Why Early Access?

“I feel it's the right way for my game. It will allow my game to continue being developed and improved. My game is not finished at the moment but has a good number of levels, actions, and the start of the story. I believe this is the best for the game because it will involve customers in the overall development process.”

Approximately how long will this game be in Early Access?

“All things going well I would say 1 -2 years maximum. I would not want any longer than that. A lot of the pieces are in place its just about adding more content and finishing up the story.”

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

“At launch in January 2024:
The game included six levels, with more in development.

October 2024:
The game now has 11 levels, along with two smaller areas that can be explored (the house and the Church in Warlington), which offer additional exploration and serve as linking areas.

At the end of the Early Access period:
I plan for the game to feature around 24 levels across four chapters. I aim to add additional treasures for players to discover, more side quests, main quests, and a complete story arc. Furthermore, I am working to include more equipment, interactive quests, and expanded dialogues to enrich the overall experience.”

What is the current state of the Early Access version?

“Current Status of the Game (as of 26/10/2024):

The first chapter introduces Warlington Town and features four dungeon levels, culminating in a boss level. Additional explorable interior scenes, such as a house (more to be added), a blacksmith's shop in town, and a Church that links to the dungeon levels, provide further depth to the town.

Between Chapters 1 and 2, there is an interlink area with two unique levels: a peaceful meadow level that emphasizes quests over combat (although there is a little bit of combat), and the Kingdom of Macin, a Dwarven stronghold struggling to survive its ongoing challenges. Players can support the kingdom in its fight for survival.

Chapter 2 unveils White Shallows, a new town with its own struggles, mercenary factions, and quests. A Troll Cave system has also been introduced, consisting of three levels that conclude with a boss fight, bringing Chapter 2 to an end.

Development has now begun on the area bridging Chapters 2 and 3, known as "The Long Road to Wynter." Once completed, work on Chapter 3 will begin.

The game has reached a solid level of polish, featuring shops across various regions, pick-ups, randomly generated drops, quests, dialogues, and story elements that enhance the narrative alongside the dialogues. Combat abilities and additional features further enrich the experience. Ongoing testing is focused on making quest rewards more meaningful as new items and equipment are introduced. Enemy levels will also be adjusted to balance the added gear and powerful new abilities.”

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

“Yes, I intend for the game to be priced differently. When the game launches in early access, it will have 6+ levels potentially. For the full release, I am looking at adding at least triple that, if not more in terms of levels, which will come with added content, interactions, and more things to do. I will look to increase the price once 1.0 is being reached but I do not see that increase being too much.”

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

“I invite players from the community to play my game, share feedback, and actively participate in its development. A feedback form is available in both the demo and the main game to gather valuable insights/bugs. Active community members will have the chance to contribute directly, and I will continue reaching out to content creators to expand awareness and gather further feedback from my target audience.

To support player involvement, I have re-released the demo, which includes the Warlington level (Level 1), the house, and a smaller area ending at the church. This offers players a glimpse of what the game has to offer, allowing them to decide if they’d like to support it in Early Access. All feedback gathered will be used to improve and further develop the game.

Additionally, players can join the Discord community to discuss the game, receive updates, and stay informed through notifications. You can join the Discord server here: https://discord.gg/QJv7MsnkZU.

I have also set up a forum on my website where players can join, share suggestions, and engage in the game’s development journey. You can join the forum here: https://luduspaxstudios.uk/index.php/forums/forum/rise-of-the-village-hero-community/.

Thank you to everyone who joins me on this journey!”