So long story short, due to my lack of experience I have decided it would be best delay this game into late 2027 or early 2028, release a smaller scoped project to gain some crucial experience, and finish The Reflex Lab and move on the next story with the Evil Alien because boy, do I have plans for that green guy. There it is, the short version. Now for the long version.
I was very determined to release this game by October 20th, 2025. At that time the game was completely different than it was today. I was making it with the goal of just making the 100 dollars back so I can pay for my next game. Then about 3 or so weeks before the NextFest Event, I believe it started October 12th, I ended up having a medical issue which prevented me from being able to sit down and finish that version of my game and I ended up releasing what I could as a demo. Long story short I got about another 40-50 wishlist. Then in the months after the art for the game really evolved and the whole design direction shifted as well. The scope did increase but I would not say scope creep territory. It was still very mech defined. But as I worked on it and tried to implement the core systems for it I noticed that it was taking me FOREVER. I just didn't have the technical knowledge needed to finish this game in the time frame I wanted. It would have taken years and for a first indie game that is not my goal.
So, I started making some concepts for a new game, something that could take me 6-12 months and still have the quality and creativity I would expect from something I would make and could be somewhat commercially viable. Definitely nothing I could live off of but I think I cool enough concept to have a good chunk of spending money at MicroCenter and put towards finishing The Reflex Lab. so that brings me to my next game:
It has been in development for about 4 months now and I am targeting a October 20th, 2026 release (Round 2 Electric Boogaloo) And am aiming for the demo to release in this summers next fest. Though I have a delay window for the fall next fest and release late November 2026 - January 2027 if needed. So yeah, that is the state of the lab. not a good state of lab, but I would say a good state for myself and StraGeo Studios. Because boy let me tell ya, working retail 40 hours is just not it for me, it is game dev or bust and, pun intended, I am not ready to bust.