Why Early Access?

“The hard part of this game can't be finished by writing it, only by watching people play it. How a hundred and twenty prisoners remember you, when a guard turns up, who walks over to whom: it all runs on our machines, but the tuning will come from other people's games. The economy inside will be too generous for some and a dead end for others, and one person can't find that. The story and the two endings are written; we're putting them on screen. We'd rather finish them with the body of the game already playable and with what you tell us. Not to walk away.”

Approximately how long will this game be in Early Access?

“We're aiming for under a year. That's a guess, not a promise. The big unknown is how long the story scenes and the endings take; if it runs longer we'll say so on the page and in announcements.”

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

“The full version adds what isn't in the game today: Daniel Mercer's story, played through written scenes (the arrival, the first day, the first visit, the pieces of the file, the big fight); announcing your own gang and naming it; meetings and messages between gangs, and raids on a rival's operation; an escape plan (a route, a tool, a blind hour, a car waiting outside); and two endings, the top of the prison or the fence. The same roads are open to the NPCs, so another inmate can become king or slip out before you do. Also: a guard's penalty ladder from warning to solitary, guards watching the cameras, and polish on sound and music. In Early Access we need balance feedback and bug reports most; the order of the story beats follows the scenes as they get written.”

What is the current state of the Early Access version?

“Playable: a sandbox in Greyhollow. 8 buildings, 273 enclosed spaces, 120 inmates and the guards, and a day that starts with the morning count. Everyone remembers what they saw; rumours travel; you get a name from witnesses. On day one somebody wants your pockets: you pay, you refuse, or you look for someone to stand behind you. You hire men, give orders, hand out ranks, and the beaten-down may drift your way. Sugar becomes pruno in your cell and liquor in the still; there's a stash, a smell, and searches; powder and pills come from outside, by visit or at a guard's price. Fights are real time: combos, blocks, takedowns, finishing kicks, crowds; the gym makes you stronger. The guards run counts, come to fights (not right away), cuff you, send you to solitary, and some take bribes. Visits are Wednesday and Saturday; you can send research or pressure orders to people outside. The notebook holds what you saw and heard. Three save slots and a nightly autosave; keyboard and mouse.

Not in the game yet is what's listed under question 3: the story scenes, announcing a gang and raids, the escape plan, the endings, NPCs becoming king or escaping. One more thing you should know: at this stage your saves may stop working after an update; we'll tell you before we break them.”

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

“The Early Access price will be lower than the full price, and we expect it to rise as content lands. We'll announce a price rise before it happens and won't run a discount close to one. Early buyers get everything added later at no extra cost.”

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

“Steam announcements and the discussion page are the main channel. With each big update we'll write what we did and what we left alone on purpose; the most useful feedback tells us what time of day it was, who was there, and what happened. The balance questions (who walks up to you, what liquor sells for, how long a guard takes to reach a fight) we'll retune from what you tell us. We'll update this page and these answers at least once a year.”