Why Early Access?

“Simulator Survivors is challenging the survivors-like genre convention, replacing its stop-and-go playstyle with uninterrupted, fast-paced action and continuous skill upgrades.

The goal for early access is to utilize your feedback to explore the physics-fused play space, to fine-tune the classes and skill upgrades, to explore and polish the meta-game, to find the most impactful narrative humor and to define the world's uneasing, thought-provoking lore.

I've got plenty of ideas, 30 years of game dev experience, but I'll need your "data donations" (feedback) to shape the game into something that's widely considered a "must play". Expect 1-2 updates per month.”

Approximately how long will this game be in Early Access?

“Approximately one to two years. Because Simulator Survivors explores unproven gameplay terrain, I intend to take the time necessary to properly balance the 3D physical environment, diversify the playstyles, expand the 4th-wall breaking narrative.

I will transition out of Early Access as soon as the core experience feels complete and polished.”

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

“The full version of Simulator Survivors will expand from experimental state into a polished, highly replayable horde-survival game.

I plan to make the skill upgrades more impactful and diverse, with multiple playable classes each with their own combat style and navigational challenges. There will be more diverse enemies with unique behaviors and environmental hazards. The narration and humor is consistently carried throughout the game, including the menu screens.

The meta game rewards you for progressing through the game, unlocking parameters to customize your virtual player, your preferred play style, and to accommodate the level of "AI assistance" (narration) you continue to require.”

What is the current state of the Early Access version?

“The core gameplay loop with a single character class and a single play area with a limited set of chasing enemies and physics interactions is already excitingly fun.

Players die a slowmotion ragdoll death and the detached yet sarcastic AI narrator provides comic relief. The game is stable, well optimized, and transitions seamlessly without loading screens. ”

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

“Yes. I plan on raising the price between 50% to 100% after Early Access.

I think it's only fair to ask a higher price to reward Early Access players who purchased an early version of this genre-mocking simulation because they believe it will become something truly unique. This curiosity and trust absolutely warrants a minor monetary compensation! In fact, much more than that, but that's all I can offer at this point.”

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

“All feedback on the Simulator Survivors Discord server and Steam forums will be read and will have an influence on my state of mind (please be polite). All of it, directly or indirectly, will trickle back into the game for I am but another Simulator Survivor.

I expect the true gems will be the minor remarks that instigate a whole new idea how to utilize the physics, the IK, the rewards, the narration, the humor. The game will never be perfectly balanced like a "numbers game" strives to be but rather tuned and optimized to provide the non-repeatable, emerging situations only a truly interactive game with stretchable rules (and ragdolls) can provide.”