Why Early Access?

“uniTower started as a game jam game, and did a great job at that. We've got a lot of ideas in the works (listed in the "How is the full version planned to differ..." question) which will change the look and feel of the game significantly. Although we don't intend to change the core gameplay style and genre, it's fair to say that the current version of the game is still a baby, and has a lot of growth in store.”

Approximately how long will this game be in Early Access?

“It's hard to say as it'll be largely dictated by community feedback and requests, but for now a very rough-but-conservative estimate would be 9-15 months (especially considering that the primary developer is just about to become a father!).”

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

“As mentioned earlier, we do not intend to change the core gameplay style and genre. We feel like uniTower's a unique little game and don't want to lose that. However, there is still a lot of growth possible within that, and our current plans follow:

Current works-in-progress:
- Bug fixes and stability.
- Game feel improvements, better visual and sound effects, etc.
- In-game level editor!
- Cloud save and achievements.
- Translations, initially into Chinese and Russian.

Ideas that need fleshing out:
- New gameplay features and mechanics, i.e. tower upgrades (maybe), alternate level sizes, what else? (Please share any ideas!)
- Potential visual overhaul.
- Non-rectangular levels?
- Level series/campaigns? (Can be player made, might be cool with non-rectangular levels?)
- Linux/SteamOS compatibility?

And of course community feedback will be continuously worked into this list of changes and priorities, so there's a lot of opportunity for change.”

What is the current state of the Early Access version?

“Although there are many more changes to come (as listed in "How is the full version planned to differ..."), the basic game loop is in place and core gameplay is solid and stable.

One major known bug at the moment is that it it is possible to end up in a "degenerate" level where enemies cannot possibly move from start to finish, and thus towers cannot be placed.”

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

“As things are currently planned out, the answer is no. So far the set of additional features and ideas planned, we believe, do not justify charging a price for this game.

However as we are on the lookout for ideas and feedback from the community, this decision is naturally subject to change alongside the direction of the game itself.”

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

“It's all about the community! This is a free game - its entire purpose is in fact community building, so there's literally nothing more important than that to us. A lot of the ideas already planned are directly from user comments and feedback, and we think that's the most organic way for the project to grow. Please join the conversation and share your thoughts on our Discord (https://discord.gg/zu7MGCt) or in the Community Hub.”