Why Early Access?

“I am mainly working as a solo developer and am looking to provide an experience that I can develop and improve as player's begin to play my game. In my opinion feedback is always the best source of improvement.

As a gamer myself I completely understand the massive difference in enjoyment from player to player across the same genres and games which is why I want to hear from as many different players as possible to hopefully create an experience that is enjoyed by everyone.”

Approximately how long will this game be in Early Access?

“Roughly 12 months.

I want that time to be led by feedback rather than a roadmap I wrote on my own. Bilge Rats is a co-op game, and the things that will improve it most are the things crews run into together, which I can only really learn by watching people play. If it gets there sooner, I won't hold it back to fill the time. If the feedback tells me it needs longer, I'd rather take longer than ship a 1.0 I'm not happy with.”

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

“The full version is the same game with considerably more in it, plus more polish on what's already there.

Planned for 1.0:
- More islands, and more variety between them. Island layouts and landmarks are the main thing that makes one voyage feel different from the last, so that's where most of the new content goes.
- A much bigger job board. More jobs and more kinds of job, so a crew isn't seeing the same handful of contracts after a few cycles.
- Events out on the open ocean. The sailing between islands is quiet at the moment. I want things to find you out there, so the crossing is part of the run rather than travel time.
- More for a crew to do together. More moments that need more than one pair of hands, because that's where the game is at its best.
- Ongoing polish and balance driven by what Early Access players actually hit.

Being considered, not promised:
- Player versus player combat. I like the idea and want to explore it, but I'll only add it if it makes the co-op stronger rather than pulling against it.”

What is the current state of the Early Access version?

“Bilge Rats is playable start to finish right now, solo or with a crew.
What's in the game today:
- Online co-op for 2 to 4 players through Steam, and fully playable solo.
- Proximity voice chat. Your voice carries only as far as it should, and is muffled below deck and underwater.
- A sail-powered ship that takes real handling. The helm, the sails, the lookout and the navigator are separate jobs, and the anchor is its own.
- A procedurally generated archipelago, so no two runs hand you the same map to learn.
- Crook's Haven, the port hub, with a tavern, NPCs, a shipwright and an outfitter to spend at.
- A job board with over 25 different jobs across a wide range of types, from digging and salvage to diving, charting and fighting.
- The debt cycle: a deadline that rises every cycle, and a creditor who collects if you miss it.
- Storms that build, a hull that takes on water, and a bilge someone has to go and deal with.
- Swimming and diving on a breath limit, careening, derelicts, ship upgrades, an inventory, four save slots, and a full settings menu including accessibility options.

Everything described in the "About This Game" section below is in the game now. Nothing there is a feature that's still planned.”

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

“We're not planning on changing the price when we leave early access.”

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

“Community feedback is going to shape what gets built during Early Access, and I'd much rather hear it early than after the fact.
The best place to reach me is the Bilge Rats Steam Community Hub or through the contact information listed under the Support Contact Info. I will read the discussion boards and hear as much from the community as I can. I will try to stay active and post what I am working on. Bug reports, balance complaints and "this part was confusing" are all useful, and the last one especially.
Because it's a co-op game, the feedback I value most comes from crews: what your group ended up doing, what you argued about, and where it stopped being fun. That's very hard to test on my own, and it's the main reason I'm going into Early Access at all. But of course solo players feedback is just as valuable and is heard, as I understand myself many games are just as enjoyable, if not more on your own. Which is why I have put such an emphasis on also creating the solo experience.”