Why Early Access?

“Car D Game is my first game on Steam and I am developing it solo. The core of the game is complete and fully playable. The turn-based racing, the campaign, the garage and part system, ghost racing, replays and the map editor are all in the game today. I am choosing Early Access because a deckbuilder lives or dies on its balance and variety, and I want real players shaping that. Player feedback will directly influence card and part balance, campaign difficulty tuning, and which new content gets priority. I am committed to continuing development through to the full release: I plan to release regular updates, read and respond to feedback throughout, and see the game through to 1.0.”

Approximately how long will this game be in Early Access?

“I expect roughly 6 to 12 months, though this may shift based on player feedback and how much content the community wants to see before calling it 1.0.”

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

“The full version is planned to add more cards, parts and tracks, active driver skills, a deeper campaign, and general polish and balance informed by Early Access feedback. Priorities within that list will be steered by what players ask for most. Also I will be recruiting an artist and sound designer to create art and music for the game so that it looks nicer and has a distinctive sound.”

What is the current state of the Early Access version?

“Fully playable from start to finish. The current build includes the complete turn-based racing loop with projection and preview, the roguelike campaign ladder with lives and part rewards, the garage with a large catalog of parts and cards, driver skills, ghost racing against other players through Steam leaderboards, full race replays, a map editor, and Steam Cloud saves.”

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

“I have no plans to charge money for this game, if by the time 1.0 is ready I feel as though the game is worthy of being paid for I may introduce a price, or simply release the sound track or some DLC to bling your car out and support the game.”

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

“The Steam Community discussions for the game are my main channel: I will read and respond there, post development updates, and run feedback threads on balance and upcoming features. The game also has an in-game feedback button, which takes players to the feedback section with a clipboard of data about their run state at the point the feedback was made. Community input will directly shape card and part balance, campaign difficulty, and the priority of new content — when players consistently ask for something, it moves up the roadmap. I will post patch notes with every update so it is clear how feedback is being acted on.”