Why Early Access?

“Early Access seems like the ideal vehicle with which to reach an audience excited to help push The Old Ultraviolet from 'completed game' to 'complete game.' Although there is a vision for The T.O.U.'s expansion already in place, feedback from Early Access players will help guide the exact trajectory of the project's further development.”

Approximately how long will this game be in Early Access?

“The Old Ultraviolet will remain in Early Access for at least a year after releasing.

Before leaving Early Access, the game is scheduled to have undergone a gradual makeover, including at least a few immediately-obvious improvements (new T.O.U.-specific additions to the soundtrack + more concept/scene art) and a significant amount of minor adjustments (cutscene direction, combat skills, battle balance, script changes, map design, etc.).”

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

“The plan for the full release of The Old Ultraviolet is for it to offer more numerous and more detailed dungeon areas, more complex and better balanced combat, Steam achievements, a larger supporting cast of characters, more side quests, and new events in the main story.”

What is the current state of the Early Access version?

“At launch, the Early Access version of The Old Ultraviolet will feature approximately 8 hours of content in total. The game is playable from start until end credits, with many optional locations, NPCs, and side stories.

Combat takes place mainly in clearly defined dungeons, with up to 4 members of the Vinyl Club facing a wide variety of enemy skills and encounter compositions. When it launches, the Early Access version of The Old Ultraviolet will feature several enemy graphics that remain subject to change (along with the overall combat aesthetics). It should also be noted that while elemental weaknesses are technically up and running as an integral part of the battle system, one might write an unlimited saga on said system's absurdly abstruse present state.

All in all, it's a functional game with a 1970s setting of unique(ly unsightly) design. Hopefully you will embrace the pre-release version of The Old Ultraviolet as an interesting experiment with an idiosyncratic appeal all its own, but community feedback is sure to give it the kind of direction it needs to evolve into a better-realized version of itself throughout its Early Access process.”

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

“The price will go up as the amount of polish, content, and overall feeling of value continues to rise.”

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

“Community feedback can be delivered through The Old Ultraviolet's Steam discussion forums, via email at theoldultraviolet@gmail.com, or on Twitter at twitter.com/toakimaya.

Your input should prove indispensable in determining, broadly, which types of adjustments, corrections, and improvements are needed--in terms of balancing, signposting, abilities, pacing, etc.--and which ones ought to take precedence. Several updated versions of the game (having taken many of these suggestions into account) are planned to be released throughout The Old Ultraviolet's Early Access period.”