We got some amazing news - we’re funded for the entire duration of Early Access!
In February we will expand our team to five members and work on Derail Valley for at least one full year during Early Access. That’s without taking into account actual revenue which should allow much more. This pretty much guarantees us delivering a full game in early 2019, with Early Access starting in a few months. Here’s what it means:
- We can focus on development without dependence on initial success
- We can reveal our full roadmap for the final game (coming in the next months)
- We’ll have regular updates during Early Access (starting early 2018)
- High chance of bringing the game to completion (early 2019)
- We’re very motivated to do this
Some of you might remember that last summer we’ve spent a month preparing an application for funding. It was for the Serbian Innovation Fund, an organization focused on funding innovative technologies here in Serbia. Recently we were informed that we made it to the finals, and then invited to pitch in front of the jury of international investors. Out of 237 company applications from all kinds of industries (including medical, agricultural, machine, etc.), we were among the 25 to receive the funding. Here's the cool part:
We retain full freedom to do what we believe is the best for the game, without sketchy compromises. In fact, our vision and plan for the Early Access development is already on paper, and our only obligation to the Fund is to actually deliver what we set in it, on a quarterly basis. We will reveal this roadmap in the following months, and we think you’re going to love it.
As a team of a few people who started making Derail Valley with our own savings and an ambition to make a dream-game of every train sim fan, we’re super thankful to the Serbian Innovation Fund and their jurors who recognized our potential and agreed to fund us. There will surely be many obstacles and hiccups along the way, but we’re determined to make Derail Valley the best train simulation out there and possibly this way help VR market grow and become more affordable.
Finally, thank you all for the support and feedback you’ve sent us - without you we wouldn’t have had anything to show to the investors as proof that this is a game you want. Do spread the word about the game - tell everyone that it’s coming, and it’s going to rock!
We will be opening job positions soon in more detail, but in summary we are looking for developers already located in Serbia: two experienced gamedev programmers and one experienced gamedev 3D artist. If you live in Serbia, fit the criteria and would love to work with us on Derail Valley, send us an email with CV and portfolio to [email protected].
In the next post we aim to reveal the upcoming steam locomotive (you can see some interior shots here already)! I’ll also sneak in a reminder that we’ve got a Discord. Feel free to drop by - we are active there daily.
Thanks for reading and see you all soon!
The project is financed by the Innovation Fund from the budget of the Republic of Serbia
from the division of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development,
through the Serbia Competitiveness and Jobs Project (loan agreement with the World Bank).