed gameplay associated with employees is not yet playable in the game. That will also continue to be unlocked and polished throughout early access.
- There are also only a small handful of avatars in the game for employees currently, but that will also greatly increase and become more diverse as time progresses.
Creating CPU's
- Though the final game will allow you to create more than 10 different unique product types, the current build only allows for CPU creation.
- We will work to publish a list of which product options and in what order they will come online very soon.
Marketing & Shipping products
- Basic marketing campaign creation. This will continue to be fine tuned and polished as it is the first iteration (that has been tested quite a bit, though not in its final state).
This is the current game loop that is ready to be played at this moment due to a lot of testing and fine tuning that is left to be completed as you could see on the Roadmap toward release. We will continue to update the road map heading toward full release. This time, you will be able to follow the updates online as well as in the game as we add content and unlock features over time as they are tested, polished and made ready to join the latest builds of early access. We will also take this time to hear your feedback and ideas and thoughts about what is available as well as features and content you wish to see.
What content is NOT in for early release
As you can imagine, this list is MUCH larger than the above although we are not listing each and every feature. However, we do want to list some of the more notable absent features for the first build of Early Access. Please see this list below
UI Elements
- There are simply a lot of windows not yet implemented which will go a long way toward allowing you to both manage and manipulate the game world. Though the most basic UI is present, there is not a lot present in the game currently that will streamline the experience just yet.
World and game events
- At the moment, the world does not quite respond the players inputs in the way that it will when the feature is enabled. The feature is already implemented, but thoroughly untested and unpolished.
More robust tutorial system
- This game once complete will be very complex and carry a steep learning curve. As a result, tutorials will be very necessary for this game. For early access we have a very rudimentary tutorial system currently implemented. This will continue to improve and become more useful for new players.
Many more things to come online once polished and tested.
- The list is truly large and it wouldn't make sense to post every single detail here. However the final game will have all of these features before we determine the game to be a final release candidate.
Thanks in advance to all who decide to join us in early access. Your support has been tremendously appreciated thus far and it will continue to be well into the future.