Why Early Access?

“We are a very small team. We want to go through Early Access not just because our vision for this game will take some time, but we want to engage the community as we move towards a more finished product. We want players to know that their feedback is valued, and that it can help shape what the final game may look like. There is a large gap between where the game is playable and where we would consider it to be complete, and as we keep going through that we want players to feel they can be a part of shaping how we get there.”

Approximately how long will this game be in Early Access?

“This is a game we have already put more than a year into, there have been setbacks but the scope we are aiming for is simply very large. Adding everything we'd want to add in order for us to be satisfied calling it "complete" will likely be another year at least.”

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

“Our vision for a “full game” is one that has all the features we would consider essential and part of the core of running a global business. There are many features we have in mind planned out for the next several updates, but beyond that the details of later updates are open to change as we develop the game and as we hear feedback. So in that respect there are short and long term goals listed below:

Short Term Goals

Full Animated Models - This may simply be an option, as the pins we have may give a more “clear” view of where your facilities are.

Livestock and More Products - We have planned one more basic resources not yet implemented. Livestock will have their own resource richness and production buildings. We have more items planned and partially put together but not ready yet.

Camera Adjustments - We plan to overhaul the camera system to allow for smooth “focus jumping” that allows you to jump to a particular building or region you click on from elsewhere.

Balancing - We are sure there are combinations out there that could prove overpowered or far too difficult, and we know fixing them will be a top priority as we go.

Long Term Ideas

Executives - A new resource that you can create by building offices to support them. Executives would be used for research, region unlocking, advertising, lobbying and as a boost to skill in factories or production in facilities. You assign them from a pool, and can assign multiple executives to the same task to speed it up. Likely our top priority of the longer term goals.

Boardrooms - Executives would sit on your company’s board, where you will have to manage their approval of you. Different board members have different desires for the company that will make them decide how much they like you. If they dislike you they can limit some of what you can do or if they dislike you enough they could vote to give you an early retirement.

Finance Details - There are several interconnected changes we want to make here. We would detach the company’s finances from your own finances, creating a pool of money the company has differently from what you the player have. We would also add in stock, something both you and the company could buy or sell to adjust finances. Finally, we would add in loans, bonds and investors as different ways to raise money for your company.

Rival Companies - We want other companies to be able to compete with you, they might snatch up that tile you particularly wanted or they might flood the market with their product elbowing you out. Building an AI we are happy with though will take time.

Corruption and Lobbying - This would add a new world statistic, “Corruption.” It would represent how easily you can lobby a government to alter the region’s stats or give yourself other benefits. However it also represents how often you may end up losing money or merchandise to crime and corruption. If you can easily lobby you can easily be shaken down or robbed too.

Advertising - Allowing you to run ad campaigns that can alter the demand for your products, or how much people are willing to pay for them.

Events - Have a system of random events that fire based on certain criteria (or at total random) to add a bit of variety. Some events give you choices about how to respond, others are simply news of something happening in the world.

Market Seasons - Have demand rise and fall not only from your actions but also from times of the year that would affect demand differently in different markets. Spikes in demand around holidays or less demand for warm jackets at the height of summer.

Corporate policy - Similar to product design, but at a corporate level. Set policies for your company that can either give you passive bonuses or make certain events more likely to fire.”

What is the current state of the Early Access version?

“At the moment, we are only at release Alpha 0.1. That means there is still a lot more to add, but that what’s there is enough to have a game.

You should be able to build facilities, select the specific tile to build on, produce products, navigate the globe, unlock regions, view regional data through lenses that tint the globe, research products, design products, transport your products, and sell your products. Statistics for each region modify how fast or cheaply you can do these things, and how much you can sell for with the market access you have. There are also offices in each region that influence research and expand the access you have in a region.

This is what would technically be called a “core loop,” something you’re able to play from start to finish in full (and hopefully enjoy) and have no major “gaps” of missing stages of play. It will be more simple and basic than the final version will be, but it is fully playable.”

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

“We plan to slowly increase the price as more content is added. We want to give early backers a discount for taking a risk on a game not yet finished, so our early price is meant to reflect a discount of what we would consider the game to be worth when finished.”

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

“We plan to take feedback seriously! The details of this game can focus on many different areas of simulating a business. We don't want to focus our small team on an area people ultimately won't care about, so we want to have a two way discussion with users about what areas work best and what features would be most wanted. That includes comments, reviews or steam forum posts or if you want to reach out privately you can reach us at 9thfloorarcade[at]gmail.com with your comments or concerns.”