Why Early Access?

“Curl is in a unique position to explore the exciting possibilities of accessibility driven design through the use of brain-computer Interface (BCI) technology. Early access is a way for us to get this to players that might be unable to play most or any other games due to complex physical needs, while offering them the opportunity to help us refine and develop our design and accessible control schemes. By partnering with the community through early-access we will be able to create a truly accessible and engaging experience together.”

Approximately how long will this game be in Early Access?

“For at least one year. Due to the relatively new nature of BCI technology and its rising availability for commercial use, there is still a lot of experimental aspects to the project. As such there is still a significant amount of work to be done to develop, expand and refine the unique features of BCI integration in Curl! Feedback from players using alternative input schemes (like BCI) will be crucial to make playing with any input scheme (controller, keyboard/mouse, joystick, switches, BCI) as seamless an experience as possible.”

How is the full version planned to differ from the Early Access version?

“We plan to expand and refine the integrated BCI functionality, as well as all user experiences for navigating and playing. We will be aiming to improve the mixed BCI+ user experiences for friends, families and siblings who will play together.
We also want to significantly expand the scope of standard accessibility options to include those now standard in the industry, including alternative input schemes (e.g. switch selection).
With these priorities satisfied, we want to add exciting new characters, maps, and progression features to flesh out the content of the game.”

What is the current state of the Early Access version?

“The game is fully and independently playable with brain-computer Interface (BCI) commercial headsets. BCI control is dependent on a necessary initial BCI setup and calibration. Once completed, up to 4 commercial BCI headsets can be used to play Curl!. The game is also playable with standard inputs like a keyboard for joint play.
Local and online multiplayer are fully functional, including a live matchmaking mode. There are four characters, four maps, and six super powered rocks to choose from.”

Will the game be priced differently during and after Early Access?

“Curl! will be offered in early-access at a reduced price. While not definite, the final release price will likely be increased during development in accordance with the addition of significant playable content.”

How are you planning on involving the Community in your development process?

“We will use our Discord and the Steam forums as our primary methods of general communication with our community. There, planned and upcoming changes will be announced and discussed, enabling players to suggest features and provide feedback. In addition to public communication, we will be facilitating testing through academic research channels with select groups who will be our primary source of ideas and direct feedback. This approach will develop over the course of development to most effectively suit the needs of the community.”