Why Early Access?

“The best time to help shape a game is when it is early on. What am I doing right? How can I help make this more fun for you? In pure time of just understanding how to work with the game development engine, bash my head against the errors, and make up the levels you see here I have spent over 200 hours providing what is available in Early Access. This does not count the hours spent obtaining, licensing, and editing assets for the game... it's impossible to track all that. When I started this product, it was simply intended to be a 10 minute game to be played on the main website just as a fun promotional toy, but Jessica's Uncomfortable Hanukkah Adventure has truly blossomed into so much more.

...and that's why we are here now. I am confident that this is the right time to share the game with all of you while the world map is only ten percent complete. I've got the enemy logic handled, the graphic tilesets all ready to go; what comes from here is tailoring this world to give a great retro gaming experience.

Among other reasons to release into Early Access? There's more cinema screens to come. Tweaks to the story, gameplay gimmicks I can work with. By gaining some genuine community involvement I can expand beyond those few who have seen and believed in my vision for this game. This journey has begun in earnest, and I'm eager to deliver a memorable game when I... when we... cross the finish line.”

Approximately how long will this game be in Early Access?

“Hopefully release will be in time for Hanukkah 2023! I'll be updating as often as I can! I am the father and primary caretaker of a special needs child and there will be some challenges related to that.”

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

“The core gameplay loop is unlikely to change much to the final product. It's a retro styled Metroidvania: you know what to expect and I intend to deliver it to you. Consider the world at this point to be 10% done, the cinema screens (though none are available in the first Early Access) are only made one out of the intended 7.

At this point in release, though all but two of the weapons and one of the travel powers are already programmed in? You can, as of yet, only access your baton and pistol. Expect progression gating powers such as a super jump and short range teleport, as well as timed bombs and a homing ranged attack. More to come if my skills increase to the level where I can grow us beyond the original parameters.

There's music and art all ready to go which you cannot access, and I am busily grinding away at my word processor all the lore snippets you will find. By the end of this I am intending to, in addition to the the raw game itself, provide at minimum a 20 thousand word multi-threaded storyline. (I am a novelist and this is actually the easiest part of the work, for me)”

What is the current state of the Early Access version?

“As mentioned before, the core gameplay loop is established. Right now the entire introduction stage through the first boss is playable, then afterwards you may explore some into the main hub and one of the portals to a place where you will gain one of the progression-gating powers. All but two of them are already implemented within the game, you simply cannot access them yet.”

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

“The game will go up in cost approximately 25% at release and remain the current price during Early Access. I want to show you a fun game at an easily affordable cost, and this is a good price point for that.”

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

“Would you like to get involved in the process? Please do! Email anything related to the game at vziblis@dogandspider.com. If you wish to do so on a more formal basis, you can email me there and get access to the Trello tracking board.”