Development FAQ
Q: Who are the developers?
A: The development team is myself, Luna Rose B. (WhirligigGirl), and my friend MsAsterisk. I am the lead designer and the artist, MsAsterisk is the excellent programmer. In addition there is a closed playtesting group, a work in progress soundtrack being volunteered by SpockAndStep et al, and some additional scenery art assets being volunteered by VivvyOfTheLake.
Q: What engine is it?
A: an advanced steam engine utilizing compound expansion of steam to--oh you mean the game engine? Oh. Ok. We're making the game in Godot.
Q: When will Train Misconductor be released?
A: It depends on a whole lot of factors. We want to make sure it's good and ready before it comes out. Some fundamental features are still not yet implemented, and there is a lot more art left to do. It all depends upon how long a two person hobby indie dev team with no budget can go before getting burnt out. My cute little soundbyte is "if it comes out in 2025 or 2027, something will have gone wrong." But we just don't know.
Q: What platforms will Train Misconductor be available for?
A: PC for sure, possibly also Linux & Mac.
Q: Where will Train Misconductor be released?
A: We intend to release on Steam and Itch.io.
Q: Is there a demo?
A: Not yet; though there will be a short free demo before the game is released, possibly at the end of the current development sprint.
Q: How much will the game cost?
A: We expect to sell it in the $20 or so range. More info when closer to launch.
Q: Will there be a story?
A: There will be some character dialogue and narrative tied to the player's progression about the characters, Conductor Auranjuse and Engineer Blaeb. More info to come later.
Q: Did you draw a bunch of angles or is it 3D?
A: Although Train Misconductor is designed to resemble games that use prerendered sprites, we actually use 3D models rendered in real time with a pixel shader.
View game pageQ: Ok I'll bite. What is an Advanced Steam Engine?
A: Historically, Gymnomi locomotives were locomotives, with many articulated ones to cope with the tight curvature and steep hills on their migratory-wagonways-turned-railroads.
By the 2310s AD, planet Gymnome had largely phased out steam locomotives and switched to diesel-hydraulics. A few still remained in industrial service, but their numbers were dwindling.
In 2329 resulting from a regular shift in the planet's orbit as it encountered the coorbital giant planet Omen, a global oil crisis began, which led to steam engines being taken out of museums to run the railways again.
By the mid 2330s, brand new high efficiency steam locomotives with modern electronics were built. They use gas producer combustion systems to burn coal or biofuels fully, as well as compound expansion of steam in high pressure and low pressure cylinders, and a slew of other modern improvements and instruments.
What this means for you as the engineer, is that the loco is set up with an easy to use electronic control stand that interfaces with electromechanical controls for the throttle, reverser, automatic stoker, etc, just like the controls of a modern diesel engine. Engineers trained on diesel locomotives kept blowing up boilers when employed as stokers on the museum engines, so despite the drawbacks inherent in automating such a complex task, the role of fireman is given to the onboard computer, with it automatically maintaining the water level as well as fire and pressure.
The SLYM-11513, a "Foresight" S20-433 Class, is one of these new locomotives. These fictional engines are loosely based on real world modern steam concepts like the ACE 3000, LVM-800, and 5AT.
A "Foresight" S-Twelve in works grey.
Q: Well Luna those drawings are all so good--
A: Why thank you.
Q: But will we get to actually play with any of those interesting locomotives?
A: There are at least two other locomotives planned. My rule is that new locomotives must feel meaningfully different to operate, not just reskins of the existing one. They may not be locos seen in the drawings above, though.
