Why Early Access?

“Making a pro wrestling game turns out to be quite the task for a solo developer's hobby project. Thanks to the massive support of and regular playtesting with close friends, I have come a long way building this game from scratch over the past six years. The foundation has been laid and the current state of the game is a more than valid demonstration of what it is going to be.

However, this is not a complete wrestling game yet. There are many things that you will miss. Early Access is my idea of paving the way. I'd like for the community to get a peek of what's brewing and help me make this the fun casual wrestling game that the world deserves. There is in an infinite range of ideas and possibilities, but these need the foundation to be as solid and stable as possible. For this, your feedback is needed!”

Approximately how long will this game be in Early Access?

“I plan on splitting Early Access into two phases. During the first phase, the focus will be on getting the game stable for everyone, meaning that crashes and game-breaking bugs should be the absolute exception. The second phase will focus on adding content and features to create deeper wrestling gameplay as well as additional customization possibitilies.

The duration of the first phase is hard to predict, but the worst should be ironed out within the first half year. The time-consuming part - as a solo developer - is implementing features and creating content for a full wrestling game experience. I expect to reach that goal after a maximum of three years.”

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

“First and foremost, it should be absolutely playable. Crashes and game-breaking bugs will be shown the door during Early Access, and the game should be available on both Windows and Linux, including the Steam Deck.

The main and obvious difference will be completeness. In the Early Access version, you will miss several features that you may consider absolute musts in pro wrestling games, both regarding the actual pro wrestling (as in moves and possible actions) as well as customization (Create-A-Wrestler content, career and/or booking modes). Please see What is the current state of the Early Access version? for some notes on what is definitely missing, but won't be in the release version.”

What is the current state of the Early Access version?

“I believe we have a solid foundation to build a memorable pro wrestling game on:

• The key mechanics are there. You can navigate a main menu, start a match, control a wrestler and win, lose, or make the match a draw. Many standard actions are implemented including striking, grappling, running, climbing the ring, using weaponry, doing crazy stunts off places.
  
• There are many possibilities to set up a match with different winning conditions (pinfalls, submission, DQ, count-out, over-the-top-rope elimination) and entering modes (once somebody is eliminated or every X seconds).
  
• A tutorial mode ("Sparring Session") teaches you the controls.
  
• Wrestler stats and weight affects navigation and moves. Compared to heavy wrestlers, smaller wrestlers are faster and can jump further. However, moves can be botched if trying to lift a too heavy opponent, or fail due to lack of skill or remaining stamina.
  
• You can intensify the punishment using a growing set of weapons. You can strike with them, throw them, place them where needed, tables can even be stacked. Some weapons break after several uses or when slamming somebody onto them, the ring can get very messy!
  
• There are four- and a six-sided ring.
  
• The AI does pretty well for itself already.
  
• Couch multiplayer using multiple controllers has been supported since the beginning, also enabling Remote Play Together. Networked multiplayer is not perfect, but functional.
  
• The Create-A-Wrestler mode is designed in a way where combinatorial explosion sets in fast. Even given the still small amount of diferent attires, the way that shaping and texturing your wrestlers work create countless possibilities.
  
• The default roster is entirely made using the game's own Create-A-Wrestler mode and features 30 male and 20 female wrestlers.

However, the game is still far from being a complete wrestling game and several things will only come over time. I pledge to remain very transparent about this and will give the following things to consider:

• The game is still more of a sandbox with no championship, career or booking modes yet. There is a win/loss record that is meant to evolve into more.
  
• There is still a comparatively small set of moves. This is compensated a lot by ragdoll physics and the fact that wrestler stats affect how moves are executed, but still, the selection is thin and has yet to be expanded heavily. There are no finishing moves yet.
  
• There are not yet any tag teams or team matches whatsoever, even though some wrestlers in the default roster are clearly meant to be teams in the future.
  
• Entrances are not yet unique, and the approximately 20 existing entrance themes do not cover the entire default roster yet. More are in production.
  
• Some common gimmick match types such as cage or ladder matches are still missing.

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

“I strongly believe that Early Access players should have an advantage, because they help get the game to a release-ready version. Furthermore, they get a yet incomplete game, so why pay for a full game? In that regard, and because there will be additional budget (let alone work) involved in providing content for a full version, one should expect an increased price once out of Early Access.

During Early Access, however, there will be no price increases.”

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

“Community feedback will be absolutely necessary to get this game in an ultimately stable state, because I can only test this game on so many different machines. By sending me bug reports and logfiles, I will be able to anaylze problems that I have not encountered myself yet.

Furhter, I welcome the community to discuss what's there and request changes as well as ask for new content. There is naturally an infinite amount of things that players can and will wish for and it is impossible to satisfy everyone, but I will do my best to consider frequent community requests for deciding what is prioritized in further development to shape the roadmap.

In that regard, two-way communication is desired. Different channels will be made available, the Discord channel being the most important one next to the game's Steam forum.”